Today this country has a new president. Our 45th president, D. J. Trump. There are many in this country who do not like him, do not like his politics, what he has said and done, and many of those who do not like him, are going to the capital to protest. I do NOT have a problem with those who wish to protest. We live in a country that allows you to do that. I fully support our right to protest! (But I do NOT support doing riots, only peaceful protesting). I am fine with those who do not like him too (although you do not have the right to talk bad about anyone who might like him). I did not vote for Obama, but he WAS my president because I am an American, and live here.

At first I would post terrible things about him, and then one day, someone (rightly) called me on something I had posted. Basically, telling me I was out of line. I was. If I say I am a believer, I have a responsibility to pray for him. I worked to change my attitude. Now I can say, I do have respect for the man, and although I did not vote for him --I did respect him.

If you live here, and you are an american, then D.J. Trump IS your president. You do not have to like him-ever, but you should at least pray for him. And if you do not like that, leave the country. I know that is harsh, but I could have left when Obama was voted in! I did not, this is my country, I work to make changes, and pray for our leaders.

There are a lot of protests and sadly, riots happening in this country due to Trump. I find those who are destroying things to be immature-again, protest, but not riot.
But something else is being planned....and I struggle with something that will be included in this 'march'.

I do have a problem with something that is being done by many of these who will be protesting. I might make some people very mad by talking about it, -but I have the right to MY opinion, remember that.

What is being done by some of these protesters, reminds me of something from our history that was horribly awful, and what some of these people are doing during this march, --in my opinion--- is symbolic and disrespectful (again my opinion).

Those who are going to do this, please hear my words...

I have read on facebook today(jan 20th, 2017) some who are going to protest are going to wear (their words not mine) pink pussy's on their heads. (apparently these are pink knitted or crochet hats resembling female parts), and that is what is offensive to me.

You all have the right to do this, but I think doing this it is insulting and offensive.

Wear pink but not to represent the female 'anatomy'-again, (in my opinion). I know many do not like the statement that Trump said, I do not like it ether, but I think those of you who are going to wear these -- you are no better than trump whom you are trying to complain about. Again, my opinion.

Have you really thought this thru?
Have you thought about our history in this country?
And most important: have you ever thought or done any research to see if this was ever done in real life?

Well it was, and now you -symbolically-are doing it too.

"...I heard of numerous instances in which men had cut out the private parts of females and stretched them over the saddle-bows of and wore them over their hats while riding in the ranks."

(Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown, copy from 1970, page 89)

THIS is why it is so disgraceful to me...

CHANGES--and my thoughts this morning...

Do you know about how a butterfly becomes a butterfly?

Most do not. It begins as what some would call a worm.  But it is not a worm. It is a Larva.

this is the black swallowtail larva.  Nickname the parsley worm.  It eats parsley, parsnips, carrots, dill, and fennel plants.
This one is in its third stage of Instar.  

The word Larva is a noun. It means:

"the active immature form of an insect, especially one that differs greatly from the adult and forms the stage between egg and pupa, e.g., a caterpillar or grub."

Some Larva are very colorful others not so much. At the Larva stage they crawl on the ground, crawl over plants, -it must not be too easy to get around.  It takes them a very long time to get from point A to point B.

I wonder do they look up and when they see butterflies and other flying insects flying around, do they think 'I wish I could move that easily around'.  Do they dream about not being on the ground, being a 'worm'?  It is the way we are as humans, we see others that seem to be above us, looking more beautiful and we often think, why are we stuck here?

People usually call all larva 'worms' using the word worm is a put down. That would mean that all worms and earth worms are bad thing.  Earth worms are wonderful, and do a great job for our soil! The earth worm has a very soft body and it can make its way through hard soil, changing the soil to a type of compost that helps to feed plants. That is impressive!

 This soft body worm is protected in the ground, but if it is close to the surface, becomes vulnerable to being eaten by birds. So to survive it stays in the soil, hidden. Did  you ever see worms out on the cement/sidewalk when it is raining? They seem to be enjoying the rain.  Maybe it is like a shower for them.  But when it is no longer raining, and if they are stuck on the cement, they can dry out and die. Do you rescue them?  I would. They are a valuable source for our environment and so saving them from drying out is a good thing.   Do you ever feel like that after something good has happened in your life-(like the rain shower for a worm)? Something good happening, then wam! Your stuck in something you did not expect (the worm stuck on the dry cement).

 As I mow in the summer, I always am careful of avoiding plants that may have larva on them. Yes I am looking at plants all the time, and if I see larva, I allow that plant to stand as it is to feed the larva. I have several spots that butterflies seem to always lay their eggs and I have seen a plant with 10 to 20 larva on it!

Butterflies help with pollination so I encourage them to survive on my land!

I like watching the larva go through their various stages of growth.  So each year I will collect one or two and place them in a jar with their food/plants.  You have to replace the food often, refreshing those plants!  Provide a stick or something firm for the larva to attach itself to when it is ready to go into the chrysalis stage.

black swallowtail larva going into the chrysalis stage.

this is after it is done, notice the color change

And now I wait. 

This is what I will be witness to see:

I wonder about people.  We seem sometimes to be in the larva (worm) stage, and thus, are often put down by others. As we crawl around in our lives, we encounter those who are flying around above us, seemly to be better off than us.  We look at their lives and think, they have it so good.  If only.....

We often do not notice that our job, our existence, is just as important as those beautiful flying butterflies. No, instead we look at the soil we are in or the same plant we are on all the time, and think-we have no meaning.  Why am I here?  What is my purpose? Will I be stuck on this same  plant (aka same job, same home, same location of the country, same -- -fill in your own words here). 

If we are the 'earth worm', we look at the same job everyday, or the same life we are living --and it seems we have no variety, nothing new in our lives. And then a rain comes, and we venture out of our known familiar area to the refreshing feel of the rains. It is different than the dry soils, and we are refreshed!  But shortly after that refreshment, if we do not venture back to our home, if we try to linger just a little longer than we should, we find our-self stuck on the cement and no way to get back to the soil/home.  We die...slowly. 

Does this happen to you when your life is going along just so so, and then something happens and you feel so refreshed you just want to linger there for a little while...lingering is not always the healthy thing to do...

We need to know when it is time to move on, even if it means moving back the the familiar not so happy life.  If it is where we are suppose to be, remember what ever your job is --it is important. 

I say hang in there, if you are in the larva stage now, you will go into a chrysalis and come out a butterfly...yes, you will...

But when you do, remember those still in the larva stage, or who are earth worms, they too have their  spot in this world.  Do not fly over them in a haughty way, instead encourage them as you fly around their plant they are feasting on. Encourage them when you see them out in the rain being refreshed, that they need to not linger, but go on to their job because it is  important but is is also the healthy thing for them to do for their own lives. 

 Encourage them to just hang on a little bit more....

life will change

life will change

they will change

Am I a feminist? Well .....

                                                                   

Ok, today is my birthday and I just have to write this.  I have hardly had time to blog on anyone of my  7 blogs over the past year.  (yes I have 7 blogs I keep up, or try to). Plus I try to write articles for several journals, so I do stay busy writing!  Blogging has not been on the top of my to do list to do like it use to be!

Out of all of the facebook friends I have, when I read your posts, I might not always agree with you, and if I do disagree I often will not post a response.  You have the right to your opinion.  When you post YOUR opinion on YOUR page it does not give me the right to argue with you on YOUR page.

 I expect that same respect on MY page. I am totally ok with discussions, no problem unless it gets ugly.  It is my page, I have the right to my opinion on my own page.  And on your page it is your page, you have the right to your opinion.  With that said, I welcome others opinions, will discuss them, but will keep my opinion if I feel strong about something.
Then sometimes....I just have to open my mouth on my page or yours....
As I did yesterday....

Someone posted something about men treating women better...(I am purposefully not going into exact details here so I do not have any identifying comments of the person or persons).

I  continued to read the discussion, and one person posted about rape --on this persons page -and a mans reaction/responsibility.  Next, -a man posted back and said: that rape ---is the fault of both the man and the woman.  His reasoning: that men are visually stimulated, thus the woman holds some responsibility in how she dresses.  He went on to say that most women do not dress sluttish, (wasn't that nice of him to say...).  

The page 'owner' did not ever respond to any of these comments.

The final comment this guy said in his long assessment of how a woman has responsibility in her rape, was "well rape should never happen". It was like that final comment somehow took away the fact that he already said that a woman has to take some of the responsibility for the rape because of how she was dressed and thus since a man is visually stimulated. I took him to mean that this woman,  *sluttish* or not, was responsible for her dress and if it was not modest, it could cause a man to get excited and thus rape her, and then she is responsible, not just him.

I had to say something.  I just had to open my mouth...

I responded with the following to his original comment:

Yes, rape is the mans fault. As a man, control your actions-

EVEN if a woman is not dressed modestly. The man might look on her and lust but it does NOT give that man permission to act. Stop putting mans actions of sexual aggression and sin onto the victim.

He responded with: (and notice he cant even spell my name correctly even with it right in front of him) 

Irena, That's not what I said. I said men are VISUALLY stimulated. By what they see. If a woman is naked, do you really think the woman had no part in the mans reaction ? Come on. And did you even read the last line of my first comment? If you think how a woman dresses doesn't effect how a man looks at her, you are probably a feminist.

Remember his last line of his first comment was that basically no one should get raped, but that comment was buried in his other one, that a woman should also be responsible. 

I guess I am a feminist.  

Definition of a feminist: Someone who supports feminism. 

Definition of feminism:  The belief that women are and should be treated as potential intellectual equals and social equals to men. These people can be either male or female human beings, although the ideology is commonly (and perhaps falsely) associated mainly with women. Feminism is the belief that all people are entitled to the same civil rights and liberties and can be intellectual equals regardless of gender. However, you should still hold the door for a feminist; this is known as respect or politeness and need have nothing whatever to do with gender discrimination.

I do know that some feminist take this further, There seems to be a sort of 'degrees' of/in feminism, Meaning different beliefs- but the basic belief is the above.  

So if you believe that a woman should be treated equally, another words given the same pay if doing the same job, given the same rights in this society, You are by definition a feminist. Wow, did you not know that? 

The word feminist takes on a different meaning depending on who you are.  Sort of like the word evolve. 

Many Christians do not like the word 'evolve'.  That is because they associate it with evolution, and since most do not agree with that theory they throw the whole thing-- including the word--out. 

The word evolve, means changing. Actual definition is: the process by which different kinds of living organisms are thought to have developed and diversified from earlier forms during the history of the earth 

Since some believers do not agree with evolution, They want to the throw the whole word and process out, That's nuts. We can not throw the word out just because we do not agree with evolution. Many animals, and things are always changing, adapting to their environment, Thus evolution is happening all around us and will continue to happen.  That is life, and how the creator has made things to happen.  We also evolve as people.  We are changing, we change in our beliefs and how we function. We evolve to being older-as we age. Evolution is all around us (and for some of us as we age, around us more than we like! )

So my point of all of that is to say, feminist-or being a feminist might not be all bad. Many of us are or would fit in the category of the definition of a feminist. That does not mean you HAVE to believe and agree with ALL they support. 

 Now I can hear some of you saying: well I can not support them at all based on this or that part of their belief.  I am not saying you HAVE to support them, I do not fully support the *cause*, but by definition, I do support equal rights, equal pay, and fair treatment. So by that, if based on that only,I guess I am a feminist. You are too if you support those things. It does not mean we have *joined the cause* of feminism. I do not call myself a feminist.  I never have.  

So back to this guy....

So my husband and I had just gotten to the campground and we sat there in the car as I read to him this exchange.  I was frustrated. Why do some men, and this one was claiming to be a believer like I am, (which actually makes me more frustrated with him that he is responding this way because I hold him to a higher standard), why do some men (people) think they can blame others for their sins? We all sin, and when I do sin, it is MY responsibility, I am at fault, I can not blame others for my actions. 

Why do some men (people) think that a mans action of rape is NOT their responsibility? Again I said THEIR ACTION OF RAPE. Its their action.  Their responsibility. 

So my husband and I sat there in the car talking, as people walked past us...i pointed to two young women and said even if they are naked walking past us it does not give you the right to act on the urge of excitement and rape them.  He agreed and he said the following and I put that up on the discussion. 

"Even a naked woman running past you, does not give you permission as a man to rape her. " my husband said in response to your comments. He said more too, but I am not gonna get into a war with you and your name calling.

Then he (my husband) gave several more examples of how people could be dressed or and have someone respond, I did not share all of them on the page and will not here either, but they were good examples. 

The next example was of a child, what about a child dressed in a bathing suit?  (as we saw a family headed to the pool and the little girl was in her swim suit walking past us) He said this and I posted this to the discussion. 

By your definition: if a child is dressed in something that is not modest, a pedifile (sp?) who rapes the child, is not the only responsible one-that child is also responsible. (Again comment from my husband).
I share his view. If this view makes me a feminist in your opinion , then fine.

The guy did not say anything else, just removed his posts. Good. Hopefully he got it. But I doubt it.  If he did and realized he was wrong in his thinking, he would have responded back or should have responded back with an apology.  He did not. So I doubt he even cared.  

I KNOW that men are visual, and are stimulated by just 'seeing' things, but they are responsible if they act or not. 

I was proud of my husband. His responses were right on. Him and I discussed many more things about this but I will stop now.  I guess I have went on enough.  If you do not agree with me, and especially if you are a man, I only ask you to really really thing about your response before you actually respond. I welcome discussion. 

But first I leave you with this thought:  

"Would you say the same thing about your daughter if she was raped? Would you say: well daughter, you should have not been dressed like that you know men are visually stimulated and so you stimulated that man by how you were dressed and that is why it is now your responsibility for what happened to you." 

 I think not.

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How hard my hubby works....

Ok So I was thinking about something today. My hubby has worked so much this past year, up to 74 hours a week, Yes that much. That is crazy! (since the beginning of April).  

Now let me say to those of you who have lost a spouse, child, loved one to death-I am in no way comparing what we are going thru to the same type of situation that you have went through. I fully get that difference.

Some people say, well he must be making a lot of money. It is not about money -when you work this much, you go into a higher tax bracket, and with no children at home, we really do not have anything to claim, so he is working to pay a lot of taxes. that helps those who are on welfare, who are on disability, or the elderly- We are helping a lot of people by paying a lot of taxes. I do not mind doing my part, but wow! This is a bit more than we want to do.  

He is older than many who work at the same place. I get so tired of what he as to go thru, he works so hard. Then he tells of those who are younger (20's or 30's) who come to work for one day or at the most a week, then leave because (put on a winy voice here) it's too hard of work... Scott comes home barely able to walk, in so much pain in his back and hips. Yet he keeps going (again, no one complain that I am comparing him to you or to someone you know- because I am NOT, just stating facts here). We could use a chiropractor living here full time!

I tell people all the time when they say they need a job, well go to this place. If you can pass the drug test, you can get a job. But they don't want to, because its a factory and they want a more important job, they don't want to work that hard....wine ...wine...wine. I say, work where you can, and if you can change jobs later, great. But WORK where you can! The bible talks about you working or you do not eat. It is ok to work where you can get a job, it is noble, it is biblical. It is the right thing to do.

Anyway, Scott has been working up to 12 hours a day, 6 days a week. Some have been only 10 hour days, but mostly 12 hour days. He has been exhausted.

So this has been going on for 46 weeks now. OF those 46 weeks, 3 weeks he has not worked total. So out of the remaining weeks he works 74 hours a week out of a total of 168 hours a week, he is at the job 72-74 of those. That means he is not at the job out of 168 hours a week 94 hours. Of those 94 hours, he sleeps for 55 of them. That leaves a remaining of 39 hours. Of those 39 hours, 13 are spent driving to and from work, eating, bathing, and getting ready to go to work. That leaves 26 hours a week. Of those 26 hours a week, 17 of them are on a Sunday. (the only day he is off each week). That leaves 9 hours. Those 9 hours are divided by 6 and that tells you how much time each day he has to himself-or to me. That is 1.5 hours a day that is for him and me, or just for him.

He got nothing done at home all of this time. Also, of that 1.5 hours a day for 6 of the 7 days, if I am not home yet from doing appointments, or at a birth, then we miss seeing each other that day. Same thing on the sunday-even though he has more time that day, if I am gone to a birth, we do not see each other.

~So for the total 46 weeks, there were a total of 168 hours a week x 46 = 7728 hours.

~For the total 46 weeks, there were a total out of 7728 hours 3182 hours were spent at work.

~For the total 46 weeks, there were a total out of the remaining 4546 hours and 2530 of those were spent   sleeping (although on sundays he often also slept extra but I have not included that in the count).

~For the 46 hours, there were a total of remaining 2016 hours left and of those 598 were spent driving, 

bathing, eating, getting ready for work, doing chores etc.

~For the remaining 1418 more hours that were 'his' time, and also time to spend with me.

I know, some of you might be thinking why figure that out. Because I was curious that's why. I think I did the math correctly, if not, I don't need you correcting me. So just don't. I am doing this as a record of our lives-blogging, for our children, grandchildren, and you are just invited along ---no reason.

That is it.

Ireena

Judgement-- and the Duggars....

This past couple of weeks there has been on the news a LOT of articles about Josh Duggar.

I held back from commenting on them, or sharing any of them.  I made a choice to not become involved in the judgement.  I know that some talked and shared the articles, I am not judging you for doing that, but I want to gently ask:  Did you have all of the facts first? Often when stuff comes out, the whole story is not out there. We need to learn to wait, as believers, until the whole story is there -but remember, GOD already knows the whole story-and if HE wills it, HE will allow that truth to come out, if the truth does not, GOD may be testing us- HIS children-how we will handle part of a story...

I saw on several talk shows people talking about them, and I have to say: shame on all of them.  If you believed everything that they said, you would have to believe that the family hid all of this,  trying to cover it all up.  They (the media) claimed the following:
~that the family did not seek professional care
~They tried to cover it up
~they went to a police friend, not actual police, for help from the police. (and this 'friend' later went to prison for child molestation)
~They only sought help from their pastor
~they only tried to protect Josh, not the girls

This is just a few of the claims. So lets look at each one of those:
They did not seek professional care: Not true, the parents said all received professional care. From professionals. Therapists.
They tried to cover it up: Actually, they did not cover it up.  But lets look at this one after we have looked at all of the others.
They went to a police friend, not actual police, for help from the police. (and this 'friend' later went to prison for child molestation): no, the parents said in the interview that they along with Josh, walked into the police department, and they were (assigned) the policeman (who later went to prison) to speak with.  They were not friends.
They only sought help from their pastor: Why would you think that they would not seek help from a spiritual advisor in their lives? Come on!  If something horrible is happening in your life, would you also not go to your pastor (if you attend church)?
They only tried to protect their son, not the girls: They right away within in the family- protected the girls.  Many of their  policies in this family are the same ones that their haters do not like ---for example: with the younger children the family rule is: no bathing together, boys and girls, even the toddlers, never sleep together, even toddlers, mixed boys and girls, if a little girl in the family needs help with getting bathed, dressed or  going to the bathroom, they go with another girl, same for boys. They do not allow alone time to protect the younger children.  They told the girls, got them professional help/counseling, (the girls did not even know this had happened since it had happened while they were asleep).  So actually, they could have chosen to hide it from the girls, but they did not.

Also: when they went to the police, they did not know if Josh would be arrested or not, did not know if this would start a investigation from CPS on the family or not.  They were vulnerable -open and worked with who they needed to.  Once all was done, the case was sealed (since ALL involved were juveniles) and forgiveness began within the family.  That is, until someone in the police department all these years later, decided to illegally open the file of a sealed by the court's case on a juvenile, and illegally allow that file -out to the public.

Remember: 
The son, Josh, did come to the parents himself (which speaks loudly to me, ) yes he did this, fondling, on top of the clothing, (some would say that does not make a difference and I get that), but he felt such guilt that he went and told on himself.  That speaks  volumes as to how he was raised and that his heart was still soft enough for YHWH to work and make the changes in this young boy (Yes a BOY) before he became a man and continued on this path!

Josh also paid for his own therapy, and bills related to this stuff. He had to use his own money that he had raised, so the parents did NOT bail him out of  the financial cost to help him.  I think that is good.  More ways he took responsibility.

SO why does this get me so angry?  Because I went thru something when I was young.
When I was about 14, I awoke to (more than once that this happened and I will not say where I was at, but I was NOT at my own home) so I woke up in the middle of the night to find my breasts OUT of the clothing I had on, and some young guy (same age as me) fondling my breasts. He backed away from me, and I screamed. He said he was only out there to check on me and his sister (we were in a camper sleeping).
Bull shit.
His sister did not believe me.   I kept saying no, he was feeling me up. He lied and tried to say I was uncovered, he was trying to cover me up, what ever-no I was not, YOU did that to me!! 
Anyway, I was NOT believed. I tired to argue but no one was listening, and I know that he was scared he would get into a lot of trouble (since he was in trouble for other things).  I was friends with this girl, and other times we were in her room when I would spend the night, and I woke up with this guy standing over me.  We finally locked the bedroom door.  Yes some will say, why did you stay there again?  She was my friend, but sad I guess not enough friend to believe me.

BUT, I  NEVER EVER forgot this.  This person is still in my life (will not say how and why, trying not to name the person).  BUT I watch close, I never allowed my own daughters to visit at his home with his daughter, not over night.  I still do not trust him. He has yet to be man enough to come to me and apologize.  No one has asked my forgiveness for violating ME.

 What this guy did to me, is the VERY same thing Josh did to his sisters.  Only my breasts were exposed by the guy who touched me-he touched me skin to skin. Yuk! I am ever grossed out that he saw me and touched me.  It makes me sick.  It makes me sick to see him and if he talks to me at all.  I can't stand it.  Knowing he did this and never has said he was sorry, never asked for forgiveness, and those who knew-basically called me a liar.  Yes, I have forgiven-because I have to.  If not it destroys me.  BUT I have not forgotten.  I will not forget being molested. I will never trust this person. Never.

THIS IS MY STORY TO TELL, it is NOT anyone else's story.  If I name him, it is MY choice, not someone else's.
I was a VICTIM.
He is not.
He is the one doing wrong.
I was not.
I was, am the VICTIM.
Me.
Again, I am the victim., NOT him. 

Now, again, if the victim chooses to tell their story, fine, if they choose not to-fine.  It is always the victim's story to tell.

This is why I am so frustrated with what has happened with the Duggars.  It is the girls story to tell. They were juveniles, and their records are suppose to be kept sealed.  Protected.  See that word folks?  PROTECTED (In case you missed it before).

Now they are being forced to relive this, becoming a Victim again-all across the country and around the world and it was NOT their choice!

Yes, we serve a big GOD and HE ultimately has a plan which sometimes means allowing bad things to happen to good people, I get that. He can turn this into something good.  He can use it. I get that.  But was it in HIS plan or did some ungodly police officer that had an agenda against the family, purposely turn over the sealed document? That sounds like the enemy working in that ungodly police officer--that is what it sounds like to me. I will call it as it looks.  So again, Yes, GOD CAN use it for HIS good, but the enemy is the one that was at work here.

REMEMBER:  the family dealt with this back then, completely. What right do we have to hear about it if GOD has worked with the family and dealt with it already?
The Enemy is using it now.

 I think that the person  in the police department who leaked this information, who opened sealed documents of Juveniles, should be punished.  Her name should be out there for the public.
Shame shame shame on her!

And shame on everyone who falsely judged the Duggar family before hearing all of the facts. Many, even 'christians' who hate the Duggars, or hate the type of homeschooling stuff they use (bill gothard) allow that to place a veil over their eyes when looking at this and what has happened.  Come on! How awful!  I might not like the church you are in, but I do not wish you a painful life or problems on you.

I have been misjudged.  By a church full of people that were suppose to be my family.  I did not even get a chance to really talk to them all, (when you have been arrested, you can not speak about everything, not in full and I did not get to in full talk to anyone but my husband and  attorney).  So still to this day, I am outed by this church-still to this day-they think they have the whole story, but they do not.  They judged me, they judged me wrong.

I am past that now in my life, but I say this to explain the following:  I will always remember those who supported me, not knowing the whole truth.  I will NEVER forget any of you. You made a (correct) choice to hold your judgement back until you had the full story. (it took years) but you were following YHWH and what HE told you to do.  I thank you.  I will always remember those people.

Christians, we have to do the same for the Duggars.  Please please hold your judgement until ALL facts are in. Remember also: what would you do if your 13-14 year old son came to you and said this:  I just felt my sister's breast?  some say, well it happened once, so how could the parents allow it to happen again?
Do any of you parents sit up all night at your daughters bedside watching so no one comes into the room?  Do you put a lock on the outside of the sons door, thus now taking a risk to get charged with restraining your son unsafely, (in case of a fire)?   Come on, we as a nation and the 'church' is so quick to judge others.  

Put yourself in the parents shoes, and be careful not to quickly come to a judgemental attitude. What an awful spot for a parent to be in.  No one knows until you are actually there what you would do...so be careful, lest the same befalls onto you or worse...

There but the Grace of GOD go I.....

He who is without sin, cast the first stone....

A Lot Of Updates!~

So it has been since May this last year since I have written anything on any one of my blogs!  Wow, I guess I have been busy.  So here are some of my updates:

I continued from May until fall, dealing with the legal battles in the county.  They are extremely slow in this county (that was said by other county's actually, not just me) and I was also told that they were hanging onto my case because of the other midwife.  So there I sat, waiting for a number of years for them to just 'let it go'. 

Finally-they did.  The case was dismissed.  It is done. There is so much more to all of this too, but nothing I will put into writing at this time. sorry.. 
in time...
maybe I will write a book...

So by the fall, it was all done. FINALLY!

    My husband and I are trying to get the house ready for sale.  We want to move.  Getting the house ready is taking more time than we like, just because we are a bit older...we have a roof to replace,  new garage doors, new doors for our walk out basement area, a front garden that is a mess of weeds to untangle, new front steps and walkway to finish.  Its tough when you're older!  Just a word of warning to everyone-get your work done before you age!

We also bought a camper this past late winter/early spring. Rented a permanent spot at a local campground, and enjoyed relaxing times there.  Below are a few photos.  

The other new stuff in my life-I had a mild heart attack(?) issue last december.  Thankfully nothing was 'clogged' it was all stress related (go figure why I had stress in MY life!) 

Well, enjoy the photos below! 

the camp fire...a work in progress,  it will be larger next year! 

Working on the deck

enjoying the family hammock 

enjoying the pool, with out the work of maintaining the pool!  :)

Now, this photo has a story:  (see below)