25 Things

Several of my friends have tagged me on Facebook in their 25 Things, and I've decided to give in to the peer pressure. So, for the first and last time, here's a silly little blog about me.

1. I am really bad at the computer. The only reason that I got this blog started is because my friends Jenny Ruth and Andrew helped me set it up. I have to type this list on my blog because I can't figure out how to do it on Facebook... Sad.

2. The best day of my life was my wedding day. I am always wishing that I could relive that day just one more time. Once, I put my dress back on and wore it around my house. (No one else was home.)

3. The scariest thing I ever did was to move 10 hours away from my family to a state where I only knew one person. (B-Ray is the best!!)

4. My house is old and I love it. I would rather live in an old house with character than a new house with modern comforts.

5. When I was in 3rd grade I never talked. I would whisper answers to my best friend Jenna and she would tell our teacher what I said. (When I tell people that now they don't believe me.) 

6. Once I had a boyfriend compare me to a Krispy Kreme doughnut. (At the time I thought that was a good thing... Ugh! Stupid girl!!)

7. I don't believe in government bailouts. 

8. When I'm in a wedding (mine or someone else's) I get a spray tan, whiten my teeth, wear fake eyelashes, have my hair done... the works! I think it's only right to go the extra mile when you're a bridesmaid. No one wants ugly wedding pictures!

9. I have known since high school that I want to adopt children. 

10. I hated high school. I would NEVER go back... not for a million dollars!

11. Cooking is my therapy. (My Aunt Joy passed on her love of cooking to me. My Uncle Malcolm gave me his passion for good wine!)

12. Once I ate a piece of combo pie (peanut butter on top/ brownie on bottom) that was so good I almost cried. It was embarrassing.

13. I would rather read a good book than watch T.V. I just finished a great one by a girl named Renee Altson called, Stumbling Toward Faith. It is not for the faint of heart. 

14. My husband and I looked up the meaning of our names the other day. We laughed because mine said, "dweller by the dark stream". If you knew me, you'd think this was really funny. Sometimes I have a dark side.

15. One time my boss told me that I am smarter than people give me credit for. (Is that a compliment?)

16. I am a twin, but my sister and I live far apart. Sometimes we miss each other so much it hurts.

17. After college I went to seminary. People there thought I was stupid because I wear makeup and talk with a southern accent. (Thanks to Jenn and Katie I stayed anyway.)

18. Sometimes people think that I'm mean because I'm a registered Republican . (Secretly I tried to become a Democrat, but then I realized that I don't believe in big government.)

19. I believe that people have the capacity to change if they really want to.

20. My nephew was born at 27 weeks. A former Planned Parenthood nurse told me that he wouldn't be able to survive... He did.

21. I love rescue animals. My husband and I have two dogs and a cat. They all sleep in the bed with us.

22. I am a Christian. I hate when people talk about Christianity like it's a bad thing. I believe you can love God and people at the same time.

23. I have some of the best friends in the world. I had 13 bridesmaids in my wedding, and I love each and every one of them! (Some people think that 13 bridesmaids is tacky... I think it's southern.)

24. My mother-in-law has a cozy home. I love to visit her. We sit on the couch, by the fireplace, in our pajamas and drink coffee. 

25. My goal in life is to live close to my family again. The happiest times of my life involve spending time with people that I love. My family is the best!!

Baby Boom

Many of you have already heard the story of the mother in California who recently gave birth to octuplets. I don't know about you, but I can't even begin to imagine how in the world that was possible! I have a tremendous amount of respect for this woman in that her physical strength alone has to be significantly above average in order to carry that many children at once.

However, as someone who works with children in abuse situations, I am greatly concerned about the future of these eight children. Apparently, this is not a case of "natural conception". This mother already has six children who live in a three bedroom home along with their grandparents. Mom reportedly has no job and is living off of her parents' resources. Several news sources have also reported that the single 33-year-old mother is attempting to make money by becoming a "parenting expert". Now I don't know about you, but I can't imagine that a person choosing to have 14 children (eight by invitro fertilization) without the help of a significant other or a reliable source of income could be considered an expert at parenting. And to top it all off, she has reportedly seeking a career in television (reality TV to be exact) in order to provide for her family.

I don't mean to sound judgmental toward this woman. But let's be clear, she has worked quite hard to bring eight additional children into the world when she is already having difficulty providing for the six that occupy her parent's home. (Sometimes people are victims of circumstance. Other times individuals create their own crises.)

Now the reality is that this family will not be investigated by social services unless a report is made to the appropriate authorities. This sounds quite simple. However, the reality is that children have very few rights in this country. And this mother would have to do something pretty bad before outside agencies will intervene. I have heard more than my fair share of horror stories concerning the treatment of children in my state and those same stories are happening in your state as well. 

The reason that I am bringing this up is not to depress you, but to remind the Christian community that we have a responsibility here. We must intentionally invest ourselves in the lives of those around us. Instead of making this family a "freak show" that we watch on reality TV, let's invest in their real lives. Aren't we more that voyeurs waiting for this young woman to fail her family and herself? Now, we don't all live in California, but you can bet that there are families all around you that need help. What if we looked for people to connect with? What if we invested in their lives? 

The reality is that social services are trying to protect children, but they do a poor job at best. No government agency can provide the support that individual families need. The truth is that we would rather make the government responsible for the sick and poor and oppressed, but the reality is that WE are responsible for those things. Social justice is important, but it cannot replace personal responsibility. This young mother's choices were unwise and the truth is that her children could pay the ultimate price. Let's not leave this in the hands of overwhelmed and under paid social workers. Let's live out what we believe.