Memorial Day: All Gave Some & Some Gave All

On this day when we remember those that gave their lives serving and fighting for our country's freedom, I would like to pay special recognition to those that died during the Vietnam War. My daddy served in the Vietnam War and has been to visit the Wall. It impacted him by to see this country finally honoring the men and women who served and died during that War, because it was long overdue. NO, veteran asked to serve and defend our country should EVER receive the treatment our Vietnam veterans did, especially those that gave all. 

Pic via The Southwest Desert Lover.

The Wall

by Catherine Anne McNeill

I walked along that long black wall, with names as far as I could see.
Friends I knew in childhood now etched in memories.
I've touched their names so many times, remembered them with love.
I walk along, the rain pours down, tears from heaven above.

I watch a Vet, deep in thought, pain across his face.
He walks a mother to the wall; he's taken his friend's place.
She reaches out to touch a name, the one that was her son.
They pause together in the rain, their memories a bond.

The men who fought, the men who died, their names for all to see
Their lives so brief, fallen short, a page in history.
We can't forget what they had done, so many years ago.
Sacrifices they have made the bravery they showed.

I walked along that long black wall, crying in the rain.
For all those men who've touched our lives, we'll never see again.

28 May 2000

To all of those that served and died fighting for and defending our country, you have my family's sincerest gratitude! Your sacrifice will NOT be forgotten and your bravery will live on in our memories and our hearts. To those veterans that have passed on from this world to the next, thank you for the time you took out of your lives to serve and defend our country! The Sills' family honors and remembers you all!!!!

Life With An Aspie

How do I describe life with an Aspie? Well, it can be filled with unbelievable frustration, unimaginable hilarity, and awe struck wonder. There are moments when you just want to pull your hair out. Moments when you want to drop to the floor and roll around in laughter. There are moments with you  just shake your head because you just don't know where some of the stuff comes from. 

While many people think differently, Autism and Asperger's are classified as mental disorders much like bipolarism, depression, and schizophrenia. Genetics play a part in all of these conditions, but there are some differences. The way I understand it is that bipolarism, etc. are a result of chemical imbalances in the brain that can lead to a wide range in mood swings, paranoia, and hallucinations. Autism and Asperger's effect how the brain and the nervous system work. People with these conditions have a delay in the development of language, communication, and social interaction. The best way for me to describe Asperger's (which is a high functioning form of Autism) is they think differently than we do. I know our DD does.

For example, if you try to ask someone with Asperger's a "yes" or "no" question and expect a "yes" or "no" answer in return, all I have to say is good luck with that. You will either get a PhD dissertation or a blank stare. There is no in between. Another example is how they go about doing something. When it comes to fixing her plate for supper, DD takes FOREVER. She has so many more steps to get the food on her plate, her utensils, and drink than us, but it is the difference in the way she processes things and the way we do. 

People with Asperger's get obsessed with things that they love. They can remember the most minute detail about their obsession and recall that fact with clarity out of the blue, but often times they can't recall what you asked them to do repeatedly. It isn't done out of insubordination. It is simply because it isn't important to them. Another thing they have problems with is following more than one direction at a time. They can remember how to put together a Lego play set from memory, but can't follow two or three instructions given at one time.  

Aspie's have OCD tendencies and DO NOT like change. They like have a routine and to be on a schedule. They have their day ordered and planned out. They do this as a means of comfort and control. It also helps them cope with the anxiety they feel in any given situation. The bad thing about this is that they don't share their plans or ask others for their input, then when everything doesn't go according to their plans it spins them out of control and lead to lash out and major meltdowns. 

As a child, DD exhibited a lot of these behaviors. We were told since she was a premiere that she would have a lot of sensitivity issues, but the things we were seeing went beyond that. Often times, we contributed these behaviors to being stubborn, insubordinate, and laziness. After a meltdown, we felt like we were crazy because we couldn't really describe what was going on with her or what caused it. Little did we realize we were using some of the behavior mods that are recommended for Aspie's. 

Since her diagnosis and learning more about Asperger's, I let a lot of things. I try not to get upset when she doesn't answer a simple question with a "yes" or "no." I try to give DD one direction at a time. I don't push for perfection on somethings, simply because she isn't physically capable of it. Some of the odd behaviors that would drive me up the wall are simply ignored. They are just part of who she is. 

The one behavior we won't ignore is the anger that comes when her routine or schedule is interrupted. She gets very upset when we don't act according to her plans, plans that we aren't clued into. Plans, we are somehow to know about magically. Often her anger is taken out on me, because I am the one she is around the most. We remind her daily that her plans may not be our plans or the plans of others and that she needs to learn to let things happen. If there is a big change coming to her world, we encourage her to talk to us about it. We know that change causes her great anxiety and when that anxiety builds up, it results in a meltdown. The older she gets the better she is at sharing what is bothering her. 

The journey we have been on since DD was born has been a wild one, full of ups and downs. Full of times we thought we were crazy and the ones with the problem. Full of knowing something wasn't right, but being unable to put it into words. Full of of comfort and relief when the diagnosis was confirmed. Full of learning how to cope and learning to let go. It is a journey we wouldn't wish upon anyone, but one we wouldn't change. One where we realized "We Are Asperger's." 

If you are a parent who is struggling with a child that may be exhibiting odd behaviors that you can't really put into words or a trying to understand why your child seems to think differently or act differently than others, seek help. Ask your pediatrician or family doctor for help. Talk to special ed teachers. Talk to other parents. Advocate for child. Learn for your child and for yourself. 

Having a child diagnosised with Autism or Asperger's is a hard thing to wrap your mind around, but it is NOT the end of the world. Your world will be different and at times it may seem harsh, but the moments of joy and love will more than make up for it. Embrace the difference and be the family God designed you to be. I am confident in the belief that God wouldn't have gave us our Aspie if He didn't think we could handle it. He gave us our Aspie for a reason and we may never know why. For know it is enough for me to know and to claim "We Are Asperger's!"

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To learn more about Autism and Aspereger's Syndrome, go to the Autism Speaks website. You will find a wealth of information and it is a good place to get started. Getting and being informed is an important first step. It simply takes a leap of faith!

Season Greetings From Our Family To Yours

As a follower of Christ, this is a very special time of the year for me and our family. It is the time of year we celebrate the birth of Saviour, Jesus Christ. When He was born, hope and salvation for mankind entered into this world, too. He offers forgiveness, mercy, grace, salvation and peace to all who will repent of their sins and accept Him into their hearts. He is the ultimate gift of love from our heavenly Father to the people He lovingly created. That is why it is so sad to see so much rancor, bitterness, and hate surround this time of year. 

I will freely admit that a lot of it comes from people calling themselves "Christians." There are those that preach against Santa Claus because they see him as a sign of evil. Others get so defensive when it comes to keeping Christ in Christmas and adamant about saying Merry Christmas.  They refuse to see and respect the right of others to celebrate this time of the year as they see fit. Not everyone believes Jesus is the reason for the season. There are also that group of "Christians" that make themselves feel like they have done their duty to God by attending the one and only church service they attend all year - the Christmas Eve or Day service. It makes them feel good about themselves, however, there is nothing in their lives that reflect the light of Jesus. 

This time of year also brings out intolerance and disrespect by those of different religions or those that have no religion. They get so resentful of any public displays that in any way shape of form showcase the birth of Christ. They demand that public places and stores use Happy Holidays or Season Greetings instead of Merry Christmas. They want to celebrate this time of year the way they want to but want to deny those that have faith in God the right to do so. 

All of these points of view collide to make a time of year when love, peace, joy, and hope into a time of year into a time of strife. The bickering about the different points of view, the lack of tolerance for other people's beliefs or traditions, and the lack of respect for others makes for a stressful atmosphere where no one wins. 

Last week, I was in Walmart and walked by a shirt that caught my interest and got me to thinking about several different things. Those thoughts lead to me putting up a FB post on my personal page. I would like to share it with you. 

"In Walmart this morning, I walked by a shirt that said "It is okay to say Merry Christmas". I thought yes, it is, but it is also okay to say Happy Holidays or Happy Hanukkah or Happy Winter Solstice. Now, don't get me wrong as a follower of Christ I want to be able to tell people Merry Christmas and have it said back to me, but I am also okay with giving a non-believer another greeting and receiving it because, that is how they believe. 

I once was a fervent proponent of "Jesus is the reason for the season" and "we need to put Christ back into Christmas", however my view has changed. As a follower of Christ, Jesus is my reason for the season and my Christ is in my Christmas, but if a non-believer feels like that this season is a season of peace, love, family, food, fun, and presents that is fine with me. 

It is NOT my job as a follower of Christ to judge a person for their unbelief. God will do that in His own time and in His own way. My job is to be a living example of what it means to be a follower of Christ and to share what God has done in my life if I think they are ready to receive it. Each one of is entitled to our beliefs and respect works both ways. 

So many people misinterpret the scriptures on judging and get it all wrong. As followers of Christ and according to the scriptures, we are to judge and hold our fellow believers accountable for their lifestyles and actions, out of love for them. It is not for us to judge the non-believers, that is God's job. When we as followers of Christ start living according to God's principles and truths, when we put the Christ back in the word Christian, then maybe, just maybe, we can change the minds and attitudes of the non-believers and make Jesus the reason for the season for all of us. Merry Christmas!"

My wish for this holiday season is that all of us set aside our differences and find our common ground. It doesn't have to be all my way and it doesn't have to be all your way. We can come to an understanding without compromising any of our principles. It has worked very well with our niece and nephew-in-law. They choose not to do Santa Claus with their children. Although it was hard for us to understand why they didn't want to encourage what we believed to be one of those innocent rites of childhood, we all recognized and respected that they had a right to raise their children as they see fit. Not once, has the different views caused a problem at any of our Christmas gatherings. It can be done, when we choose to do it. 

So during this time of year, our family would like to wish each and everyone of you and your family a ~Happy Holidays ~ Seasons Greetings ~ Happy Hanukkah ~ Happy Winter Solstice ~ or Merry Christmas, according to how you choose to believe or not! 

Simply trying to let my Saviour, Jesus, shine through my life, my actions, and the words I speak!  

Our Christmas Traditions

Traditions are an important part of family life. Creating and passing down traditions help to knit the bonds of a family tighter. Traditions also are a way to provide comfort and a feeling of safety in children. It gives them a sense of belonging and stability. They are a way to pass on a faith, values, a work ethic, and personal responsibility. The Christmas season is an excellent time of the year to start new family traditions and pass on older traditions. 

When we started our journey of starting our family, we had some things to figure out. We had to blend our two families traditions and come up with some new ones of our own. Christmas was a great place to start. My family always alternated having Christmas with my mother's and father's family between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. DH's family always had a big Christmas dinner (lunch). So, we had to work out the times so that we could attend all of the gatherings. We had to compromise. There was also an opportunity to create a new tradition for my parents and brother. We decided to celebrate our Christmas together with a Christmas breakfast at my parent's house. When DD came along, we continued the tradition my parents started by allowing DD to open one present on Christmas Eve. DH's family never did this, but he was willing to take on my family's tradition, because he knew it was important to me. 

Over the years, we continue to pass along traditions from our family to our DD and create new ones for our little family. Here are some of our Christmas traditions. 

• We don't decorate the main areas of our home until Thanksgiving. We think Thanksgiving is a very special time of the year and we don't want to take away from its meaning. 
• DD and I get up on Thanksgiving morning and watch The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. We watch it all the way to the end and greet Santa when he makes his grand entrance. 
• We don't watch any Christmas movies or special until after Thanksgiving and after the have appeared on tv. 
• We always try to watch Frosty and Rudolph on tv as a family when they come on, even though we have them on DVD. 
• DD always likes to put the angel on top of the Christmas tree. 
• We have an extended family reunion of my maternal grandmother's family on the first Sunday of December at their families home church.
• As soon as Thanksgiving is over, we pop Christmas movies in the DVD to watch during the day or a Christmas CD is the CD player to listen too. 
• We don't listen to Christmas music in the car until the Thanksgiving Day Weekend is over with, then it is Christmas music all the time. 
• We always open one present before we go to bed on Christmas Eve. 
• We are up early on Christmas  morning, but we have always had to wake DD up. (True story.) 
• We open the res of our presents before we head up to my parents house for Christmas breakfast.
• After Thanksgiving, we start using our Snowmen china and snowflake glasses. we continue to use them until the end of February in the hope that it they will lead to much loved snow. 

Those are just a few of our family traditions as they relate to Christmas. We have other traditions for birthdays and other holidays that we have shared and created. They all have been a part of bringing our family into its own and creating a sense of belonging. 

I would love to hear what some of your family traditions whether they are holiday related or not. Leave me a comment and let me in on them.

Living a simple life and enjoying the traditions that come with it! 

Simply Perfect Product: Whole Grain Pasta

In our effort to eat healthier, we have tried to switch all of the pasta we eat to whole wheat pasta or whole grain pasta. We have found that we actually like the texture and taste better than regular pasta. When it is reheated or frozen, it stays firmer than regular pasta. 

Muller's pasta use to be our choice of pasta and we still use it in a pinch, but I would much rather use Barilla pasta. I like the it cooks up better and it has a better taste than Mueller's. Barilla pasta comes in all the usual types of pasta and a few different kinds. All of their pastas are also GMO free. Barilla's website has a ton of info about their pastas, from how to cook it to how to measure it. They also have a recipe section full of recipes for every skill level of cooking. 

Barilla whole grain pasta is simply one of perfect products! Enjoy! 

It's Election Day!

Well, the day has come. It is Election Day! The day where all American citizens should do their due diligence as a citizen and go out to vote. So if you haven't, please take advantage of one of the great rights we have as an American and vote!

For this country's very first federal election there was no federal law that specified when the election should take place. However, for the 1792 election, federal law permitted each state to conduct the presidential election within a 34 day period before the first Wednesday in December, which was the day set for the meeting of the electoral college. November was thought to be good month for an election because the harvest was over and it was before the really bad snowstorms started hitting. 

In 1845, the Congress chose an uniformed day for Election Day. The day chosen was the "first Tuesday in November". However, a debate took place because in some years the first Tuesday would be outside the 34 day period of time for the electoral college to meet on the first Wednesday in December. So the day was changed to "the Tuesday after the first Monday in November." (A fact that I did not know until I started researching for this post.) So now, the period between Election Day and the first Wednesday in December is always 29 days. The effect of the change was to make November 2 the earliest day on which Election Day may fall. This is why election day this year is on the 9th which isn't the first Tuesday of the month, but it is the first Tuesday after the first Monday of the month. Who knew!

We are luck enough to be in a state where there is early voting. DD and I did just that in late October. While I wasn't pleased with the choices we had, I did my duty as a citizen and voted. I based my vote on the principles I try to live and voted with a clear conscious. In the grand scheme of things, my vote may have not made a big difference, but at least I exercised my right to do so. 

So, please, go and do your duty even if you are disgusted with the choices. Vote your principles and vote your conscious, then you will have done your duty and what many people around the world don't get an opportunity to - VOTE!

Exercising your right as a citizen of the United States of America is simply a good thing! 

Halloween Safety Tips & Ideas

Happy Halloween, everyone! As the little ghosts, goblins, firemen, and princess are getting ready for a night of trick-or-treating, it never hurts to review a few safety tips to keep everyone safe. So as a review for everyone, I am sharing a few of the tips and ideas I have come across. 

Tips For Trick-Or-Treaters

• Avoid billowing costumes or a costume with a long train that could catch fire easily. Buy costumes that are fire resistant or if you are making your own use fire resistant materials.
• Use a flash light, glow sticks, or a battery operated jack-o-lantern to light your way as you trick-or-treat. 
• Make sure to look to your left, right, & left again before crossing the streets. Try to cross the street at corners, using traffic lights & cross walks if possible. Walk, don't run, when you are crossing a street.
• While trick-or-treating put your cell phone down. Keep your head up and be aware of your surroundings. 
• Children 12 and under should be accompanied by an adult. If they are responsible enough to go out alone, make sure they stick to familiar areas and go with a group of trick-or-treaters. 
• Decorate your bag or container for your candy with reflective stickers or tape. 
• If given a choice between face paint and a mask, go with the face paint. Masks can obstruct your view. 
• Make sure costume doesn't pose a tripping factor, such as being to long.  
• Wait until children are home to sort and check treats. Though tampering is rare, a responsible adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items.  
• Eat only factory-wrapped treats. Avoid eating homemade treats made by strangers. 

 

Tips For Hosting A Party

• Keep dried flowers, corn stalks, crepe paper, and hay away from open flames and other sources of heat. 
• Never use "indoor only" lighting sources outside. They could shock someone or do something worse. 
• Never block exits or escape routes. 
• Keep candle-lit jack o' lanterns and luminaries away from doorsteps, walkways, landings, and curtains. Place them on sturdy tables, keep them out of the reach of pets and small children, and never leave them unattended.
• Make sure your porches, walkways, and yard are free of anything that a person could trip on. Masks make it harder to see things clearly.

 

Tips For Driving On Halloween Night

• Slow down and keep alert. Excited children will move in unexpected ways. 
• Take extra time to look for children at intersections, around curbs, and medians. 
• Enter and exit driveway and alleys slowly. 
• Eliminate distractions inside your car so you can put your focus on the road and your surroundings. 
• Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. so be especially alert for kids during those hours.
• Drive slowly, anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic and turn your headlights on earlier in the day to spot children from greater distances.

 

Be safe out there everyone and have fun! Try not to overload on candy! Happy Halloween!

 

Safety Tips Resources & Links:

1. Halloween Safety Tips
2. Halloween Health And Safety Tips
3. Are Your Halloween Traditions A Trick Or A Treat?
4. Halloween Party Safety 

The Pagan Origins Of Easter

The Easter season is the most special season to Christians all over the world, because it chronicles the journey Christ took on His way to die on the cross for our sins. The highlight of Easter week is Resurrection Sunday, when we celebrate our risen Saviour. Although this is a very sacred season for us, many of the traditions and symbols are rooted in pagan traditions. From the eggs we dye to the rabbits we decorate with, the pagan roots are found.

As Christianity spread across the world, there was a constant struggle of how to get the people to lay aside their old ways and traditions and adopt a new way of looking at things. When the Emperor Constantine "converted" to Christianity, he took many of the pagan ways of doing things and melded them with Christian beliefs. As Christianity continued to spread, the merging of the local traditions and Christians traditions became inevitable. 

Non-Christians and pagans of today are quick to point out the pagan of roots of Easter. They point out the name Easter is a variation of a pagan goddess. That the Easter egg was exchanged as gifts to celebrate the rebirth of nature and a belief that the earth was hatched from a giant egg. They point out that the rabbit or bunny is a sign used to celebrate fertility. Also, they point to the fact that the day of Easter is determined by a lunar cycle. Some even go as far to compare the Resurrection of our Lord to other resurrection stories found in ancient stories and myths.  

What does that mean for us as Christians? Should we NOT celebrate Easter? Should we forego dyeing eggs and eating chocolate bunnies?  Where do we draw the line? As with most issues that can't be defined by Biblical truths, I think it is a heart issue that needs to be decided by the individual after much research, study, and thought. 

Our family celebrates Easter with all the decorations, the dyeing of eggs, the Easter egg hunts, the eating of Cadbury Eggs, and the arrival of the Easter bunny, but always with the REAL reason for the Easter season in our hearts and on our minds. There are others in our life that don't do many of these things and don't wait for the arrival of the Easter bunny. We are okay with that and they don't mind how we celebrate. What matters is that we are in accord with when it comes to the most important element of the Easter season which is the celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord. 

Each person and family must determine for themselves how they choose to celebrate Easter. It may take a while for you to sort your thoughts, to do some studying, and give prayerful consideration to the issue. With God guidance and a focus on what really is the most important thing about Easter, everyone will find their way and what is right for them and their family.

Simply living a life I pray is pleasing in the eyes of my risen Saviour! 

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If you are interested in finding out more about the pagan roots of Easter, here are some links to a few articles to get you started. 

The Pagan Roots of Easter by Heather McDougall

Where Did Easter Get Its Name?...Christian Answers

The Ancient Pagan Origins Of Easter by April Holloway

The Pagan Origins Of Easter - Religious Tolerance

Was Easter Borrowed From A Pagan Holiday? by Anthony McRoy

What Are The Real Origins Of Easter? by Jerold Aust

Easter Article on Wikipedia

He is risen! We serve a risen Saviour! Hallelujah! Amen!