NBC cancels 'Book of Daniel'

(Woo-Hoo!!!)

NBC's anti-Christian program The Book of Daniel has been cancelled! Your efforts, combined with those of hundreds of thousands of other AFA Online supporters, had an impact.

NBC's decision to pull The Book of Daniel shows the power of the pocketbook. NBC didn't want to eat their economic losses. Had NBC not had to eat millions of dollars each time it aired, NBC would have kept The Book of Daniel on the air. Because of your efforts, the sponsors dropped the program. NBC then decided it didn't want to continue the fight.

Even an impassioned plea by Daniel's producer Jack Kenny could not match your participation. "Ordinarily, I would never ask anyone to do this, but the AFA and bullies like them are hard at work to try and prevent you from seeing these beautiful shows, and that is censorship—pure and simple. And that is both un-Christian and un-American," Kenny wrote. His attitude is typical in today’s society. Non-Christians telling Christians what is Christian.

People like Kenny don't want people like you to have a voice. They want to deny you the right to get involved. You are supposed to sit back and take the trash. And when you do speak up they call you names.

This shows us that we don't have to simply sit back and take the trash, but we can get involved and fight back with our pocketbooks. I want to thank the 678,394 individuals who sent emails to NBC and the thousands who called and emailed their local affiliates.

Thanks for caring enough to get involved!

Sincerely,

Don

Donald E. Wildmon, Founder and Chairman
American Family Association

"Childhood Drug Problems"

I got this email and thought it was good-

"The other day, someone at a store in our town read that a methamphetamine lab had been found in an old farmhouse in the adjoining county and he asked me a rhetorical question, ''Why didn't we have a drug problem when you and I were growing up?''

I replied: I had a drug problem when I was young: I was drug to church on Sunday morning. I was drug to church for weddings and funerals. I was drug to family reunions and community socials no matter the weather. I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults. I was also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents, told a lie, did not speak with respect, spoke ill of the teacher or the preacher, or if I didn't put forth my best effort in everything that was asked of me.

I was drug out to pull weeds in mom's garden and flower beds and cockleburs out of dad's fields. I was drug to the homes of family, friends, and neighbors to help out some poor soul who had no one to mow the yard, repair the clothesline, or chop some firewood; and, if my mother had ever known that I took a single dime as a tip for this kindness, she would have drug me back to the woodshed.

Those drugs are still in my veins; and they affect my behavior in everything I do, say, and think. They are stronger than cocaine, crack, or heroin; and, if today's children had this kind of drug problem, America would be a better place."

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I made a new sig last night, too-

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I've been in bed all day today with a major headache, dare I say, a migraine. My first public speaking presentation is tomorrow, please pray for me! I feel pretty confident, but prayer always helps. I made a 100 on my second quiz in that class Friday. I'll know how I done on my Algebra and Personal Finance test tomorrow. I'm hoping I done good on those, too!!

How was your weekends? Feel free to link me ;o)

Today's Forecast

Turning cloudy, windy and cooler

High Temperature: 50° F
RealFeel®: 41° F

Winds: WNW at 15 mph
Wind Gusts: 34 mph
Maximum UV: Moderate (3)
Thunderstorm Probability: 0%
Amount of Precipitation: 0.00 in
Amount of Rain: 0.00 in
Amount of Snow: 0 in
Hours of Precipitation: 0 hrs

Again! Oh my goodness I got caught in a dust storm in the gravel parking lot today!! I really, really need some good gloves to wear. My hat and scarf my SIL got me for Christmas has been awesome. However, I just noticed a little while ago that I have a layer of fine black fuzz on my neck where my scarf was. I wonder if I had that going on all day and noone told me? Oh well ;o)

Tomorrow is my first PC Lit. test, I sure hope I do good. I have a math test on Friday, and my teacher said if we didn't have any questions Thursday we didn't have to come to class. (God threw me a bone and I'm catching it!!) so as soon as I am done in my PC class I am coming home and dieing (not literally of course).

I have an ear - nose - throat - chest thing going on. Everything is rattling, pressure behind my sinuses, UHG!!

Hey Jay's home, gonna run!!

Quiz results, kids conversation, chugging along

Well, I missed two on my Public Speaking quiz from Friday, that left me with an 85. I have two more, no, three? more tests this week in other classes. I'm also doing my first presentation in my public speaking class on friday, too! Our group is presenting the third chapter in the book. You know what's funny is that there's a girl in my group I already had thought about offering a MK facial to. When she complimented me on my purse (MK hostess gift), I asked if she wanted one- she's a consultant! LOL!! She just signed up in late November under a National Sales Director our in Missouri, so I've invited her to join our unit meetings ("adopt" her in). How cool! and her director is awesome, I got to hear her speak last summer and she really spoke to my heart big time.

So here's a conversation that happened at our table tonight:

Hannah: "Look Jackson, I found my ring! Now you can marry me!"
Jackson: "Hannah, I am not marrying you. It's against the rules."
Me (to Jay): "He's been trying to get out of marrying her for a week now"
Jay: lol
Jackson: "Hannah I am going to pick the woman I am going to marry, I'm not marrying you"
Hannah: "But I'm your siiisstterrrr" (because that qualifies as a woman, right? LOL!!)
Jackson: "That's right! and you don't marry your sister. It's against the rules. If you marry your sister, baaaaadddd things happen .... right mom?"
Me: "Jackson, where did you hear this from?"
Jackson: "I just know. Noone told me. You just don't marry your sister."

WELL, I guess THAT settles it!! :p

Jackson gets his report card tomorrow. I'm really excited!!

I'll tell you what. Mucinex WORKS!! While I still feel sluggish to a degree, I know I could be feeling a LOT worse had I not started taking that last night. My throat still feels constricted, and my chest is still tight when I breathe deeply, but it's keeing me well enough to function, and for that I thank my Lord above!! I had to walk to class in 44o light rain, I was really worried this morning. But a few of my prayer warriors got busy and by the end of my second (of four) class the sky was clearing up :o) PTL!!!

Jackson passed his cooties

He still has a nagging cough, but it's just nagging not as deep as it was a few days ago, and went bacl to school on Thursday. Jay and I have picked up the cough, and mine is getting deeeepp. It's turning into that barking sound. I'm going to take some musinex soon- I just feel my bronchial tubes tightening up. The kids spent the night with MIL last night and Jay went down there for the afternoon. I spoke with him a little while ago and he said Hannah was running a fever now. Now we know what that means. That drama queen never runs a fever and leave sit at that. So we have another dr's visit coming up soon, except it will have to be mom who takes her, because I'll be in school!!! Well, I guess I can make an appointment for later in the afternoon, that would work I guess. Who knows. All I know is I'm SICK and I only have 5 hours for each class I can miss. uhg!!! I told my algebra teacher early last week that I didn't care if I was running a fever- I was coming to class if it killed me, lol

My first quiz is Friday

It's in my public speaking course. I need to go finish reading the chapter. This one snuck up on me. Sheila was right, when I write this stuff down in my calendar, I need to daily refer back to my calendar!!! It does me no good otherwise!!

By the way, I'm feeling a little better today than I did yesterday. Thank you to whoever prayed for me!!

Tried two new recipes today

One was the WW garden veggie soup (0 pts) I forgot the zucchini so I added more cabbage, and cooked the veggies a lot longer (done the riso (sp?) approach- used cooking spray at first then added brother little by little to keep it from burning ... turned out VERY tender veggies!!). Hannah done most of the work what with the stirring and all .... I'll definitely be doing that one again.

The other one was a (4 pt per half cup) southwestern egg salad I done for breakfast tomorrow (for me) but the kids had it tonight for dinner and loved it. Jackson mopped it down. It had finely chopped sweet red bell pepper, a little onion finely chopped, fresh cilantro minced, mayo (not a lot), ff sour cream, salt, pepper and cumin. It was good and I'll do this one again :)

So I have half a red bell pepper sliced and packed for snack tomorrow, as well as a carrot - "sticked", and two carrots "sticked" for Jackson tomorrow, both of us carrying some of that soup for lunch. I love it that my son is such an eager, non picky eater. It's a real blessing.

So do we think I'm on the track? I weighed yesterday-I have my new ticker up :o)

Uht Oh, someone stick me in bed

Here are the weather details for our area today from www.accuweather.com -

Windy and colder with increasing amounts of sunshine

High Temperature: 50° F
RealFeel®: 42° F

Winds: W at 15 mph
Wind Gusts: 34 mph
Maximum UV: Moderate (3)
Thunderstorm Probability: 1%
Amount of Precipitation: 0.01 in
Amount of Rain: 0.01 in
Amount of Snow: 0 in
Hours of Precipitation: 1 hrs
Hours of Rain: 1 hrs

Okay, I had to WALK in that today!! By the time I got to my first class, my fingers were numb, my hot coffee was lukewarm, the pressure behind my left eye was tremendous, I was seeing spots, and gasping for air! That was one major cardio workout there!! and I have to go back tomorrow, but at least the gusts will be down to 4mph and there'll be a high of 64o Praise God.

I'm afraid the damage is done. I "feel" it. Not sure what "it" is, but it's there. Did you ever see the episode of Everybody Loves Raymond where the guy sneezed on him in the airport restroom? I feel like Ray did- you know- "like you feel the day before you get the flu- the day before that" (LOL!! That's a funny episode)

Classes were good today. I have a lot of homework, reading mostly. PTL my Psychology professor stopped on page I quit reading last night with the intentions of finishing it this morning. But Jackson was running another fever this morning so I slept an extra hour. This is his third day out of school. I have all his work here, he just won't do it.

I spoke with Jay last night about my recent struggles with the kids. It's like they've decided NOT to obey! I don't know what's going on with them but my nerves are getting shorter and shorter. Jay will have to ensure Jackson's work is done tonight. He should be getting home any time now. I've decided to assign the kids chores for each day. Just got to figure out what they'll do.

Uhg- I just feel rough. I'm gonna go try to read some, Take care!!

Jackson-isms

This will be an ongoing feature on this blog from here on out.

We're sitting at the kitchen table, Jackson doing his seatwork from school that he's missed since he's been out of schoolf or two days now (he WILL go back tomorrow!!)

He says ...

"Mom, if you get one of Temone's teeth (our dog whose teeth have been falling out gradually), can you give it to me so I can put it under my pillow for the tooth fairy? ..... I'll give the money to Temone...."

1-19-06-
I was making an egg salad, and could not find my egg slicer. So I was hand chopping my boiled eggs. I decided to make things easier and cut a "grid" first, then start slicing from the end. Jackson was watching me, and says....

"Whoa, that's cool. Mom when I graduate from college and I can use a knife, will you teach me how to do that?"

Of course I said yes. I'd much rather my child not use knives until college ;o)

1-24-05-
Jackson: "Hey Mom, you know if you had named me Lucky, that my name would be Lucky Ashlee W, and my initials would be LAW ... (giggle) get it? I'd be the LAW!"

Oy am I a bad blogger!! (update)

How quick does a week pass by when you have other things demanding your attention!! It has been a week since I even posted!! As you can see though I have managed to add my weight loss ticker to the top here, so each time I visit my own blog (which, of course I double check every post, LOL) Ill have to look at my progress, good or bad.

This week was a good week, though, according to my scales. It may have something to do with the .3 mile I have to walk TO campus, then again, FROM campus from my parking spot. Not to mention hopping from building to building, going up and down the stairs with a 30 lb book bag! I took a picture on the first day of what my walk looks like, but I believe I will take another one tomorrow from my more accurate parking space, a bit further away than the first day. One lot, to be exact.

My classes seem to be great. My most challenging one is Algebra simply because the girls that sit around me talk endlessly during the homework time, and it's distracting to me. Other than that, it's grreeaaatt! Two quotes from me teachers this week that got me tickled:

One teacher noticed as he was handing out syllabuses that the back row was completely full. He says "Ahhhh, just like the back row of a Baptist church, chock full. I might as well move all of you up to the front!", which cracked me up as I was sitting at the same angle from his lectern as I do from my pastor, on front row, when I'm in church, LOL!!!

Then another teacher, while explaining her cell phone policy, gave a very vivid example. Her policy is simple, keep it turned off or on vibrate, and leave the room before answering as to not distract anyone around you. She says "Imagine you are in church- sitting beside your mother.... Imagine the FIT she would pitch, if your cell phone rang during church. Now multiply that TIMES TEN and that's what you'll have from me if your phone rings in MY class!" LMBO!!!

I thought those were pretty good.

One highlight of the week was my PC class, called "Basic PC Literacy". I'm not sure what I was expecting except that I knew I'd pass no doubts there. I remember thinking as I looked through the catalog, how I wished there was a class that covered Microsoft programs, especially the Office suite cause I've always wanted to master that. Guess what we're covering in my PC class? You got it! MS Office! That's the ONLY thing we're doing! First Word, then Excel, then Access, then PowerPoint! Woo-Hoo!!! This is gonna be fun :)

I've had this abnormal drive for organization this past week. Should I say, I remember back when I was nesting before I had Jackson (7 years ago), how organized I was. How routine I was. How at peace I was with my surroundings. Slowly but surly, that's all coming back now! It's like second nature for some reason for me to clean the kitchen in the evenings! How weird is that? I mean I have tried to attempt organization for years but always fail, but now it just seems to be effortlessly happening! I'm not gonna argue- just be thankful.

My biggest challenge is the kids. Hannah is at her all time worse. I am trying my best to figure out what in the world has gotten into her. She does not listen to a thing I say!! One minute she can be just as loving as she can be, then you ask her to do something and she just looks at you like you're crazy and she does the opposite. She's doing her best to drive Jackson nuts- which brings open another can of worms, because he doesn't respond in the manner in which he should. You'd think they were about to kill each other or something. They've become stumbling blocks for each other!! Lord please have mercy on me!! I'm hoping once we get more routine, both of them will calm down.

Poor Jackson, he's sick. He has a cold or something. He's been coughing since last Friday, and this morning he got up with a fever of 100.1. So we ended up keeping him out of school. The fever broke about 10:30-11am, so we got ready and went to lunch at Hannah's new favorite place, "Bernie's". Hannah teases Jackson because he never gets to go, because they close at 2pm. Hannah and I eat there for breakfast, or have been since Wednesday ;o) So I figured I would take advantage of the fact I had Jackson at home and we went.

Dad walks up there every morning, eats breakfast, sits and chats with all his buddies who go in to do the same thing, lol. It's just a locally owned little restaurant that's been there for 30 years. (Its .4 mile away from mom and dad’s house.) They've changed ownerships a few times, but all the owners have kept the same name so they're "grandfathered" in with the old laws. So Hannah and I have been going up there and eating breakfast, picking up dad and taking him home, and leaving Hannah with them while I'm at school. (Right now mom and dad are watching Hannah while I'm in school, until her spot comes open in the subsidy program).

After we finished eating, mom and dad walked in, go figure ;o) they weren't supposed to get home that soon! I had called dad before we left and he said they were at the eye doctor, which is 15 miles away from them! I was planning on taking the kids back to their house and baking cupcakes for mom's birthday, which was today :p We did that anyways, and all was well. The cupcakes were good, too. Hannah helped make them, and Jackson (along with Hannah) helped decorate them.

Gracious how do you get these kids to go to bed and stay?! I have fought Hannah for over an HOUR to stay in bed and go to sleep. After 15 minutes or so of silence I go to check to be sure she's out (you know how you just like looking at them asleep? They are so peaceful, like lil angels ... yeh right) and she's laying there wide awake messing with her blanket!! Jackson's fever is coming back :o( (it's 9pm, I've been typing over 30 minutes between getting up and down, etc...) Poor guy. He's going to bed like he's going to school in the morning, little does he know. Uhg. We don't have the money to take him to the dr!! That’s another vent for another day.

I had the weirdest dream the other night. My grandmother passed away 3.5 years ago. We were fiercely close, and I grieved extremely hard for her, worse than any other person in my life that's ever died. The other night, I dreamed the whole family was supposed to get together for a meal. That's ODD in its self because we just don't do that anymore.

But when I arrived, my gma was there ... alive. She looked great, years younger than she was when she died, and before the light dementia had kicked in. I just freaked out. The best I can remember, my response was "why NOW?" like, why come back NOW, after I have grieved for so hard for so long. Why ARE you coming back? What's the purpose of coming back? The thing was, there wasn't a question about 'how' she come back. I remember part of my dream I was talking to my sister in law and saying, "if Jesus brought Lazarus back thousands of years ago, then of course he can bring my grandma back now"-- but in the latter part of my dream, I remember having doubt of WHO brought her back. Whether she returned because the Lord was sending her back to me, or it was Satan and everything was a ruse.

It was a really weird dream. I remember wanting to just fall into her arms and hold her like I did before, but my doubts and anger kept me from doing so.

I had another similar dream about my best friend who died when I was 14, too. That dream come about a number of years after her death. I dreamed then that she come back, but I found that she was never dead to begin with, that her death had been faked. I remember rejecting her in my dream, having the same kind of anger I had in this recent dream with gma.

I wonder what all of this is supposed to represent.

Well, if anything that'll give y'all something to chew on ;o)
Post a comment and let me know you come by! Remember you can subscribe to my blog through my yahoo group over there in the little yellow box to the right. When you subscribe you'll receive each new post via email, then all you'll have to do is come to the blog to comment if you wish (please) :)

Take Care!!

I'm reproductibly behind

My best church-friend S found out she was expecting her fourth this week. We delivered our 'seconds' three days apart, and she's since had another. I found out tonight another friend at church is expecting her fourth. Another friend just delivered her fourth a couple months ago- we carried our 'seconds' together, too. Her dd was born the same day as S's ds was, three days before Hannah.

I was pregnant with Penny and Joy, too. Joy delivering Noel exactly one month before I had Hannah. Y'all have since had one more and are expecting your fourth! I'm drinking the water people! Wassup? lol

I know both times I conceived it was after a massive weight loss. I have 35-40 lbs to lose, I am wondering if this isn't built in birth control or something, because, well, we don't use BC! I want to lose this weight but should I expect another child to come with the loss? Do I want another child to come with the loss? I want the loss ... am I looking around thinking I want the child too?

I know the Lord has a plan for us. I found that house, there's definitely a working plan there. I start college this week. I've decided this will be my "big" Mary Kay year which will be hard work. It's really hard to see getting pregnant with all this going on, but it still feels a little .... weird? not being in on all the expecting club happenings.

My youngest just turned four. If I got pregnant NOW, she would be turning 5 when the baby was born. Am I prepared for a bigger age gap? kwim? Does any of this make sense?

Not going to be posting points or stats

I've decided not to try to keep up with posting my points here in the blog (or elsewhere). I'm thinking if I have less pressure on the journaling aspect, then I'll be able to spend more energy in actually paying attention to the things instead of typing about them. I'm still going to keep a written journal, and will post updates on "the journey" here :)

I'm officially a college student

I registered for my classes today. I'm taking:
Interpersonal Psychology
Personal Finance
Introductory Algebra
Basic PC Literacy (ROFL)
Public Speaking

I'll be going basically four hours a day mon-fri. 9'ish to 1'ish. I got my tuition paid and my books (and a cool backpack) paid for, and still have almost four hundred dollars left on my grant! I have til the 19th for all my purchasing to be done then they'll cut a check to me for the balance- gotta love THAT!!! I was looking at my receipt though and realized tonight they only charged me 40c for one of my books ... got to go get that fixed, I wouldn't be able to go through the course knowing that. What's scarey is how many more books they've sold for 40c!!!

Frustrating evening

I had a headache this morning. The trip has taken it's toll on me, really. I was on the phone with J earlier today and asked when he'd be home. He said around 6. I said it would be great if he could ensure that, so I could leave Hannah at home with him for a change when I take Jackson to basketball practice which resumed today. He said sure. After dropping off carpool kids, we went to one store in search of jumbo pacn chicken breasts. They didn't have any. Go pick dad up from the house he was cleaning, go to other store to get chicken, go to credit union for dad, go pick up their dog from groomers, taken dad and dog home. Go by yet another grocery store for side items, come home. Have supper done at 6:30, looking for J. Come 7:15 I conclude we're not going to practice and Jackson has a fit. I call J's phone and ask if he's lying on the side of the road, he says no. I ask of the car is working, he says yes. Then it hits him. His boss come in with something and J decided to do it before he left work, completely forgetting about practice.

Thats the thing, he has been so uninvolved with Jackson's basketball, not one practice OR game, it really doesn't suprise me. hurts, but not suprise. It's a matter of priorities.... and lack of consistency. Hannah was looking fwd to time with her daddy tonight, that would be the only thing to keep her from practice. I just didn't have the energy tonight to follow up on Hannah. My best friend K's daughters were there to run her around, but I don't believe that should be their job each and every practice, kwim?

I have so much to do around here!!
I believe I will enlist mom's help tomorrow in catching up on my laundry, LOL I need to go to the bank anyway, so we'll be out around lunchtime. I was informed (mom) that a new headboard, footboard, frame, and mattress set will be delivered tomorrow :) Woo-Hoo! I hope it's a soft pillowtop!! I just need to clean out our room so we can get it in ::blush::: I got a new abcdistributing catalog and see a bunch of decorating stuff I could go crazy with. Oh goodie.

I've been thinking a lot about Carol and my MK career. This has been a great week with orders. I will love it when the time comes every week will be like this and better. I need to remind myself "baby steps". 2006 will prove to be the miracle year. I will get my house in order and running effectively, we'll start our debt reduction plan, I start college, we'll start homeschooling (Hannah) in August, just a whole bunch going on. But my main goal will be to be in a company car by Christmas. That's the big thing. Consistency is the key here. That's not something I have a whole lot of, really!!

Time for bed- feel free to comment!!

Home from trip; received bad news

We got home from our trip to Alabama late friday night. Jay and I drove the whole way to and from. It was a nice trip. I'll have to post details later.

I got some horrible news tonight at church. As you know I am a Mary Kay Consultant. I have about seven team mates that I go to church with, and one of them told me tonight that our National Director Carol Robertson died yesterday from a tragic accident.

Just earlier in the year, March if I remember correctly, did Carol's husband Brian pass away due to leukemia at a very young age. I dare say this couple was in their fourties, more like late thirties I believe. Carol was putting away her Christmas decorations in the attic of her new home. She apparently thought her dad who was helping her was starting to fall. Carol in her attempt to keep her dad who she thought was losing his balance, fell 20 feet off her ladder on her head. Her spine was broken in four different places.

They airlifted her to Duke Hospital where she lived for three hours then passed. Carol leaves a six year old daughter. This child is an orphan. Please pray for little Taylor.

Carol was the mentor of my own director, Carla. I had the opportunity to meet Carol at a workshop just less than a couple of months ago. She truly lived up to her reputation. She lit up the room she was in. She was concerned for others, and believed with her whole being that if you dare to dream it, you can achieve it. Her life was an open book, for all to read. She gave herself until her very end. May her spirit go on in everyone's memory who had the priviledge of encountering her.

I personally am still in shock, and sick to death. It seemed just yesterday my heart was going out to her facing the loss of her husband. Now it's breaking for her daughter, who, in one year, lost both of her parents. You know, dr's say kids are resilient and bounce back easily- how does a child bounce back from something like this? Her parents left her a huge legacy behind- that one day will give her comfort. But what about now? I only pray that this child is exposed regularly to the Word of God, and that if she has not already, she will very soon accept Christ as her Savior. Until then I pray that God will put a hedge of protection around this precious child, show her his love in a very visible way that she will understand.