Public Humiliation as Punishment

This morning I was on my way to the office and I past a young man standing on the corner. He was probably about 12 and was wearing a sandwich board sign that read "I'm a liar, a theif and a bully and I don't care about anyone but myself." I was shocked to say the least. And I found myself thinking about it all day.

I wonder what it was that this young man did to get himself into trouble? And did his parents try other means of punishment and this what they felt they had to resort to?

I have to admit that my first thought was "Oh my who would do that to their child?" and then I had to thought "whatever he did I bet he won't do that again".

You have to wonder though if that would really work or if this young man was already calloused enough that it wouldn't matter. Kids now days can be like that. And it makes me sad. They have formed the opinion of "so what are you going to do about it, huh". Parents have offered no real consequenses for the child's actions. Is that the case with this young man? Did they not discipline him until now and this was the form of punishment they chose? I guess I'll never really know the thoughts and reasonings.

What do you think? Do you think that form of punishment would be ok?

Being Thankful

Today was definately one of those days that reminds me of all I have to be thankful for. A husband who loves me and our little girl with everything and provides for us all we need, my sweet girl who can be a handful but is the most precious thing I could have ever asked for, a comfortable home, food to keep us from being hungry and most importantly a God who gave me so much and loves me no matter what.

We had dinner today with family that I haven't spoken to in quite some time. I wasn't suprised to see that most things haven't changed. And seeing some of what I saw today with family definately made me think how lucky I am. And reminded me again why I don't spend much time with them. I could really say a lot about the whole subject but it's probably best not to air it all here for the world to see. So instead I will thank God for all I have and pray for those who have less and need his love so much more then anything else.

Thanksgiving Plans

Normally for our family the holidays are spent with my family rather then my hubby's. Not splitting the holidays up between our families is simply because his family doesn't ever want to spend time with us. They never invite us to anything, we always find out about the gathering after the fact when someone says "why weren't you there?". So we've just given up on them. I know that they don't really like me. His sisters have been known to tell lies about me to get him to give them what they want. And it's usually money. Honestly that's the only time they ever call, when they need money.

So as my sister and I have been going about planning our Thanksgiving dinner as usual we get a phone call from his brother. Inviting us to Thankgiving dinner with his family. So of course my guard goes up knowing that it's almost certain that someone needs money. That is after all the only time they ever call us. L and I talked about it and although I will completely admit it was dragging my feet I agreed to go. After all his brother had made the effort to include us.

So I told L he had to call and find out what we needed to bring. He did and the response he got was "oh whatever it doesn't really matter". Which to me translates to "we really didn't want you guys here anyway so bring whatever it doesn't matter".

I know that I have to suck it up and go. It is his family and I can't make it hard on him to spend time with them. Even if they don't really want me there. But yet I'm battling with that little part of me that wants to say "NO WAY I'M NOT SPENDING MY HOLIDAY WITH THOSE PEOPLE". I mean should you be spending Thanksgiving with the people you are Thankful for. Not with people who have continually stomped on you and used you for years.

I haven't even spoken to most of his family in over a year after the last time they stirred things up with lies to get him to give one of them money. I know that I need to ask God to help me with forgiving them and yet not letting them get to me either. I'm honestly not angry with them. I can truly say that I really feel nothing for them. And after being part of this family for over 15 years that is sad to me. I can't imagine making my sister-in-law feel the way they have made me feel. Or treating anyone they way they have treated me.

I guess what I can be Thankful for is that I have family and friends that truly love me and like me being around and want to be part of my daughter's life. Even if my in-laws don't.

A night under the stars and other stuff

Kim's new favorite thing is sleeping out under the stars. We blow up the airmattress and make up a bed and sleep outside in the back yard. She loves to get in bed before it gets dark and count the stars as they start to appear. The weather has been so nice and hot that it doesn't even get to cool during the night. So that's how we've been spending out Friday nights. Just having some nice quiet time together under the stars. Now what could be better then that?


On to another story. Last weekend a local man was out huckleberry picking when he came across the bodies of 2 young people that had been murdered. Our little community has been in an uproar all week as new news and evidence has come out in the investigation. The victims were 18 and 20, boyfriend and girlfriend. The killers, their friends. Two of them 20 years old and the other just 17. They have all been arrested and have confessed to their part in the murders. Now law enforcement is finding out that these young men had confessed to friends what they did prior to the victims being found. So they are in the process of arresting those people and charging them with conspiracy due to the fact that they knew what had happened or in some cases what was going to happen and not a one of them said a thing. I guess I just can't imagine knowing that kind of information and not saying anything. The whole situation is just so sad. The families of everyone involved are going through so much. The thought of your child being murdered or your child being a murderer. Neither thought is something that any parent wants to think about. I am praying for all these families.

What is wrong with people?

We got Kimmie a puppy for her birthday in August. A sweet little sheppard mix. We called her Ginger. After 6 months is was very apparent that she seriously needed someone who could spend more time with her. She seemed to be suffering from seperations anxiety. We would leave the house and come home to a horrible mess. She would chew everything she could get a hold of and seemed to think that our living room was the bathroom. We just couldn't do it any more. No matter what we did it was the same thing every day. So we have been looking for that new home for her now for a few weeks. And finally Friday night got a call from a lady who was very excited about having her. We were going to take her to her on Monday morning. Unfortunately though when we let her out on Sunday she left the yard and was hit by a car. Whoever hit her left her laying in the street in front of our house. And couldn't even be decent enough to let us know that they killed her. We were preoccupied with a project that has been on the "to do list" for a few weeks when a friend who lives down the street knocked on our door. He happened to be walking his own dog when he found her. Larry and I got her off the road and took care of her.

We didn't let Kim see her but I did take the opportunity to talk to her about it. I told her that Ginger didn't listen when she was told to stay in the yard and went out in the street and a car ran her over. And just like when we step on an ant and squish it to kill it that was what the car did to Ginger. I really thought it was important for her to know what happened and what could happen to her if she goes out in the street herself. Without the graffic details.

I just really hope that no one does the same to the jerk that killed our dog and didn't have the decentcy to let us know. I understand that accidents happen. Animals run out in front of cars and you can't stop in time but atleast tell someone. Don't just drive off and leave them to die alone in a cold snow bank.

Take a bath already.......

Ok so I just want to know why is that people insist on not bathing? We have those that smell like cigarettes and/or booze, those that smell like B.O. and then there are the great ones that smell like urine. I don't get it. Can't they smell themselves? How does one go around stinking and not be aware of it?

Yes I'm a bit of a freak about odors on myself and in my home. And I have gotten worse about it since we got our dog. I'm so afraid that someone will come in the house and smell something. I shampoo my carpets so often I swear they are wearing thin. And I think that my phobia is wearing off on my 3 year old. She has to have "smell pretties" and stuff so she doesn't have "stinky pits". And she walks around the house wanting to spray the Febreeze on everything. She says she's "cleaning because that room is stinky" or so she thinks.

I even have a can of air freshener in my desk drawer for just the occasion that I have a stinky customer. This came up today because a friend was talking about an issue she has with a smelly co-worker and I had a smelly customer come in. He had an appointment and was a half hour early. He stunk of urine. Everyone else was at lunch and I offered the man to wait in the waiting room but instead he stood just a few short feet from my desk. I'm sure it would have been rude of me to go spray him down. Could you imagine actually doing that? Wouldn't that be something?!?!