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Scripture Study: Homosexual / I Am Not the Judge

When I was a child homosexuality was still hidden. It wasn’t accepted socially and it was shameful and a joke even. I heard about it often but always in a negative manner... “Don’t be gay!” , “Are you gay?!” , “You’re so gay!” We also made fun of people with mental retardation by using the word “retard.” It was often used to say someone was stupid. It was also common for kids to act like they were retarded to tell someone they were being “retarded.” It was a very insensitive and mean time. Both are horrible. Because it was so bad to be homosexual, anyone who was on the inside had a hard time “coming out.” Americans have fought to change this. They have fought hard to make homosexuality normal and even praiseworthy...so that those who are hurting while hiding who they are can come out and live their truth. And maybe cut back the amount of suicides occurring. This sounds like a good cause. However, they have pushed it to the point where it is in kids’ cartoons (drag queen in
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Leaving My Year of Volunteering Behind

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 As 2021 drew near an end my name was submitted for the military keyspouse of the year award. My husband created an award packet for the submission...in which he had to name the places and hours I volunteered. They have not yet chosen the award winner.  Seeing it all written in numbers showed me how great was my contribution to the community over that course of time. In a typical year I volunteer where I can but this particular year I now look at as My Year of Volunteering. I was able to spend so much time doing this for a few reasons; My family is getting older and I am not needed in the home as much as I use to be. I only work part time as a substitute teacher. My husband supports me in what I choose to do in life. 2022 has begun. What do I want my life to be like this year? I have decided to cut back on the volunteering. My goal is to become comfortable being employed...making money. That by the end of the year I will be working more and be happy about it. This far I have not wante
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Lessons in Childcare

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Being raised in a large family does not automatically make someone 1) good at taking care of younger children or 2) want to take care of children. I, however, happened to experience all of the above. I did not start out as being good at nurturing and protecting others. My desire to love and nurture and ultimately become a mother helped me to learn how to be a good childcare provider. At 13 I started babysitting outside of my family and found that I could be good at it. I loved it for a few years but as I reached maybe 17 years of age I lost interest in babysitting. I didn’t take a break for too long. I was 18 years old when I started living on my own and had my first “job.” I became a basic childcare provider at a daycare in Las Vegas where I lived. I found a place to rent with roommates near my workplace and moved out of my parents house. I was underestimated upon hiring. The manager thought I wouldn’t last...that I was not cut out for childcare. It turned out I loved it. Fro
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Holidays Then and Now

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 When living far from family at "the holidays" it is not a surprise to reflect on memories of holidays past. Especially those that were spent with family and even those of one's childhood. I was a child in the late 80s and early 90s. Back then a "good parent" was one who set strict rules and had high standards but let their children go out into the world to live, to play, to learn and grow. Children would play in the street and at friends' houses, parks and corner stores.     Since then America's majority society has changed the standards of what a "good parent" is. A good parent now will keep their children inside the home where they cannot be kidnapped, molested or influenced by bad friends. Under the watchful eye of Mom and Dad. This is great, however, children are too protected. They are kept from getting too dirty outside. Kept from climbing too high on the playground structured. Too often kept from taking chances, making mistakes and gett
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Becoming A Military Wife

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When I was a young adult I did not know what my future looked like. I searched for it every day. I wanted to be a wife and a mother. But what would that look like? Who would my husband be? Where would we live? What kind of life would we have? When I met him he had just left basic training in the military. He wasn't sure if he wanted to make a career out of the military or leave when his first four years were up. We had grown up one state away from each other. Raised in similar family lives; being raised in large families practicing the same religion. We both dream of love and family. I had decided prior to meeting him that I was not going to marry a military man. After high school my boyfriend considered joining the Army and I put my foot down. He did not join the Army but we did not end up together anyway. When I met my husband to be I was ready to change my life. Ready to accept what path he was on and take it as my own.  We met in April and married in August. When it's meant
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4 Locations in 15 Years

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 My husband and I have lived at four military stations in 15 years.  We started in the desert. That is where we wedd and began our life together. We lived in a house we rented from my father. The very house of my own childhood, in fact. We had our first baby while living in that house. It was the summer and I tell you: it is not pleasant to be huge and pregnant in the summer in the desert! It is also hard to keep active in that situation. When it is too hot outside but the only exercise you can really do is walk. (I happened to be on "bed rest" two weeks just before going into labor)  I learned that being lazy before giving birth makes the delivery more difficult. Location number two was overseas. My husband had lived in that country before and knew the language which is super convenient when you want to travel or mingle. My hubby and I were happy to be there and we decided to have baby #2. Also a summer baby however, not born in a hot climate. I kept active to the very end o
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Being A Mom

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  Motherhood From childhood I dreamt of one day becoming a mother. I gleamed at the thought of carrying a baby in my stomach and giving it all the love I possess. I grew up in a large family (9 children) and with my desire to have kids and give my time and love to them I decided I wanted a large family. Lots of babies. My husband did not want a large family. Less is better, he felt. He came from a family of 8 children and he and I had two opposing views of large families. He was great with children even when I first met him! And he wanted to be a father. However, he felt that if you have a lot of children some of their needs and their safety sadly get missed. He felt that having less children and devoting our time and attention on every aspect of raising those few successfully would result in healthy and grateful human beings. As you can understand, when I was pushing out baby #1 my desire to have a large family evaporated! Poof! Never again did I wish for that. My first
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