Category Archives: Personal Issues

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: December 6, 2015

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY… December 6, 2015

Outside my window… dark. It was in the 60’s earlier when I got out of church. (Granted, it’s technically 1 a.m. on the 7th as I’m writing this.)

I am thinking… that Daniel really needs to be going back to sleep. *looks at the small child who is finding new and creative ways to fall asleep while touching me*

I am thankful… that Daniel was a complete angel today. He snuggled with my mom, focused on his Legos and engaged in focused play, and went to sleep with no drama tonight. The current round of wakefulness is mostly due to me daring to get out of bed to use the bathroom and disturbing his sleeping position (his head on my stomach and the rest of him contorted around me).

I am wearing… charcoal shirt and black capri sweats — my jammies.

I am creating… this entry. 🙂 Also a big boy blanket for my wee bairn.

I am going… to try and find a provider who will see my kiddo on straight Medi-Cal so I can avoid having to deal with the county hospital’s pediatric urgent care. Kiddo runs out of Adderall on Wednesday and I don’t want him missing any days as we’re seeing some serious improvement with him on it.

I am wondering… when I’ll be able to do some Christmas shopping.

I am reading… a bunch of Jessica Beck murder mysteries. I also have Accidental Saints by Nadia Bolz-Weber on my e-reader for the time when I run out of library books.

I am hoping… my kiddo goes back to sleep and stops balancing on his elbow on my leg. It’s causing me a bit of discomfort. *gives the kid a sideglance*

I am learning… to back up my data lest I have to take my laptop to Best Buy again to have them extract all my data.

In my kitchen… Dad made steak for dinner. Yum.

A favorite quote for today… “I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” — C.S. Lewis

One of my favorite things… Definitely this list of fabulous Christmas carols. Someone even made a playlist of all the YouTube videos she mentioned:

Hosted by The Simple Woman’s Blog.

7 Quick Takes: The Inland Regional Center Shooting

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Why I am focusing on this today. This shooting affects me particularly strongly because Daniel has received services from the various Regional Centers in the parts of California in which we have lived. They help parents like me get services for their special kids. I would honestly have a hard time being able to do anything without them. (Here is my post on this from yesterday.)

— 2 —

My fears. When I heard where the shooting took place, my first thought was wondering how many kids and developmentally disabled adults were killed. Seriously, it could have been Daniel and I in that building if we had lived one town farther east on the 210. We were part of a different Regional Center because we lived in Los Angeles County whereas the one where the shooting took place serves San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. The people who work there are all social workers who try and make sure that kiddos like Daniel can thrive and that means that they meet with the kids and parents at the center. I know the one we went to was a warren of offices and conference rooms so it is completely possible for someone to go in and hide in there. I’m also not surprised that the Health Department was holding a Christmas party there because they have a lot of conference rooms and meeting spaces.

— 3 —

The fact that the shooters were Muslim. This saddens me even more because it could be throwing terrorism into the investigation which could be a complete red herring. There are Muslims who commit crimes like these but there are also non-Muslims who do as well. My heart goes out to the Muslim community of San Bernardino and I pray that nobody “takes matters into their own hands” as people are wont to do.

— 4 —

Gun control. I was in middle school when the 101 California Street shooting happened and I remember the Brady Bill being passed. Believe me, it makes an impression when you’re seeing people fleeing a building on local TV. (I live about an hour southeast of San Francisco depending on traffic.) I’m absolutely livid that we cannot get meaningful gun control legislation passed, especially after the Bush administration failed to keep the Federal Assault Weapon Ban from expiring.

— 5 —

Mixed motive. As I’m writing this on Thursday afternoon (as opposed to Quick Take #3 which was Wednesday night), there is speculation that Syed Rizwan Farook (the male shooter) had ties to terrorists and that he went to Pakistan and came back with Tashfeen Malik (his wife). It is possible that he was radicalized in Pakistan… or he could have just gone there because he is of Indo-Pakistani descent and he wanted a wife who was from the same country/ethnicity. It is possible that he could have just been really infuriated with his coworkers over something. I agree with President Obama’s take that it could be both terrorism and workplace violence and this complicates things.

— 6 —

Why so violent? Another angle to this which I know my NRA-loving friend John would want me to mention is WHY Farook reacted so violently if this was a workplace issue. I know I’ve had coworkers who drive me absolutely crazy but I haven’t acted on any urges to take a gun and blow them away.

— 7 —

How common this is in America. This image from Facebook says it all:

My thoughts on the frequency of these shootings.

Even Fox News reporters are commenting on this.

For more Quick Takes, visit Kelly at This Ain’t The Lyceum.

{five favorites}: Favorite Regional Center Workers

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{five favorites}

Unless you’ve been living under a rock today, you probably heard about the shooting at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernadino. This completely horrifies me because my son Daniel receives services through the local Regional Centers where we’ve lived in California. For an explanation of what they do, click here. In the mean time, here are my 5 favorite Regional Center workers.

One

Pat. Pat was our service coordinator through the Alta California Regional Center until Daniel’s 3rd birthday. She got us hooked up with Easter Seals who provided him with an infant program, physical therapy, and speech therapy. She also got us an occupational therapist when Easter Seals couldn’t provide one. I think the best thing she did was get me through Daniel’s autism diagnosis, being present with me for the ADOS and then getting me ABA training.

Two

Rose. Rose was the respite worker who the San Gabriel-Pomona Regional Center provided through one of the agencies with whom they contract. She allowed Jon and I to have date nights and also hooked us up with VIP Soccer. She loved Daniel and was just the perfect person for him.

Three

Jennifer. Jennifer was the occupational therapist provided by the Alta California Regional Center. A lot of her job was getting Daniel to engage and experience new textures and work on his grips. She also got him drinking from a sippy cup.

Four

Maggie. Maggie was our service coordinator with San Gabriel-Pomona Regional Center. She was incredibly patient with Daniel, rejoiced when I’d call and give her progress reports, and was instrumental in helping us find a dentist for him in southern California.

Five

Sara. Sara was the physical therapist we got through Easter Seals which is the provider used by Alta California Regional Center so I count her in this. I loved her so much and she was so good with my kiddo that I kept her as a Facebook friend after Daniel turned 3 and the school district took over the physical/speech/occupational therapy. She talked me down off of numerous figurative ledges every time Daniel got a scary diagnosis. I repeat her words frequently: “we treat the kids, not the diagnoses.”

Go love up Ashley.

The SImple Woman’s Daybook: November 29, 2015

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY November 29, 2015

Outside my window… dark. It got to about 59F earlier when I was sitting out at $tarbux having coffee with Rebecca. I was loving the cold even if I wasn’t dressed for it at the time. (Note to self: tights are a good thing in places where it gets chilly during late fall/early winter.)

I am thinking… about Advent things and worship this morning at my church. I love the Trisagion setting that we are doing in place of the Gloria for Advent. (The text is here and the music is here.)

I am thankful… for several days with Jon, my evil twin, and the evil twin’s wife.

In the kitchen… shrimp linguine made by my dad. We all licked our plates completely clean.

I am wearing… charcoal shirt and gray pajama bottoms.

A Daniel story for today… Kiddo lost his other front tooth while eating corn chips on Thanksgiving. He’s missing exactly the same teeth that I was at his age. (We watched some old home movies from that year this last weekend.)

I am going… to be making a Goodwill run tomorrow morning. I think the guy who mans the trailer is pondering closing it up and claiming that it’s full each time he sees me.

I am wondering… what to do to get my kid to sleep well again. He’s finally going to sleep… at 9:45 p.m. after my mom chewed him out for screwing around. (I think he’s really stuffed up and uncomfortable so he’s having a problem getting to sleep.)

I am reading… Come Rain or Come Shine by Jan Karon. It’s interesting to read the story from the point of view of some of the other characters.

I am hoping… that I can go to Knit Wits on Tuesday.

I am looking forward to… Daniel sleeping well again.

Around the house… sheets to wash tomorrow.

I am pondering… what I have to get done this week.

A favorite quote for today… “Keep back nothing. Nothing that you have not given away will be really yours. Nothing in you that has not died will ever be raised…” — C.S. Lewis

One of my favorite things… venti iced vanilla lattés from $tarbux.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Goodwill runs, possibly Knit Wits on Tuesday night, choir on Thursday night, and whatever else comes up.

A peek into my day… My friend Thomas put together a wonderful Advent playlist on YouTube several years ago. As I’m without my iTunes at the moment, I’m listening to it to scratch that itch.

Hosted by The Simple Woman’s Daybook

7 Quick Takes: Gratefulness

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7 Quick Takes

It’s been a tough couple of months so I thought I’d go this for my Quick Takes today as a way of getting perspective.

— 1 —

I am thankful for God in my life. Can we just say that without the grace of God working in me and without His mighty hand slapping me upside the head occasionally I’d be in BIG trouble? (Yes, I know my image of God at this very moment is that of Gibbs on NCIS.)

— 2 —

I’m thankful for Daniel. My job as a mom is to help him to heaven but I think it works both ways. Kiddo has seriously purged almost every ounce of selfishness out of me and has made me a far better person that I would be ordinarily. He’s also a very good cuddlebug and full of sunshine 95% of the time.

— 3 —

I’m thankful for my mommy. My mom is amazing. She is incredibly diplomatic, she instinctively knows how to work with Daniel, she backs me up 100% in my parenting, and she babysits so I can go be a human being a couple times a week. On Tuesday night, I came home to Daniel asleep on the heating vent in my room (it doesn’t get too hot so it was fine) and some Kraft mac n’ cheese on the stove for me because she didn’t know if I had been able to get dinner before my 3 hours of church stuff. She is freaking awesome.

— 4 —

I’m thankful to get along with my family so well. We’ve got 7 people in the house right now and nobody is fighting or grumping or being miserable. This is pretty awesome. I’m also glad to be able to spend the time with Jon, my evil twin brother Sean, and his wife.

— 5 —

I’m thankful that I live within walking distance of almost everything I need. We have to drive to get to Daniel’s school but I live within walking distance of the park, the library, a grocery store, and $tarbux. It makes it easier to go have “adventures” with my munchkin.

— 6 —

I’m grateful for the two churches I have been part of this year. St. John’s Episcopal Church helped to heal me from bad pastor’s wife experiences and welcomed me with open arms into their choir, the Wednesday morning Bible study (whom I miss greatly), and their community. When I had to move back up to northern California, the Episcopal Church in Almaden (who loved me into faith as a high schooler) welcomed back with open arms into their choir (there are benefits to having known the choir director for more than half of one’s life) and into the parish community.

— 7 —

I’m thankful to Al Gore for creating the Internet. The internet allows me to keep in touch with people and be less isolated than I would be if I had to go interact with people face-to-face. I also have a great community on Facebook who pray for me and keep me going.

For more Quick Takes, visit Kelly at This Ain’t The Lyceum.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: November 23, 2015

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY November 23, 2015

Outside my window… dark. It was in the mid 60’s today, I think.

I am thinking… about tomorrow night’s choral evensong service.

I am thankful… for my parents getting some painting done today.

In the kitchen… paint dust so we ordered pizza.

I am wearing… my VBS shirt from this year and black sweats

I am going… to have a fair amount of cleaning to do tomorrow.

I am wondering… about some things related to today.

I am reading… some Jessica Beck mysteries and Accidental Saints by Nadia Bolz-Weber.

I am hoping… I can recover some files that might be lost.

I am looking forward to… seeing family from out of town this week.

I am learning to back up my files better.

Around the house… cleaning to do tomorrow. Whee!!!

I am pondering… the mystery I am reading at the moment.

One of my favorite things… Hawaiian pizza.

A few plans for the rest of the week: clean tomorrow, choral evensong tomorrow night, dinner with peeps on Thursday, and whatever else comes up.

Hosted by The Simple Woman’s Daybook

7 Quick Takes: Refugee Takes, School, and Choral Evensong

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Refugee take #1. The French are suggesting that we use “Da’esh” instead of ISIS. This is why. It actually makes sense.

— 2 —

Refugee take #2. Not all Muslims agree with Da’esh. (The vast, vast majority find them despicable.) The closest Muslims to what they believe are the Wahhabis who control things in Saudi Arabia. This piece explains why. It’s also why Saudi Arabia has not taken any refugees thus far — they don’t take Christians (the country is officially 100% Muslim and those who convert to something else face death) and it’s a Sunni Muslim theocracy so any Shi’a Muslims are out of luck.

— 3 —

Refugee take #3. I have seen some pretty foul behavior from my fellow Christians over the whole refugee issue in talking about how we should not welcome refugees to the USA and this is one of those times when I actually *AM* calling out people in my own life for their behavior. (I’m usually pretty reserved, but not on this subject.) Jamie the Very Worst Missionary actually has a pretty good take on all of this. Ditto with Ryan Dueck.

I think my friend Sarah of Fumbling toward Grace put it best when she quoted something she had read at the beginning of the refugee crisis (and she would like me to clarify that she can’t remember who said it):

“We don’t help refugees because they are Christian. We help refugees because we are Christian.” (emphasis mine)

— 4 —

Refugee take #4. To maybe shut a few people up and remove the complete atmosphere of unfounded fear that seems to be pervasive, here is what *ACTUALLY* happens with refugees and immigration from an *ACTUAL* immigration attorney.

Now can the fearmongering stop?

— 5 —

The school sitch. Daniel *FINALLY* started school up here this week. He was a little nervous on Monday (his first day) but when he saw the toys, he looked at me and said “bye!” which was my cue to leave. He seems to like his class, his teachers, his aides, and his therapists thus far and I’m hoping it remains a good school and a good program for him.

— 6 —

Choral Evensong. We have a new rector at my church in San Jose and she is a fan of choral evensong so we’re doing it for the Thanksgiving service next Tuesday night. If you’re in the area, let me know and I’ll give you the details!

— 7 —

Gary Haugen’s TED talk. Fifteen years ago, I heard Gary Haugen of International Justice Mission speak at Urbana 2000. It changed my life and the way I look at a lot of the world. (You can watch it here.) He’s done a TED talk. Go watch it! Do it now!

For more Quick Takes, visit Kelly at This Ain’t The Lyceum.