Religion and Politics - uh oh!!

This is a first for me I think. I usually keep the blog pretty main stream about my family but I've just been in such a spiritual funk lately and so frustrated, annoyed and kinda fed up with so much of it all.

So, the topic that is brewing for todays post is God and Prayer in schools and Homosexual persecution. How's that for some hot topics? lol

I guess what started the whole thought process (while sweating it out on the stairmaster today at the gym) - I was looking at Facebook and saw banners/posts about Keeping God in schools. Ten years ago I would have been plastering it all over the place and argued until I was blue in the face as to why God and prayer should be kept in schools. But, as I mature I look at it differently. What if the banners were "Keep Allah in our schools", "Keep Buddah in schools"...as Christians - we would be FURIOUS since we/I do not believe my God is the Muslim Allah or Buddah or any other God. I guess I feel like to other Christians I am such a Rebel for feeling this way and even more admitting it.

Do I believe prayer should be allowed in school? Absolutely - and it is. Children and students and teachers pray daily in school. But, do I believe in organized teacher, student led prayer? No, I don't. What if your child's teacher is Jewish and they were telling our children when they prayed in Jesus name they were not praying to our Saviour and Messiah? Would we not be outraged???

I just feel that Christians who are so passionate about these things take a step back and see it from the other side. If you feel passionately about having prayer and God in your childrens classroom and curriculum then I would suggest private christian schooling or homeschooling.

Now, onto the next topic. Why are Christians and churches so darn judgmental? Especially to Homosexuals? Why does organized religion and Christians chose to exclude and down right degrade others when they talk about it? Fighting and banning gay marriages? Why this issue? Why the passion behind this issue. Yes I am all familiar with Matthew 19:5 that says "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife and the two will become one flesh". But the bible also says - "Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed be kept pure for GOD will judge the adulter and all sexually immoral".

But yet - I have belonged to churches with pastors who have been divorced, elders who have been divorced, leaders in the church with known admitted affairs, pastors and leaders who were not virgins and pure when they were married (that were also christians at the time of marriage). Where is the outcry of this? I guess these are accepted "politically correct" 'sins' to commit.

Maybe I'm more passionate about it because I'm closely related to this subject because of my sister who is a homosexual. She's probably cursing me and wanting to knock me out for talking about this. lol The persecution and down right nastiness she's had to experience and endure is not fair - and this is including persecution she received from her own family - me included. Most of the persecution and abandonment is from the church and "christians".

How often does the bible speak about worry and the sin it is in our lives. But, I sure don't see churches not allowing admitted worriers to join the congregation. Or telling those who worry they will burn in hell. Christianity is a PERSONAL relationship with Christ. I don't know what anyone else's personal relationship is with God - and it doesn't involve me. I, along with anyone else, do not have a right to be so down right judgmental when it comes to those who are not like us.

God is so compassionate, loving and full of grace to us - to us who do NOT deserve it. When can we start showing the same compassion for our fellow mankind? I will end my rant with these words - spoken by Jesus himself - "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Matthew 22: 37-39.

Next!

Ava was the next to get the fever and cough. Life has been tiresome the last week in the Garza household.

I know we are prayed over and prayed for. Thank you all.

On the mend

Isabella is doing quite well and I would say she has recovered. We are still going to keep her out of school an extra day. We had planned to send her back today (I think it was today I'm so confused from lack of sleep) but she spiked a fever yesterday afternoon so that ended that idea. Plus, while talking to her teacher she said that every single kid that returned to school that was diagnosed with h1n1 went home the same day they returned because fever returned. So, I would rather keep her out a day so to make sure the other kiddos in the class and school remain healthy.

This morning Ava was acting run down and sick - I took her temperature several times and it came up normal. I made them breakfast and during the course of that Ava wound up throwing up. Not a great way to start the day. After a bath she took a nap and seems to be totally fine.

Fingers crossed tomorrow is an easy day for me.

H1N1

Isabella tested positive today for the H1N1 flu virus (swine flu). Thankfully, I was able to get her in to a local Pediatrician in the town next to where my mom lives. She was able to be started on Tamiflu within 14 hours of the first time her fever and cough hit.

She is doing pretty well - as long as I keep on schedule with the motrin, tylenol and tamiflu she remains comfortable. Otherwise if I'm even 30 minutes late on any of the meds she gets miserable pretty fast.

Isabella has asthma and the virus has been hitting kids with asthma harder than others so that is really where my concern lies. Praying for a speedy recovery for her, protection for me, Ava, Steve and also my mom and Step dad since we were staying with them when her symptoms first arrived.

Famous

This is a scanned copy of a mailer being mailed out from Maggiano's corporate offices. When Steve brought a copy of it home and showed it to us - Isabella said "I'm lucky, my Dad is famous!" lol

This is the outside page...
opens up to a picture of Steve. He looks like someone said something really funny. :)

and the bottom portion of the inside of the advertisement has the following at the bottom with a business card to peel and bring in.

Ramblings

This blog post is going to be about tons of different topics - all over the place.

This morning as I was getting my coffee mug out of the cabinet (my favorite coffee mug by the way. A huge, huge mug Steve got for me on a business trip in Chicago) slipped out of my hands, shattered and then knocked over a large glass that was on the counter. Both shattered and the heavy pieces of ceramic from the coffee cup as well as the shattered glass fell on my foot and sliced it open. I knew immediately it had to have cut me because the pain was pretty intense. The girls of course started freaking out when they saw the blood. I kept thinking to myself all of this before a cup of coffee - probably going to be a bad day. lol Isabella kept pleading with me to sit down and put a band aid on my cut (she is a huge worry wart). I finally got the glass all cleaned up and thrown away and bandaged up my foot. I had to use 3 bandaids because the cut is so long. Its fine now as long as I don't walk on it - when I walk on it it pulls the cut apart because of the location. But, all is well now.

Then, shortly after I go to call Steve on my iPhone and it isn't working properly. The only way you can hear is if you put it on speaker phone. Also, they can't hear me unless its on speaker phone. I called and have an appointment at the Apple store for 6:40. Since its less than 30 days old the rep told me they would probably just give me a new one. I am going to be quite upset if all the new apps I bought don't transfer over. I spent $20 of applications the past couple of days. My neighbor Jenny gave me $20 in iTunes gift cards a couple weeks ago.

The girls went Halloween costume shopping last night. They didn't like what the Party City type of stores had so we ordered some they saw online that they liked. Ava is going to be a devil - how appropriate and Isabella is going to be a ninja. What the heck is a ninja?? And a girl ninja?? Oh, well - she's never been mainstream with her halloween costumes anyway. lol

Steve and our new neighbor Shane as well as Mark and Amy went in together and had all of our yards airated (I don't know how to spell that) and then Steve went and got grass seed and seeded all 3 of the yards. Hopefully its not too cold for the new grass to grow. One thing we don't ever argue about money wise is with the money spent on the yard and flowers. I love having a nice yard and nice flower beds and working each day making it look nice.

Two posts in one week - am I back to the old, long winded, almost daily posting Alisha???? We'll have to wait and see.

Fabulous Family Filled Weekend

Warning - there are many, many, many pictures of me in this post. lol I was determined to get pictures of me with all of my aunts and uncles as well as take pictures of the weekend. Half of the time I bring my camera with me but feel embarassed walking around snapping pictures and even when I do that - I'm never in the pictures because I'm the one snapping. After looking at the quality of these photos it makes me really, really want a D-SLR. But, that will probably wait until the yearly managing partner bonus in June. I can wait until then.

What is kinda sad about these visits to Ohio is growing up we would visit as a family twice a year. Every Memorial Day and also at Christmas. After I moved away to North Carolina I didn't go back at Memorial Weekend or the Christmas gatherings. When I was pregnant with Ava I decided to go with my mom for the Christmas get together. Everyone meets at my Uncle Dale and Debbies house in Knoxville, Tennesse and we spend the weekend together. We eat and play cards the entire time. After that Christmas visit I decided to head back and see everyone over Memorial Day - it was even more fun than Christmas time. Since then I have went every memorial day/New Years weekend and spent the weekend with family. Then since we found out my uncle Dave has lung cancer the family has got together every month since May and will continue to do so as long as he is sick. I will take a miraculous healing and gladly give up the monthly visits if it means my uncle is around on this earth for a long and healthy life.

I love my aunts and uncles to pieces but what makes me love them all the more is how they treat my girls. They love them like their own grandchildren. They play with them, hold them, read with them, feed them, buy them things - they just are wonderful with my girls and I'm so, so thankful I've made the effort the past 5 years to spend time with them again and really get to know them better.

Ok, enough sap - onto the pictures. Descriptions under the pictures...

Isabella and Max. We stay at my moms best friends house when we visit. She has a beautiful golden retriever named Max. He is the sweetest dog around and my girls adore him. He slept with Isabella every night. Head on her chest all night long.

Here is Max cuddling up with Ava. He is such a loveable dog.

Isabella and Mommy

C.J. (my cousins son), Tonja (my cousin), Delaney (my cousins daughter) and my aunt Barb.

My sweet, sweet niece Dialycia and me.

Me and my uncle Eddie. If you have ever watched the movie Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase and you remember the Eddie in the movie - well, my uncle Eddie resembles him quite a bit. He is the ultimate dumpster diver, yard sale shopper and auction bidder around. The last two visits he has brought my girls toys and gifts. They are quickly learning Eddie is one of their favorite people. lol Eddie wants to go on the Amazing Race with me. I'm kinda scared of that scenario - I think his patience with me would run thin - but it would be an adventure I am sure.

My mom and I.

My uncle Dale and Ava. When I was a little girl - I think around 18 months old I would stand in my uncles hand and he would walk around holding me up with me standing in his hands. I snapped a quick picture of Ava doing it. I want to scan the picture of me and post these pictures side by side. This is a great memory seeing this picture.

Here is Eddie delivering the "goods" to Ava. You know what she was the happiest about??? This diaper bag they give away to new moms in the hospital with formula samples in them. She kept saying to everyone "I can't believe he gave me the bag too!". It was cute.

Me and my sweet girls. Ava doesn't look to excited to have her picture taken with me. :)

Self portrait of Ava and I. ( I warned you all there were tons of pictures of me in this post. lol)

My uncle Dale and Aunt Debbie.

It was my Uncle Dave's birthday and Ava was right by his side the entire time. I love this picture of the two of them.

This is my Uncle Merlin (my moms fraternal twin brother) and my aunt Mary.

Dave and Barb and I. This shirt is NOT flattering on me at all. lol

Playing cards Sunday before heading home.