I {heart} Spring

Isn't that just spectacular?

The kids can play outside again,

some even in shorts!

Happiness is all around,

including the cats, er dogs.


I {heart} Spring!

Deliciously Funny

I am about to drop a bomb.

Permission was granted to share this information on my blog, but I have debated. Wondered if opinions of him would change, arguments would be started...perhaps even mockery for his choice.

Josh voted for Obama.

Shocking, I know.

If you have been around this blog long, you would know that my mom has profound hearing loss in both ears.

I remember when Josh and I were dating, and all gathered around the table as a family, that Josh would comment on how loud everyone was. It was so normal to me; I never even realized that any of us were talking all that boisterous. Once Josh got to know my family a little bit more, he came to know the reality that we literally scream in order to get my mom's attention. He began teasing "Shhhhhhh. No screaming unless there is a fire", a lesson his mom taught him as a child.

Funny how those little differences in family dynamic present themselves, huh?

In the past few years, my mom has had the help of the best ear surgeon in GR. He is the only specialist in this area trained to do cochlear implants and some of the more complicated ear procedures. One of the biggest questions we have always had was, Will my mom eventually not be able to hear at all?

Dr. Daniels promised that he would never allow her to become deaf, as long as he was practicing medicine. We all took a huge sigh of relief. If not just for the yelling and hollering, also because it would mean Jan would not miss out on moments like this:

**I am saying "Scooby Dooby Doo" and Bryce is saying "Where are you?"***

My mom can actually read his lips, but it really wouldn't be the same as hearing that sweet baby voice.

***insert looming political music***

Recently, Dr. Daniels said that ObamaCare will effectively put him out of practicing medicine. I joke about being political, but it is a very real fear that she will lose her ability to hear in the next few years without continued medical help. ObamaCare does not deem hearing (at my mom's age) worth medical intervention, so my hope is that she can get anything and everything she needs done in the next few years before Dr. Daniels stops practicing medicine.

After that, it will all be out of pocket if we can find a specialist. Seeing that the bill for this last mini-cochlear was pretty hefty, we all are afraid of what this means for the future of her hearing.

In the mix of all this, I have taken to teasing Josh about his choice of president.

Then today I found out that, out of all the things in the world ObamaCare could impose a tax on, this healthcare reform imposes a 10% additional tax on tanning salons.

And I just find that deliciously funny.

What would happen

if Brycer dressed himself?

He wore those shades all day on his head like that.

Nice, Robert Verdi.

Deep thoughts for a Tuesday Evening

There are a few blogs that I frequent, and one of the comments struck me.

I have chewed on it for a good part of the day, and just wanted to get some thoughts.

From a woman with a chronically ill child:

"I love God. I love Jesus. But I am not a supporter of organized religion because it is all screwed up. Be a supporter of Jesus and have a relationship with God, but take the church with a grain of salt. And don't rely on them when the chips are down in your life because 9 times out of 10, they aren't going to be "there" for you. That's what I have learned."

Many people afterward echoed the sentiment.

I certainly know of people that have felt this way in the past. The "big wigs" (ie. pastors, long standing members, people who generously tithe) get support in the form of meals, cards, and phone calls, but most members fall by the wayside.

Is this an area where most church's are lacking?

Have we become so focused on how "busy" we are that we become blind to the needs of our people? Is is one of the reasons people are leaving the church?

I know. Heavy blog post for a Tuesday night, but it has been on my mind all day.