Hard Questions – Dr. Teacher? Are You Letting Your Children Become Victims of the Medication Culture?

 

Photo by Sponge from Wikimedia Commons.

Here is an editorial I wrote just recently relating to a documentary (link included) on the use of mind altering drugs for school children.  It is not uncommon for teachers and school authorities to demand that parents of rambunctious or “troubled” kids put them on psychotropic medications or risk having them moved to “special needs” schools.  By labeling (ADD, ADHD, depressed, etc.) and drugging the kids they make lifelong “customers” for the pharmaceutical companies, gain government aid and allow stressed teachers to “enjoy” less work in having to deal with the normal individual needs of children.

The documentary also deals with the very dangerous anti-depressants that are being prescribed to kids and young people, some of which can have very serious “side effects”, including death, manic behavior and psychosis.

The main point is that if you are a Christian parent you have a responsibility before God for what you do to your children and what you allow others to do to them.  Matthew 18:5-6  And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Are any of your kids on these medications?  Has your public (or private) school told you your child “needs” to be on Ritalin, etc.?  Are you drugging your child as an “easy out” to avoid proper discipline and instruction, dealing with relationship issues in your home, spending more time with your child, or providing a more nourishing and healthful diet?

Also, if you have experienced this and don’t know what to do, please know that you and your child do not need to be a victim.  You do not have to stay in the box you’ve been drawn into by the public education system.  Home schooling is still legal in the U.S. and in some other countries where these things are going on.  Please – for your child’s sake, and to fulfill your God-given responsibility as a parent – consider home schooling.  Seek out those who can help you.  There is a huge wealth of information and help available now for people wanting to homeschool their children.

Dr. Teacher? Are You Letting Your Children Become Victims of the Medication Culture?

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For further reading along these lines, please see Reasons for Homeschooling.

Samuel – Disappointment In Man

 

We are all disappointed from time to time by people.  It’s impossible to live in this imperfect world and avoid this.  Here is a study on the experiences of Samuel with Saul and David to encourage you to look for that better thing that God has for you when disappointment comes.

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1Samuel 10:1 Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said,Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?

Samuel anointed Saul to be king over Israel at the commandment of the Lord. God had chosen Saul from among all the men of Israel for a most important job - leading His people militarily and governmentally. Samuel had every reason to expect Saul to turn out well. He was chosen by God, not elected by the people.

1Samuel 10:6 And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man. 7 And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee. Samuel had prophesied that the Spirit of the LORD would come upon Saul and that he would be changed to another man, and it had been fulfilled…

Continue reading.

Sew Happy Saturday – A Couple of Cute Potholder Tutorials

 

I think these potholders are both really cute.  I like the heart one better, but it crossed my mind that it might be made into a strawberry to go in my kitchen. :-)  Hmmm…

Round Potholder Tutorial

Heart Potholder Tutorial

Creatures Great and Small – “Feathers”

 

Random Acts of Blogging – A Few Items to Encourage and Inspire

 

(As usual – disclaimer on some content on these links and probably many of the ads.)

The King James Bible is still the most read Bible in the U.S. – even after years of being told we “need a better translation” and having new “Bibles” vigorously promoted to us.

Temar Boggs tells how he and his friend followed a kidnapper until he got nervous and released the little girl he had taken.

Pet owners rejoice, your pet can benefit your health. :-)

Amazing alpine snow art in France started out as one man’s exercise program and grew into an amazing art form.

Tulip time in Anna Paulowna, the Netherlands. (The first page is better than the second.)  Great inspiration for quilting!

And, a photo from my own collection:

Monarda citridora – Lemon Bee Balm (also called Horsemint).

Hard Questions – Is Aging A Curse or A Privilege?

 

Daniel 7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

We live in a world that idolizes youth.  There are multitudes of “wonder cures” for aging.  From Japan with their teen idols, to Cameroon where the old men dye their hair to look young, to the US where great quantities of health foods and herbs are eaten to preserve youth, the world is obsessed with not aging.  Many of the more well-to-do (and vain) even pay considerable amounts of money to have their skin and bodies altered so that they will appear younger than they are.  Age is generally no longer honored or appreciated.

This is interesting because it is in direct contrast to what scripture tells us.  God’s word tells us:

That age should be honored - Leviticus 19:32  Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD.

The aged are a source of wisdom – All of Proverbs
Psalms 78:1-4  Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.  I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.
Titus 2:3-5  The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;  That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,  To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

It is a blessing to have children and aged in our streets - Zechariah 8:4-5  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age.  And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.

That the elders sat in the gates of cities in Old Testament times and made judgments  - Joshua 20:4  And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.  And other similar verses.

That the elders should be teachers and overseers in the New Testament church - 
1 Peter 5:1-3  The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;  Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

That white hair is a glory for those who walk righteously - Proverbs 16:31  The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.

Here are few items for further consideration:

Never Grow Old? – This is an article I wrote awhile back about the idea that we are never promised eternal youth, but rather eternal life.  Perhaps we will continue to age after this life, but in a way that does not involve any decay, as it does not for our Lord Jesus.

Not Growing Old – A poem thinking on the idea that though our flesh ages, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.  2Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet theinward man is renewed day by day.  This poem compliments the above article in a curious sort of way because it underscores the fact that there is a part of us that does not decay, though it does obviously grow older.

Jesus Loves Me for Those Over 40

Creatures Great and Small – Bumbling, Bumblebee

 

Just for Fun – Dear Mom, There Are Some Things I Love About You…

 

An old picture of my mom and me working together.

 

Here are some Baby Blues comics to enjoy today. :-)

The precious junk you kept over the years.

Your sentimentality over the little things.

The exciting life you lived.

Your brain capacity.

Your great sense of moment.

Your ability to cope.

Your code of honor.

Your confidence that we would finally get it right someday.

Your steel trap mind.

Your time management skills.

Your honesty.

Your team spirit.

Your ability to read between the lines.

Your unique perspective.

Your ability to extract information.

Your business management skills.

Your ability to take good advice.

Your great sense of humor.

[This list got kind of long, but I was having a great time, and I think my mom will appreciate my efforts. ;-) ]

Feminism – A House Divided

 

This is an article that I wrote some time ago about the precarious foundations of the feminist movement.  I do not pretend to be an expert on the subject, but it has seemed to me that there is a lot of hypocrisy and misinformation that is set forth by feminists.  A lot of accusations have been made that are based upon presuppositions which are false to begin with.  In this article we’ll examine some of these things.  This post is controversial, there’s no question about that; but I hope that you will take the time to read the article if at all possible.

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Introduction

Recently I was sorting through some old email when I came across one written several years ago by a woman who had come from a very abusive background - molestation from an early age and such like. Very ugly. Her main struggle was in accepting that women were "treated as chattel" in the Bible. This was her interpretation of it, of course. If she was sincere in her concern, she was very confused. This reflected her past to a large degree.

Later, I was doing some surfing on the web and through one thing and another I arrived at a web site glorifying various women authors of years gone by. Some of the information was of interest, but in contemplating the basic philosophy behind it, I began to think about the accusations and causes of feminism. Hence, this article.

An Historical Glimpse

Mary Wollstonecraft is considered one of the key founders of modern feminism. She wrote her most famous book, A Vindication of Women's Rights, in 1792. "Today, she is celebrated for her early advocacy of women's equality and rationality, and for arguing against the degradation and subjugation of women justified by 'the arbitrary power of beauty' (Leitch, 585)."

Miss Wollstonecraft was raised by an increasingly unsuccessful father who began to abuse her mother as his fortunes declined. She became the mother figure of her younger siblings as the parents' relationship disintegrated…

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Sew Happy Saturday – Thinking About Travel

 

We’re planning a trip and I’ve been thinking about what we could use or would need for traveling.  In searching for some (preferably free) patterns for making bags, wallets and such I came across a few that seemed like they might be useful. 

Shoe bags seem like they might be a good idea, if there’s time to make some.  If not, I’ll use the usual plastic grocery bags that we get at the stores.

A passport cover also seems like a good idea.  I like this travel wallet better, though because it has a long strap.  I can wear it under my jumper (pinafore) if need be.  Also it could carry more than just the passports.

I probably wouldn’t make this bag organizer, but it’s a good idea for traveling.

This one strap bag looks like it might a good carry on bag.

This travel duffel looks useful too, but the pattern is not free.  It also looks like it could be easily overloaded – for me. :-)

I’ve been needing a new wallet and have been thinking that making my own might result in something lighter weight.  Since my purse has become too heavy lately (don’t ask me how) I think it’s probably time to knuckle down and find a way to really lighten it.  This was the only free wallet pattern that I really liked, but it still seems a bit fussy. (You can download the PDF.)  I’m not sure about it yet. (Yeah, the fabric in the illustration is not my style!)

How much of this will I get done before we leave?  Quite possibly not any, but it does give me ideas and there a couple of things at least that I’d really like to try to make. :-)

The Thousand Word Project – Cackleberries

 

Cheap, Pretty and Good – Just A Start

 

The Mexicans have an expressions – “cheap, pretty and good”.  Only, of course, they say it in Spanish, which I don’t remember.  Anyway, in the spirit of simplifying, saving money and still having things attractive, I thought I’d share some links occasionally with some ideas along those lines.  They will probably cover a variety of topics – décor, clothing, food, etc.

Today’s ideas will be along the lines of storage and décor.

Create Desk Accessories from Cans – This is a nice idea.  You can use wallpaper, paper with your own or kids’ drawings, fabric, burlap, etc.  For the fabrics you may wish to use some kind of glue rather than tape.  Also, for a girlish look, try adding some ribbon or an artificial flower with some hot glue.  If you use fabric you can add a scrap of folded bias tape around the top to give it a more finished look.

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You may not need to go buy a bunch of storage containers to organize your house.  There may be a lot of useful option right in your own garage, attic or storage shed.  Turn Clutter Into Storage and Décor Solutions.  One word of caution here, though: remember that you will still have to dust some of these things, so consider what you really want to keep.  Is it worth cleaning regularly to you?  If not, discard it.  Also, sometimes the best “storage solution” is to reduce the pile! :-)

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Here are some ideas that might cost you nothing if you already have these items stored among your stuff.  No-Money Home Makeover Ideas. Also remember that you might find some of these things in a family member’s attic.  You can only ask.  If they say “no”, at least you tried to get the stuff out where it could be appreciated. :-)

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An old picture frame, some screws, some wire and some clothes pins will give you a nice place to display photos or keep track of favorite recipes and other essential paper bits.

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Tea cup candles.  If you make your own candles this is something you might want to do – either for your own décor or for gifts.  Strange to say there are people in this world who have tea cup and saucer sets that they don’t want.  I had a set myself once that I was not overly fond of and also was afraid to use as it came from a country of which I wasn’t sure about the lead content.  I could have made them into candles to give away, though!

Uses for egg cups.  I realize that most Americans don’t have unused egg cups laying around idle, but (ahem!) I do.  :-)  This comes from having had family that lived around British at various times.  Well…if they aren’t being used for their intended purpose, why not something else?  I could use the bud vase idea without much extra work, and I’m quite fond of fresh flowers in the house.  I also checked and discovered that a small tea light size candle will fit into the top of some of my egg cups. :-)

The Good Shepherd – A Poem

 

Here is a link to a poem that I wrote some years ago.  I hope that it will be a blessing to you. (It is part of “The Quiet Place” on my dad’s web page – hence the many links at the bottom of the page.)

The Good Shepherd – by Mary Stephens

Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.

Source unknown.

The Thousand Word Project – Extra Large

 

Baobab tree 1950-something.

Healthy Clean – No Shampoo Hair Cleaning

 

Unknown source.

Sometime last year I started using what is commonly called the “no poo method” for cleaning my hair.  It was a bit of an experience.  I’m sharing some of my own observations as well as a link for instructions and observations at “Living On A Dime”. 

1. Not everyone has the same results, or at least not quickly.  It literally took my hair months to settle down and adjust to the new method.  At first it felt rather oily, and yet it was very manageable and it didn’t look oily.  So, I continued with it.  In the end my hair settled down and started acting pretty much like it always has.  I used to wash my hair twice a week. (I’d heard years ago that washing often resulted in oily hair, so I didn’t do it.)  Now I wash my hair a little less than once a week – usually.  It runs about 5-6 days most of the time with an occasional need to wash sooner for various reasons.

2. I do still get scalp build up on the top of my head.  I find it necessary to remove it with my finger nails.  This may seem kind of gross to some, but the fact of the matter is that it’s a natural body function and people had to deal with it in the past without our modern stripping shampoos, so it isn’t a strange or unusual thing.

3. It may not be for everyone.  I’ve heard that it “didn’t work” for some people.  Judging by how long it took my own hair to finally get its normal feel again, I wonder if they stuck with it long enough.

4. There are various methods.

Here is one. (Note: She mentions using lemon juice in place of vinegar – be aware that this can bleach your hair, while vinegar won’t.  Also, she says her hair was wonderfully more manageable and kept its curl longer.  I’ve not noticed a significant improvement in mine.  Results will vary from person to person.  Just don’t quit too soon.)

My own preference is to make some baking soda paste in the bottom of a small cup.  I find that I need more when my hair is longer and less when it’s shorter – a no brainer, but I thought I’d mention it.  I don’t use precise measurements, though I probably should.  I have thick hair and so I make a generous amount. 

I rub in the baking soda paste well focusing on the roots and then rubbing it through all over.  I let it sit for at least a minute while I do other washing.  This was suggested by another site I read (bad language, no link provided here).

I have found that I need to rinse my hair well before moving on the apple cider vinegar rinse.  If there’s baking soda left it can react with the vinegar and for me this seems to have a negative effect.  (Also I do not recommend washing your hair in the bath tub by submersion with this method.  Once the baking soda is in the water it appears to mess with the rinse.)

I use more than the recommended 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar per 8 oz. of water as well.  Again, my hair is thick.  I feel like I need it.  I dip sections of my hair into the full cup carefully, squeezing out the excess as I go.  When I’ve well soaked each section I then pour the remainder over the top and make sure it’s worked in.  I wait a little (not as long) and then rinse it well.

I have also started letting my hair dry with little to no combing.  This is supposed to help the hair maintain its own body or curl.  It also helps reduce the strain on the roots that can occur from combing wet hair.

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As a side note, I have started using aloe vera gel in place of hair gel.  I buy a kind that does not have colorings in it.  It may still have some undesirable ingredients, but it’s a lot better than the manufactured hair gels.  And, I’ve been very happy with the results.  It brushes out and washes out beautifully and it doesn’t leave a nasty residue.  My hair spray, which I still use some, is another story.