unbelievable

Ben sent me a link to this article today:



As I read it, I was completely mortified by the whole ordeal. Maybe it's because I work in the mental health field. Maybe it's because I just assessed a patient who attempted suicide last night. Maybe it's because I have blood running through my veins and a heart beating in my chest. I am appalled that people would not only watch someone commit suicide but encourage him to do it. Call him names. Beat him down. Continue to reinforce the negativity that is plagueing him. I am disgusted.

Yes, he's responsible for his own actions. But he was obviously in need of help and I dont care what anyone says - we as HUMAN BEINGS should do whatever we can to help someone we know is in need of help. I dont care what your views on suicide are. I don't care how many times he attempted in the past. Someone should have tried to help. I guess I just don't get it.

The worst for me are the comments below this story where some people actually blame him for it all or are cold toward his actions. Mental Illness is just that, an illness. Expecting people suffering from a mental illness to handle life the way "we" do is like expecting a baby to take care of themselves without any help. They NEED help. It seems that the stigma the follows mental illness will never fade. And it just makes me really, really sad.

And the winner is...

People is about to send out the issue for Sexiest Man Alive for 2008 and I just thought I'd let ya'll in on it before you see it in stores. After a dissapointing 2007 when he was robbed of the title, they finally got it right in 2008...so, here's to you......

BEN!!! Sexiest Man Alive 2008!

WORK IT - WORK IT - OWN IT!

Next time you see Ben - make sure you congratulate him on his new title :)

Operation Christmas Child

Today jackson and I went to the store to buy gifts for the shoe box we are donating to Operation Christmas Child. Samaritan's purse is taking donations this week and our church happens to be one of the drop off locations. I chose to buy for a little girl since we are going to have more than enough of our share of buying for a little boy this year :) As I was checking out, I got so emotional thinking of what it will be like when "she" opens her box. I hope she likes what we picked out for her and knows that we are praying for her.

I read this story on their website and cried again.


I am overwhelmed when I think that our box may provide this type of hope or joy to a little girl somewhere around the world. I'm so thankful that God has blessed us with the opportunity to bless someone else. Small acts of kindness and giving are a part of what this season is about. I encourage everyone reading this to donate to someone or something this holiday season...I don't think we'll ever know the magnitude our impact will make.

update

My mom is home and doing much better. She has a very long road of recovery ahead of her but I know that things are going to eventually be just fine.

Of course when I talk to her and ask if she wants me to come out she says "no, you need to stay there and take care of jackson"...I knew she would. I still want to be there with her. She and my brother will be coming for the holidays though - even if I have to drive out there myself to get them.

Keep my mom in your thoughts and prayers - it's gonna be an uphill battle. It's always encouraging though when you have nowhere to go but up.

Paw Paw and Gee Gee

Jackson still only says "Mom" in dire situations, yet he talks to Paw Paw and Gee Gee many times a day.

gratitude

thank you to everyone for their sweet thoughts, comments and prayers. It means more to me than you'll ever know.

just so ya'll know, Jackson is 'fine'. We're just dealing with some ear stuff that is pretty painful for him (and would make a car ride unbearable) but we have some drops that should get him back on track pretty soon. the dr wants us to keep him home for a few days and not take him out and about. so, here we sit.

my mom on the other hand has been put in the hospital. Things are evidently worse than the er thought and the specialist she saw today admitted her to the hospital as soon as he saw her. We're thankful that she is getting 24 hr care and hope that she is on the road to a full recovery. we'll just have to wait and see.

the waiting game

As I sit here my mother is almost 500 miles away recovering from a very intense car accident.

I got a call from my brother on Sunday that went like this:

Bro: Mom's been in a wreck and they took her away in an ambulance.
Me: stop joking, that's not funny.
Bro: I'm serious bethany. I gotta go.
*click*

Yeah. What do you do with that? Ben and I were on our way to see our new nephew, Hudson (so super cute by the way), when I got that call. So, I did what I always do...I put on my big girl pants and waited. It seemed like forever before the nurse called me.

I won't go into details about the accident, because the details don't really matter. It was bad. Bad enough that the paramedics didn't expect her to be alive when the went to the car. What matters is my mom "should" be ok and I'm stuck 8 hrs away getting updates by phone.

Before you ask, I can't go. Jackson is sick. I know she's going to be fine but I just don't like not being there and I don't want her to think that I don't want to be there. I dont want her to be scared or feel that she isn't loved enough to warrant a visit. it just sucks.
so, please remember my family over the next few days.

I love you mom.

well, it is mine

Every morning Jackson has a banana with his breakfast. I am the keeper of the banana since, if I gave it to him, it would make its home in my carpet. This morning Jackson was playing outside while taking breaks every few minutes to eat. I went back inside to refill my coffee and came back outside to find this:

my two cents

Man I didn’t want to get into politics but I have got to get something off my chest.

This year history was made. Both tickets pushed the norm and we were all part of something that has never happened before. I did not vote for Obama. Big surpise – I know. I keep seeing so many people talking about how “in the south” we’re so backwards and just won’t vote for a black man. That has nothing to do with it. I am not racist. Not in the slightest. I grew up in the military community and you just don’t categorize people by their race. I just don’t agree with his views for our country. I don’t believe in socialized medicine, I don’t support abortion rights and I don’t agree with his tax policy. To be quite honest - I wasn't too excited about McCain either.

That being said, I will not degrade our new president the way people have President Bush over the past 8 years. That poor man has been made fun of and disrespected in every way imaginable and while those who disagree with his actions or policy feel justified in their attacks I can’t help but wonder: What if that was your father or husband that was being treated that way? I know what you’re thinking – My husband would have never done what Bush has done. But as we all know, you can never please everyone and SOMEONE would have something to say. Would you want your children to hear those things being said? See those bumper stickers? President Bush is still a man...a person...a human being and it must have been difficult to hear all of those horrible things said about you over the years. And for those of you who are both Christians and anti-Bush, did you ever pray for him? For his family? Did you know that President Bush set up teams to ease the transition into the White House up for both Obama and McCain in the event that they won? He didn’t have to do that. He just did. I really encourage you to read this article: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,447625,00.html This isn't an I love President Bush blog but I hear so many people talking about respect and class and tact in reference to Obama, which I totally agree with, and I just wonder why they never felt like extending any of that to our current President.

The Bible commands us to pray for our leaders and I will do just that. I do not agree with Obama on many issues but I will never, ever disrespect him or his family with my comments. I will pray for him. I will pray for his family. Most importantly, I will pray that God will guide him as he leads our country and MY hope will rest in that.

bethany

seriously?

Before today, I had no problem letting Jackson run into his room without being with him...we can see that is no longer the case. sigh.

you're my blue eyed boy...

love this picture

we're baaaack

We're back home after a super duper fun long weekend in SC. We drove out after Ben got off work Wednesday night and got back home last night. We had the best time visiting with Nonni, funcle and Mary. Jackson was overspoiled all weekend and he's having a little trouble coming down from his throne now that we're back home. Here are some pictures of our trip and festivities...we can't wait to do it again!