Category: Christy’s Concepts

Posted in Christy's Concepts

Day 2 60 Day Photo Challenge- My longest closest…

Posted on by Christy Petty

#2 A Picture of you and the person you have been close with the longest– I did several 😉I met Keith the summer of 1979. I lived in rural Lubbock area and he in Midland. He liked me, he really liked me! This was my first ‘prom’ type thing, at HIS school, my school did not believe in such things, we only had banquets.  My teeth were not grimy, just covered with braces.

.     We dated long distance all through his senior year.

I got my braces off. Totaled a couple of cars. Keith gave me his senior ring, said it meant HE would date me exclusively. He lied ;).  I did date him exclusively. Yes I know, I am a much better person.

Keith and I and Mr. Winkler , a chaperone,. Dating a guy in an explorer post has it’s perks.  They went on a cruise at the end of his senior year, I joined so I could too! I was not able to raise the $$ with them, so I used my earnings from my most recent totaled car.  In this picture we are  a whole year older– 17 and 18.  Keith gave me a promise ring on this cruise– I roomed with his ex girlfriend– No big deal, remember, I don’t compete. If she did, it had not effect on me 😉

Me being in Lubbock and still in high school persuaded Keith to go to Texas Tech for college.  We were engaged in October. Mom was not happy, she liked Keith but not me being engaged sooooo young. Little did she know she would have much more to be unhappy about later.

I was a pretty good student, sucked at Algebra, but made up for that elsewhere. I was 2 credits short of graduating when I started my senior year, so I arranged my schedule and I graduated in January of 81 instead of May.  Keith had decided to drop out of college, he was doing ok, IF he wanted to, and he did not want to.  We went to Midland for a visit with his parents and instead ended up getting jobs. My mom was PISSED. Any way, moved out of house at 17, got a great paying job (OIL BOOM), and got an apartment with Keith. I came back to Lubbock to walk the to walk,. Jumped in the car right after work and drove the hour and a half straight to the church where graduation was. Rolled up my jeans and put on my high heels, to make it look like I was dressed up under the gown. Put on my gown and my NHS sash– graduated. It was so odd to be with all my class mates them all excited about starting their new lives in a few months, the kind of life I had been living for the past 5 months.  Mom was happy I was there for the pictures.

The Wedding invitations said July 11 and July 11 it was. 

Me 18 Keith 19  SEE>IThis is us about 4 hours before the wedding. My home was on a lake, we had been working our butts off since January and this was our vacation!! We went skiing. Mom was PISSED. I was sunburned.

3 months after being married we were pregnant.  The way we figured it we had been ‘married’ and living together since January, ‘married’ otherwise for about 2 years, it was time to get someone else in the deal.Then 18 months later someone else

five years later someone else

Someone’s have been added. 29, 27 and 22 years I have had them in my life. They I have had in my life more than my parents, my brothers, my grandparents.   But no one has been with me longer than my Keith. Having met Keith at 16 he has been in my life, for 33 years now. That is pretty much 2/3 of my life.   We have been through thick and thin (literally). We have grown physically, mentally and spiritually together. We have been poor together. Had/ have had plenty together.

We have dressed alike ;), starting to look alike I think. We have experienced life like no other’s have, together.  We did missionary work in Uganda, Zambia, and South Africa, something I never dreamed I would do and am blessed to have shared it with Keith. We raised three boys to men. We brought 2 of our children through much pain and illness, watched one die and be revived. We have fought each other and loved each other, anyway. We mourned the death a a brother and 3 parents together. We have disappointed and accepted. We have caused pain and forgiven. We have lived many places; fifth wheel, mobile home, house from hell, house built by our own hands, all we have made a homes, together. We. Keith is is my forever person.

Posted in Christy's Concepts

60 Day Photo Challenge (blog posting challenge too)

Posted on by Christy Petty

A fellow blogger ,Flamydwife, posted this ’60 Day Picture Challenge’ I am joining in. I have slacked a bit lately. A few minor major events have happened. I am revamping my eatage to lose some weight, going Dukan.  Put on a few events here at the house, 2 down, 1 to go. Working on Evan’s apartment some more. Shower is next. Some bad decisions of others have affected my spirit and my Spirit. My cat was struck by lightning, I think.  So I have slacked on the blogging– This will kick me back in.

Here is the ‘what it is’:

Day 01 – A picture of yourself with fifteen facts.
Day 02 – A picture of you and the person you have been close with for the longest.
Day 03 – A picture of the cast from your favorite show.
Day 04 – A picture of your night.
Day 05 – A picture of one of your favorite memories.
Day 06 – A picture of a person you’d love to trade places with for a day.
Day 07 – A picture of your most treasured item.
Day 08 – A picture that makes you laugh.
Day 09 – A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most.
Day 10 – A picture of the person you do the most messed up things with.
Day 11 – A picture of something you hate.
Day 12 – A picture of something you love.
Day 13 – A picture of your favorite band or artist.
Day 14 – A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without.
Day 15 – A picture of something you want to do before you die.
Day 16 – A picture of someone who inspires you.
Day 17 – A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently.
Day 18 – A picture of your biggest insecurity.
Day 19 – A picture of you when you were little.
Day 20 – A picture of somewhere you’d love to travel.
Day 21 – A picture of something you wish you could forget.
Day 22 – A picture of something you wish you were better at.
Day 23 – A picture of your favorite book.
Day 24 – A picture of something you wish you could change.
Day 25 – A picture of your day.
Day 26 – A picture of something that means a lot to you.
Day 27 – A picture of yourself and a family member.
Day 28 – A picture of something you’re afraid of.
Day 29 – A picture that can always make you smile.
Day 30 – A picture of someone you miss.
Day 31 – A picture of a tradition you have.
Day 32 – A picture of a crazy night.
Day 33 – A picture of the house you grew up in.
Day 34 – A picture of your currently most played CD.
Day 35 – A picture of your favorite place to eat.
Day 36 – A picture of your ‘other half’.
Day 37 – A picture of the people you spend most of your time with.
Day 38 – A picture of the best part of your day.
Day 39 – A picture of your favorite movie.
Day 40 – A picture of your favorite Disney character.
Day 41 – A picture of your pet.
Day 42 – A picture of your dream house.
Day 43 – A picture of something you can’t function without.
Day 44 – A picture of someone you’re told you look like.
Day 45 – A picture of your room.
Day 46 – A picture of where you wish you were right now.
Day 47 – A picture of your favorite place to shop.
Day 48 – A picture of your favorite actress/actor.
Day 49 – A picture of where you live.
Day 50 – A picture of your most frequented place.
Day 51 – A picture of your dream car.
Day 52 – A picture of your favorite sport.
Day 53 – A picture of someone you think is hot.
Day 54 – A picture of the one thing you would bring if you were stranded on a deserted island.
Day 55 – A picture of the last movie you saw in theaters.
Day 56 – A picture of something that makes you happy.
Day 57 – A picture of your favorite holiday.
Day 58 – A picture of your favorite animal.
Day 59 – A picture of a random item that you own.
Day 60 – A picture of something you’re excited about

 Here is a picture of me- I took it myself with the timer thing on my camera. Lizzy the lightening cat is at my feet

Here are the 15 FACTS OF CHRISTY:

  1. I am adopted, been that way for all but 7 days of my life.
  2.  I was a twirler in Jr. High and High school. I actually liked the twirling, but did not like the comradely, or lack of, of the twirling team.
  3.  I don’t compete. I don’t get it. Do your best, if you win you win. If they win they win. If it becomes a competition I quit. I don’t compete for friendship. I don’t try to better others.  I do my best, I can’t do anymore. If I don’t do my best, it is usually because someone made it a competition. Thus my issues with twirling.
  4. I am 49, this past April.
  5. I have been married for almost 31 years, in July.
  6. I married when I was 18, Keith was 19.
  7. I had my first of 3 sons, 364 days after I was married, I was 19.
  8. I was only girl and baby, had 2 older brothers. Mike 11 years older and Kirk 5 years older.
  9.  I was a lifeguard.
  10. My 3rd son was born with a cranio facial deformity, Pierre Robin sequence something went wrong in a surgery in first few days, he had a stroke. I am a mom of a special needs adult.
  11. My 2nd son was diagnosed with Celiac when he was 10- since then all of the family, me included have found to be gluten sensitive/intolerant.
  12. I am a damn good gluten-free cook
  13. I wrote a cookbook more to come
  14. I paint, murals and such.  I did the flower in my picture, and walls and dresser.
  15. I found my biological family. Mother, sister, 2 brothers. paternal Aunt, Uncle and cousins–
  16. I am blessed . had to add one 🙂
Posted in Christy's Concepts

I AM Losin With Dukan

Posted on by Christy Petty

I am losing, but it is a good thing! I need to drop some L. B’s. I have needed to for YEARS.  I have tried and lost some, gained more, lost some, gained more, become disgusted, become complacent, become drivin, then not, again and again.  I did phen phen years ago, LOST!! But then they said it could kill me. Not losing, but the phen phen. I did herbalife, it worked until the licorice in the ‘vitamin’ made me sick. I did Adkins, it worked, for a while, but all that FAT was a bit weird to me. Why could I eat a stick of butter but not a head of lettuce? Did Weight Watchers, a couple of different ‘ways’ of eating through Christian weight loss chicks- Gwen ?Weigh Down? . All gained me some loss, but I have never reached my goal weight.

I KNOW we are supposed to focus on the ‘look’ the health of it all, not the number. I am not trying to be 110 again, if it happened I would take it, though. I just do not want this FAT belly, thighs, upper arms. I was NOT created to be sagging and bagging and blubbery. I do not like me fat. Yet, I have been for years, 20+ now. Half of my life time. Most of my marriage, sorry Keith. I have been very disappointed in myself.

I have been working on weight loss seriously for a year  This time. Exercise and eating ‘right’, I lost some, about 20 lb.  It was diligent everyday exercise and pulling sugar and most carbs, removed dairy (pretty much) I felt a lot better, looked better. It was slow and steady. Then I went back on my hormones :p. Then the holidays hit. Then the flu season hit.  Then 10 lb’s came back. My goal was to be 40 lb’s lighter by my 49th.  This did NOT happen.

Fairly recently I ‘befriended’ a blogger  Flamidwyfe, she is a midwife in China, from the states, doing the Dukan diet.  Liked her blog, loved watching her progress, inspired by her. She is about my age, losing weight, changing her eating style, gluten free, I can ‘watch’ her and have a comrade. I had no intentions of going Dukan, I was happy with Flat Belly approach, it was working  SLOWLY. Well, Flamidwyfe posts daily, her life as midwife, her life, and her progress with Dukan.  She loses weight almost daily. Posts her meals, her exercise plan. I became curious and started reading on Dukan. At first I did not notice too much different than what I was doing, other than she had results and I did not.  I had just decided to start counting calories in addition to the sugar and carbs, I was down to 1000-1200 calories a day for over 3 weeks, exercising everyday and I was not losing anything, at all! My sounding boards excused it to my extra muscle I was growing with the new work out program. Maybe. But still I did not like that 1#0 that kept showing up on the scales. I decided to Dukan.

I don’t think I am going to get to telling you how much I weigh(ed) at the start of Dukan, yet. I can tell you I have lost about 7 lb in 6 days, depending on the time of day ;).  This is HUGE for me.  I AM going Dukan.

Some of my recipes will now be Dukan.  Some will not. ie Bamaws Brownies are NOT Dukan. All will still be Gluten Free.

Posted in Exhort Pray Praise..., Rants Raves

Integrity

Posted on by Christy Petty

I am being convicted, by God. He does that often, usually it is a string of circumstances, life experiences, mine and others, sermons, lessons I am doing, TV shows, movies, and some stress or tension is usually involved. By itself none mean much but put it all together, God is teaching me sumthin.

  • I started the Beth Moore Daniel study, got a great price on it at a gun show I went to with Keith.  The theme, thus far, is integrity, standing for what you believe in, not succumbing to the world.
  • I just finished Ephesians study, on this blog, most of my concentration went into the whole armor of God, standing firm, the only way to be victorious is with God.
  • I read Life Lesson ? and answer in Real Simple magazine,  Is it ever appropriate to spill a friends secret?  The answer was no EXCEPT when the secret involves a major ethical breech or could harm someone.
  • I started attending an exercise program with a group of women in my church, it is intense (for me). I have to make myself go and do it.  It is a great workout, I thought I was doing well on my own walking everyday. I am disappointed in myself for not working harder prior to this. I am frustrated that since starting this I have actually gained weight, (I am NOT eating more!!) Not getting instant results is making me very frustrated which makes me feel very shallow and weak.   I want to quit.
  • I adopted a new way of eating months ago, and it was working, I was doing exercise with it.  I lost about 20 lbs. Holidays and cold weather and whatever caused me to lose focus,and gain 10 lbs. At the beginning of all of this get down to business and lose I realized I was not depending on God, but the quick fix of a pill, or starvation or…I blamed my fat on pituitary, thyroid hormones.  I prayed and repented of not trusting that He alone is my strength. I know that is where my strength and perseverance and loss came from. Then I forgot. I have let other ideas, the want for quick fix come in, when the weight came back.  I stopped eating correctly, skip meals, complain about my afternoon snacks, punishing myself for slipping up.
  • My Sunday School lessons are all focused on the sins of man and plan of God to redeem – It spans from creation to resurrection.  We have been in the escaping Egypt and in the desert for the past several weeks, finally reaching the promised land, only to have the doubters bring on 40 more years of misery. I have taught this curriculum for years, and each year I glean more.  This year I am struck by:
  1.  Moses arguing with God that he should not be the one that does the leading, so God adds Aaron
  2. Aaron’s sons just tweaking worship a bit and ‘getting’ killed by God.
  3. God’s tough love BECAUSE the people keep wanting the worldly comforts instead of HIS promised land.- Poiseness snakes
  4. Moses never reaching the promised land because he let his anger override his obedience to God.
  5. Caleb and Joshua standing and speaking up, opposing the world, believing in the promises of God. Not going with the crowd.
  6. Caleb and Joshua being the only ones, in their generation to enter Canaan.
  7. Caleb and Joshua still having to endure 40 years in wilderness, because of the lack of faith of the others. Or lack of integrity of others. And accepting it, with integrity.
  8. God’s follow through- He tells what He wants, what He expects and what will happen if we do not agree. He promises consequences for us, good and bad, the rest is up to us to abide or not. God does not change, ever. That is integrity, that is love.
  • A blog post of a fellow blogger Chief of the Least of a YouTube of Penn being impressed  by a Christian with integrity.
  • Witnessing those in positions of leadership not showing integrity. How very disappointing it is to see someone you trust to protect and teach and be truthful not doing so. To watch leaders lie and omit truths all in order to protect another’s lies and mistakes.
  • Watched the movie “Seven Days in Utopia.”  It is about believing in what you do. Believing in God’s power. Acting on that belief even when the world thinks your crazy. NOT CONFORMING. Integrity.
  • I telling a friend of a wrong they were doing, knowing full well they would be angry with me, willing to accept the rejection ( I HATE REJECTION), they rejecting me and my surviving it. And then they thanking me for being honest and apologizing.

My lesson is: Integrity is standing firm, standing up for truth. Integrity is pushing myself into an unnatural uncomfortable position. Integrity is righteous. Integrity is respected. I must work to have integrity and to keep it. Integrity is knowing when I am wrong and admitting it. Integrity is knowing when I am right and standing for it. Integrity does not hide. Integrity does not lie. Integrity does not fear. Integrity does not run away.

I do not show integrity always. I worry on the rejection of man far too much, though I am growing out of that more everyday.  Am I now trying to win the approval of men or of God?…….If I were still trying to please men,  I would not be a servant of Christ.  Gal 1:10    I let my anger, my fear direct me instead of God, at times. I let others convince me that I am not acceptable if I do not conform to the world.   Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

I see these times of conviction as God refining me.  Preparing me today, for eternity.

He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver;
He will purify the sons of Levi,
And purge them as gold and silver,
That they may offer to the Lord
An offering in righteousness.  Malichi 3:3

Posted in Rants Raves

Resolving Frustration

Posted on by Christy Petty

20120421-035558.jpg

Well my list of frustrations yesterday included not having Evan’s bathroom completed.  We have the holes in place for the shower, toilet and bathroom sink. We even have the kitchen sink hooked up to drain out, no  faucet till this week. We just did not have the ‘stuff’ line hooked up to the septic tanks. Had about 100 feet trench to dig and hook up to the main line.  Having a place for all the stuff to go was essential, so Keith had come to another ‘stall’ as we were waiting for the septic guy to be able to fit us in.   Evan has been coming over to the BIG HOUSE for his OUTHOUSE.

This week the septic guy came!! Whoo hoo.  Kirk did a great job, dug and hooked up in less than 8 hours.  Keith went out the same night and bought a toilet. Next day we bought the kitchen faucet and bathroom sink.  Keith put in the kitchen faucet that night.  Turned it on and the sink started to fill.  Keith worked on it about an hour trying to plunge and such. Decided to call it a night.  We figured Evan had poured some grease and gunk through and it needed to be cleaned at the trap.

I finished grouting the kitchen counters yesterday, and told Evan “This weekend we will get most of the plumbing done. Promise.”  I should not do that.

This AM we got up, slowly. Last night we celebrated with an ex coworker of Keith’s, yesterday was her last day with the Post Office, soooooooo happy for her!! Keith’s day will come!  Also yesterday I started an exercise class at the church, an hour of pure torture, my butt and thighs were SCREAMING at me this morning.  So slowly we started moving.  Planning to start with the kitchen sink and move on to the toilet and bath sink and be finished by 1 at the latest.

Lee calls.  He is helping cook for a ‘date night’ at our church tonight, Keith is helping him cook.  Lee is coming out to get the potatoes that he had his ‘help’ pick up for him yesterday.  Lee and Tanah and Ty arrive we get to visit with them, just as Lee is about to leave he asks ” Mom are you going to town today?”

I say “Later.” I am planning trip after we get all plumbing done to go get mirror for Evan’s bath.

Lee says ” Good I figured I would take Dad with me and we would unload the wood at the church and you could pick him up. Dad that ok with you?”

Keith says “Well we were going to do the plumbing in Evan’s first, but I guess we could get the mirror now.”

So, at 12 we have finally finished with the wood and picked up the mirror and driving home hungry, so we stop at Jason’s.  Keith has announced that he has to be back at the church at 3 and the flange on the toilet will have to be set in concrete after he chinks out some concrete to make it level with the floor. So we will probably just fix the kitchen sink drain issue.

We get home and time as it is we must wash and wrap the 65 potatoes that are Keith’s assignment and get them cooking before we work on the apartment.

Keith has decided to take the P trap off, that is bound to be where the clog is.  It is not.  Then he decides after we can not run a wire up and around the other part of drain, maybe more clog there.  The lines out of the apartment have been in place for MONTHS, just waiting for the septic to connect, so maybe some of the dirt accumulation has clogged it somewhere.  We should have checked that before we connected everything and buried it. I feel my frustrations building.

Keith cuts the line under the sink so we have a straight shot to push through.  We push wire through, some resistance, then it is gone.  Weird.  Keith has me check the toilet line as he blows air through the sink pipe, nothing comes through.  So logic says something is in the way between the sink and toilet line- before it goes out.  MMMM. Oh and Keith has to go shower now for evening. ARGGGGG. No resolution to my tension, just a bit more of a tug.

Keith goes in, after he tells me HE is not the one that promised the plumbing this weekend.  Man oh Man tension is getting tighter and tighter.

I contemplate what he has said, about the plumbing, I think if I can do SOMETHING maybe I can get us a step further.  I think about the shower drain, which is just 3 feet to the right of the toilet drain.  I pry off the plastic cover, look in a dark hole, grab a paint roller extender and poke it in. Resistance.  Jab, resist, jab, resist jab, clear…. Maybe!!  I pull out the pole, blackish water drips off. I then search a flashlight to look in.  Finally find one,  turn it on, look in and— YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEIKKS, beady black eyes surrounds by slimy goo squirm at me.    I screamed like a girl.

HUGE toad was in the drain. He probably was camping out in the open drain and then we trapped him in when we closed everything off. His only place is to live as close to the fresh air as possible, the other way is a stinky methane gassed suffocation.

That scream was so relieving! I must do it more. As I laughed at myself and our ‘clog the frog’ I walked to the house to tell Keith.  Keith was getting ready, and a bit cold from our last conversation.  Clog was a great ice breaker.

Keith left for cooking at church.  And I went to get Clog out.  The pipe is about a 24 inch drop to the T, Clog is propped just at the bottom above the water. Water is what stands in the drainage, right now just water. Each time I poked at Clog with anything, he would puff up and fill the whole pipe.  First thought to drop a washer tied to a string, get it under him and pull and maybe it would urge him up.  Nope, just hit him on head.  Poured water through made him wiggle and the washer fell under him.  Pulled and he would come some but eventually let the washer pull passed him.  I did this about 5 x’s. Then I started a search for something stiff that I could push past him and hook him with to pull. Finally decided on a hanger, from Evan’s closet.  I worried at first about poking him, then realized I had come to the tension point of wanting relief so much if Clog became a shish kabob I could live with that.  I ran down the hanger, still had the washer on the string down the hole too.  I started pulling, easily, it was working, pulling both. I got him just inches to the top something adjusted and he started to fall, I may could have grabbed him, physically, but mentally I had to not.  Second try, just the hanger, I hooked underneath and started to pull, he was coming, I worried a bit about the poke, then thought about all the crippled toads I see when it rains, either maimed from the cats, dogs or shovels, I gave a swift pull and he was out, splat on the floor. Ta Da!!! One frustration  down!!!

Clog has no war wounds. I scooped him in a coffee container, and took him over to the yard, took his picture and sent him on his way.  Hopefully the clog was only Clog, we will see tomorrow.

Posted in Christy's Concepts

Frustration

Posted on by Christy Petty

I am frustrated!  I looked up the word.  frustrated |ˈfrəsˌtrātid|  adjective feeling or expressing distress and annoyance, esp. because of inability to change or achieve something

I AM frustrated.  I am expressing distress and annoyance and I feel it too,  because of my inability to change something (s) and thus achieve!!!

What needs to change? EVERYTHING. 

I just turned 49, two weeks ago. Not really wanting to change that, but would like to change a few things connected to that:

Wrinkles: Eye wrinkles get eye cream, face wrinkles get day and night cream. I wish I could go back in time and learn to wear sunglasses and smile more. I wish I had some $$ and my hubby would allow me to use it  to nip and tuck and erase just a few lines.

Sags and bags- What the heck is up with my chin/neck or whatever that area is? Where did that come from? I think exercise would only make it worse. I could have a firm jawline and then the chin wing.  The way I am now it at least blends.

Metabolism- I sleep less, so you would think that means I would be burning more since I am up more. I have hot flashes so I sweat during the night when I do sleep, and when I sit still in an air conditioned room- this should be extra calories burned! I have been exercising, walking, sit uping, doing aerobics, pilates, 5 out of 7 days a week. WAAAAAy more than I ever have. I have dropped sugar, and most carbs. In the last year I lost about 20 lbs, over the Christmas holidays I ate maybe 2 small serving sweet treats, and gained 10 lbs.   REALLY?

I am working on changing me, changing my eating habits, changing my want for a quick fix (I did phen fen and I LOVED it! to heck with my heart)  Nothing is happening for me here! I am frustrated.

Beyond ME? More frustration. Because I really can change nothing more than myself.  I can not change idiocy. And I really want to.

Idiot doctors who will not diagnose gluten intolerance first, before taking out body parts. Idiot doctors who think that MD means they know far more than anyone who does not have MD behind their names.

Idiot people who continue to eat gluten, or feed it to their children,  knowing that they feel better with out wheat. People who are too weak to say no to a stinking doughnut, who whine because they are sick all the time, because they eat the stinking doughnut. People who believe the idiot doctor knows more than they do because the doctor has MD behind his name.

People who are afraid to stand for what they believe in.  Me included. IF we are called to ‘stand’ obviously someone is pushing, right?  Why is it that some bonehead with an opinion gets to trump mine? Why is it that all in the name of being a ‘good’person, a Christian, society tells me I have to turn the other cheek, be meek?  Society does not know what God  meant by that!! Why do I let them dictate to me?

People who have the audacity to think their opinion is the only one and always the right one.

People who want to change God and who He is and what He says so they will feel comfortable.  God invented love, tough love too, heck He is love. God made us and he can do what ever He wants with us. Get over it.

People who use their weakness’s as an excuse to not do their best.

People who consider a weakness a skin color, or a gender, or age or an age old injury (that has healed) and want exceptions in life, while those with true disabilities get none.

People ‘in power’ who make more bucks than I, and go on expense paid ‘business trips’ on MY taxes,

People who believe everything the media tells them.

People who think gasoline is expensive because of the oil tycoon who drills it.  It just don’t work that way people.

People who stand on the corner with signs that say “will work for money.”  across from a business with “Help Wanted” sign.   These same people are often in the local stores later talking on their cell phones… REally?!!

Apple has been teasing us with the new release of the Imac for MONTHS.

The only friends Evan has spend all their free time playing video games.

The $2000 transmission job on Evan’s Honda CRV lasted 2 months.  It IS under warranty. BUT it took them 3 months to do it when they were being paid…..

I don’t get to spend enough time with the grandkids.  ALL of them.

I still have not lost 40lbs, or 50 lbs.

I have tinnitus. My right ear RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINGS. Has been for years. It is not in the M.D’s ear so we don’t really care.

I can’t seem to get my fingernails to grow.

The sweet pea plant, the most expensive one, that seemed the easiest to grow, don’t look so good.

Evan’s bathroom is not finished yet.

Keiths stairs are not put up.

The property next door is WAY over priced.

Land loans are 60% down! If I had that much I would not need a loan!

I want someone to call me. I want someone to want to hang out with me. That doesn’t frustrate me.

Rick Santorum dropped out.  I really want a Christian president.

No grass in back yard.

NO RAIN still.  I don’t want to live in a desert.

Hay cost’s too stinkin much

I am frustrated.

BUT,  looking over this, I think the majority of it I have the ability to change.   And what I can’t…. I can work around.

This was helpful.  Thanks.

Posted in Adoption, Christy's Concepts, Exhort Pray Praise...

We Can All Be Adopted

Posted on by Christy Petty

Keith and I went to the movies last night, we saw October Baby http://octoberbabymovie.net/.  Fantabulous, Christian, pro-life, adoption, soul feeding,life important movie. I teared a bit here and there, so did Keith, though I am sure he won’t admit it. I pretty much sobbed at the end.. a good sob though 🙂

The story,  of course gave me reason to think some more about this being adopted thing. It is hard for me to describe what it is to be adopted. I think that is how it is with a lot of we adoptee’s.  There is just something about not being wanted that effects you. Then, being wanted by someone who does not have to, who makes you their own, when the ones that should have didn’t, is just profound.

I understand why I was not wanted. It was not me, Christy, that she did not want, it was ‘the’ baby.  I don’t think badly of or have any anger towards my bio for not wanting me. I really do love her and care for her, as deeply as I can, for someone I don’t know very well. I appreciate that she wants a relationship with me now. I thank God we were given the opportunity to reunite. Yet, all the nice and good feelings I have for her does not change that I was not wanted.  So, I think I have a bit of issue with rejection. Sometimes I try too hard to ‘make’ rejection not occur, which usually backfires. OR I don’t try at all, so I can avoid imagined rejection.  Non adoptee’s go through this too, so I am not all that screwed up.

The other side of the not wanted thing, is that I was very wanted, by my parents. They wanted me, or at least a baby, which turned out to be me. Once they got me, they kept me, they made me theirs in their hearts. I see that ‘want’ ,that love, that an adoptive parent has, is possibly even more than that of biological parents. Kind of like the scripture Matthew 5:43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,[h] 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors[ do so?   It is easy to love someone you like and know and are suppose to love.  But to love someone different from you, some child that someone else did not want, that may have some genetic quirks no one expected, as if they are yours is a pretty awesome selfless thing.

During my teen years I was not always so sweet. Mom was not either. We definitely had our moments. If those moments were accentuated because we were of different genetic temperaments, I don’t know.  I do know Mom had a pretty B@#$% streak with all of us.  In rifts I would pull the adoption card on Mom, yelling that she understood nothing because she was not my real mom, and wishing my real mom had kept me etc.  Anything to hurt her, as much as I felt hurt. (I learned that from Mom). I know now, with kids of my own, just the accusation of my being un-understanding, or a ‘bad’ mom cuts me to the core. I can’t imagine the hurt Mom must have felt when I denied her being my ‘real’ mom.  I do know she never denied her love for me. Even at her worst most manipulative, controlling, selfish, moments, she loved me.  Mom and Dad never ever did not want me. Never threatened to kick me out. Never quit speaking to me. Never said I was too much trouble or they did not want to handle my problems. They always wanted me. Always desired me to be their child. It was me that wanted it differently, sometimes. When things got ugly I wanted for happiness and security in an imagined world, away from those that wanted me, because they were not making me happy.  I could have run away to another life, chosen to leave, turned my back on my parents. That would not have changed their wanting me, loving me, it would have changed them having me.

God wants us. He loves us. He desires us to be his children.  John 3:1616 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His [a]only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.    And as Paul says, 1 Timothy 4 (God)who desires all men to be saved and to come to the [c]knowledge of the truth      Even though we are not his from birth–John 8:44  You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks [a]a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.  Instead of us being infants waiting for our father to pluck us up,we are children. We are of age to choose to stay in’ the system’ or agree to be adopted. We are children of the world, an abusive, evi,l manipulate, lying, father, who does not want us, he just want’s to use us for his own gain. We can leave him and choose to be adopted. To become Gods children.God has applied and is approved to take us.  John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.  To make us HIS OWN 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

If we choose to stay in the world, to stay children of Satan it,to turn our backs on God, does not change that God wants us, it just keeps us separated from him.   41 “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ 44 Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” It is our choice. We can choose the world over God. If we choose the world, the analogy roles change a bit here:God gives us up, gives us over to our sin. It is like bio mom, she gave up the baby, not ME. God does not want the sin, but he does want us.  The problem is if we choose the world we become the sin.

What if in one of my rants as a teenager I did leave my home, my parents whom desired me, wanted me? What if I had chosen against the love they offered, in search of what I believed to be better? Would my walking out have caused them to not want me? No, they would have always wanted me. Did their wanting me make me genetically theirs? No, I am forever genetically of another world. If I choose to be of my biological world, and deny my parents want/love I am not their child, my choice.  What if I took the name of my biological family denied my parents name and when they died ,I stood in front of the judge to receive my inheritance?……. He would say   ‘I don’t know you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS. ’Matthew 7:23.  I would forever be lost from those who had loved and desired for me to choose them. Eternally separated to suffer the consequence of my sin.