My Other Blog: I am hosting a competition
I have another blog that I started up called "thedoggiepark" and I am hosting a competition on that blog. It is a dog Halloween costume competition. If have a dog that you wish to enter in the competition head over to my other blog and read about the competition and how to enter. The winning dog will be featured on my blog along with recieving an award certificate and dog treat. If you know anyone who has a dog they would like to enter send them over to my blog so that they may enter.
Quick Update on Adoption fund
Recovery From Hell
The Flood: My Day in Hell
Some of you have probally heard about the floods that hit Missouri and Arkansas. Well my house was in the path of one of these floods. While the house itself survived and my landlord worked hard to get it back to liveable conditions, we lost almost everything we owned in the flood. The water got extremely deep and the current from the water was so strong I really did not think I could make it out of it.
Let me start at the beginning of that day. The day started like any other rainy day, as I got up to get my kids off to school. Well we had a good size puddle covering our walk way so, I decided that since my kids had just gotten over being sick I did not want them to have to go to school with wet socks and shoes on all day so I kept them home. Good thing I did. So we trolled around the house that morning and had breakfast and watched a little television. Then I got the brilliant idea of a nice nap time for everyone. So down we all went while it rained outside.
When I awoke from my nap I noticed water in the floor. Great I thought now my house leaks when it rains. When I got off the bed I realized it was more than a leak as the water was up to my ankles. My toddler was on my bed awake and I made my way to the other boys' rooms to wake them. I am still in my nightgown and am in need of regular clothing. I was able to find a pair of jeans and a long sleeve shirt that were just slightly wet so i put them on and then got all my kids in my room on my bed while I assest the situation. I went to the back play room to grab my purse so that we could leave and go to my Dad's house. Well the back play room is set up so that you have to go down three steps to reach the room. The water was up to my knees in that room and my purse was under water. I managed to find it and get it out of the water, wet contents and all.
I went back to my room and called my husband on my cell that I had on the bed when I went down for a nap. I told him the situation and he told me to get the kids to the truck and get out of there. So the next thing was to find my toddler some clothes since he likes to roam around the house in just his pull up. To my discover all his clothes had been pulled out of his dresser draw at some point by him no doubt. So now they are under water and I can not find them. The water at this point is up to my knees in the front part of the house now. I found me a pair of shoes floating that were an old pair, but could find none for any of my kids. So they are going out barefoot and my toddler in just his pull up and jacket.
So now we are heading for the truck, my six year old is scared of water so he is screaming. I told him to wait in the door way and I would come back and get him after I got his baby brother in the truck. So it is my seven year old walking next to me and me carrying my two year old down the walk way in our yard toward the truck. I make it to the fence and start to go out the gate when the current hit me so strong I knew I could not make it carrying my toddler. The water level was just over the tires on the truck at this point. I turned around and made the short walk back to the house. When I made it to the door, I turned and the water level rose so quick that in that short amount of time it was now up to the mid point of the doors on my truck.
I put all the kids on the back of the couch and called my husband to tell him we could not make it out. I am scared at this point because the water is rising so quickly and the current is getting so much stronger that even in the house it is hitting me pretty hard. The couch I had put my kids on the back of is starting to float and I am afraid they are going to fall off the back and getting even wetter in the ice cold water. Myself on the other hand is just standing in the ice cold water trying to stay focused and block the cold so I can find a way out.
My salvation came in the form of my next door neighbor's sixteen year old son. He called across the street to me from where he was at and asked me if I could make it there as they had a big truck coming to get everyone out. I told him the situation with the kids and the current of the water. He told me to hold on and he would help with the kids. The water level is over my fence when he came into my yard. He took my my oldest son and handed him off over the underwater fence to another guy whom I did not know. Then came back for my six year old. Once he handed my six year old off, I looked and this very muscular man was standing in the water holding up my two boys. The truck had made it there and the man put my two boys inside and my neighbor's son told me he was ready for my toddler. I grabbed him off the back of the couch and he fought me so hard that I lost a hold of him. The water is so deep at this point that he went under. I watched as his little head kept surfacing and disappearing down my hall way. I followed and when I got to him in his brother's room I was able to grab him.
He came up in my arms holding his favorite blanket. He told me he got blankie now he can go. I could not believe it but my two year old went fearlessly after his beloved blankie. I took and handed him off as I walked out of the house. When I made it past the fence the current was extremely strong and was trying to suck me under. I was hard walking through this current and it took my neighbor's son and the muscular man that I did not know to try and help me to the truck.
We struggled and then another guy that I did not know joined in to help and we finally made it to the front of the truck. The current was so strong that we could not make it from our position to the sides of the truck. So it ended up being me and the three guys and one other girl holding on to the front of the truck while it when in reverse and drug us up out of the flooded area.
They took us to the firehouse from there and I eventually went to my cousin's house to stay with him and his wife for the night. The next day I was finally able to see my home. Everything was wet and mud caked. We lost almost everything we owned. Furniture, clothing, bedding and personal items were all gone.
For two weeks that followed the flooded, I stayed at hotels that really cut into our finances. I even attempted to save on money and accepted my husband's ex wife offer to stay at her house. That lasted for only a few days as you can imagine. So back to the hotels me and the kids went. I did spent two nights with my mother in law but she is in bad health and the kids to rowdy for her in her small apartment.
We are back in our home now but still trying to recover from the flood. While it was scary and we lost everything, the flood has brought my husband and I so much closer. We have had moments were we have split up, we even here for the last few months have decided to adopt as you all can see from previous posts. The flood has put off our attempts to adopt as we need every dime to recover from the flood since we did not have renter's insurance. But over all we are closer now than we have ever been and for that I am grateful.
I hate that we lost everything, I hate that my toddler still has nightmares because of the flood, I hate that I have not been able to work since it happened and there for placed financial hardship on my family. But I do love how much closer this tragedy has brought us to each other and to God.
In addition to all of you who have read the previos blogs and have been following along with our adoption endeavors, that is on hold as we are using every bit of our money to put life back to normal right now for the kids we already have in our lives who are depending on us.
Update on Adoption Funds
Gifts for soldiers
I have been writing for another company and this will be the first time I have brought you any of my published work from there. I had the chance to write on how to send gifts to soldiers. I put together an article that covered what to send and how to package it. After all Godzilla himself will be handling the package long before the soldier gets it. So if you are interested in how to send gifts to soldiers or need some gift idea swing by and read my article.
Adoption Fund Update
Hey everyone I wanted to go ahead and post a progress update on here for all of you. Everyone who read my last post knows that I am using my page view bonus money from one of the companies that I write for to fund our adoption. Ok so it will not pay for the whole thing but it will help out a great deal.
So far my page view bonus is up to $22.55 since their last update. Now they do not update in live time. They have scheduled updates every so often during the month. So this is not the full amount of what I have earned just what they have counted so far since their last update.
I can not wait to see how high the bonus money jumps up after they count all the page views I have received from my friends here on tblog. Thanks a million you guys you are the greatest. I will keep you guys posted.
Click Here to read my work and help increase my page view bonus
Seeking Your Help ( dont worry it will not cost you a dime)
Well the decision has been made after long and careful thought. We have decided that we want another baby. Now me I do not care what the gender is as long as I can raise the little bundle of joy. My husband on the other hand feels that since we have 4 boys between us that he wants a little girl. So the decision has been made that we will go for a little girl.
I can not carry any more children so we are looking to adopt a baby. Now we have contacted our attorney since we neither one want to use an agency that is going to cost us more than the price of purchasing a home. We now know just how much our attorney is going to cost and how much the home study is going to cost. As well our attorney gave us a rough idea of how much the court costs will be. So we are moving ahead and planning our adoption process.
This is where you all come into play. See adoptions are still expensive even when you by pass the agencies and their high fees. As you know I am a freelance writer. One place that I write for pays page view bonuses out for page views of articles that I have written. I am asking you to use the link below to access the page that lists all my published works. Find an article that interests you and click on the title to read it.
See that was simple and like I said in the title of this post, it will not cost you a dime. From now on all my page view bonus money will be going to fund our adoption. Once we get close to having our attorney fees, and home study fees we will start looking for a birthmother. So please if you can find it in your hearts to spare a little of your time please read my articles so that I can increase my page views and thus get closer to being a mommy to a new baby.
The IV Amendment Simplified
The Bill of Rights is part of the Constitution and protects our rights. The thing is though is that we do not usually fully know what rights are really protected. The reason is that most publications on the Bill of Rights uses a lot of confusing legal jargon or drones on to the point that we are sleeping before we finish reading it.
When the Bill of Rights were first introduced in 1791 our forefathers made them vague. Over the years the Supreme Court has ruled over cases that have shaped the Bill of Rights into something more specific as well as into what we know them to be now.
I wrote an article on the IV Amendment that is not full of legal jargon nor is it one of those fall asleep articles. In fact is is rather short and to the point using everyday words and examples to show you what the IV Amendment once was and what it is today. You may be suprised at what you find.
Policing Method Experiment
In one of my classes for my Criminal Justice degree I had the pleasure of learning about the 3 policing models that are used in the United States. Each police department will use 1 of these 3 models and it is up to the Cheif of Police to decide which model that police department will use.
Now the thing is though is that each model functions differently and determines how the police will deal with crime in that area as well as how they will deal with the citizens.
I had an article published that worked as an experiment. In it I described the 3 different policing models. I asked that everyone reading the article post a comment on the article page telling what policing method that their police department used and what method they wished the department would use.
I am asking you to read the article and join in on this experiment by posting your own comments directly on the article page. Let your voice be heard on this issue.
I Created a Squidoo Lens
I created a Squidoo Lens titled " All About Parenting". This lens focuses on parenting issues from a broad range. Take the time to check out my Squidoo Lens.
If you have not done so already take the time to create your own lens. They are fast and easy to create and the best thing is they are free and fun.
Happy As a Clam Tonight
Ok I am happy as a clam tonight. I have several reasons. For one I got an A on both my Criminal Justice paper and my English Comp paper. So I have an over all grade of A for Criminal Justice and an overall grade of B in English Comp. While my paper got an A my two English Comp exams both scored a C+. Which kind of baffles me since I am a writer for a living. One would think I would know these things. But I do not so that is why I am learning.
Now about me being so happy. I really am not sure why I am so happy since life should suck at this moment for me. My marriage is ending. My kid's crayon art work on the wall will not come off and to top it all off my bathroom is flooded due to a stopped up toilet. Toilet will not unstop and the flood is damaging carpet in the bathroom. Who the heck carpets a bathroom? Well I will tell you who, My landlord that is who.
But for some odd reason I am happy. One would assume that my husband no longer wanting me would be depressing. But I feel relief. Or my kid's crayon art work on the wall not coming off would be frustrating. But I think it is pretty. He drew it for momma. The bathroom toilet well that is proving to be entertaining as my kids try to comprehend that no toilet means to pee elsewhere like in the tub and rinse it out. They are not liking this set up but until tomorrow they have no choice but to just deal.
So in some weird twisted turn of events I am here and happy as a clam.
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED
Here goes nothing. I work as a freelance writer and one of the places that I write for is doing a page view bonus on all the writers published articles. Well Friday is the cut off for the bonus they will be paying for this month. This bonus can come in handy for the Christmas holiday. I will be posting my CP page link at the bottom of this post. This page will showcase all my published articles.
What I am asking is that you please check my CP page out and if you find anything of interest please click on the article title and read my article. I get a bonus only on the articles that are read, not on people visiting my CP page. So if something interest you then please read the article.
I am hoping for a high bonus for this month because of Christmas. Thanks in advance for all those that help out.
Unique Christmas Gift to Give this Year
Christmas is coming up and this year why not give a unique Christmas gift. This year break away from the traditional and amaze your loved ones with something unique that is geared just for them. I wrote an article last year showcasing this wonderful gift. This year why not check out my article and give a gift that will have them saying "WOW".
My Own Experiement: Stem Cell Research
Hello everyone, A while back i conducted an experiement on how men and women differ on stem cell research. I wanted to see if there was difference between men and women as to which gender supported stem cell research and which gender did not. I also wanted to see if the majority would show that men and women did differ in their stand or if they as a majority felt the same.
I would like you to take part in this experiement. I ask that you post your stand on the experiment on the actual experiement page. First read the experiment that I conducted then scroll to the bottom of the page. You will see an comment section, there I want you post your comment. Dont worry you need not use your real name just make sure that in your comment that you point out whether your are male or female. Thank you in advance for your time.
For those that want to know
Halloween pictures
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Halloween
Divorced? Or Getting a Divorce? If you have children then READ THIS NOW
I am not exactly sure what happens when two adult start going through the divorce process. It seems that all the brain cells in their heads take a vacation. For some this is a permenant vacation. They begin acting like spoiled little brats. No longer able to think about anything but themselves. The beautiful children that they both had promised to love and protect seem to no longer be their children. Instead these children become pawns in the war of the exes.
I am baffled at how parents can do this crap to their kids. I don't care how much your ex hurt you or how much of a fight you two are putting up over the house or expenses or how much money she wants from you, or how little money he is offering you. This crap is grownup shit that should be kept between the grownups. Never should a child hear any of these or be put in a place to choose sides.
Guess what even if you tell your child that they should still love their other parent, if you let them see the fighting or talking negative about the other parent. Your child will choose sides. So keep your mouth shut about the ADULT STUFF.
So if you are getting a divorce or already divorced please take the time to read these two articles. They may help you to learn how to be better divorced parents. Know some one going through a divorce or who is divorced then forward them on. You may just save a child from years of hurt, anger and heartache.
What Parents Need to Know About Self Cutting
As parents we don't want to believe that our child could do something like that. We view it as something stupid that our kid knows better than to do. We hear about it but we don't pay to much attention to it. After all self cutting is only something that other peoples kids do. Kids that are playing in the gothic scene or are depressed. We tell ourselves that this does not fit our kid. Well guess what, the gothic scene does not bring about self cutting. And the obvious signs of depression may not be apparent in your child. This is something serious that all parents need to be aware of. The link below will take you to an article that will explain in detail what self cutting is and warning signs to look for.
Burned at the Stake
Through out history we have heard of witches being burned at the stake. During my time researching old court records pertaining to the Salem Witch Trials I had discovered that this victims were not burned at the stake but rather hung. I started looking back beyond 1692 to see if witches had been burned prior to this time. What I found was that witches were not really being burned but rather hung. So were did the idea of burning at the stake come from?
It actually came from the fact that women were being burned for heresy. The Catholic church was ok with burning someone who had a different religious view point.
Upon learning this I dug deep and have published a bio on a woman named Ann Askew who actually has become famous in her own right throughout history. To learn more about this brave and daring woman and why she was condemed to be burned at the stake in 1546 read my article:
Salem Witch Trial Victim
I have been going through more court records pertaining to the Salem Witch Trials and have finished and published my bio on Rebecca Nurse. Rebecca Nurse was real life person who was killed because she was falsely accused of being a witch in 1692. To learn more about Rebecca Nurse and the trial that condemed her to death read my article:
Are You Concerned About The Amount of Time Your Child Spends on Video Games?
A lot of parents show concerns about their child playing online role playing games. Well don't be to concerned about this. The below article will show you the educational benefits that your child can get from playing an online role playing game known as RuneScape.
The Truth About Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C can be a scary thing for many people. The sad thing about Hepatitis C is that even some doctors can be ignorant when it comes to how Hepatitis C is spread and about what activity puts you at risk. I have heard that sex can spread Hepatitis C from some doctors and I have heard that Hepatitis C is relatively low even among drug users. Scary that there is so much confusion about Hepatitis C. I personally when writing my article on Hepatitis C went straight to the Center for Disease Control and got the straight facts about Hepatitis C and who is at risk and who really is not at risk.
So if you are wondering if you could be at risk or not, or you are just curious to know the truth about Hepatitis C then read my article and arm yourself with a little more knowledge about a potentially deadly disease.
Good Read For 9/11
What America has come to refer to as only 9/11 now being yesterday, I decided to sit down and pull out one of my little older articles. It is not too old but still not one of the new ones. The article deals with muslims, terrrorism and plain being an American. I think this article will be a good read for anyone as they try to remember the people that we lost that day and try to keep all of it in prospective. Please take the time to read it and if you so choose keep the debate at the bottom of the article going.