It's Reality TV...for dogs

Stitch loves looking out my window. Earlier this summer, he REALLY liked it. It's like reality TV...for dogs:

Feast or Famine

This winter I pretty much did nothing since cold turns me into the tin man without an oil can. This summer I've had so many wonderful visitors that I haven't had time to blog. The summer rush is over and so I want to share some of what we did this summer.

Stitch got a bath. A great excuse to play with the hose! More of our summer activities to follow. Stay tuned.

What A Wonderful World

This month's Good Housekeeping has a poignant article about a family affected by Fragile X Syndrome. For the first time since my kids were diagnosed (the first in 1989 before the gene was even discovered), I found an article that accurately captures the life we live. I've told people for years how blessed I am by my children, and it's obvious to see that it is sometimes a challenge. What people don't always see is the connection between the two extremes.

Take a few minutes to read the Good Houskeeping article. Then let me know what you think.

"Then I think to myself, 'What a wonderful world...'"

You're kidding, right?

 

A while back I made an appointment to get resting hand splints.  Common in ALS paraphernalia, they are just what they sound like...splints for your hands while you rest (in this case, sleep).  The intention of the splints is to keep your hands from becoming contractured, like this:

I knew I might be in trouble when, at the "fitting" appointment, the clinician brought in a splint similar to this:

  

See the problem with that????

After returning home and finding what I needed online, I emailed the tech to have him order some resting hand splints, which he did.  Today I went in to have them "fitted" and they were obviously too large.  After watching him fumble with the velcro (including trying to attach the "fuzzy" side of a strap attachment to a non-velcro part of the splint) and try to convince me that they weren't really too large (they extended  well over an inch beyond my longest finger and were a good 1/2 inch wider than the widest part of my palm), I finally politely asked that he order the next-smaller size.  Now, this is a certified orthotist, professional, presumably college-educated person... but when he went to put the splints back in their respective (right, left) boxes he held up the splints, looking at them, turning them around and upside down, trying to tell which was which.

Not a huge confidence builder.  Hopefully, I'll get the smaller size and be all set next visit.  Amy and I got a good laugh out of the whole thing!  Just another day-in-the-life.........

UPDATE: TWICE IN ONE DAY!

I need a particular piece of equipment to adapt my surroundings.  I know what I need.  I asked a "patient services/equipment" specialist at a national organization about where/how to get it (loan closet).  They referred me to a therapist who deals in that sort of equipment.  NEITHER of them had any clue what to tell me to do/what I needed specifically.  I went online and found PART NUMBERS and photographs for what I needed.  Took me 20 minutes...tops.  Moral of the story:  you're on your own.  I'll be pleasantly surprised if the loan closet has what I need.

I wonder why I don't participate in the national organization's fundraising activities??? Hummm.

Tithing: Test Me In This -- A Book Review

Tithing: Test Me In This by Douglas Leblanc is part of the “Ancient Practices Series” of books. Other books in the series include – Sabbath, Fasting, Pilgrimage, Prayer, The Sacred Meal, and the Liturgical year.

Malachi 3:10 has been the subject of much debate throughout history and among many religious traditions. In the introduction to Tithing, Phyllis Tickle, General Editor of the “Ancient Practices Series”, writes that rather than a theological or historical treatise on tithing, Doug Leblanc has “…chosen to discover men and women who…tithe and are willing to say…why they do so.”

As I started this book, I looked forward to inspiring stories of how God has used tithing to bring people closer to Himself. What I found mostly was, in fact, largely biographical information on the persons featured in the book, with varying degrees of reference to tithing and it’s impact in their spiritual lives. While some of the stories were inspiring, some were hardly recognizable as being on the topic at all. A large proportion of the book is the account of Christians from the “social justice” perspective, some bordering on liberation theology. As a conservative Christian, I was pleased to see a chapter on Randy Alcorn and his views, although even that chapter felt like it was more about sacrificing for a principle (pro-life) than tithing.

Overall, I was disappointed in the book. Tithing is a joyous gift from God allowing us to participate in showing His love to a hurting world. I had hoped that Tithing would be more of an encouragement to non-tithers, enticing them to “…test [God] in this…” (Malachi 3:10). Instead the book felt like a series of biographical stories of community organizers and how their ministries were changed by an attitude of giving. I can’t help but feel that the average person would be more inspired by stories of individuals or families and the impact that tithing had on their lives.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”