Pink Ribbons: The Downside

I. Hate. Pink. Ribbons.

There.  I said it.

There are two things I dislike about October.  I'm not fond of Halloween (although I'm mellowing a bit on that one).  I really don't like the whole pink ribbon thing. 

Hear me out.

My mom died from breast cancer.  I have skin in the game, so to speak. 

That may be why it is such a passion of mine.

People do all sorts of wonderful things to raise money for breast cancer research.  They walk.  They sell special ribbon shaped bagels.  They dress NFL players in pink.  All of it is noble.  Their motives are pure and helpful.  There are a couple of problems, though.

Some of it really helps.  It comes down to money.  Research requires money.  So selling bagels in a ribbon shape, and donating a portion of the proceeds to research is a spectacular way to raise money.

I'm still trying to figure out how dressing those poor NFL players in pink helps anything.  If I walk to Timbuktu, how is that assisting any researchers?  It's about the money I raised for the walk.  No one benefits from me starving myself, walking, running or doing back handsprings.  They benefit from the funds I raise to do so.  So, if it takes a walk, a marathon, a golf tournament, to make it a social event and that raises more money, I get it.  My real problem isn't with the nonsensical events.

My real problem is with Susan G. Komen.

See, all these wonderful people are raising money hand over fist for breast cancer research.  A HUGE amount of it goes to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.  The Komen Foundation funds a lot of breast cancer research.  That is a noble thing.  What isn't noble, however, is that they give big chunks of money to Planned Parenthood.  Planned Parenthood is the nation's largest abortion provider.

Check out these links:
http://www.lifenews.com/2010/05/24/nat-6360/

http://liveaction.org/blog/the-susan-g-komenplanned-parenthood-connection/

http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/report-susan-g-komen-donated-over-600000-to-planned-parenthood-in-2009-201/

Better yet, do the research yourself. 

Then, if you start looking at all these pink tshirts, ribbons, yogurt tops, bagels, etc., you will see the Susan G. Komen Foundation plastered everywhere.

My mom died of breast cancer.  She, and people like her, are being exploited in order to fund abortions.  That would make her sad.  It makes me angry.

Please, please continue the efforts to raise money for breast cancer research.  Six out of seven women in my mom's family had breast cancer.  My sister's and my risk is very high, as are our daughters and granddaughters.  I watched my mom fight hard, and her victory eventually came when she went to meet Jesus. 

Please, please be discerning.  Research it and be clear about where the funds are going. If you want your funds to help breast cancer, then be sure it isn't funding abortion.  At this time, I am not comfortable recommending alternative foundations, but I am researching options.

The Latest

Imagine my excitement when a friend commented on missing my blog. 

"I looked at your blog to see what's new with you, and you haven't posted since May!"

Wow.

I'm missed.

Thank you, D!

So, where is my crew now?

The Big Boy is in his Junior Year at Mizzou.  He spent all summer studying for the MCAT.  It has been dubbed the summer of the MCAT.  It wasn't too bad, but we really don't want another one.  He studied a lot, but before you get to feeling too bad for him, understand he golfed a lot, too.  He also spent a lot of time at the hospital working in various departments.  So, in all, he had a good summer. 

He took the MCAT and did very well, thank you.  However, he isn't satisfied, so he will probably take it again.  It appears we will have an MCAT Christmas (Break) this year, too.

The Big Girl graduated from High School and is going to school in St. Louis.  She has had her share of traumatic experiences her first semester.  The biggest trauma was being involved in an accident her first week of school.  Someone ran a red light at an intersection and hit her, knocking her into another lane, where she was hit on the other side.  She and her friend were a bit bruised and sore, but ok.  We have been praising the Lord for that ever since.  Her car is still in the shop.  It has been a mess to get through all the hoops with the other person's insurance.  Suffice it to say, we learned folks really aren't in such good hands.......ah, well.  The biggest praise, other than her lack of injuries, is that she is doing great.  She has good friends, is doing well in her classes, is involved, and seems well-rested and well-adjusted in every respect.  Thanks, God!

The Things are in 7th and 8th grade.  We had a rough start in homeschool this year.  So, after a month or so of muddling through, I got my act together.  We have ratcheted up our schooling quite a bit.  The bar has been set higher, and they are responding well.  I'll do a post on some things I've learned later.  They are both active in the youth group.  They are doing well.

Hubs & I were treated to a trip to Maui in September through his company.  Had I not had two Things at home, he would never have gotten me on that plane to return to the Midwest.  I keep trying to convince him we can make a move to Maui work.  He can do the tour guide thing in the day (he'd be good at that), and learn to play the ukelele and sing at night. (He'd be really good at that!)  I'll wait tables.  I can do that.  At those prices, surely the tips will be good!  Right?

Some October happies to ponder:

Autumn leaves and beauty
A new iPhone (ordered!)
A new season of Psych starts tomorrow! 
Thing 2's braces have been removed!
New Casting Crowns album!
THE CARDINALS ARE IN THE PLAYOFFS! (Oct baseball = always good)

What can you add?

Wow! May Already? (Baccalaureate)

I would like to tell you what all has occurred since my last blog.  The problem is, I don't really remember.  I haven't completely lost my mind, and I don't believe I have amnesia.  It is just a fact of life.  It whirls by, and those many moments you think you will remember forever become a blur.

Words that pop into my mind when I think about the last few months include homeschool (of course), ski trip, Hilton Head, rain, floods, hail, tornadoes, Easter, Mother's Day, AWANA, piano, Thing 2 (birthday), tall kids, The Big Boy (home), and the big one on my radar right now is:  GRADUATION. 

The big party is Friday night.  Between now and then, the to-do list is gargantuan.  After that, maybe I can blog, showing pictures with the cool new camera Hubby gave me for Christmas (that I am just figuring out).

I have lots of blogs doing flip-flops in my mind.  Steel yourself for some politics, religion, and some analysis about motivation.

But first, the Big Girl's Baccalaureate was last night.  Baccalaureate has changed a little since I was young.  I find myself thinking it has "dwindled".  Because it has become so politically correct to make sure these whipper snappers know that they don't HAVE to come because Baccalaureate is a decidedly Christian event, and because they make it clear it is "optional", many don't come.  Although in theory that is a sad thing, I can't say that I blame them.  Often it is a dry message from an elderly gentleman with whom they have nothing in common.  To be perfectly honest, I didn't really want to go.  I was tickled to see the speaker last night was a class Dad, who related well to them as well as the rest of us, and gave a good message.  I was glad I went. 

It was so sweet to see the Gideons brave the rain to stand outside and give Bibles to the kids as they exited.  The Big Girl giggled when she discovered they all knew her Grandpa, a fellow Gideon.

Before we braved the rain and celebrated with some Dairy Queen, I snapped a couple of shots with my phone. The first is The Big Girl, The Big Boy, Thing 1 and Thing 2:

Next is The Big Girl with her Daddy:

 I promise the real pictures with my cool new camera will be much better....if I ever hook the thing up to a computer. 

While You Were Sleeping (Christmas)

Hubby is singing at our Christmas Eve service tonight. He is singing one of my all-time favorite songs, "While You Were Sleeping" (Christmas version) by Casting Crowns. The lyrics are so powerful.

While You Were Sleeping

Oh little town of Bethlehem
Looks like another silent night
Above your deep and dreamless sleep
A giant star lights up the sky
And while you're lying in the dark
There shines an everlasting light
For the King has left His throne
And is sleeping in a manger tonight, tonight

Oh Bethlehem, what you have missed while you were sleeping
For God became a man
And stepped into your world today
Oh Bethlehem, you will go down in history
As a city with no room for its King
While you were sleeping
While you were sleeping

Mary shivers in the cold
Trying to keep the Savior warm
Born among the animals wrapped in dirty rags
Because there was no room for Him in the world He came to save

United States of America
Looks like another silent night
As we're sung to sleep by philosophies
That save the trees and kill the children
And while we're lying in the dark
There's a shout heard 'cross the eastern sky
For the Bridegroom has returned
And has carried His bride away in the night

America, what will we miss while we are sleeping
Will Jesus come again
And leave us slumbering where we lay
America, will we go down in history
As a nation with no room for its King
Will we be sleeping
Will we be sleeping

United States of America
Looks like another silent night

Christmas Glow

Christmas is a
Whispering candle
Heard all over the world....
Whose fragile and flickering
Light touched men
Everywhere,
Leading them through
The night...in prayer
And understanding,
So that all men might share
The sacredness of the season,
And walk and talk together
With the Prince of Peace.

-Annette Victorin

Copied from Christmas Ideals, Vol 27, No. 6, November, 1970.

O Come O Come Emmanuel

"Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14

Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, our Wisdom from on high,
Who ordered all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, oh, come, our Lord of might,
Who to your tribes on Sinai's height
In ancient times gave holy law,
In cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come O Rod of Jesse's stem,
From ev'ry foe deliver them
That trust your mighty pow'r to save;
Bring them in vict'ry through the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, O Key of David, come,
And open wide our heav'nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, our Dayspring from on high,
And cheer us by your drawing nigh,
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Oh, bid our sad divisions cease,
And be yourself our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Another Attempt at Advent

The last few years, I have felt led to celebrate Advent with our family. I started just with reading advent scriptures the first couple of weeks only to have it fall by the wayside with the busyness of the season. Last year we actually did some Advent activities for several days and stayed with the scriptures longer.

It is obvious that finishing what I started is something with which I struggle. The pile of unfinished scarves and socks is further evidence of this shortcoming.

So, I have been pondering Advent and how to create a situation I must see through. I decided the key is in the planning. So, as is my way, I started planning waaaay ahead. On Sunday. Ahem.

Okay, so I'll have to let you know later if it works. The idea, however, is that I bought some of those miniature stockings at our local discount store for $1 each. In each will be be tucked a scripture and a location. There are 24, with little white tags (straight from the office products dept of same store) labeling the days. I also picked up some treats. With four kids and a roommate (I'm sending a box to The Big Boy at college and including his roomie), it can be costly, so we are talking very low cost treats. It isn't about the wonderful gift, it is about the anticipation of our Savior. The treats just make it an exciting activity. I bought candy, chap stick, cheap toys, playing cards, beef jerky, and other whimsical items. I'm thinking the beef jerky was the most costly of the lot. Many little gifts like this can be purchased in the seasonal department. Another place to check out is the travel item section. Those little sodas in six packs are another idea. Boxes of snacks are always good.

I'll string the stockings across the front of the mantel and each day they will read the scripture and ponder it in their hearts. Of course they will. Then they will look at the location where their treat for that day is hidden.

The big boy has a box and the treats are in little bags and labeled by day, with scriptures attached. Well, almost. I'm doing that next. His covers him through finals, then he will join the rest of the family in our Advent adventure at home.

I'm hearing voices from "Christmas Vacation" in my head, "Sparky, you create expectations no family gathering can meet..." (or something like that) Voices, be gone!!!

Two great places for Advent ideas are:

Cathy's Christmas Cottage Advent Calendar

Teaching Mom's Advent Calendar

Even if you just do a couple of activities and a few scripture readings, it still is a step toward making Christmas about Jesus in your family.