Thursday, July 08, 2004

Whatever

Have you ever had one of those days that nothing seemed to go right? That was today. I ended up getting a worm on my computer. How? I have no idea! The kids had to pick today to argue with me over everything. Hubby , well, hubby was just being himself. At least I did get the worm off, at least I think I did. The kids are asleep and so is hubby. So now I have the house to myself and I'm enjoying the quiet time, which comes to seldom around here. The bad thing is, I wouldn't know what to do without all this activity! I know, as most parents do, that if the kids are too quiet, they're up to something! And you never really want to know what it is, but being a responsible parent, you have to go check! I guess things could be worse. Sometimes I just like to complain, but it doesn't take me long to realize just how good things are here. I have to kids that are healthy enough to be making noise. Some parents aren't so blessed. I have a hubby to fuss about, some people don't have that either.

Thinking about that makes me think about Daniel's parents, which in one way, makes me feel bad for fussing, because, the very things I'm fussing about, they wish they could be. I really feel for them! I can't even imagine what they're going through. It's not something I've ever faced. Have you ever noticed that when you go through some terrible tragedy, one of the first things people say is, "I understand what you're going through." When they have never been through the same situation? I guess that's why I don't. How can I understand what loosing a child feels like? I've never been through it. Thank God, my children have never really been that sick. I know I fuss and complain about my family, but something always makes me realize that my life isn't that bad. There is always someone out there in worse shape than me.

Okay, enough serious time here. Let's get into something else. I got this as an email and since most people that come here are parents, I thought you might enjoy it as well. I don't know who wrote it, but I hope you get a laugh out of it. If you know, please let me know as well. I would like to tell the person, "Great Job!!!"

"Reacting to Federal Guidelines, the state of Florida, which has been highlighted as a role model for student testing by the Bush Administration's Department of Education, has released the following memo:

In response to President Bush's Federal No Child Left Behind Act, students will have to pass it to be promoted to the next grade level. In the hopes that it will be uniformly adopted by all the states, thus illuminating Florida to a glorious front runner position in education, it will be called: the Federal Arithmetic and Reading Test (FART).

All students who cannot pass a FART in the second grade will be retested in grades 3-5 until such a time as they are capable of achieving a FART score of 80%. If a student does not successfully FART by grade 5, that student shall be placed in a separate English program, the Special Mastery Elective for Learning Language (SMELL).

If with this increased SMELL program the student cannot pass the required FART, he or she can graduate to middle school by taking a one-semester course in Comprehensive Reading and Arithmetic Preparation (CRAP).

If by age fourteen the student cannot FART, SMELL or CRAP, he will earn his promotion in an intensive one-week seminar This is the Preparatory Reading for Unprepared Nationally Exempted Students (PRUNES).

It is the opinion of the Florida Department of Public Instruction that an intensive week of PRUNES will enable any student to FART, SMELL or CRAP.

This revised provision of the student-testing component of the House Bill 110 should help clear the air."

May God's blessings alway be with you and your loved ones. Always remember, no matter how bad life seems, there is always someone in a worse situation than you are.

Monday, July 05, 2004

More about Daniel

I have the information about where to send items to Daniel's parents. Even if it's just a small letter of sympathy, I'm sure that will help.
Parents of Daniel Rodgers, c/o Apostolic Truth United Pentecostal Church, 8018 HWY 53 N, Toney AL 35773.

I know the Lord has a plan for this family! I may not know what it is, but I trust him to be there for them and comfort them. God has stated that He will not put more on us than we can bear, and I believe that. He's also stated that no matter what happens in our lives, it will all work to our good if we trust Him. I realize that sometimes that's hard to do, especially when something like this happens, but that's when we need to trust him the most. Please keep this family in your prayers. I know they need them.

God be with you always.