tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19230596390839929772024-03-18T20:32:09.221-07:00Boobie BabbleA place for me to journal and vent about avariety of topics; motherhood, staying at home, budgeting, economy, politics, family, Christianity, and the list continues...Stollehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04407681504873231646noreply@blogger.comBlogger273125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923059639083992977.post-77703098457596584272020-07-22T11:51:00.000-07:002020-07-22T11:51:30.834-07:00Fear is a Liar<div class="" dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><div class="ecm0bbzt hv4rvrfc ihqw7lf3 dati1w0a" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id="jsc_c_4p2" style="font-family: inherit; padding: 4px 16px 16px;"><div class="j83agx80 cbu4d94t ew0dbk1b irj2b8pg" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: -5px; margin-top: -5px;"><div class="qzhwtbm6 knvmm38d" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px;"><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j muag1w35 enqfppq2 jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: var(--primary-text); display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; line-height: 1.3333; margin-bottom: -4px; margin-top: -4px; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DGgnClrx8N2k%26fbclid%3DIwAR3IEHaB5oseTM-baDiL5CWcg9QNv1wzxeWfQ9w7TBwiN5-3R3afm2PSLco&h=AT1UDla6aJS6R5v9-XdKm_gy35bIXCMyZKWrr0atVUv9j0sfThRJbyAeTxrsndEuvsUOqgpftNr-RatzbX8-DptDfCjzEIAryVtiPx7GVxub7ye-QDx8p2VCFmbyS48IKWub5vRGu0vvC6W0J1fR&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT3Fcj_4X0g_U1wC1HQAW3u0d8J9rgsLzY_NXiiWcsjLX9YQIw3olOMmgZt_-ODjSMRop6Rwjcr59JkgUqrhGgLU_9UYt65lO85FesxT0dz21_IaFZicD8SvtWBnsoc" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgnClrx8N2k</a></span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Today as was trying to soak in my small window of quiet alone time with the Lord (and without kids) something struck me. This song came to mind and I was reminded that we, in our fleshly bodies, often forget who the real enemy is. </div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">What really is behind the pandemic? The rioting? The social unrest? The political posturing? The fear-mongering? The lies? The finger-pointing? The fear?</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">It isn't your neighbor, or your president, or your neighbor or some social justice group or another country--it is our oldest and most cunning foe.</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Ephesians 6:12</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">This enemy often knows us better than we know ourselves. He can be persuasive and attractive and manipulative but he VERY MUCH is the TRUE enemy.</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">John 10:10</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I have seen so much turmoil and conflict between friends and neighbors who have lost sight of this. I am sure what I am about to say may lose me some friends (I hope not, because that is the exact spirit I am calling out and rebuking--but we are promised that with that comes discomfort and pain).</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Let me lay it out for you. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I fear no man. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I fear no mandate.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I fear no group.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I fear no virus.</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Ultimately all of these things are under the authority of my Lord and have to answer to Him. I have read the book, I know how it ends and GOD WINS!</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Revelations 12:11</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I will wear a mask in public when I must because the law of the land tells me to, and my Lord says Romans 13:1-2 "Obey the government, for God is the One who has put it there. ... So those who refuse to obey the law of the land are refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow." However, let me be clear...I do NOT put my faith in a mask. And I will only submit as long as the law of the land does not undermine my faith nor my morals. My faith lies solely with the Lord!</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I will not fear angry mobs who riot in the face of my beliefs.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Philippians 1:21</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I will not hide myself or my children away and place my faith in medicine to 'cure' some ailment, and I will not be shamed for refusing to do so. I have personally experienced time and time again God's miraculous healing and provision when I have submitted to His plan and not my own.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Exodus 15:26</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Saying, “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer.”</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Jeremiah 30:17</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord, because they have called you an outcast: ‘It is Zion, for whom no one cares!’</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Matthew 6:26</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I know who my enemy is and I know how to fight Him. My arsenal IS NOT comprised of hand sanitizer, masks, lysol, face shields, stockpiles of supplies nor guns and ammo. Again, don't misunderstand me (I have all of those things but they are not how I fight this enemy). This enemy is defeated when God's people</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">2 Chronicles 7:14</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">... who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"> So I am fighting with my full armor of God.</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Ephesians 6:10-18</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I will Raise and Halleleuiah: <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3De3RRU25dpPg%26fbclid%3DIwAR1xfF_5Jlvq8uQlGxqScDEh3_JEWb-xe1xHSO_DmgfK7aKxVDdHHcSbcKY&h=AT3Q7yBfAoWrrcHtkG1nmqwCCOigPt4RnQxT4MY3GDipISg901jFrM1kT8TiSWstroRlsJ85lFKw74IPxkbo7ajGi_eoUzzPyJ38vbFxVtEj--HXPYxyh-QzrnZEY99mYAX7euzWDtG4ikTIUyR-&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT3Fcj_4X0g_U1wC1HQAW3u0d8J9rgsLzY_NXiiWcsjLX9YQIw3olOMmgZt_-ODjSMRop6Rwjcr59JkgUqrhGgLU_9UYt65lO85FesxT0dz21_IaFZicD8SvtWBnsoc" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3RRU25dpPg</a></span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">When I am surrounded I will continue to praise HIS name : <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DYBl84oZxnJ4%26fbclid%3DIwAR0Yh2350l3eNM8ZkMCsIjjFIGYSmt0e0G9QgLoXQoxpRKHIJmHtKu3cPqs&h=AT18afI29equ0kOo_n1V_DUhiMqfDisc3xTs5EkgOkMGbL_qdLbVDb1vuT1mz2xGlQaXQMs4dmqDnbBqv6sRtW78HwDrhrCn69AEGIt_S-8OVIiLozUqN1Qas8dxnzAh7ReJiWhKH9GaB6mRZgcA&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT3Fcj_4X0g_U1wC1HQAW3u0d8J9rgsLzY_NXiiWcsjLX9YQIw3olOMmgZt_-ODjSMRop6Rwjcr59JkgUqrhGgLU_9UYt65lO85FesxT0dz21_IaFZicD8SvtWBnsoc" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBl84oZxnJ4</a></span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Because fear is a liar: <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D1srs1YoTVzs%26fbclid%3DIwAR05161MvptJMqHDtxRTPZXKQjGxC79bJlshr6Nc1PDK3q13i6gQ6boR1_o&h=AT3rhMTZiOGwpvtRJSe5tji_rERIFVv78jPekgfZVCSHW5HpSnEKONb_BhATQQuIGd-_85rDxqpYXQeJDGDMQURBFo32LvRpbNzIWIc47m0vjK--VKwCbD7vYS2WYS_A9LQB6ErxxL-R-ZBpwF5m&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT3Fcj_4X0g_U1wC1HQAW3u0d8J9rgsLzY_NXiiWcsjLX9YQIw3olOMmgZt_-ODjSMRop6Rwjcr59JkgUqrhGgLU_9UYt65lO85FesxT0dz21_IaFZicD8SvtWBnsoc" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1srs1YoTVzs</a></span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">My God is NOT dead: <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DS_OTz-lpDjw%26fbclid%3DIwAR2pdfSO_6PFVOLauUVf9lnes6Dhc3tsbeM1Abh20bYN_JE3vJW9dfP9EU4&h=AT2DeXHt2gJt0xckOeAArRFOwm87KhMFJhIhagIccY0sFQWVISEZLiYZMJOJv4hfB7ZZ74dp4VSlM6l8s_bZeRZifhQ1dwzHd1iSCgZ4vO-3ZuW5-_ybGs1ifgyO1ERRecnUD6B7r9rVKQplqAk7&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT3Fcj_4X0g_U1wC1HQAW3u0d8J9rgsLzY_NXiiWcsjLX9YQIw3olOMmgZt_-ODjSMRop6Rwjcr59JkgUqrhGgLU_9UYt65lO85FesxT0dz21_IaFZicD8SvtWBnsoc" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_OTz-lpDjw</a></span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I will continue to to fight shoulder to shoulder with the Saints in His Christian Army: <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dsi8NhUOncHk%26fbclid%3DIwAR0bwv_YK_qIV7EPfcAWi9blg3gvzPWniHDKKC5NtWAknwnj7Q4-8l0nuAM&h=AT3221vKZDrJzgNjhLN_zwtouk_SphKJB1q0NPuw3CMCSoK6sC9eKp_qdWmApyV78lyIwTmth-TEB8j4fviP9nYokUn3K7T995e5o_XmzIhJwJwc_Iyz_MMwBTwK2hIzH8JfJbYHmoX-nXrx2PKw&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT3Fcj_4X0g_U1wC1HQAW3u0d8J9rgsLzY_NXiiWcsjLX9YQIw3olOMmgZt_-ODjSMRop6Rwjcr59JkgUqrhGgLU_9UYt65lO85FesxT0dz21_IaFZicD8SvtWBnsoc" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=si8NhUOncHk</a></span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And I already know I have that V-I-C-T-O-R-Y in Jesus: <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DHz1UXsSXfh4%26fbclid%3DIwAR23FHC8CKrPURGH1tKXkTCmwQ9oqtZvFtPCQrzk6qPhuKLxlVtUUGo3U2o&h=AT29Ty7aDwkykhTKB4HwPsfxmVfu1dTctYprWHqIKQvI3T5eaKITbJIT_78yNqE7VPqN6BVPyCctfev2EAohuGXC7x9rzmGinWoUl1Yshudv3ZvOxBZax98kSOR6mA2qdiSKAaJWDNvYVlGBXKoy&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT3Fcj_4X0g_U1wC1HQAW3u0d8J9rgsLzY_NXiiWcsjLX9YQIw3olOMmgZt_-ODjSMRop6Rwjcr59JkgUqrhGgLU_9UYt65lO85FesxT0dz21_IaFZicD8SvtWBnsoc" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hz1UXsSXfh4</a></span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I give HIM my prayer life. I give HIM my words to minister TRUTH. I give HIM my worship. I give HIM my adoration. I give HIM my trust and faith (no mask, no vaccine, no quarantine, no political leader, no celebrity or athlete--HIM and HIM alone).</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I will put on the belt of truth daily and call out misinformation, misdirection and lies when i see them. I will wear the breastplate of righteousness to the best of my fleshly ability. I will keep my feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. I will not fall into or get pulled into illogical, hateful patterns of debate. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"> I will only bring truth of God's word and promises alongside facts. In addition to all this, I will take up the shield of faith, with which I can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one whom we are truly at battle with.17 The helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God will be my refuge and cover daily.</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I encourage you to do the same. Stop falling for the fear mongering and see what the REAL authority has to say. The lord of Lords who all disease and demonic forces and unholy spirits MUST answer to. Align yourself with HIS promises and His word....anything else is folly.</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Read Revelations...arm yourself with true weapons and Fight alongside your Lord and fellow Christian soldiers.</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DGgnClrx8N2k%26fbclid%3DIwAR2tNAKJEpaxq7giN8Go8h4_IQ3P_llbfeVX11YsEOEqPRh-ni_3BNrzofM&h=AT1UDla6aJS6R5v9-XdKm_gy35bIXCMyZKWrr0atVUv9j0sfThRJbyAeTxrsndEuvsUOqgpftNr-RatzbX8-DptDfCjzEIAryVtiPx7GVxub7ye-QDx8p2VCFmbyS48IKWub5vRGu0vvC6W0J1fR&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT3Fcj_4X0g_U1wC1HQAW3u0d8J9rgsLzY_NXiiWcsjLX9YQIw3olOMmgZt_-ODjSMRop6Rwjcr59JkgUqrhGgLU_9UYt65lO85FesxT0dz21_IaFZicD8SvtWBnsoc" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgnClrx8N2k</a></span></div></div></span></div></div></div></div><div class="l9j0dhe7" style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; position: relative;"><div class="l9j0dhe7" style="font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="b3i9ofy5 l9j0dhe7" style="background-color: var(--comment-background); font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><div class="j83agx80 soycq5t1 ni8dbmo4 stjgntxs l9j0dhe7" style="display: flex; font-family: inherit; line-height: 0; overflow: hidden; position: relative;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl gmql0nx0 gpro0wi8 datstx6m k4urcfbm" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DGgnClrx8N2k%26fbclid%3DIwAR1BboCLQpo3NRw-AHcXM2bfYNrtyLyqiCgTlwMzNJx8_9-sBDphp3WLOaI&h=AT0F8kgamLnERqZLW34qyepFCjb4zwIDbaEEkmer9-SUlIWwzwXgAQftCslus7c7D6FmshBxFHZFivUKCx5H5sxuKmDKjB2t87ZMs5x4MmWR6LvVIJOhExOdoIkjuapbK6Gt0W_3fMV9I16RyiJx&__tn__=H-R&c[0]=AT3Fcj_4X0g_U1wC1HQAW3u0d8J9rgsLzY_NXiiWcsjLX9YQIw3olOMmgZt_-ODjSMRop6Rwjcr59JkgUqrhGgLU_9UYt65lO85FesxT0dz21_IaFZicD8SvtWBnsoc" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; height: 261px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; touch-action: manipulation; width: 500px;" tabindex="0" target="_blank"><div class="k4urcfbm l9j0dhe7 stjgntxs ni8dbmo4 cbu4d94t j83agx80 tqsryivl bp9cbjyn" style="align-items: center; background-color: var(--always-black); display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-family: inherit; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 500px;"><div style="font-family: inherit; max-width: 100%; min-width: 500px; width: calc((100vh + -325px) * 1.91571);"><div class="do00u71z ni8dbmo4 stjgntxs l9j0dhe7" style="font-family: inherit; height: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 261px; position: relative;"><div class="pmk7jnqg kr520xx4" style="font-family: inherit; height: 261px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 500px;"><img alt="The Rolling Stones - Sympathy For The Devil (Official Lyric Video)" class="i09qtzwb n7fi1qx3 datstx6m pmk7jnqg j9ispegn kr520xx4 k4urcfbm bixrwtb6" height="261" src="https://external-dfw5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/safe_image.php?d=AQCs3Ykqn7BOgujR&w=500&h=261&url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FGgnClrx8N2k%2Fmaxresdefault.jpg&cfs=1&ext=jpg&_nc_hash=AQCeuYdl2LZg9oC5" style="border: 0px; bottom: 0px; height: 261px; left: 0px; object-fit: cover; position: absolute; right: 0px; top: 0px; width: 500px;" width="500" /></div></div></div></div></a></div></div></div></div></div>Stollehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04407681504873231646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923059639083992977.post-78285274507291075022018-07-22T16:37:00.000-07:002018-07-22T16:37:18.893-07:00Growing our Heritage from A-Z: In Search of a Full Quiver Month 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZB3Y-cYOHqIu3WiA47GQRKbH0d41e-rifcjFCmouoDx_n2swmlJBaOiVlSnExom2ad5oJ0X04umM-avwyJAmX1CD903ZstEeYkyMvx_nWxgq434uVFz4L4uc-SmWWYg_Mt2mL0mJ0JIv/s1600/testimony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="754" data-original-width="750" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZB3Y-cYOHqIu3WiA47GQRKbH0d41e-rifcjFCmouoDx_n2swmlJBaOiVlSnExom2ad5oJ0X04umM-avwyJAmX1CD903ZstEeYkyMvx_nWxgq434uVFz4L4uc-SmWWYg_Mt2mL0mJ0JIv/s200/testimony.jpg" width="198" /></a></div>
Here we are again, I posted this early on in our adoption Journey with A and it still holds true: "It feels like a <u>Tale of Two Cities</u>, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times"....ALL AT THE SAME TIME." Some days are great and some are terrible, horrible, awful but the struggle is worth it. We know that in adopting older boys we may very well be their last chance at a forever family, so we always go in knowing that the behaviors will be tough but that we will see it through. Our resolve has definitely been tested. However, by the grace of God and patience that surpasses all understanding, we continue to struggle through each issue as it arises.<br />
We see massive gains yet there are still huge setbacks that require time to regain lost ground--but we are getting there. I am 'mommy' and my husband is "daddy" and I get tons of hugs and snuggles and "I Love Yous". <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixyCNfpHoi9LNDAQLazqdiRFaVzhCw-d1jXVe-B8vckOrzVokG7B-Ylq9NjNl9KEUO2402fZ4wKWNKWDNTfdvHjFH-Ls-WSVT732DvLcixwZVdjj3phKSggXsKeQs3XUwhyAXkgQpxlzO1/s1600/blog+month+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="917" data-original-width="917" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixyCNfpHoi9LNDAQLazqdiRFaVzhCw-d1jXVe-B8vckOrzVokG7B-Ylq9NjNl9KEUO2402fZ4wKWNKWDNTfdvHjFH-Ls-WSVT732DvLcixwZVdjj3phKSggXsKeQs3XUwhyAXkgQpxlzO1/s320/blog+month+2.jpg" width="320" /></a>A few weeks ago, after a inconceivably rough day, as I was tucking Z into bed and he cupped my face in his hands and said, "Mommy, don't leave me", I replied that I would only be in the next room and wasn't really going anywhere. He shook his head no and said, "No, mommy, don't EVER leave me". In that moment I understood that he meant for life, not for that night or for bedtime. You see, these kids get accustomed to being sent away from a home when the going gets rough and the behaviors get tough. I assured him I am his and he is mine. Sometimes that's all it takes. A loving reassurance that this thing is forever---not a few months, or a few years but family FOREVER! Don't we all deserve that, regardless of our triggers, or tantrums or behaviors? I will continue to strive to be FOREVER for Z.Stollehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04407681504873231646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923059639083992977.post-3601772624687461312018-06-05T14:05:00.002-07:002018-06-11T07:40:06.965-07:00Growing our Heritage: In Search of a Full Quiver--From A to Z, month 1.5Stolle party of 6!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGsgU5hg6qSrPU86q8eKyy7QOqoepNaSdsmD9uN4omUt7e43CRYiBTL-66pa1m_dvXsy8Dj5Px8bSnfmNzs_RRv5X2HH0ZeAGSI6dvUq7BBft573AId-jpvIoMPhp9Xobf3ch4A_K9uz2/s1600/adoption1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="599" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGsgU5hg6qSrPU86q8eKyy7QOqoepNaSdsmD9uN4omUt7e43CRYiBTL-66pa1m_dvXsy8Dj5Px8bSnfmNzs_RRv5X2HH0ZeAGSI6dvUq7BBft573AId-jpvIoMPhp9Xobf3ch4A_K9uz2/s320/adoption1.jpg" width="320" /></a>It has been a little over the one month mark since we added a new member to our family. We are now a family of 6. The similarities between Z's story and A's story and behaviors are uncanny. We learned a lot our first go-around with A about how best to handle discipline and behaviors of children from hard places and it has all come in handy. I find myself to be far less exhausted and on edge this go around; there really is a huge learning curve when dealing with adding 8 year old boys you barely know to your family.<br />
Z is a joy. He is a adorable ball of energy; full of love, creativity and butt cheek jokes (yes, I'm serious). He calls me momma or mommy and loves sitting in my lap and snuggling. He calls Jason daddy with ease, and has even asked to sit in his lap from time to time. <br />
My life has become a tornado of beyblades, pokemon cards, xbox discs, sports and fart jokes--and I wouldn't change it for the world!<br />
I just cannot get over the gift that adoption from foster care really is. My sweet Z has spent 6.5 years associated with the foster care system (it will be closer to 7 years once we finalize), and we are more than blessed to be chosen as his future adoptive family. I cannot get over how hard and fast I fall in love with these boys. God really is the master author and is writing His story with our lives. While I mourn the tragedy and trauma that brought these boys to my doorstep, I celebrate the gift of having them join our family.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixyCNfpHoi9LNDAQLazqdiRFaVzhCw-d1jXVe-B8vckOrzVokG7B-Ylq9NjNl9KEUO2402fZ4wKWNKWDNTfdvHjFH-Ls-WSVT732DvLcixwZVdjj3phKSggXsKeQs3XUwhyAXkgQpxlzO1/s1600/blog+month+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="917" data-original-width="917" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixyCNfpHoi9LNDAQLazqdiRFaVzhCw-d1jXVe-B8vckOrzVokG7B-Ylq9NjNl9KEUO2402fZ4wKWNKWDNTfdvHjFH-Ls-WSVT732DvLcixwZVdjj3phKSggXsKeQs3XUwhyAXkgQpxlzO1/s320/blog+month+2.jpg" width="320" /></a><a class="bibleref" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+1%3A5&version=ESV">Ephesians 1:5</a> <br />
He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, <br />
<div class="verseundefined">
<h3>
<a class="bibleref" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+18%3A5&version=ESV">Matthew 18:5</a> </h3>
“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me,<br />
</div>
Stollehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04407681504873231646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923059639083992977.post-58928590451250778292018-02-08T20:19:00.001-08:002018-02-08T20:28:42.129-08:00Growing our Heritage: In Search of a Full Quiver Month 6--Satan HATES adoptionWe are officially in month six of our matched adoption and have our finalization court date set. Everyone is excited and relieved to be at this point. "A" is a completely different child and so very ready to be adopted. As far as dealing with the struggles associated with adopting a child from foster care--those have minimized almost to the point of being non-existent. Most of our struggles these days are what I would characterize as normal kid stuff. However we seem to be dealing with a new struggle and our foe has doubled down on the attack.<br />
Satan hates adoption. <br />
He hates the healing that comes with it. He hates the broken cycles of abuse and drug addition. He hates the love and the hope...he hates everything about it.<br />
We have been under what I can call nothing short of a blitz attack. There have been issues after issues in our personal lives; finances, housing, deaths, sicknesses, relationships... I can go on and on here, but won't because he doesn't deserve the credit or attention. I will admit that I was wearing a veil-for quite a while. I remained blind to the true enemy, and the force that I should have been fighting against all along. I allowed the stress to get to me and beat me down--it was leaving me exhausted, depressed, moody and with a hair trigger. But tonight I had a revelation. <br />
Things have gotten so very difficult as we near this life-altering adoption day, and Satan knows he isn't stopping the day itself from happening but he sure can throw things in our path and attempt to strip me of my joy. I was allowing him to do just that.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/70PDuymQ_h0/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/70PDuymQ_h0?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe><br />
But NO MORE! Tonight I reclaim my Joy! While listening to a local Christian radio station, I felt like God was speaking directly to me. One of my favorite Bible stories of all time is the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, the three who refused to bow before the king and were thrown into the furnace for their defiance. The message I heard on the radio stated that God did not choose to stop their fire (it continued to burn around them) but he did choose to send Jesus into the fire with them. With Christ's help, they exited the fire unscathed and without even the scent of smoke. I rebuke Satan's attacks on myself and my family in Jesus's name because I know that Jesus is in this fire with us. He is walking beside us every step of the way and is using the fire to refine us as the silversmith refines and strengthens his creation. The fire is not a bad thing. It is used to make us stronger, rid us of impurities and allow the silversmith to see His (Christ's) reflection in our lives.<br />
I choose to bring God glory by praising Him in these trials and attacks. I choose to exude the Joy of the Lord because He can then use that peace that surpasses understanding to light a fire in others around me. I choose Joy in spite of frustration; I choose Joy in spite of empty bank accounts; I choose Joy in spite of fear; because I have everything in the world (and beyond it) to be Joyful about. <br />
I choose adoption!<br />
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<a href="http://rachelstolle.blogspot.com/2017/09/in-search-of-full-quiver-how-did-we-get.html" target="_blank">How we got here</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://rachelstolle.blogspot.com/2017/09/growing-our-heritage-in-search-of-full.html" target="_blank">Month 1</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://rachelstolle.blogspot.com/2017/09/growing-our-heritage-in-search-of-full_27.html" target="_blank">Month 2</a><br />
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<a href="http://rachelstolle.blogspot.com/2017/11/growing-our-heritage-in-search-of-full.html" target="_blank">Month 3</a><br />
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<a href="http://rachelstolle.blogspot.com/2018/01/growing-our-heritage-in-search-of-faull.html" target="_blank">Month 5</a>Stollehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04407681504873231646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923059639083992977.post-6210018058172745162018-01-10T10:04:00.002-08:002018-02-08T20:43:58.099-08:00Growing Our Heritage: In Search of a Full Quiver Month 5<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi80hsQjBs4nshAPp6Ljf5BYnObCxEXNCTGweJeWAqhZhHPaC58UF2vyQ43hRx-HcKqRShiMoegj8NFxMgcl9dnvcu2Ll-Jh6MmH3Jz764MjGmHCTuV3StwSvCrg3P0Eyq8hjHiGa4y7MOd/s1600/adoption2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="917" data-original-width="917" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi80hsQjBs4nshAPp6Ljf5BYnObCxEXNCTGweJeWAqhZhHPaC58UF2vyQ43hRx-HcKqRShiMoegj8NFxMgcl9dnvcu2Ll-Jh6MmH3Jz764MjGmHCTuV3StwSvCrg3P0Eyq8hjHiGa4y7MOd/s320/adoption2.jpg" width="320" /></a>So I've been MIA for a while. We are now closing in on our adoption date and things are good. We still have rough waters but the frequency of them is less and less. A has now really assimilated into the family and it's like he was always here, and I cannot imagine life without him at this point. He's a big goofy ball of snuggles, cuddles, leggos, minecraft, xbox and nerf wars. I was, however, woefully unprepared for the tornado that is boyhood--the ruined clothes alone are shocking! But so much of what we encounter these days are simply boy issues and not trauma/foster care issues.<br />
I will say that Jason and I are still shocked by the injustices of this child's prior life experiences. For the sake of his privacy I won't do into detail but there are so many life skills that he just doesn't have because no one took the time to teach him, or later on ask him if he knew how to do them. We keep stumbling into things and saying, "That never crossed my mind that he may not know how to *blank*". But he is receptive to learning and good spirited about it. <br />
He has gotten to the point that discipline is so much easier and less like a world war. He takes it in stride and can rebound from anger/being upset fairly quickly. He is a resilient loving child and we are proud to call him ours!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj9d5Gvy9esSxDKOnPl0_lK_TY1S4GL5vumxOEqHxVe8QvAWy7uFWMmWpiPnuO1lICU0IQtpO5s-YtahOUdX5MityhUn8lze14yQLstepX_QYJO_HlMbS_PqRJUz-nuxpYHUPPx6yFMZGx/s1600/adoption1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="599" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj9d5Gvy9esSxDKOnPl0_lK_TY1S4GL5vumxOEqHxVe8QvAWy7uFWMmWpiPnuO1lICU0IQtpO5s-YtahOUdX5MityhUn8lze14yQLstepX_QYJO_HlMbS_PqRJUz-nuxpYHUPPx6yFMZGx/s320/adoption1.jpg" width="320" /></a>A and dad have started playing basketball. Against all of Jason's better judgment<br />
he is now "Coach Dad" and WAY out of his comfort zone, but the two of them are bonding and doing well together in the world of pre-teen boy athletics and I could not be prouder.<br />
Next month will be our court date and A will officially become a Stolle. We are looking forward to the celebration with family and friends. If you are interested in being a part of our special day please feel free to reach out to me for information! Love you all and thank you for all your support during this time!<br />
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<a href="http://rachelstolle.blogspot.com/2017/09/in-search-of-full-quiver-how-did-we-get.html" target="_blank">How we got here</a><br />
<a href="http://rachelstolle.blogspot.com/2017/09/growing-our-heritage-in-search-of-full.html" target="_blank">Month 1</a><br />
<a href="http://rachelstolle.blogspot.com/2017/09/growing-our-heritage-in-search-of-full_27.html" target="_blank">Month 2</a><br />
<a href="http://rachelstolle.blogspot.com/2017/11/growing-our-heritage-in-search-of-full.html" target="_blank">Month 3</a><br />
<a href="http://rachelstolle.blogspot.com/2018/02/growing-our-heritage-in-search-of-full.html" target="_blank">Month 6</a>Stollehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04407681504873231646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923059639083992977.post-74975194172609054112017-11-09T08:47:00.001-08:002018-02-08T20:44:17.328-08:00Growing our Heritage: In Search of a Full Quiver Month 3<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPE9XzCWJCSU5nQUNiMIcLn1AGZ4evgl27e42uYJ1TwyMm01IgqfjhjsWWdd5iZ8BGfQDv2Byszr7ytMhGsAxLeNLHeYgdsMHOwwAa4R4q0wMEiSRFJBgNBpGF62_VSdtZnRNDkeEl_iZ/s1600/adopt+month.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="628" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPE9XzCWJCSU5nQUNiMIcLn1AGZ4evgl27e42uYJ1TwyMm01IgqfjhjsWWdd5iZ8BGfQDv2Byszr7ytMhGsAxLeNLHeYgdsMHOwwAa4R4q0wMEiSRFJBgNBpGF62_VSdtZnRNDkeEl_iZ/s320/adopt+month.jpg" width="320" /></a>Wow! Here we are, PAST the 3 month mark. I feel as if we may have found our new rhythm of life. Behaviors have calmed down, and all the pieces are beginning to blend together seamlessly. We still have hard days, but their frequency continues to decrease. If I'm honest, I can already feel the pull to do this all over AGAIN! <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX_DV6gPbjt8YpOkYLCeWTGnQ1BTaD9irZ_0FtQxfUP4qs83FMiUoBXNoZzKMlJqZYBZwdlIaLLVL67vsYqlV_43lwPQZmcSbsOcwpEDml3DYDuTgx3tuZwguMPFg-8K-o2t-hYUnHxOvj/s1600/adoption.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1385" data-original-width="1386" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX_DV6gPbjt8YpOkYLCeWTGnQ1BTaD9irZ_0FtQxfUP4qs83FMiUoBXNoZzKMlJqZYBZwdlIaLLVL67vsYqlV_43lwPQZmcSbsOcwpEDml3DYDuTgx3tuZwguMPFg-8K-o2t-hYUnHxOvj/s200/adoption.jpg" width="200" /></a>Yes, it is hard. Yes, it is messy. Yes, it is stressful and conflict is inevitable. But the benefits are so very great. I have watched a child simply transform in front of my eyes in a very short 3 months. I can think of no greater way to impact society, and The Kingdom, than to take a helpless/hopeless child and give them hope, love and a possibility for a future.<br />
We covet your prayers as there is still much to learn and so much ground to cover; but I have faith that all of the tears, time, effort, heart-break, frustration and exhaustion will pay off in the end.<br />
ALOT has changed for all of us this month. Most of which I don't feel comfortable going into detail about on a public blog, but just know that the amount of firsts and new experiences in this past month alone would leave most adults dumbfounded. However, this child of mine has taken it all in stride and with a healthy dose of grace.<br />
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We serve an awesome God who can do supernatural things!<br />
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<h3>
Romans 8:15 –</h3>
For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!"<br />
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<a href="http://rachelstolle.blogspot.com/2017/09/growing-our-heritage-in-search-of-full.html" target="_blank">Month 1</a><br />
<a href="http://rachelstolle.blogspot.com/2017/09/growing-our-heritage-in-search-of-full_27.html" target="_blank">Month 2</a><br />
<a href="http://rachelstolle.blogspot.com/2018/01/growing-our-heritage-in-search-of-faull.html" target="_blank">Month 5</a><br />
<a href="http://rachelstolle.blogspot.com/2018/02/growing-our-heritage-in-search-of-full.html" target="_blank">Month 6</a><br />
<a href="http://rachelstolle.blogspot.com/2017/09/in-search-of-full-quiver-how-did-we-get.html" target="_blank">How We Got Here</a>Stollehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04407681504873231646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923059639083992977.post-30850915173284499302017-09-27T12:39:00.003-07:002018-02-08T21:24:07.594-08:00Growing our heritage: In Search of a full quiver Month 2<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoETWB1Jiy3D5UtXr2YSGwix_gV96Ez8iCbUg3jNo_laXlkjsRFK7bGJqBENLhr0R0IsgtzFcFsl3x6FewZaUc0pv-ZzOgd8lnCOKGhp0_P24GxRUwb-diu5qPKycArwwHYNAWO_aRJSJd/s1600/blog+month+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="917" data-original-width="917" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoETWB1Jiy3D5UtXr2YSGwix_gV96Ez8iCbUg3jNo_laXlkjsRFK7bGJqBENLhr0R0IsgtzFcFsl3x6FewZaUc0pv-ZzOgd8lnCOKGhp0_P24GxRUwb-diu5qPKycArwwHYNAWO_aRJSJd/s200/blog+month+2.jpg" width="200" /></a>We are flirting with our two month mark--it is a few simple days away. However, in adoption, no day is truly ever simple. I recall myself dealing with an extremely petty situation at my child's school last week (one in which would have never been on my radar or high on my priority list FOR ANY of my children--let alone one with a history like, and dealing with issues like W...I'm a fan of simple, natural consequences) and this situation prompting me to say to my husband, "There are only so many things that I can possible say out loud (if you are a teacher think in the world of Think Alouds) every day and this just wasn't one of them". However, for the other parent involved, and the school, it was important so we did everything we could to comply. But I distinctly remember myself thinking, this just isn't high on my priority list. You see folks, when you are dealing with a child who has come from trauma you deal with the BIG issues first, and sometimes they are REALLY big, then you trust that all the little pieces will fall into place over time. My little guy needs to experience the feeling of success, and if that means we celebrate a day of not screaming and hiding then we celebrate it, whether he used his table manners at lunch that day or not. <br />
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W is making HUGE gains. I barely recognize him as the same guy who joined us two months ago and for that I am thankful and blessed. Honestly, things are good most days and great others. However, I have found myself forgetting that our new normal is not every one else's normal. Families who are intact, and have always been that way, fail to understand what it is like to have a child in their home who fails to know basic skills-- let alone that we should hold doors open, or not cut in line, or say please and thank you. <br />
I was once one of those people. People who thought, "If my child ever.....!!!". Ha! My how times have changed. I find myself looking at the world through completely different lenses now.<br />
Yes, W has made great gains in these last 2 months; but so have we. We manage our time better. We communicate more. We love harder. Our empathy, patience, and compassion are growing exponentially every day and at the same time we have gained another person to love. <br />
I can only imagine how things may be in 6 months, a year and longer!<br />
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Read about how we got here <a href="http://rachelstolle.blogspot.com/2017/09/in-search-of-full-quiver-how-did-we-get.html" target="_blank">HERE</a><br />
Read about month 1 <a href="http://rachelstolle.blogspot.com/2017/09/growing-our-heritage-in-search-of-full.html" target="_blank">HERE</a><br />
Month <a href="http://rachelstolle.blogspot.com/2017/11/growing-our-heritage-in-search-of-full.html" target="_blank">THREE</a><br />
Month <a href="http://rachelstolle.blogspot.com/2018/01/growing-our-heritage-in-search-of-faull.html" target="_blank">FIVE</a><br />
Month<a href="http://rachelstolle.blogspot.com/2018/02/growing-our-heritage-in-search-of-full.html" target="_blank"> SIX</a><br />
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But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.<br />
~Ephesians 4:7Stollehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04407681504873231646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923059639083992977.post-59855988583957921112017-09-11T12:03:00.001-07:002018-02-08T21:25:04.207-08:00In search of a full quiver: How we got hereSo, many people have asked about our adoption journey--from the outside it most likely seemed like a sudden decision. In reality, it was light years away from that. God laid adoption on my heart about 4-5 years ago. My family was blessed to be surrounded by family and friends who blazed this path long before us. Through witnessing these stories, God softened my heart towards the plight of children awaiting adoption; specifically children who have lived through trauma and have been removed from their biological family for reasons outside their own control. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi81FVDn2h5wRnt7Wk-fkpevRmLiB2ZvbNFT2b9zfXy-cirB3XO1x2wpsBlMmhAo-Wkg7f8nOOK4qYszOnPLovnfcE3yc6Z_I77S2SFbUEqCoYUSHnfeSNnUKWAy2AHIBLwQTjnykonVlJa/s1600/adoption1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="599" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi81FVDn2h5wRnt7Wk-fkpevRmLiB2ZvbNFT2b9zfXy-cirB3XO1x2wpsBlMmhAo-Wkg7f8nOOK4qYszOnPLovnfcE3yc6Z_I77S2SFbUEqCoYUSHnfeSNnUKWAy2AHIBLwQTjnykonVlJa/s320/adoption1.jpg" width="320" /></a>I approached Jason about 4-5 years ago and asked what he thought about adoption. I had always wanted a larger family, but for him this was a bit much to process--you see, Jason is an only child. We were stopped dead in our tracks after the birth of our second child because I became seriously ill with an autoimmune disorder and having our own was no longer an option. My heart immediately leapt at the thought of adoption. Jason's....not so much. He initially scoffed, and I'm pretty sure he may have literally asked me if I was nuts.<br />
Fast forward about another year. More and more people in our sphere of friends were traveling this path of adoption that my heart SO longed for, so I asked again--and again his answer was a resounding NO! At this point I asked him if he had prayed about it. He was honest and admitted that he hadn't, but was also very clear that he wasn't interested in the least. I gave it another year to two. This was right about the time we made the decision for me to leave my full time job, sell our dream home and acreage and become youth leaders (eeeeekkkk!). As we were discussing this MAJOR life change I kinda threw in, "Well, you know, if we ever chose to adopt this would be the perfect time! I'll be back home for a few years." It was at this point that I saw the first shimmer of hope...I got a maybe!<br />
After living in the parsonage and me being back in the home full time (during this time my disease went into full remission and I am doing better than I have in nearly 10 years) I started sending Jason adoption bios on kids I would find on social media or TARE. Right after Christmas 2016 he called me into the living room and said, "Let's talk about this adoption thing". EEEKK!!! His heart was ready!!!<br />
Needless to say I already knew exactly what needed to be done, where to do it, how to begin, when to begin, etc--we started our training in February. We spent hours and hours in classes, filled out unimaginable amounts of paperwork, reorganized our home to meet state standards, went through countless inspections and then finally the homestudy...by April we were licensed.<br />
Once we were licensed, we began receiving daily/weekly emails about children in our age range who were either almost legally free for adoption or who were completely legally free (meaning parental rights are revoked or relinquished and there is no one else seeking to adopt). We had a few matches early on. The way it works is that your homestudy can be chosen with a few others to be considered for a best match with a child awaiting adoption. Once you are selected as one of the top families you go into what is called staffing---the people associated with that child meet with you either face to face or over the phone to get more info on you and share more info on the child. Then after they meet with all the top families they choose THE ONE. We did this about 3-4 times before we were finally chosen. During this time we also delved into respite care a bit and got to get our feet wet before our official adoptive placement was made. I'm skipping several steps here but you get the gist.<br />
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Once we were chosen as THE FAMILY we sent our family life book for W to view and then followed up in a few weeks with a face to face visit. It was so very scary, and exciting, and fun all at the same time! W even got to spend the night with us at the hotel one night during our first visit. After that it was a series of short visits here at our home and then finally placement. <br />
Before we can legally adopt, W has to live with us for 6 months. You can read about our first month together <a href="http://rachelstolle.blogspot.com/2017/09/growing-our-heritage-in-search-of-full.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>. This is just a formality. He is a legally-free child so we are not awaiting any court rulings or revocations of rights etc. He is ours, our family, our child--the only things left is a court date sometime around February 2018 and a simple name change!<br />
Thanks to everyone who helped and supported us on this journey. It is unlike any other!<br />
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Month <a href="http://rachelstolle.blogspot.com/2017/09/growing-our-heritage-in-search-of-full_27.html" target="_blank">TWO</a><br />
Month <a href="http://rachelstolle.blogspot.com/2017/11/growing-our-heritage-in-search-of-full.html" target="_blank">THREE</a><br />
Month <a href="http://rachelstolle.blogspot.com/2018/01/growing-our-heritage-in-search-of-faull.html" target="_blank">FIVE</a><br />
Month <a href="http://rachelstolle.blogspot.com/2018/02/growing-our-heritage-in-search-of-full.html" target="_blank">SIX</a><br />
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<span class="verse-number"><strong>5</strong></span> <span class="verse-5"> A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. </span> </div>
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<span class="verse-number"><strong>6</strong></span> <span class="verse-6"> God sets the lonely in families,<sup class="verse-reference verse-footnote" data-identifier="fn176" data-verseid="6"><a href="javascript:void(0);">a</a></sup>he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land. </span></div>
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<span class="verse-6">Psalm 68:5-6 </span></div>
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Stollehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04407681504873231646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923059639083992977.post-85783360449962638862017-09-01T11:19:00.001-07:002018-02-08T20:45:26.617-08:00Growing our heritage: In Search of a full quiver Month 1<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6TmcxxE428MjRqJoQLHAgs-Ic6GOSz8e_iVS6cXXBEEeTycIfRaoYwcWBlm4tpXBtd2E0PZ5xWd9PDgjU1-lT_dRrhhf8U1WTgkxiPJxHzrIe_0V_k_qBeC5PFGHWo1WvKHKE8KUjsYlT/s1600/adoption.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6TmcxxE428MjRqJoQLHAgs-Ic6GOSz8e_iVS6cXXBEEeTycIfRaoYwcWBlm4tpXBtd2E0PZ5xWd9PDgjU1-lT_dRrhhf8U1WTgkxiPJxHzrIe_0V_k_qBeC5PFGHWo1WvKHKE8KUjsYlT/s320/adoption.jpg" width="320" /></a>Well, we started this journey after our decision at the end of December 2016 and here we are. It is September and W has been with us for a full month. We knew the potential struggles and joys going into this matched adoption--but nothing can really prepare you. It feels like a <u>Tale of Two Cities</u>, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times"....ALL AT THE SAME TIME.<br />
Our hearts are full, our plates are full, our schedules are full and slowly but surely our little arrow is getting more and more comfortable in his new quiver.<br />
I'm not going to lie--some days are just plain hard and others are fantastic. On any given day I can find myself crying from exhaustion one moment (I used to think teacher tired was the worst, but new adoptive parent tired trumps it every time), and laughing with joy the next. No matter what we are on this roller coaster for the long haul.<br />
I want to thank those of you who have supported us in help with his transition via clothes, supplies etc. for W and we covet your prayers now more than anything. If you are one of the individuals that work one-on-one with W at school or Church we thank you from the bottoms of our hearts for your care and patience. W is making huge strides towards normalcy each and every day because of people like you.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJUGGHfPnezFY8aU9AH2eRIs_HT7ifeJh_cSgn576LxhkmwfUmSVI-IxN-mdkymAkXtjYsKWhx85bBQJls1Zd9EpFRlm3K6YqQSw8F05B5H40p3ZoolK1gJlOgZIxqZ5ea6IK-G3gKfGdh/s1600/testimony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="754" data-original-width="750" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJUGGHfPnezFY8aU9AH2eRIs_HT7ifeJh_cSgn576LxhkmwfUmSVI-IxN-mdkymAkXtjYsKWhx85bBQJls1Zd9EpFRlm3K6YqQSw8F05B5H40p3ZoolK1gJlOgZIxqZ5ea6IK-G3gKfGdh/s200/testimony.jpg" width="198" /></a>I am often reminded throughout this new journey how Christ chose to die for our sins in order to justify our adoption as Christians even while we were yet still sinners. We didn't earn our salvation--we never could meet that standard, but He gave His love and eventually His life while we were filthy, stubborn and ungracious. I fail every single day but this is where my mind goes when things get rough. I love W when things are hard, uncomfortable, messy or exhausting because my Savior first loved me.<br />
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Here's to hangin on!<br />
Read about how we got here <a href="http://rachelstolle.blogspot.com/2017/09/in-search-of-full-quiver-how-did-we-get.html" target="_blank">HERE</a><br />
Here is our month T<a href="http://rachelstolle.blogspot.com/2017/09/growing-our-heritage-in-search-of-full_27.html" target="_blank">WO</a><br />
Month T<a href="http://rachelstolle.blogspot.com/2017/11/growing-our-heritage-in-search-of-full.html" target="_blank">HREE</a><br />
Month <a href="http://rachelstolle.blogspot.com/2018/01/growing-our-heritage-in-search-of-faull.html" target="_blank">FIVE</a><br />
Month <a href="http://rachelstolle.blogspot.com/2018/02/growing-our-heritage-in-search-of-full.html" target="_blank">SIX</a><br />
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"Defend the weak and the fatherless; <br />
uphold the cause of the poor and oppressed."<br />
Psalm 82:3Stollehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04407681504873231646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923059639083992977.post-60190841681037615322016-05-18T14:23:00.000-07:002016-05-18T14:23:56.302-07:00Once upon a @(*^&$E#*&@@) !... (part 2)So I met with my rheumatologist today, I am going to be brief because the drive and visit completely wore me out. I must say that I am so very thankful for an understanding and patient physician. He listened while I walked him through the whole schpheel, asked a few questions and this is the answer I got.<br />
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Having the flu in March suppressed/messed up my immune system to the point that I became more susceptible to infections. The parade of infections that followed have now culminated into a super-infection that is no longer responding to basic antibiotics. He instructed me to remain off the methotrexate because it will only worsen my healing and gave me a new antibiotic RX to get me through til Monday. Monday I will see an infection disease physician to come up with a long term treatment plant to eradicate the underlying infections.<br />
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Continued prayers are welcomed.Stollehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04407681504873231646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923059639083992977.post-54671334549408982302016-05-17T17:59:00.004-07:002016-05-19T14:09:29.150-07:00Once upon a @(*^&$E#*&@@) !...Let me tell you a story. I haven't 'babbled' in quite a while and when I get really low it seems that, along with God, writing gives me great comfort. It is extremely cathartic. <br />
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So I will begin at the beginning. Last summer I suffered sever sprain in my left ankle, the 6th total. I had to have surgery and the details of that are a story for another day. But long story short, I have not been well for any long period of time since the surgery. I could walk through all of the insane ins and outs of it all but I will focus on these last three to four weeks simply because otherwise it is simply too much to try to convey in one post.<br />
So to begin with, I started having severe headaches, to the point that my teeth hurt and pretty constant nosebleeds. I headed in to my GP who diagnosed a sinus infection and prescribed a round of cephalexin. Because of my methotrexate use due to my psoriatic arthritis I can only be prescribed certain antibiotics because some can cause methotrexate toxicity.<br />
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Well because methotrexate slows healing, I have to stop it anytime I undergo a procedure or have an infection, so at this point I stopped my weekly dose. <br />
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About a week later, I was still bleeding from my nose and now had a very raw sore throat which I thought was strep (one of my daughters were sick at this same time and I thought we both had it). I returned to the doctor only to find out that I still had a sinus infection and drainage from it was causing my nasal passages to leak and be inflamed--the sore throat was from the drainage (my kid had allergy drainage as well). I was then prescribed cefdinar to try to clear up the sinus infection for a second time. After about 3 days, I starting coughing very badly and just called the GP rather than going in--she called benzonatate into the pharmacy to help with the cough and said to keep on with the antibiotics and all should be well. I was supplementing with several OTC cough meds at this point too as well as Benadryl.<br />
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I waited four days and the cough continued to worsen to the point of gagging, wheezing and vomiting. Frustrated with my GPs ability to get me well, I went in to urgent care for the cough. He immediately diagnosed me with bronchitis and said the reason I wasn't getting better was because the antibiotic the GP gave for my sinus infection wouldn't clear up the bacteria associated with bronchitis. He then wrote me <span style="color: red;">ANOTHER RX</span> for antibiotics and said to take it with what I was already on. This antibiotic was Doxycycline. He also prescribed codein cough meds, since the OTC stuff I had been taking had not touched the cough, and 2 different inhalers since the bronchitis had inflamed my asthma. It was at this point I thought I better get my rheumatologist involved and made an appointment for Wednesday the next week. I took my 2 diff antibiotics and my cough meds all weekend with hopes of returning to work on Monday. At this point I am 3 weeks off methotrexate.<br />
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--Mind you I have missed ridiculous amounts of work at this point in the year due to surgery, methotrexate withdrawls, recovery, flu, misc illness etc.<br />
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Weekend went well with lots of rest, so I stopped the cough meds so I could return to work--codein makes me loopy. Almost immediately after coming off the cough meds, I began to feel nauseous. I suffered through work Monday with a trashcan by my desk, and as soon as I made it home I began to have severe intestinal distress--<strong>IT WAS BAD</strong>. I was having a reaction to the doxycycline that had before been masked by the constipation causing narcotic cough med. Once I realized it, I called the urgent care doc who called in new antibiotics for me.<br />
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So here is where I get ticked. I skipped my meds Tuesday morning and Jason picked up the new antibiotic after work. I hadn't eaten all day due to the continued nausea. As soon as I opened the bag I laughed in frustration. What did he prescribe? <span style="color: red;"><strong>Cefdinir</strong></span>--the same RX I was <u>already on</u> from the GP that <strong>HE, </strong>the urgent care doc, told me wouldn't clear up the bronchitis--I am still hacking my lungs out at this point.<br />
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I am now 3.5 weeks off Methotrexate. (withdrawl from these meds cause me to live in a mental fog, stutter, feel lethargic more than usual and swell beyond imagination)<br />
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Luckily I made the rhemytologist appt the week before, and will see him tomorrow. I'm not even going to call the urgent care doc back--urgent care is great in a bind. but you totally lose the intimacy and personal care that you get from a GP or long-term care doc. I am just going to take this hot mess of a story to my doc tomorrow and ask him to help me get well--whatever it takes.<br />
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I realize some people have never dealt with chronic illness so I would like to put things into a little perspective for you.<br />
Here are the meds I have taken over the last 3-4 weeks just for the infections.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmosKbqHjXyf2TaauUAJ_1w16w_M5yen3qJ-rrr0WjM0suQcokdZVjQG8vwL08YSziTJmYurpya5T5_PdD2J2x7hJrWK7DnPetcptehkctHm_sKNncty86GqXRzQ8ClYMfjplgDufG2E3j/s1600/IMG_3657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmosKbqHjXyf2TaauUAJ_1w16w_M5yen3qJ-rrr0WjM0suQcokdZVjQG8vwL08YSziTJmYurpya5T5_PdD2J2x7hJrWK7DnPetcptehkctHm_sKNncty86GqXRzQ8ClYMfjplgDufG2E3j/s320/IMG_3657.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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These are the antibiotics alone:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UHraNc5AW6t4udgxLi76n0KzFgvKXKG49KquIDp8T-7K4AzUqkI1C_gbmoxFyzUbyu_v-WAEeaeHiIHKehl7HUZJ62ddbvsrFvS8Bn-w4ruYENL5uogaVkJmJHPNw5abGkp8LHJidJzB/s1600/IMG_3658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UHraNc5AW6t4udgxLi76n0KzFgvKXKG49KquIDp8T-7K4AzUqkI1C_gbmoxFyzUbyu_v-WAEeaeHiIHKehl7HUZJ62ddbvsrFvS8Bn-w4ruYENL5uogaVkJmJHPNw5abGkp8LHJidJzB/s320/IMG_3658.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here are ALL the meds I have taken over the last 3-4 weeks for infection AND my long term autoimmune issues.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt7pCePnJw7880guj8sHMIdMrf9yVkmmEkjt1xMYJNEK6S2wNKGxuYl3mWqq0OcrEr3enDCKzmI8qe52Mf-a1eo68IJUw6hv3Ls12b7f5pRer5UINwf5Zz5AufgNJQFJg_3FRqGA1qcWvB/s1600/IMG_3659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt7pCePnJw7880guj8sHMIdMrf9yVkmmEkjt1xMYJNEK6S2wNKGxuYl3mWqq0OcrEr3enDCKzmI8qe52Mf-a1eo68IJUw6hv3Ls12b7f5pRer5UINwf5Zz5AufgNJQFJg_3FRqGA1qcWvB/s320/IMG_3659.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I am so frustrated, fatigued, exhausted and just mentally and physically ready to give up...I am not a crier and I have been crying every night as that is when the coughing gets worse. I don't know if you've ever had a bad cough AND diarreah but lets just say it isn't pleasant. <br />
I should be exuding antibodies from my pores at this point but cannot get well. I know what spiritual warfare is and the power prayer has against it. I know that surgery can set off autoimmune issues, I have experienced this before--but never for this long of a consecutive period of sickness. Please pray for wisdom for my doctor tomorrow and divine healing for WHATEVER is happening with me.<br />
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Link to part two and diagnosis: <a href="http://rachelstolle.blogspot.com/2016/05/once-upon-part-2.html">http://rachelstolle.blogspot.com/2016/05/once-upon-part-2.html</a><br />
<br />Stollehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04407681504873231646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923059639083992977.post-28880528906720097262015-07-11T16:53:00.002-07:002015-07-13T06:54:18.041-07:00MoDRN day 5--research platform presentations<div style="border-image: none; clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
Our group discovered just what we expected. Many companies market their products as green with labeling etc without actually having been held to any green standards. The only products that have been tested to meet green chemistry standards are those with the EPA safer choice label.</div>
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So this last day of<span id="goog_2053787832"></span><span id="goog_2053787833"></span> MoDRN at Baylor University was great. All the groups worked on their platform presentations that morning and presented after lunch. As far as the findings go, they were very interesting and unpredictable between product groups. We found that the insect repellent marketed as green was indeed less toxic, however, in the case of body wash green marketing did not exactly mean less toxic <em>(to D.magna)</em></div>
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For example, we showed these two examples of product marketing and asked the audience to pick which one they would buy if they were looking for a green product. Everyone chose Simple Green, however, Odoban actually has the EPA safer choice logo meaning that it has been tested and help to the EPA standards that the Simple Green may or may not meet.</div>
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So consumers beware. The people who market items are sneaky smart and sometimes although they use naturally derived chemicals, those chemicals may be more toxic than their synthetic counterparts.</div>
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So how do we make informed safer choices?</div>
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Look for the safer choice label</div>
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Research the active/top 5 ingredients listed in the products you are thinking of buying and see what the MSDS or SDS sheets (available online) say about them</div>
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Don't fall for packaging or claims of 'natural' if there is no science to back it up</div>
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Next week we will be moving to the Baylor Research Innovation and collaboration center (BRIC), as well as the Waco Wetlands, and turning what we did in week 1 into useable lessons to take back into high schools. Ill keep you posted!</div>
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Shout to to one of my students La Vega Early College High School students who took the extra credit opportunity and came to sit through all of the platform presentations. He and his mom left far more enlightened about their household chemical purchases.<br />
One really neat unexpected thing that has come of the platform presentations is my 9 year old daughter's new-found interest in green chemistry. After sitting through 4 platform presentations she has approached me several times this weekend with products her fathers bought while grocery shopping and talked through her own hypotheses and experimental design. One in particular was a I tank toilet bowl cleaner that claims to kill 98% of bacteria. She said, " Hey mom, look at this. It says it kills bacteria, I bet it would be toxic to Daphnia too!". How cool is that?!?!<br />
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I would have added photos but Blogger isn't cooperating tonight so I will try again later!</div>
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Stollehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04407681504873231646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923059639083992977.post-56258918446692607362015-07-09T16:40:00.000-07:002015-07-09T16:49:32.532-07:00MoDRN HS research project Day 4<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaSUy-k5zdQNiX3RLtSx5gPm7dGcHRnJgQfV23fjiO0aBonf51VSlVZHQbLneqh5cyEhU4WNnbpovD5w9adIPOikSgXHpbBj9uiVJeHGXlAtBrT-U5WLuzH7DL60NYVrTDQ-UYGVMgfYOZ/s1600/11542114_1457032934617782_7183665243453122590_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaSUy-k5zdQNiX3RLtSx5gPm7dGcHRnJgQfV23fjiO0aBonf51VSlVZHQbLneqh5cyEhU4WNnbpovD5w9adIPOikSgXHpbBj9uiVJeHGXlAtBrT-U5WLuzH7DL60NYVrTDQ-UYGVMgfYOZ/s200/11542114_1457032934617782_7183665243453122590_n.jpg" width="111" /></a>So I will start today by reiterating how much of a blubbering goof I am. To begin with, I broke the salad tongs at lunch, apparently I do not know my own strength. Then after halfway filling my soup bowl I dropped my entire bowl upside down back into the soup serving bowl...my true colors are showing! Then to top it all off--today I rocked a new Hawaiian style maxi dress that my husband picked up for me yesterday. I did a double take in the mirror this morning and briefly thought the cut was kinda weird so I threw a cardigan over it and went about my day. It was only after spending a full day with normal, legitimate, intellectual people that I realized I had gone ALL DAY with my fabulous new dress ON BACKWARDS! Needless to say I AM RIDICULOUS!<br />
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Now, on with the science!<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/rachel.stolle/videos/969299119786795/?l=4478824021377469435" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Just For FUN! Adult Daphnia in beakers</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYACUry9JhY7893XUKGjvgws958BA81ZA4_tZkPyh_vvTWaJ0OshJJEEGz2DqhuXyGCUi_xUkgZyDQrN_er2bJpKhyULUmZnUcw7x8T21CtLxBcxZ0kv_Mgnvi0VE9oZjnGIZG-ClgzOwl/s1600/11053545_1457029667951442_350550199826052192_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYACUry9JhY7893XUKGjvgws958BA81ZA4_tZkPyh_vvTWaJ0OshJJEEGz2DqhuXyGCUi_xUkgZyDQrN_er2bJpKhyULUmZnUcw7x8T21CtLxBcxZ0kv_Mgnvi0VE9oZjnGIZG-ClgzOwl/s200/11053545_1457029667951442_350550199826052192_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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So today we began with a lecture over poster presentation and then had about 2 hours to begin working on data input using EXCEL and generating our platform presentations.<br />
After my lunch shenanigans, we came back together in the lab for the last time to do our 48 hour data collections over the survival/morbidity rates of our Daphnia in their treatment solutions and the salt control.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHzOguhYoIwvoxYdc9RUD0P3ENCLKl-WEHHeqntbyw-qGIN41K707P_-epPZgtUReeeNtQuVyFDu1eG8Q6qQxUjJsqNeljYQi5AtLXtVYz8MNVZDUKOhTtJ3-8fxgfMv_apcrihh5u__xT/s1600/11666208_1457029511284791_4427597378652114998_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHzOguhYoIwvoxYdc9RUD0P3ENCLKl-WEHHeqntbyw-qGIN41K707P_-epPZgtUReeeNtQuVyFDu1eG8Q6qQxUjJsqNeljYQi5AtLXtVYz8MNVZDUKOhTtJ3-8fxgfMv_apcrihh5u__xT/s200/11666208_1457029511284791_4427597378652114998_n.jpg" width="200" /></a>After we were done in the lab, one of the PhD students held a lecture over how to use the TRAP program to calculate our Lc 50 values. These data points allow us to interpret toxicity of the 2 compounds. We calculated Lc calculations for both substance A and substance B at 24 and 48 hours.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNwwwMJXoUsigbhXcWmHoKEI5tWT1Lb8BNvjmkAt5hYPEQQTql31j5NhKZeWgC-Zpm_DDltvrK70W0HfyqgOotK3ePOYRxjc1gDrUGeUmUGr_q7xIgxOxjMuYQkEW5T6j8qMiK7A5009G/s1600/IMG_0670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNwwwMJXoUsigbhXcWmHoKEI5tWT1Lb8BNvjmkAt5hYPEQQTql31j5NhKZeWgC-Zpm_DDltvrK70W0HfyqgOotK3ePOYRxjc1gDrUGeUmUGr_q7xIgxOxjMuYQkEW5T6j8qMiK7A5009G/s200/IMG_0670.JPG" width="200" /></a>Our team worked through excel to generate 3 data tables that we will use in our final platform presentation AND then there was the great reveal of the 2 products we tested. <br />
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I wont share that yet. If you are curious you should come to BSB A436 tomorrow at 1 for the presentations.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6KMxinrcYxW1NuUF3KOzw0KWlTrR76MmHk066xHOGDS9r1nQy-WUBASEGbxUn7PWv1sNg299kIJl6e4bGV1ZZuALEyoYKRM9mdZAtCiXTUWx9P6DhZZ6NT7gfS5pcED1p2UczCUFA9TtM/s1600/11738048_1457029614618114_2725096184162746884_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6KMxinrcYxW1NuUF3KOzw0KWlTrR76MmHk066xHOGDS9r1nQy-WUBASEGbxUn7PWv1sNg299kIJl6e4bGV1ZZuALEyoYKRM9mdZAtCiXTUWx9P6DhZZ6NT7gfS5pcED1p2UczCUFA9TtM/s200/11738048_1457029614618114_2725096184162746884_n.jpg" width="200" /></a>Tonight my team split up some of the power point sections to work on as homework so that we can use our 3 hours before presentations tomorrow to clean it up, add photos and practice. Excited with our results and excited to share what we found!<br />
Title of presentation:
<span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 36pt; language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: +mn-cs; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-color-index: 1; mso-fareast-font-family: +mn-ea; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #0D0D0D; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: "lumm=95000 lumo=5000"; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: text1; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;"><span style="font-size: small;">Comparative Acute Toxicity of Green vs. Non-green
Insect Repellents</span></span><br />
Objectives:
<br />
<div style="-ms-word-break: normal; direction: ltr; language: en-US; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.38in; margin-top: 7.68pt; mso-line-break-override: none; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.38in; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-special-format: bullet;">•</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: +mn-cs; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-color-index: 1; mso-fareast-font-family: +mn-ea; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: text1; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">Toxicity
of consumer insect repellents to </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: +mn-cs; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-color-index: 1; mso-fareast-font-family: +mn-ea; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: text1; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">D</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: +mn-cs; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-color-index: 1; mso-fareast-font-family: +mn-ea; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: text1; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">aphnia magna</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: +mn-cs; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-color-index: 1; mso-fareast-font-family: +mn-ea; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: text1; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: +mn-cs; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-color-index: 1; mso-fareast-font-family: +mn-ea; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: text1; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">over
24 and 48 hours</span></div>
<br />
<div style="-ms-word-break: normal; direction: ltr; language: en-US; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.38in; margin-top: 7.68pt; mso-line-break-override: none; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.38in; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-special-format: bullet;">•</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: +mn-cs; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-color-index: 1; mso-fareast-font-family: +mn-ea; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: text1; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">Compare
green and non-green insect repellent toxicity levels</span></div>
<div style="-ms-word-break: normal; direction: ltr; language: en-US; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.38in; margin-top: 7.68pt; mso-line-break-override: none; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.38in; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: +mn-cs; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-color-index: 1; mso-fareast-font-family: +mn-ea; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: text1; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;"></span> </div>
<div style="-ms-word-break: normal; direction: ltr; language: en-US; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.38in; margin-top: 7.68pt; mso-line-break-override: none; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.38in; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: +mn-cs; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-color-index: 1; mso-fareast-font-family: +mn-ea; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: text1; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-large;">GREEN CHALLENGE: SAFE OR NOT??</span></span></div>
<br />Stollehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04407681504873231646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923059639083992977.post-33063894656987445632015-07-08T16:29:00.000-07:002015-07-08T17:12:11.171-07:00MoDERN HS Teacher Workshop days 1-3<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnms-AjOI2u4crxoOlDrOLriyJASQJKOI1yJOFZqzy-35uIpH6ks-t6KSEm7S7F8DqD9QpzcVXLqhb1sB_4rxyhHG_orxWMt5uTu7Evg43-I7Hkgj4kNQdegAR67KSRqBBxcTgc60Tamh/s1600/11695843_1455802704740805_8629004256684924315_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnms-AjOI2u4crxoOlDrOLriyJASQJKOI1yJOFZqzy-35uIpH6ks-t6KSEm7S7F8DqD9QpzcVXLqhb1sB_4rxyhHG_orxWMt5uTu7Evg43-I7Hkgj4kNQdegAR67KSRqBBxcTgc60Tamh/s320/11695843_1455802704740805_8629004256684924315_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>So it hit me today in lab that I should be blogging about my experiences with MoDRN at Baylor University. I am 3 days in but I will try to cover days 1-3 here and henceforth blog daily.<br />
So back in the 2014 school year I applied for the MoDRN teacher lab experience and research opportunity with Baylor University, Yale and 2 schools out of Washington. I was chosen for the program and started this Monday July 6, 2015.<br />
Of course I can't just do something like this program gracefully and/or at 100% so for good measure I went ahead and sprained my ankle Thursday after the last day of ECHS at La Vega. So I've been hopping around all week. It honestly, other than being an annoyance, hasn't caused any issues for me.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWNr74yhOk6ORP3nGH2qguNtaiPcVCplSVP1d7VRDiaeIZ-zOYlc6BYTEA-kvQh5hMqMkSXx7N4-7wldDECl2u16GEdN66LdMcz79LuuuKKN1uWFxa_1SNa3bO-joTgHnI9l9lYZYzxaGO/s1600/10407784_1455355141452228_7521054225887302068_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWNr74yhOk6ORP3nGH2qguNtaiPcVCplSVP1d7VRDiaeIZ-zOYlc6BYTEA-kvQh5hMqMkSXx7N4-7wldDECl2u16GEdN66LdMcz79LuuuKKN1uWFxa_1SNa3bO-joTgHnI9l9lYZYzxaGO/s200/10407784_1455355141452228_7521054225887302068_n.jpg" width="200" /></a>Monday was spent predominately on paper work and background lectures with Dr. Brooks from the Environmental Science dept at Baylor. Tuesday we began again with a short lecture and were divided up into our lab groups and assigned to our PhD students. The jist of the project is focusing on green chemistry and specifically the differences in toxicity on daphnia (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/rachel.stolle/videos/967976789919028/?l=1269223913769835098" target="_blank">About Daphnia Video</a>) for OTC household items labeled either 'green' or with no 'green' product labeling or claims. The groups are blind to which product is labeled green and which product is not. The groups chose their specific product from either body wash, laundry detergent, bug repellant and one other that I cannot remember for the life of me.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WsC_cgOlSPI8B4Ao441dqxi04MkouCXIPB_kLCaTSpNuiO_wm1yIlG1tF1tMG5my_sEb54nshZWx7KCAoWCcQCIU0a0wGSce_DOkXDWYrSN0LICZMDVSsSapJbQ8mf5BZZ1LlpFAf2ID/s1600/11703143_968867766496597_4613440150803832632_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WsC_cgOlSPI8B4Ao441dqxi04MkouCXIPB_kLCaTSpNuiO_wm1yIlG1tF1tMG5my_sEb54nshZWx7KCAoWCcQCIU0a0wGSce_DOkXDWYrSN0LICZMDVSsSapJbQ8mf5BZZ1LlpFAf2ID/s200/11703143_968867766496597_4613440150803832632_n.jpg" width="150" /></a>My group chose bug repellant in hopes that we could see some really cool and marked results.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhniCn25pAe68NmpQxqrZcaOyzF7c2RAWCW5hhCVxgqOEaEfsuAqi-pW_ClP9FTnHvMQdDyhPZ9Qkb6nc3nXG1DOIlwSW44OGk6oqTGxMcC9SJY29EdzkKs2W9Hwotql-_IPyOllgN1XxmO/s1600/11709663_1455802708074138_4845422084473873275_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhniCn25pAe68NmpQxqrZcaOyzF7c2RAWCW5hhCVxgqOEaEfsuAqi-pW_ClP9FTnHvMQdDyhPZ9Qkb6nc3nXG1DOIlwSW44OGk6oqTGxMcC9SJY29EdzkKs2W9Hwotql-_IPyOllgN1XxmO/s200/11709663_1455802708074138_4845422084473873275_n.jpg" width="200" /></a>On Tuesday we did serial dilutions of our two substances, substance A and substance B. Our dilution range was .1%-.00063% with controls for each using RHW (reconstituted hard water).Once our dilutions were complete it was time to start loading our specimen cups. For each dilution of both substance we ran 4 different trials each containing the % dilution and 5 healthy daphnia. My group and I are now pros as extracting neonate daphnia from solution with a cut off disposable micropipette--it is as tedious as it sounds but somehow also relaxing.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMRqtNnBepnwALTUZp3hkls9Ve3T1v-SAnJas_zNNXF4W8adkgSCLfp1WN7gXdNMP4O_lleR0yHqKSB5SPnKYgMbwqLOMcwtM1acqfXRuvXJ0C1rDQ52RBmbXmLlnFXQ3nrD2kzxpBipm/s1600/IMG_0670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMRqtNnBepnwALTUZp3hkls9Ve3T1v-SAnJas_zNNXF4W8adkgSCLfp1WN7gXdNMP4O_lleR0yHqKSB5SPnKYgMbwqLOMcwtM1acqfXRuvXJ0C1rDQ52RBmbXmLlnFXQ3nrD2kzxpBipm/s200/IMG_0670.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJto_9XPi9tDIfcgpKwgouwE-5939QtCVYsXspdOAXTdicTcJ3tM-fkm98W2qvXdYU_hJweBiRdS0cDCU9Gsfta5zOCEPIVLBgPR12FYDEoNjdFz55j-2hIJ7mjBrdAqgdugCdArPv1uZA/s1600/10984497_968867453163295_45845371618834081_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJto_9XPi9tDIfcgpKwgouwE-5939QtCVYsXspdOAXTdicTcJ3tM-fkm98W2qvXdYU_hJweBiRdS0cDCU9Gsfta5zOCEPIVLBgPR12FYDEoNjdFz55j-2hIJ7mjBrdAqgdugCdArPv1uZA/s200/10984497_968867453163295_45845371618834081_n.jpg" width="150" /></a>Once both test groups were labeled and loaded they were placed in the incubator. We then set up a second control using NaCl and RHW, with a control set, and loaded with five neonate daphnia in order to compare our two substance trials. This too was placed in the incubator. I will note here that we did collect data on all 3 of these sets for the 0 hour before placing them in the incubator.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_UMjZvYp_nt_6GEXN6Yi0mRyQYeTsl15c018EAXQdO1jkdVfQjh_bCwB11KdsNsPeVRaAJlxOd5fayQeqSSs7yA5q5yjDvL7lqHJAmsaKa7t2DsUq9GpxPsRI73WqVq9dE6Je1XlILqb1/s1600/11241617_968867439829963_7708919624107522158_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_UMjZvYp_nt_6GEXN6Yi0mRyQYeTsl15c018EAXQdO1jkdVfQjh_bCwB11KdsNsPeVRaAJlxOd5fayQeqSSs7yA5q5yjDvL7lqHJAmsaKa7t2DsUq9GpxPsRI73WqVq9dE6Je1XlILqb1/s200/11241617_968867439829963_7708919624107522158_n.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimM5MB-jJc2dI4bMo2WRzLYWRHhyphenhyphenct8WaWPkyqCfqtoh65DzmOmqkZCkwQJfF0aeBVoj16BJYTaHQ79s2W0GIkUjk5aohk0MEPcclExjsC4t4y_tIn3fdbHgqRfnVpJlT9LH3Wt9OK88m2/s1600/11059954_968867736496600_6359797203605750196_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimM5MB-jJc2dI4bMo2WRzLYWRHhyphenhyphenct8WaWPkyqCfqtoh65DzmOmqkZCkwQJfF0aeBVoj16BJYTaHQ79s2W0GIkUjk5aohk0MEPcclExjsC4t4y_tIn3fdbHgqRfnVpJlT9LH3Wt9OK88m2/s200/11059954_968867736496600_6359797203605750196_n.jpg" width="150" /></a>Wednesday began with a short lecture over water chemistry and we were right back in the lab. For the dilutions we created on Tuesday we had to work out the water chemistry details. We titrated to find hardness of both substance A and B using a color indicator and recorded all of our data. We used probes to measure Dissolved oxygen levels of all % for both substances. Then we measured conductivity and pH etc. The last titration we completed prompted our lab team to dub ourselves "TEAM TITRATION"--we knocked those 2 titrations out of the park!!! Aftre finishing our water chemistry, we did our 24 hour examination of or salt control and 2 substances. I wont give away any findings yet. There will be an ice cream social after presentations on Friday in BSB A.401. We then ended with a 1 hour lecture over professional powerpoint presentations as this is what we will be working on tomorrow after we work through all of our data.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMwSPMWSNqXPkMkcqA46LInpuWn58d4E1lmsE9Tn76wQefL0hfJTw9f0JwpAtuH7KQdLdZnxku74OfLEomoedMYhBDtyn1FtF2UoJuB2RpKc6OO_w_AbONv-os9dAHBMFxsA70nHptbEQ/s1600/11230580_968867726496601_2203083310332064178_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMwSPMWSNqXPkMkcqA46LInpuWn58d4E1lmsE9Tn76wQefL0hfJTw9f0JwpAtuH7KQdLdZnxku74OfLEomoedMYhBDtyn1FtF2UoJuB2RpKc6OO_w_AbONv-os9dAHBMFxsA70nHptbEQ/s200/11230580_968867726496601_2203083310332064178_n.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVh0n73FoG2zvRx4PDezkL7W4a8oURsowM-_LXgK_Oim6x40t2Q_Xm1bxs5gneRpISCtUQ8vTSLJ9gE6CZgpoB01otM2keCdw8WyraC_KlHXOuRYZRBx6niiKTu1QAiO8hnpgUJBNB1M5t/s1600/11709483_968867716496602_5985184912955874337_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVh0n73FoG2zvRx4PDezkL7W4a8oURsowM-_LXgK_Oim6x40t2Q_Xm1bxs5gneRpISCtUQ8vTSLJ9gE6CZgpoB01otM2keCdw8WyraC_KlHXOuRYZRBx6niiKTu1QAiO8hnpgUJBNB1M5t/s200/11709483_968867716496602_5985184912955874337_n.jpg" width="150" /></a>Some things I have found fun/interesting this week have been the use of substances like EtOH and Methanol as sterilizing cleaners. I have learned ALOT more about the life cycle, appearance and behavior of water fleas, Daphnia, than I ever thought possible. I really want to find time and a way for my students to experience all of the equipments, procedures and protocols that I have experienced this week. I know that I am a nerd but it has been SUPER fun!!!<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/rachel.stolle/videos/967959083254132/?l=2594084663078554583" target="_blank">Video about other organisms</a> used by this lab</div>
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Stollehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04407681504873231646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923059639083992977.post-24379138656999335012014-04-17T15:56:00.001-07:002014-04-17T15:56:50.983-07:00Social Media Challenge: Getting your students to engage at home with review materialsOk, so it's that time of year! STAAR is here!! Just like every year I teach my heart out. I worry myself sick, and work myself to the bone hitting and re-teaching teks all the way up until April. Then it is review time. I spend 1-2 weeks making a STAAR review folder/manipulative with my students that contains concise and dense material for them to engage and review. However, I always struggle to find ways to get them to use it outside of the classroom. We do processing activities with it in class and review the information as we add it to the folder, but It just never feels like enough. Yesterday something hit me.<br />
<br /><br />
I call it the Social Media Challenge. Basically, students earn different levels of points for posting information about the science STAAR test to any social media outlet. I give 1-2 points for pics, 2 points for certain hashtags (so I can track their posts, without connecting with them on social media, with free programs like keyhole), then the biggies are 4 points for a science fact they need to know for STAAR and 20 points for a homemade video explaining a concept. OH...EM...GEEEEEEEE! My students went berserk!<br />
They were filming each other...teaching each other...digging into their interactive notebooks and STAAR review folders in ways that I have never witnessed before. And here is what kills me....all for fast food. The incentive for this is that I will buy lunch for the kiddo with the most points (that they can prove they have earned) by the morning of the STAAR test. One student has already earned over 1000 points and is still finding things to post.<br />
Not only are they studying, but they are teacher each other in the process and my heart is singing with joy. We will see if this pays off on scores, but just for student engagement and excitement I say that this idea is a keeperStollehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04407681504873231646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923059639083992977.post-18947814723654590822014-03-14T22:25:00.003-07:002014-03-16T19:23:07.769-07:00Be Still and Know...I sit awake.<br />
I am the last one in the house who hasn't fallen asleep, and my mind just continues to replay the events of the last few days. I have tried all sorts of things to calm myself and as a last resort I am turning back to my writing as a form of therapy.<br />
So here goes...<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Raeleigh nearly died and God saved her.</strong> <br />
It was a normal spring break day. We got up to go to the dentist to get our twice a year family cleaning. This is a big ordeal since we schedule all of our appointments together...it truly is a family affair. It took a few hours to get all 4 of us worked through. The girls and I made a quick trip to the exotic animal store for mill worms and crickets for toothless, our bearded dragon. Then on the way home I swung through Bush's to get the girls 2 tender rolls, gravy and fries. I had lunch in the fridge at home.<br />
We intended to have a picnic, but decided it was too windy once we got home,so everyone just ate inside. I had finished my black bean soup, Reese had finished and gone to play, and Rae was still at the kitchen bar nibbling away at her meal. I was tired so I laid down on the couch.<br />
About 4 or 5 minutes later Raeleigh came in to tell me she was itching. Now we have had a few rounds of mild hives from an unknown food allergy but they had always been just that, mild. I had anaphalaxis as a child, and my attacks were never life threatening either. Usually just a dose of Benadryl and all was well. <br />
Raeleigh is super diligent about letting us know if she suspects she is breaking out, and I am so very grateful for that. However, to be honest, it kinda leads to me taking it less seriously because of all the false alarms. So I call her over to take a look and she does indeed have 2-3 whelps and I tell her I will get the Benadryl in just a second. <br />
I get up off the couch to go grab the benadrly and we are out. We do have Claritin for children (her sister takes that every day) so I give her a dose of that. By this time the whelps have spread and it is turning into full-body hives. I take her to the couch to cuddle thinking that all will pass in a few minutes. When we get to the couch she just starts crying and saying how badly it itches. I try to calm her but she becomes more and more panicked and agitated. Then she begins to vomit. I yell to sister to bring the trash can and Rae vomits what had to have been almost the entirety of her stomach contents. I jump up and tell her we need to go get a bath. She says, "Mommy I can't,<strong> I feel like I am going to die</strong>". I say "Baby you have to you are covered in throw up."<br />
I walk to the bathroom to get the water started, and I hear her whimpering behind me. I turn to help her undress and she loses consciousness and falls to the floor hitting her head on the door frame on the way down.<br />
At this point I realize that this is not her run-of-the-mill mild reaction; this was something altogether different. I swoop her up in my arms and yell to Reese to call 911. Reese freaks and starts running around screaming looking for my cell phone. I take Rae into the kitchen and she wakes up and says "I'm ok mommy". I take a sigh of relief and set her down on the floor to get a towel to wash her face. She faints again. She is in her panties because she was about to take a bath so I yell to Reese to find her some close we have to go to ER. At this point Reese brings me my cell phone and is trying to call dad, but she entered the number wrong and doesn't know how to delete errors on my cell. I tell her to put it down and just go get clothes for Rae. I am thinking we can drive to hospital faster than ambulance can get to us so that was my plan. I grab the epipen (thank GOD it was above the stove) inject her, and call Jason. I told him Rae had a reaction, it was bad, I gave her epi and we are going to hospital, he says ok and I hang up. Then it starts...<br />
Rae is sitting on bar in kitchen and collapses again but this time it is more than just fainting. Her body is lifeless, no muscle tone, her pupils are dilated, she is vomiting but her teeth are clinched closed...she is drowning in her own vomit. I pick up the house phone and dial 911. <br />
While giving specifics to the operator I realize Rae has completely stopped breathing (her airway is completely blocked). I turn her on her side and pry her teeth open. She is clenching so tightly that I have to go all the way back behind her molars to the small space between gums and get my fingers through there and work then up across her teeth to the front of her mouth. Once I get under her incisors I pry open the mouth and clean out her mouth. But it isn't enough. She still isn't breathing. I scream at the 911 lady to hurry please hurry, and I do what any mother would do. I pry her mouth open once more and clear her airway as deep as I can with my fingers. I was so afraid I was hurting her. I felt like I was being so rough with her tiny little body but there was no option. I had to be rough or she would die. So I clear her out as deep as I can reach but still nothing. Her chest isn't moving. She still isn't breathing. I drop the phone and I start breathing for her. One breath...pause...two breaths...pause....my mind is racing. What if I am hurting her worse. I am not formally CPR trained. I know the jist of it, but I am not confident in my ability to administer it. What if I am forcing the vomit into her lungs? <br />
But I made my decision and I was just going to have to stick with it. There was nothing else that could be done. I pry her jaw open again, clear her airway with my finger and third breath...pause. Then it silently hits me.<br />
THERE IS NOTHING ELSE I CAN DO!<br />
I cannot save my child.<br />
There she is on the kitchen counter covered in hives and vomit and I can't do anything for her. I have used all the tricks in my very small bag and she still isn't ok...what can I do? What can I do? andI realize.<br />
I can do nothing....<br />
But God can.<br />
So I just stop. "Be still and know that I am God" is whispered to my spirit and I just pray. I pray healing, I pray breath, I pray consciousness over my daughter. I proclaim that by the blood of Jesus whatever is afflicting her will be cast out. And I pick up the phone.<br />
I calmly ask, "Are you still there?", I ask and the operator replies with a "yes".<br />
I roll Rae to her back and there it is. Her chest is moving. SHE IS BREATHING. I scream to the operator, "SHE"S BREATHING".<br />
She tells me to tilt her head back to keep her airway open and asks if she is conscious. She was semiconscious. I would call her state catatonic. She didn't breathe for about a minute so I was terrified if she would ever really come back to me.<br />
Reese comes in crying. She doesn't want her sister to die. I tell her to lay her hands on Rae and pray. So she does.<br />
I start trying to talk to Rae. She is breathing and her eyes are open but there is no muscle tone in her body, her pupils are dilated, her eyes are rolled back and she isn't responding to anything. I pop her cheeks softly to see if it elicits a response, and nothing. So I just keep talking. She slowly starts to breath deeper and deeper. And Reese gets real close and calls her name.<br />
PRAISE BE TO GOD...Rae raises her head focuses her eyes on Reese and lays back down. The voice of her big sister was the first thing she would respond to. Such a sweet testament to the power in that bond.<br />
This is good. She lays her head back down and swallows a few times. I am thinking now, was I so rough that I hurt her voice box? Can she talk? So I ask her if she can talk and she nods her head no. but now she is responding to speech. So Reese and I just keep talking to her. The lady tells me EMTs are getting close...It has been 5-7 minutes by this point so I holler at Reese to put the dogs up and open the garage door.<br />
I just keep talking to Rae. She finally answers a question with a small lil grunt so I know she can at least make some sort of a noise now. <br />
Then I hear the first round of angels. It is the China Spring VFD. There were at least 2 of them. I hang up with 911. I don't remember much, but I remember a sweet older man who told Rae she could call him poppy or pops or something like that. She finally starting replying to us in words but she was still unable to move anything other than her head and neck. EMT's arrive next. They very quickly start hooking Rae up to oxygen, taking my statement and taking her vitals. I never let go of her head. I just couldn't.<br />
The sweet VFD man was the first to see her feet. I didn't realize at the time because I was so absorbed in her from the neck up, but her ankles were so discolored and mottled that it looked like they both had just been seriously sprained. I am guessing this was from lack of oxygen.<br />
It is clear by now that she is stable so EMTs load her onto the gurney. Her tiny body was like a limp noodle as they moved her from the counter top.<br />
I couldn't ride with her because I had Reese. This was so super hard, but I had to let them take her without me. They told me they would be riding with lights and sirens and that I could follow them, I handed Rae her favorite stuffed animal and placed her in their care. So they take her out and I grab shoes and a sweater and Reese and I are out the door.<br />
I had heard sirens so I assumed they were already ahead of us. So we fly past all the emergency vehicles still in our driveway and book it to Hillcrest. My car had wings that day.<br />
While I was on with 911 operator Reese had tried to call Jason on cellphone and was struggling so 911 lady volunteered to call him. He was waiting for us at hospital but knew no details. In the chaos I didn't know who I had told what. SO I called the pastor and told him the quick story and asked him to get a prayer chain started. Unfortunately Jason learned about the seriousness of the episode from that email. I didn't realize that I had not yet told him she passed out and quit breathing.<br />
When I arrived at the hospital I saw him sitting right outside the ER. I walked to him as quickly as I could and asked how she was...what he answered shook me to my core. She wasn't there.<br />
WHAT!?!?!<br />
I heard them leave?<br />
I didn't pass them...how was she not there?<br />
My on edge brain started going berserk!<br />
We run in and talk to lady at the desk. They haven't gotten a call from any ambulance coming in. <strong>Rae is lost.</strong><br />
Jason has the number of the person who called him so he calls it back... he is on hold for what seems like forever and then I hear him say, "Ok, so 15 minutes away?".<br />
She is on her way. Then I realize what must have happened. That ambulance I heard must have been replying to a second call and Rae must have been in the ambulance in my driveway that I blasted past. So very scary for a few minutes. But she arrived just fine.<br />
Once at the hospital they administered another shot op epi and some steroids. Poor Rae looked miserable. She just kept shaking from all the adrenaline and her whole body was blood red.<br />
Once I got face to face with a doc and laid out everything that happened, they admitted her.<br />
I was so afraid that the food allergy had somehow triggered a second underlying condition. The seizure seemed epileptic to me. I had NEVER heard of anaphylactic shock causing an seizure and the admitting doctor hadn't either. It was only after research that we discovered that all of her symptoms were from the allergy. The vomiting, the loss of consciousness and the seizure can all be symptoms of extreme anaphylactic shock.<br />
So here we are 2 days post incident and I can't rest. Sleep alludes me. My brain keeps replaying it over and over skipping a beat on all the what ifs...<br />
What if this happened at school? We hadn't even taken an epi pen up there because her attacks had never been severe<br />
What if I had gone with my first instinct and put her in the car?....I Could not have gotten her breathing again<br />
What if that epipen hadn't been above the stove?...I don't even really know why it was there and the second one was with our meds in bathroom...what if I had to have gone looking for it???(by the way...it was expired...it was by the grace of God that it still worked)<br />
What if we didn't get that landline and my cell kept dropping the 911 call like it does every other call?<br />
What if she would have been with strangers who weren't willing to give cpr through her vomit?<br />
What if I had fallen asleep and didn't respond fast enough????<br />
I know the answer...I KNOW that I KNOW that I KNOW that God made sure everything was as it should be so lil Rae could live. And I thank him for that.<br />
Please continue to join me in prayer to cast out whatever ailment led to this episode. I pray for healing for Rae.<br />
We will be heading to her school Monday morning to get an action plan in place and educate them on her condition. A visit to the allergist will also be next week. (She has to be off Benadryl for at least 5 days to even be tested at allergist.) And in the meantime I will be trying to remember to "Be still and know that [He] is God" and get some sleep and calm my mind and stop my heart from racing without my permission. Because God is good all the time and all the time God is good!<br />
<br />
<br />
I write this to help myself move past that day but also for anyone else out there who has experienced anaphalactic shock with vomiting and seizures. I never knew before that this could even happen. So I hope that this may help someone else out there looking for answers. I also write this because there are some amazing people that The Stolle family owes a HUGE thanks to...<br />
China Spring VFD<br />
ETMC 911 operator and EMTs<br />
Hillcrest Hospital<br />
Rae's big sister for all her help and heroics (needless to say we had a cell phone lesson that very night)<br />
My sisters, Megan and Jackie, who drove all the way from East Texas to spend the night with us in the hospital and help keep Rae entertained and distracted (me too)<br />
Robert and Carol Stolle for taking Reese that night<br />
My mom and Dad who helped to keep me grounded and calm<br />
Jeff Wyers for making that first plea for prayer and for being Rae's first visitor at the hospital<br />
and EVERYONE who covered our family in prayer<br />
I have no doubt that the power of prayer is a big reason why we are all still blessed with Rae's sweet smile and spirit.<br />
I love you all and I pray you never have to experience anything like this, but if you do remember to "Be still and know that [He] is God".<br />
~Psalm 46:10<br />
<br />Stollehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04407681504873231646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923059639083992977.post-16969975913219085392013-01-21T19:16:00.000-08:002013-01-21T19:17:25.220-08:00Intentional wordsAs a Christian, I try to go out of my way to encourage others that I DON'T have it all together, or even all figured out. I think it is very important to be honest about your faults and weaknesses so that we can be true to scripture and allow iron to sharpen iron.<br />
Going back into the working world, I knew that words in general and gossip in specific would be great points of contention for me. For one thing I don't think I have defined for myself what exactly falls into the category of gossip. Is it negative statements true or false about a specific person or group? Is is only things known from hearsay and not first person? Can reporting a negative fact about a person be classified as gossip? Can a noticeable refusal to answer a specific question about a person be labeled as indirect gossip? Is it only false statements or those whose nature are unknown? I don't know the answer.<br />
Truth be told, I feel that I have gossiped and this brings be great grief. It undermines all that I believe in and stand for, but without a clear definition of what I believe to be gossip, I am unequipped to label even my own words as above or below reproach. I am reaching out for help and understanding. Fellow believers, what is the biblical definition for gossip? What should I and should I not share? What the the scriptures that I can lean on for understanding and a standard for my words?Stollehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04407681504873231646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923059639083992977.post-7139073143939890112013-01-07T19:32:00.001-08:002013-01-07T19:46:12.573-08:00Open Book: God is Good and Big enough to release me<br />
I am and always have been an open book--transparent to my core, and at times, to a fault. Now is no exception. I have through all of my soul searching and healing always made it clear that I am NOT perfect and I DO NOT have it all figured out. That is still the case. I am not writing this to toot my own horn--On the contrary, I am wanting to give God the glory for two mind-blowingly amazing victories that He has blessed me with.<br />
With that said, I will just shamelessly dive right in. I struggle with depression, PTSD, pain and so many more 'conditions' that I just don't even have the energy or desire to list them all. I do believe that most of these ailments have been spiritual warfare and attacks due to my desire for light and truth to shine into me and my life. If you know my testimony, you know what all I am referring to.<br />
I have been on antidepressants off and on for 7 years, and my most recent stint on them has lasted a bit over 5 years. The last time that I came off antidepressants I was planning on getting pregnant for the second time, and worked with my doctor to gradually decrease my dosage over time so that I would not have any withdrawals. IT WAS HORRIBLE! I felt like I was detoxing from CRACK! I had horrible vertigo, nausea, headaches and was just overall YUCK. <br />
I knew that sometime soon I wanted to try coming off my meds again but figured that I needed to wait til the summer when I didn't have students or job responsibilities so that things wouldn't be so rough when I started getting sick. FYI: The dosage that I was most recently taking was twice the dosage that I came off of before getting pregnant with Raeleigh.<br />
Call me crazy--I am ok with that. But God DOES talk to me. One day 3 weeks ago He told me to just not refill my RX and to quit taking it. I have learned to listen (he took me off a 5 year relial on prescription sleeping pills for my PTSD cold turkey about 2 years ago). So I did what He asked, and then just kinda forgot about it.<br />
I am proud to proclaim, as loud as I can from the rooftops, that my God took away my need for those medications and I had absolutely NO WITHDRAWAL OR SYMPTOMS OF ANY KIND! That is HUGE. It makes me think of that song "Only a Mountain" by Jason Castro and this mountain MOVED!<br />
Now for the second amazing gift. I have become twice the woman I once was--and I mean that literally. I am HUGE and I am NOT ok with that. It is NOT who I am nor what I am about. I hide behind the weight for alot of reasons including that it is just more comfortable as a child abuse survivor to just not be attractive to men. Shocking huh, but true....raw and true. Well on top of that, even when I desire to change, all of those medical conditions that I have been cursed with flare and the pain (in the past) has been too HUGE of a hurdle for me to jump. Well not any more. My God took that away too. I am working out 45 minutes a night and there has been NO PAIN! I see light at the end of the tunnel and 2013 is going to be MY year to be ME again! I am so excited with the Hope and possibilities that this year is destined to bring!<br />
God is Good! He is Always good.Stollehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04407681504873231646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923059639083992977.post-39483739097408645202012-10-20T08:10:00.000-07:002012-10-20T08:10:36.030-07:00Swirling, whirling thoughts and prayer requestSo many thoughts are bumping around in my head. I haven't written in a while and my mind and spirit can tell. It is a sort of catharsis, or therapy even, to just punch out on the keyboard what my mind can sometimes not even categorize to file away. <br />
So many things have changed in what feels almost like a whirlwind that I have no control or power over. I have a job. After 7 years at home I am now, once again, part of the working world. And WHEW had I forgotten what that world was like.<br />
These last 7 years I have changed so much. I have confronted my abuse and found a way to deal and cope. I have removed temptations from my life in the safe environment of my own little nest, and found great relationship with and comfort from my Lord and Savior. But I had no idea how sheltered from the World I truly was. God gave me a gift that I wasn't even aware of til not. Not only was my home a nursery for my growing and developing children; it was also a nursery for mu growing and developing faith. It has been a definite culture shock to re-enter a society that does not know the God that I know as intimately as I do. It is truly surreal. But that is a post for another day.<br />
On top of the culture shock, I am struggling with seeing my sweet baby girls less and less. That is really hard on both me, and them, and Jason. He is having to step up even more than he ever has before. He has to get both girls dressed and fed without me. He has been cooking dinner every night, bathing both girls and so many other little things that I cannot even keep up with. Like I said, thinks have just changed.<br />
I could go on and on but here is the real reason I need journal therapy today. My body is under spiritual attack. Call me a religious fanatic, call me crazy, call me whatever but I believe what I believe, and alot of it the world labels as nutty. I always think of the song by Scott Krippayne:<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">"Some people tell me that i
look kind of funny <br />my nose is red and the braces don't work at all <br />they
say the clothes i wear are all out of fashion <br />i don't fit in and should be
shopping at a different mall <br />i studied classical piano <br />when i could've
been playing guitar <br />i used to drive an el camino <br />and i'm not even sure
it's car </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Chorus:<br />i'm no cool but
that's okay <br />my god loves me anyway <br />i'm not cool but that's alright
<br />i'm still precious in his sight <br />i'm not cool but i don't care <br />how
i'm supposed to do my hair <br />i'm not cool but that's okay <br />my god loves me
anyway </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">it doesn't matter if i know
all the lingo <br />he doesn't mind if i'm not hanging with a certain crowd
<br />some people still believe in building an image <br />but i am finding that's a
worry i can do without <br />i used to wish i was athletic <br />but football was
never my game <br />i made some friends in mathematics <br />but no one can spell my
last name </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">chorus </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">he says that i am a one of a
kind <br />and i don't have to try to be somebody else <br />he believes in me and
says i'm free to be myself <br />i can be myself"</span><br />
<br />
I may not be cool, but I KNOW that I KNOW that I KNOW that true evil exists and is around us every day. I know that our battles as Christians are not with the flesh but with principalities--spirits. I have been at war spiritually with alot of evil creeping around the corners of my new job. The kids have been brainwashed with lies that they will fail, they they should not try, with promiscuity, drugs, stealing, lie, lies, lies....oh so many lies. There is an extremely malevolent spirit of gossip with a very powerful stronghold on the staff at my job. In addition to the gossip, I feel the presence of an unhealthy spirit of comparison and competition. It is heavy and palpable. I pray against it every morning. God has asked me to fight on behalf of the kids...to stand in the gap and fight for them.<br />
I am so very tired. I have called out these things and spoken the power of the blood of Christ over them and I am being attacked. I have had to go to bed every night this week by 7. I wake exhausted. My arthritis is flaring. I have extreme swelling that I cannot get to go away. My twisted vertebrae and bulging discs in my neck are killing me. I have pitting in my nails again from my psoriasis (they had been in remission) and now for the first time in 17 years I have a psoriasis plaque somewhere other than just in my scalp. I have a big, painful lesion on the back of my neck. I need prayer for protection, for healing, and for perseverance.<br />
I want the love of Jesus to be seen through me. I want to be his vessel. But this body is an old broken clay pot.<br />
Please support me in prayer.<br />
Stollehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04407681504873231646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923059639083992977.post-26595833472113517682012-08-10T20:01:00.002-07:002012-08-10T20:01:37.865-07:00A man with a bag....a challenge to apathyAs I was driving to robotics training out at TSTC today, I witnessed something truly amazing and rare. At the intersection of Steinbeck Bend and Lake Shore drive, in the middle of a grassy island separating the intersections, there was a gentle old man. His body was worn; his back slumped, and his gait arthritic--but he boldly wore a smile as he gingerly carried his plastic bag. At first I was concerned. What was he doing? Why was he in the grass at the middle of this intersection and why was he carrying a bag? And then I witnessed what America used to be about...that thing that made us all want to stand and salute our flag as one nation UNDER GOD....that thing that brought us all together after 911....that thing that somehow, somewhere along the way, the younger generations and even the nation as a whole lost sight of. What am I talking about? I am talking about an elderly man in the middle of a Central Texas intersection in the midst of the deadly Texas heat carrying a garbage bag, wearing a smile and picking up TRASH. Yeah that's right!<br />
He saw a mess. He saw a mess in the middle of a city that he took pride in and he didn't simply roll his eyes and drive by. He didn't sigh and make some sarcastic comment about kids these days. He DID SOMETHING. He struggled to not stumble, I could see the wear on his body with each step, but there he was...smiling and all the while methodically picking up trash tossed out of the windows of passing cars without even the slightest hesitation or second thought. <br />
I sat there at this red light and watched as he bent and picked up piece after piece of trash. No one asked him to do that. He wasn't earning a paycheck. He wasn't serving some kind of community service. He did it because it needed to be done. Car after car passes that intersection day after day and they all either didn't notice or just expected the people who are paid to do that to show up and clean.<br />
As the light turned green, I rolled down my window and yelled "Thank You!". He gave a quick glance my way and a friendly wave of the hand and continued about his task.<br />
I was moved.<br />
I thought of him all day.<br />
What could I do? How could I pass along the joy of this sight.<br />
I pray this post did just that. I pray that you pause a moment and consider this single lil old man who decided to DO SOMETHING.Stollehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04407681504873231646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923059639083992977.post-20511004694489353542012-07-14T09:48:00.000-07:002012-07-14T09:48:43.457-07:00The Sub Tub: Be prepared for a substitute teacher<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zXybLZ0N5SBj-emeNvlh52ICr2ZebhtHEwar2ybHoOWhyphenhyphene3wFpyl9wTlHPql1rNtXrV23fGGQa425Ql_t47SvFPv4HfZoYbk79GzNnyEqpM118JqCzMmE3NWEzkv39XyBv5_8H_c6H_p/s1600/subtub1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zXybLZ0N5SBj-emeNvlh52ICr2ZebhtHEwar2ybHoOWhyphenhyphene3wFpyl9wTlHPql1rNtXrV23fGGQa425Ql_t47SvFPv4HfZoYbk79GzNnyEqpM118JqCzMmE3NWEzkv39XyBv5_8H_c6H_p/s320/subtub1.jpg" width="320" /></a>As part of my MCC certification course I was assigned the task of making an organized resource for a substitute. I am a pinterest junkie and I had seen the idea of a sub tub. This is a hanging file folder tub with assignment choices, seating charts, procedures, pictures of where work should be turned in for each class and important locations of supplies etc, classroom rules, a map of the school, important phone numbers and even student pictures (if you feel really creative).<br />
I know that I will have 2 classes this year, 7th grade life science and 8th grade earth science so I needed resources for both preps. <br />
So this is how I went about conquering this task...<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgufu-VnAnfbdeW_htkKsT6EVrsu32BNZUEdDrSaDo83KEd_yOz17QEC0zPUucbBc_1nHQMsLwaAJiyy7GKSnuQGjmvS_q-eEeTA4Ajo48lRVZiHPWC3U4tyJ6ZWs2aXvE2U4ktDpQHRQlF/s1600/subtub2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgufu-VnAnfbdeW_htkKsT6EVrsu32BNZUEdDrSaDo83KEd_yOz17QEC0zPUucbBc_1nHQMsLwaAJiyy7GKSnuQGjmvS_q-eEeTA4Ajo48lRVZiHPWC3U4tyJ6ZWs2aXvE2U4ktDpQHRQlF/s320/subtub2.jpg" width="320" /></a>I began by choosing activities that any sub could handle with little or no science experience--22 for each subject. Yeah, I know that is allot but there is a method to my madness. Every activity in my tub should take about 30 min of class time. Since kids are a bit rambunctious anytime there is a sub, I figured 30 min should be a realistic amount of time for them to spend on a structured activity. For both Earth and Life sciences, there are about 11 brainteaser activities that have nothing to do with science. There are also about 11 content-related activities. I did this because I have no way of knowing what we will be studying anytime that I am absent. <br />
The Tub is organized by folders ordered 1-22. In my filing system L stands for life science and E stands for Earth science. So my tabs read L1, E1, L2, E2 and so on.<br />
I use the CHAMPS behavior method in my classroom to clearly state student expectations.<br />
C-conversation voice level 0-4<br />
H- help, how to get it<br />
A- activity<br />
M-movement, how you can move around the room<br />
P-participation, how to show it<br />
S- SUCCESS!!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipcXOexGoSXidRT-dRtQknaEXcBjm5xGaHODSDPtpKUQN7B19IiwgfOGNwfqvHNBbGFCdNCTf-aBGCGSRexH6f5_0g4CiNjR6wQRkS60IZwER6LdLnaN4hG7Me0Vk2wqEZKRs1yYEq2LJ1/s1600/subtunchamps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipcXOexGoSXidRT-dRtQknaEXcBjm5xGaHODSDPtpKUQN7B19IiwgfOGNwfqvHNBbGFCdNCTf-aBGCGSRexH6f5_0g4CiNjR6wQRkS60IZwER6LdLnaN4hG7Me0Vk2wqEZKRs1yYEq2LJ1/s320/subtunchamps.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Inside all 44 folders there is the activity for that folder plus a substitute information sheet. The sub info sheet includes a warm-up activity for students when they enter the room and the CHAMPS for that activity, how many days that activity should last plus what students should do once they finish the activity.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-2Ae3o2QDeEQ6wFnGTTvoaW7EKJ_Wp47FIxi3FLI7mTlzjFUsFQIff8yK0s5OXDB_9S2Uj8sIQuacjsBhyG8nbo6qUZNAlD4chyyy1q2Cr9XVxvzsapnoFnSlmjyNN2M4mlJwypR6sNXc/s1600/subtubkey1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-2Ae3o2QDeEQ6wFnGTTvoaW7EKJ_Wp47FIxi3FLI7mTlzjFUsFQIff8yK0s5OXDB_9S2Uj8sIQuacjsBhyG8nbo6qUZNAlD4chyyy1q2Cr9XVxvzsapnoFnSlmjyNN2M4mlJwypR6sNXc/s320/subtubkey1.jpg" width="240" /></a>In addition to my sub tub I have a folder that I keep with me at home called my sub tub key. This key has information about what activities are in each folder. For instance I can simply crack open my key and see if there is an activity in-line with what we studied the day before and of not, then I can choose a brainteaser. I then simply tell the sub to use folder E13 and L15. All the work is already done and in my classroom. The sub simply has to make copies and follow the info in the folder. It only took me one evening to put this all together. Not too difficult as long as you know ahead of time how you want to organize it. I still need to get the pics of kids and important places around my classroom together--haven't had access to my room yet. I think this will be a great asset for this upcoming year! Thank you PINTEREST!Stollehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04407681504873231646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923059639083992977.post-35423799779097352292012-07-14T09:00:00.002-07:002013-05-23T06:41:45.159-07:00How to prepare for the Composite Science 8-12 TEXES certification examMy goodness! It has been a while since I have written. It has been a wild few months with some great achievements, a new job, cool training, lots of studying and some awesome experiences. What I feel to be one of my greatest accomplishments is passing the composite science TEXES exam. So, I thought I would take the time to blog about how I prepared for it.<br />
I know that when I was getting ready to take the test, I was a bit discouraged with the lack of reliable resources about how I should prepare.<br />
Let me begin with a bit of background. Everyone will approach this test from difference backgrounds, experience etc. If you are right out of college with a good understanding of Chemistry and Physics as well as basic Biology concepts you may be able to barely pass the exam--but pass none-the-less. However, if you are like me--several years removed from any sort of formal education, you are going to have to work for it. I graduated Baylor in 2003 with a BA in Biology. I had 17+ course hours of bio, about 12 hours of chemistry and 12 hours of physics. I had no college training in geology or astronomy. <br />
After graduation I taught 3 years at a private christian school and taught myself the basics of earth science. During my 3rd year of teaching, I became pregnant and then spent the next 6 years at home raising my sweet babies.<br />
My girls are now 6 and 4 and it is time for this season of my life to change. I began looking into returning to the classroom and I knew that this time around I wanted to teach in the public school system. In order to do this you have to be 'highly qualified" in your field of science--basically this means that you have to have 15 or more college hours in any field you desire to teach. If you have that, you do not have to take the TEXES exam for that content area and you can simply be certified. While I am considered 'highly qualified' in biology I was not in Physics, Chemistry, Astronomy or Geology so I was required to take the exam.<br />
I began by taking a practice exam at my Alt Teacher Certification program office. I BOMBED it. I think I scored like a high 50. The exam is broken down into competencies so from here I knew what I needed to work on. Chem and Physics were weak--I literally remember thinking to myself "Who is 'Avocado' and why is his number important?", LOL!!!! It truly had been 6 years since I had thought about ANYTHING chemistry related.<br />
I began my journey at the local library. Get this--there is this building in your city with thousands and thousands of books. All you have to do is get a card, pick some books and they let you take them home with you for a while FOR FREE! Ok. I know this sounds ridiculous--you know what a library is, right!? But the truth of the matter is this--we are so accustomed to thinking about items in a capitalistic society being for sale that my first thought was, "How am I going to afford all the books that I need to study on a single income budget?". I forgot about libraries. I forgot about that resource and my first instinct was to buy them...WRONG!!!! <br />
So I went to my library's website and I found high-school level text books in Chemistry, Physics, Earth Science and Astronomy. I reserved them and the hubs picked em up for me. I began by reading these books cover to cover. I worked all the examples out on scratch paper and made my own formula sheets to study. I am an active reader and I think this method is a very good one to follow in order to prepare for this test. TAKE NOTES! It is a proven fact that you remember more of what you wrote down....I made sure to note all major concepts and methods in my own words as I was reading the texts. Please, DO NOT simply read without taking notes--you WILL NOT retain all of the material and then when you need to refresh on something you can skim through 20 pgs of notes vs hundreds of pages of text.<br />
After 20+ hours of study time I retook a different practice exam, the one posted online in the TEXES booklet. I STILL bombed it! My score was now in the high 60s but you MUST score 80 or above to pass the actual exam.<br />
I began to freak out! I have always been a strong student. I thought I had prepared well, and I was still not doing so good. What now?<br />
Well, I decided to try out a favorite teaching mantra--work smarter not harder. Youtube and wikipedia became my new best friends. I went thought the TEXES preparation manual line by line and looked at the TEKS. If I came across a concept I didn't have a firm grasp on I looked it up. This worked well for a while. If I found a problem I couldn't work, I posted it on facebook and asked for help. My friends were great! A week later (mind you, i studies every evening for a week for 3-4 hours a day) and I returned to MCC (my teacher certification program school) and retook the first practice exam. I was now in the low to mid 70s. This is when I found the resource of all resources! Brightstorm2 on youtube. They changed my whole studying plan.<br />
They have amazing online resources that are simply like a HS class. There are categories for Physics, Chemistry and Biology. I quickly changed course. I watched EVERY video in each of these categories and actively took notes while watching them. The guy who does the physics videos is really fun to watch!!!<br />
Having taken 3 practice exams I had a firm grasp on what I needed to know:<br />
phases of the moon and its effect on tides<br />
classifications of rocks<br />
rock cycle<br />
interpreting sedimentation<br />
genetics<br />
types of genetic selection<br />
water cycle<br />
types of clouds<br />
weather patterns and formation<br />
atomic structure<br />
radioactivity<br />
decay<br />
ions<br />
how the periodic table is organized<br />
electron shells<br />
stiochiometry<br />
limiting reactions<br />
Mohs hardness<br />
nitrogen cycle<br />
acids and bases<br />
nomenclature<br />
photosynthesis<br />
mitosis<br />
meiosis<br />
sex-linked inheritance<br />
gas laws plus their formulas<br />
...to name just a few.<br />
And I did it! I passed my next practice exam with an 86. I was ready.<br />
<br />
If I could sum this test up into one sentence it would be this:Although there is nothing terribly difficulty on the exam, the sheer breadth of knowledge and content that the exam covers makes it very difficult to know everything that you need to know. It is simply beginner level chem and physics but you also have to know something about every other doctrine of science as well, and you have no clue as to what area of each doctrine you will be asked about, so you simply have to know it all...<br />
With that said, I found that the score on the practice test was a good indicator for actual test performance. Although I left the testing center feeling unsure about my score (I always second guess myself) I scored the exact same score as I did on my last practice test--an 86!<br />
Phew--just thinking about that time spent preparing, relearning and studying makes me drool and then my eye starts twitching....but I am so thankful that it is behind me. <br />
<br />
For those of you with this test looming in your near future, I hope that this helped you in some way. This is not a test you simply walk-in and ace. Not saying that it isn't possible for someone to do that, just that it isn't likely. I have a new-found respect for all HS science teachers!!!<br />
I am exhausted from just writing about this test!<br />
Hope this helps and GOOD LUCK! Feel free to comment with questions!Stollehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04407681504873231646noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923059639083992977.post-34211221548654517242012-04-26T15:57:00.003-07:002012-04-26T15:57:59.452-07:00Help Paint Waco Blue 2013This year's Paint Waco Blue Campaign has been a real learning experience and a successful fundraising campaign for our local Family Abuse Center. To expand the campaign next year I am looking for donors/sponsors who would be willing to purchase pinwheels for one, of not multiple PinWheel gardens next year.<br />
According to the <a href="http://www.pinwheelsforprevention.org/index.php" target="_blank">official Pinwheels for Prevention site</a>:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<strong>Join us in preventing the abuse and neglect of our nation's children by
participating in Pinwheels for Prevention™, Prevent Child Abuse America's
campaign</strong> introducing the pinwheel as the new symbol for child abuse and
neglect prevention nationwide. <br /><br />The pinwheel represents Prevent Child
Abuse America's efforts to change the way our nation thinks about prevention,
focusing on community activities and public policies that prioritize prevention
right from the start to make sure child abuse and neglect never occur.
<br /><br />Nearly 900,000 pinwheels have been displayed since April 2008. Join us
by bringing <b>Pinwheels for Prevention</b> to your community! <br />
</blockquote>
This program is something that I would be very excited to add to our campaign next year. <br />
In addition Paint Waco Blue will be participating in <a href="http://www.preventchildabuse.org/housepartyweekend/resources.shtml" target="_blank">the National House Party Weekend</a> in October. This is a national fundraising program in which the host opens up their home or venue for an event of their choosing. I am planning a Dinner and Games with friends event either at my home or the Erath building. The way funds are raised is that participants are asked to either pay a set cover charge or make a donation to the cause. I have set a $500 goal for Paint Waco Blue.<br />
<br />
Keep brainstorming with me and we can make the 2013 Paint Waco Blue one for the history books!!!<br />
<br />
If you have any questions or ideas please feel free to email me at <a href="mailto:Jeante1te@yahoo.com">Jeante1te@yahoo.com</a>.<br />
<br />
If you are interested in purchasing pinwheels for next years campaign please visit: <a href="https://www.asbaces.com/newaces/(S(3cl142nr0kmgr1z2bmtzdpss))/storefront.aspx?CatalogID=3610&CatalogIndex=0&CategoryID=7407&CategoryIndex=0&PageNumber=1">https://www.asbaces.com/newaces/(S(3cl142nr0kmgr1z2bmtzdpss))/storefront.aspx?CatalogID=3610&CatalogIndex=0&CategoryID=7407&CategoryIndex=0&PageNumber=1</a><br />Stollehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04407681504873231646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923059639083992977.post-58222926095346639042012-04-18T07:18:00.002-07:002012-04-26T16:26:10.217-07:00Tim and the Keith Family: What happened and how to help<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqi4oBie44fZkj_vselutck2DBO_y1YNco5AIzGQu6d-eZHeXqVoc8NYHoqorbCMrWPsP3rtJKd8EgZOMehiWf0dipFrPQaeRQ0Jv79FTk7Csv0LAHcum0mmTTbgsuY8Vpt5TIlraKgoqw/s1600/tim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqi4oBie44fZkj_vselutck2DBO_y1YNco5AIzGQu6d-eZHeXqVoc8NYHoqorbCMrWPsP3rtJKd8EgZOMehiWf0dipFrPQaeRQ0Jv79FTk7Csv0LAHcum0mmTTbgsuY8Vpt5TIlraKgoqw/s320/tim.jpg" width="239" /></a>Many of you have seen information posted on social media sites about lil Tim Keith but the information is choppy and in different locations. I have decided to compile it all here so people can learn about what happened and then how they can help this sweet family.<br />
Joey, Eva and Tim were an integral part of The Church at Tree Lake deaf ministry and family up until just a few months ago when they moved to Washington D.C. They were sorely missed. Just this month the family was met with tragedy. 5 year old Tim was struck by a taxi in New York City as the family was enjoying a vacation. Here is an article that appeared in the New York Daily News:<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>"A deaf 5-year-old boy was fighting for his life after he was mowed down by a cab in Brooklyn — as his horrified parents, who also can’t hear, looked on.</em></span><br />
<a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Timothy+Keith" title="Timothy Keith"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Timothy Keith</em></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>’s mother and father were inconsolable after their first family trip to the city turned to heartbreak Saturday. With tears streaming down her face, Timothy’s mother described what happened in a wrenching written interview.</em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>“I was with my son. The(n) he walk to road. I say NO to him,” wrote </em></span><a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Eva+Keith" title="Eva Keith"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Eva Keith</em></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>, 29, of Washington, D.C.</em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>“I saw taxi yellow so fast. Driver hit my son but my son can’t hear.”</em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>The Keith's and a friend had just left their hotel, a Comfort Inn, and were heading to see the Brooklyn Bridge when tragedy struck.</em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Timothy broke away from his parents and sprinted between parked cars onto Hicks St. in Cobble Hill when a yellow SUV cab hit him about 5 p.m., cops said.</em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>The driver, who stayed at the scene, told cops he couldn’t stop in time. He wasn’t charged.</em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Timothy, who suffered brain damage, was treated at Long Island College Hospital and later transferred to University Hospital of Brooklyn-SUNY Downstate Medical Center.</em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>The parents’ friend, </em></span><a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Brian+Walters" title="Brian Walters"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Brian Walters</em></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>, 24, who also is deaf, wrote that he wasn’t sure the boy would make it.</em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Timothy’s dad, Joseph, 29, had to cut short a written interview because he became too emotional.</em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>“Unexpected,” he wrote."</em></span><br />
<br />
Tim passed away April 17 from his injuries. The family is returning to Texas from New York to lay Tim to rest in Tyler--the city of his birth.<br />
The Church at Tree Lake has set up a paypal account to accept donations to help this family with mounting expenses.<br />
Payments can be made in the following ways:<br />
<br />
• Cash Donations<br />
• Personal Checks<br />
o Written to Church at Tree Lake<br />
o Write “Keith Family” in the memo line<br />
• Online Donation via PayPal<br />
<br />
Online Payment Directions:<br />
• Go to paypal.com<br />
• Open a PayPal account if you have not done so already. The account can be linked to your bank account or a credit card<br />
• Once your account is created select the “send money” tab<br />
• In the email box type <strong>churchattreelake@ATT.net<br />
</strong>• Type in your donation amount<br />
• Select Personal<br />
• Select Gift<br />
• Select continue<br />
• Scroll down to the email to receipt<br />
• In the subject box type “Keith Family”<br />
• Please fill free to include a brief message with you name as well<br />
If you already have a paypal account you can use the button at the bottom of this page to make your donation.<br />
<br />
In addition to the account set up by <a href="http://cbc2.thischurch.org/" target="_blank">The Church at Tree Lake</a> there is another account out of the Washington D.C. area. The website for this fund is <a href="https://everribbon.com/ribbon/view/5982" target="_blank">HERE</a>. This fund is $1230 shy of reaching a $5,000 goal. Both funds benefit Eva and Joseph directly during this time or great sorrow as the medical and burial expenses continue to mount.<br />
<br />
In addition to the paypal and check/cash donations a memorial button has been created at zazzle.com in honor of the life of Tim Keith. Click <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/in_loving_memory_tim_keith_button-145627738283907913" target="_blank">here</a> to view and purchase this button. The zazzle commission earnings of 34% will then be donated by me back to the fund set up by The Church at Tree Lake.<br />
<br />
Funeral arrangements are as follows:<br />
Flowers may be sent for little Tim to Harmon Undertaking Co. at 1112 Palace Ave., Tyler, TX 75702.<br />
<br />
Visitation will be there Monday April 23 6-10 pm and Tuesday 8 am-3 pm.<br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">Graveside services will be Tuesday April 24 at 3:30 pm at the Tyler Memorial Cemetery at 12053 State HWY 64, West Tyler, TX 75704.</span><br />
If you are not able to help this family financially then please please pray. Joey and Eva will need our support even more so in the upcoming weeks and months. No parent should ever have to bury their child, and I cannot even begin to fathom the pain these parents are enduring. Please lift them, and the driver of the taxi, up every chance you get.<br />
<br />
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Timothy Keith 02/03/07 12:02am TO 04/17/12 5:35pm</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif" width="1" /></form>Stollehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04407681504873231646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923059639083992977.post-11256493679606000722012-03-29T17:11:00.008-07:002012-04-03T12:07:29.130-07:00Soft Launch: Paint Waco Blue/April is Child Abuse Awareness month<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuAAcGy5QvvkRfu05ZSH4PQpaofU3xdMVeu-QrExNKn8EVgO3FHWEbMVpF_mhSSxCKlV_S4z_Zvw2eOLYvFAvaiEx3qbXrJozF1ksDrs9SE4mbiwCxvlGOQQtf2Jz6AyX7pCldIlN0vSgx/s1600/child+abuse+ribbon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuAAcGy5QvvkRfu05ZSH4PQpaofU3xdMVeu-QrExNKn8EVgO3FHWEbMVpF_mhSSxCKlV_S4z_Zvw2eOLYvFAvaiEx3qbXrJozF1ksDrs9SE4mbiwCxvlGOQQtf2Jz6AyX7pCldIlN0vSgx/s1600/child+abuse+ribbon.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add this ribbon as you<br />
social media profile pic for<br />
the month of April.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>As many of you know, I am a child abuse survivor. This year I have felt led to organize a grassroots awareness campaign for the Waco area. Most people have heard about Breast Cancer Awareness Month and eagerly wear pink in support of survivors, but very few people know that April is Child Abuse Awareness month (and interestingly enough ALSO my birthday month!). Would you be willing to wear blue this April?<br />
I am calling my efforts: Paint Waco Blue. Since this will be it's first year in existence, we are starting small with the sole goal of increasing awareness of the silent epidemic of child abuse in Waco and the surrounding areas. The campaign will consist of various 'blue' items for purchase, a blue hair extension a new limited edition eye shadow event at The <a href="http://www.dollhousestylingstudio.com/" target="_blank">Dollhouse</a> in Hewitt, a discounted photo shoot from<a href="https://www.facebook.com/#!/HeartisticPhotography" target="_blank"> Heartisitc Photography</a> if you wear blue, and an informative presentation by the Advocacy Center for Crime Victims and Children at the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Erath-bldg/152466854827775" target="_blank">Erath</a> building in China Spring, Texas as well as promotion of various Child Abuse Awareness interviews from Examiner.com.<br />
The items available for purchase include 'Dollface' baby blue limited edition eyeshadow by Kendall Shilling, Blue Hair extensions, and 3 different locally-made embroidered tee shirts by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Nifty-Treasures/245652878802654" target="_blank">Nifty Treasures</a>. All of the tee shirts will be baby blue with dark blue embroidery. The first tee shirt design says "I Am A Child Abuse Survivor" on the front and the back reads "April is Child Abuse Awareness Month". The second tee shirt design reads "I Know A Child Abuse Survivor" and the back reads "April is Child Abuse Awareness Month". Lastly, the third tee shirt design says on the front "Paint Waco Blue" and the back reads "April is Child Abuse Awareness Month". Each vendor selling items is donating a portion of their earnings back to me to purchase copies of my abuse/trauma children's book, <a href="http://www.auntloubooks.weebly.com/" target="_blank">"Why Did This Happen to Me, Aunt Lou"</a> for the <a href="http://www.familyabusecenter.org/" target="_blank">Waco Family Abuse Center.</a><br />
The Photography discount from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/#!/HeartisticPhotography" target="_blank">Heartistic Photography</a> is good for an outdoor shoot during the month of April. Any client who agrees to wear blue for their shoot receives $25 off their session, making the shoot a very resonable price of $100. You can contact Amy Jo via the facebook page linked to in this article to set up your appointment.<br />
The Dollface eyeshadow costs $15 and 10% goes back to purchase books.<br />
The hair extensions are $10.<br />
All tee shirts cost $20 and $5 goes back per shirt to purchase books.<br />
All items are being presold--if you are interested in purchasing any items please contact me at <a href="mailto:Jeanet1te@yahoo.com">Jeanet1te@yahoo.com</a> before April 20. The BIG EVENT takes place all day April 20 at the <a href="http://www.dollhousestylingstudio.com/" target="_blank">Dollhouse</a> at 123 Topeka in Hewitt Texas. Kendall shilling, owner of the salon, will be installing all ordered extensions and filling previously placed orders for the blue eyeshadow. Tee shirts will be ready for pick-up at the salon event as well. There will also be BLUE cupcakes and other fun refreshments. Our goal is to blanket Waco and the surrounding areas with as much blue as possible to get people asking "WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH ALL THE BLUE?!?!". One of the first and most important steps against fighting child abuse is communication. If people start talking about child abuse, it could possibly give a child the opportunity to reach out for help.<br />
The final event for Paint Waco Blue will take place April 27 at the<a href="https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Erath-bldg/152466854827775" target="_blank"> Erath</a> Building in China Spring Texas. STREAMS, a stay at home mom's Bible study group, will be hosting an informational meeting open to the public presented by The Advocacy Center for Crime Victims and Children about child abuse, the warning signs and the rights of parents. The event will take place during the normal <a href="https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/streamsjourney/" target="_blank">STREAMS</a> meeting time which begins at 10am. The meeting should last about an hour and a half, childcare is available (a small donation will be gathered for our childcare provider) and a light lunch will be provided afterwards.<br />
It is a small start but a start none-the-less. If you would like to coordinate with us on any event, have an event idea, or provide an item for sale please don't hesitate to contact me! Help me bring awareness to this uncomfortable but important issue!<br />
<br />
To purchase items via paypal click <a href="http://auntloubooks.weebly.com/paint-waco-blue.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br />
<br />
Links to interviews:<br />
<a href="http://www.examiner.com/child-care-in-waco/child-abuse-awareness-interview-with-judy-powers" target="_blank">Interview with Judy Powers</a><br />
<a href="http://www.examiner.com/child-care-in-waco/child-abuse-awareness-interview-with-sierra-sullivan-of-dreamcatchers" target="_blank">Interview with Sierra Sullivan</a><br />
<a href="http://www.examiner.com/child-care-in-waco/child-abuse-awareness-interview-with-star" target="_blank">Interview with Star</a><br />
<a href="http://www.examiner.com/child-care-in-waco/child-abuse-awareness-interview-with-velvet-martin" target="_blank">Interview with Velvet Martin</a><br />
<a href="http://www.examiner.com/child-care-in-waco/child-abuse-awareness-an-interview-with-elizabeth-brawley" target="_blank">Interview with Elizabeth Brawley</a><br />
<a href="http://www.examiner.com/child-care-in-waco/child-abuse-awareness-interview-with-julie-federico" target="_blank">Interview with Julie Federico</a><br />
<a href="http://www.examiner.com/child-care-in-waco/child-abuse-awareness-with-anita-e-wladichuk" target="_blank">Interview with Anita Wladichuck</a>Stollehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04407681504873231646noreply@blogger.com0