People Who Don't Believe in God

Today Callie whispers to me, "My friend X says she doesn't think [our mutual friend] believes in God."

And do you know what Catholic me said?

"So what?"

Then I asked her what she thought of this person. She said she is a very nice person. She's a good mom.

I asked her if she remembered some of the times that Christians have been mean. Of course she remembers.

Then I got to drive home the point that we are all sinners, we are all just trying to be better people and get along and we often stumble but that just because someone does not believe in God we don't stay away from them.

Their un-Godness won't rub off on us, and we don't try to convert them to our point of view. I happen to really like this person, and her husband, who I believe is agnostic or maybe even atheist. I'm not sure, and I don't care. We sit around and trade homeschooling info and I consider these people to be our friends.

I want my kids to be able to hang out with all sorts of people.

Great Aunt Eva's little dolls. Funny how there are 3 boys and 2 girls like I have now!

*Sidenote: just because I DON'T handle you, doesn't mean I CAN'T ... I'm just trying to be nice and get along. Although I am considering making this coming summer the Summer of Handling People's BS on the Spot. I have a lot of trouble reconciling the Old Testament eye for an eye with the New Testament turn the other cheek. Am I the only one who is bipolar about this?

Endometritis After Childbirth

Okay, so this is a picture of me in October of 2009, about a WEEK after giving birth to my 5th child, Samuel. The poor wittle guy took a week-long trip to the NICU for meconium aspiration (story here) and I just was not losing weight.

I mean, you are supposed to lose SOME weight after you squeeze a 7-ish-pound baby out of you, right? Then there's the placenta and all that goo.  But I was losing NADA and my ankles were getting more swollen. It was freaky.

So I finally went to the doctor because I had all these other symptoms both before and after birth that were puzzling me and making me feel like crap. I really don't think he knew what it was, but he diagnosed me with ENDOMETRITIS (not endometriosis), gave me an antibiotic and I was dropping weight and feeling better within 24 hours.

So if you are feeling crappy after childbirth, please don't ignore it and call it plain old postpartum junk. Please go see your doctor, for me!

And no, this is not an April Fool's post!

Happy Easter & All Natural Jelly Beans

Yeah, I'm kind of hooked on Trader Joe's after one visit. Well, I went in 2002 in Scottsdale, Arizona but could not fully appreciate it then. Now I realize what an incredible array of stuff they have. Sweet potato fries! Quinoa chips! Oh, that smooth and creamy hummus!

On a lark I picked up these all natural jelly beans. I have friends who swear their kids act like total heathens when they eat food dyes. And I'm like, um, okay, but your kids act the same when they don't eat food dyes! Anyway, moving on because we are all entitled to our opinion and I am no Perfect Parent ...

... so on a day when I had a few extra kids around I whipped these out so I could get some work done. My daughter proceeded to play Easter Bunny, fill eggs and pass them out.

And I am happy to report the children (some of whom were not mine, mind you, so they were in the Control Group) were all calm and kind and sweet and did not run around like heathens.

Yeah, right.

Happy Easter!

Weight Loss Buddies

I am a contradiction, I know.

I like to be around people but I also like to be alone.

I like to sneak into my Weight Watchers and sit in the back of the room.

This morning I was standing in line and heard, "Kerrie, is that you?" I dreaded turning around.

But it was someone I know and like! [I know it's not AA, but I won't "out" her unless she wants me to.]

I didn't know how she felt about being alone at meetings, so I asked her if she'd like to sit with me.

We sat next to each other and laughed and shared ideas. We talked for 1/2 hour after the meeting. It felt weird since for so many years I always feel like I have to get right home to my littles.

Just like how I met a fellow published writer at an Easter egg hunt yesterday and that felt cool, it was nice to see someone I know in Weight Watchers, sharing my struggle and encouraging me.

I think we all need someone like that, someone to tell us they ate all of their weekly 49 points in one sitting last night when stressed or sad. Someone we can relate to. Then the next week they might tell us how excited they are that they worked out every day and lost a pound ... or even a fraction of a pound.

With Easter coming up I was feeling crummy and not in control. She told me how great I was doing and how far I had come in the last 6 months.

So this is a shout-out to my new weight loss buddy. I think I'll try to start attending the same meetings she does. This blog post is her warning so she can switch if she doesn't like to be stalked.

Thomas the Tank Engine Lunchbox and Pez Dispensers

This is Sam. His Tutu (grandma in Hawaiian and no, we are not Hawaiian; my mom just likes Hawaii) gave him money for Easter.

I used his money to buy him this Thomas lunchbox with 4 Thomas Pez dispensers in it. I also got him a Plants vs. Zombies T-shirt because he likes to watch his siblings play that game.

Anyway, thank you from Samuel, Tutu. We appreciate you and love you and you are wonderful.

And no, Sam is not wearing any pants.