Ramdom stuff

We are so lucky... what I think every time a bald eagle flies overhead when we're at the pool. We probably go once a week, which isn't as much as I'd like. But with seven kids, and only two of them being proficient swimmers, and two decent bobbers, and the other three likely to sink like rocks, I can't go outmanned. So we go when Dad can come with us.

I'm so excited, I hope it works out. An adapted class for "advanced" (able to swim at least 25 yards) was listed at one of our local pools! While the three pools nearest to us always have swim classes and such, I've never seen a special needs course like this in the catalog. It specifically states this class would be ideal for those interested in participating in Special Olympics... and this gives me hope that we'll be able to help him fulfill his maximum potential. When the registration went live early this morning he was the first one enrolled. The class maximum is 5, so I pray enough students will enroll so it won't be canceled.

I'm conflicted, as the girls have not gotten their room cleaned. They had all summer to prove they could do it, but it's not happening. I won't allow them to continue with dance unless they step up and clean up after themselves in there. So I'm sitting on my hands to keep myself from enrolling them into the dance classes of their choice. The deadline for returning student preferential treatment has passed. This means they might not get in if enough new folks take up their slots. Classes don't start till after Labor Day, so they probably figure they've got plenty of time. I'm rather torn over this. Dance requires a lot of driving back and forth, and killing time always ends up costing us money. Dance tuition in and of itself is very cheap, but it's the coffee or Slurpee stops, trips to the local stores (some we would have done anyhow, but still)... and just waiting in the car in the dark winter months that I would be happy to do without. However, recital (if we're still here at that time next year) is so rewarding! Consequences is a very important lesson to learn in life, better early than later.

"I can't stand loosing," was the chorus line that came on the radio this morning as I started the car to head to speech and OT. It was timely in that I had just admitted to the kids that mommy is kind of competitive and I wanted to get there a bit early so we could get a good parking spot. It makes my life a little easier if I only have to drag all the little folks a short 25 feet to the front door, verses 25-50 yards. My eldest daughter began to chide me about trying to beat the other moms to the good spot. She said it wasn't nice... and my snarky retort was, "it's not like I verbally rub it in when I can get there first. It's not about nice, it's about survival" and I might have added "of the fittest." So when the song came on, it just seemed a little bit fitting. Yes, today I got the really good spot, right in front of the door, AND there were actually two empty spots right next to each other, so I was able to pull in very easily and didn't have to jockey my big van into position. I fold in my mirrors so I'm not taking up more space than the lines allot. I've had plenty of days were I am the big looser in the parking lot, and you live and learn.

Apples and oranges need not be compared. A human is the most sacred of all creation because we're made in the image of God. Animals are also precious creations, to be cared for and respected. However, they are not equal. We are called to be good stewards of the earth and all that's in it. We aren't suppose to hunt lions for sport, but surely only out of self defense or for game (if a lion made good eating I suppose). However, it bears repeating, a lion is not as important as a human, especially the most innocent humans, who are in essentially most whole and wonderfully made in the image of the supreme Being. The unspeakable is being shown and spoken. If you love the lion because he's God's creation, you must love human life even more, for man is God's chosen creation for salvation.

In my mind comparisons of all sorts fail when trying to contrast the taking of innocent lives with other issues. There can be no other issue more important. Yet, folks will try to draw parallels in order to downplay the severity of the sin of the matter, and thus justify abortion. In turn, sometimes folks will seem to care more about another lesser cause than the more severe injustices. Case in point (as previously mentioned by a dear friend) abortion as a women's right verses infant circumcision and the parent's right to choose. Indeed they are both law given "rights" decided by the parent on behalf of the child. One is far more severe than the other and deserves a much greater level of scrutiny. Abortion takes away his entire anatomy and thus life, where as elective circumcision takes away the child's future autonomy over a small part of his anatomy and does not usually (though in rare instances it has) end his life. I feel pretty strongly that the child's healthy (unless diseased in some way) anatomy and autonomy should be maintained intact and whole entirely. So that the taking of the life... or the lesser significant piece of anatomy would remain a decision best left to the individual himself. Protecting the child's future bodily autonomy is my job. I'm to preserve and nourish my children and seek to destroy nothing of his God given attributes. I should take neither his life nor make irreversible alterations to his divine design. However, it's obvious and infinitely more important that above all the decision in regards to the child's life ought to left up to the Creator, and is more important than the lesser issue; that is not to intended destroy him, but does removed a part of him irreparably.  It's out of respect for God's creation that I personally appose both abortion and circumcision... as well as the dispatching of animals for no useful reason. But I appose them at different levels of intensity, to match the measure of importance. Does that make any sense? It's beyond late.