Another Morning At The Paparazzo's

My kids are getting ready for school. Jeremiah has a field trip today, so he was excited to see what was in his sack lunch that dad made for him last night. He did such a good job that Chloe tried to convince me to make one for her. Thankfully they're all feeling better today, so they will all be going to school. Angela and Chloe stayed home yesterday.

My Little Bible Scholars

Well, Jeremiah and Angela had their AWANA Awards Ceremony last night. Angela got her first book award for T&T. She was a Sparkie last year. This is her first year as a T&T. She had to say 93 verses from memory to complete her first book. There were other activities as well. Like learning the order of the books of the bible and learning many other things about the bible. They do try to make sure they understand what they're reading, so it can absorb into their little hearts and minds. It is a big month or so for Angela spiritually. She met with our pastor today and will be being baptized on Mother's Day, May 9th! Pastor Kim says she is very intelligent in her knowledge of the bible! I've never been more proud! Jeremiah missed a lot of AWANA this year because of a very busy year with the Boy Scouts. He only memorized 6 verses. I had to tease him that I memorized more verses this year than he did. It always amazes me what their little minds can absorb. So much more than mine can at this time in my life. I certainly couldn't memorize 93 verses in a year! Now they have a lot of God's Word hidden in their hearts and there will be more next year!

Genesis 2:21-22

Genesis 2:21-22

So the LORD God caused the madn to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, He took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib He had taken out of the man, and He brought her to the man.

Do you think God had Adam's consent to do this surgery? I don't think He even asked if he wanted it. Maybe Adam didn't really want a woman? I know plenty of men who don't. Okay, I'm obviously in a strange mood. I hope you all can tell I'm not serious. Just things that popped into my head while reading this. And doctor's think they've done some amazing surgeries in their time! Ha!! Trying making a woman out of a man's rib?! Now, that's impressive!

Sex Education

Well, my kids will be home in a few minutes. I've been reading today about sex education programs. I'm shocked at the statistics and the lies I've believed, because no one in my family talked to me about these things, and sex education at school doesn't cover much or at least it didn't when I was in school. We didn't even really have sex education, per se. It was just part of our regular health class curriculum and then it was just basic facts. So, they told us about the risk of STD's and pregnancy. Nobody ever told me about the emotional risk and now I am suffering to this day, because of what I didn't know. I never had a kid before I was married, no abortions, and I have no STD's (That in itself is a miracle.), but I have suffered from a severe lack of self-worth. I had no respect for myself and it got it got less and less with each partner, until I didn't feel like I had anything left anymore. If you get nothing else from this blog post, teach your kids that abstinence is their only choice.

Another Ball Game

Well, Jeremiah lost his second game. He played well, though. He played second base and caught the ball and threw it to first for an out. He did strike out twice, but then got walked his third trip to the plate. He tried to scoop off of first base when the next kid got up to bat and the pitcher threw the ball to first base. He didn't make it back in time. It looked like he might have made it, but they called it out. It was close, but you can't argue with the umpire. And the ball hit his ankle when he was diving for the base and he got a nice bruise. He's laying on the couch with his dinner, and an ice pack. Yes, I'm letting him eat on the couch which I normally don't let them do. They are watching The Night At The Museum 2. Yes, I'm spoiling them for a couple of hours! It's my favorite part of parenting, getting to treat them. I think they think that punishing them is my favorite thing, but it's really not as I'm sure all you parents out there know.

A Fun Weekend

Well, we had a great time at the event I had previously thought was called Sing For Life. Actually, it was A Marathon Of Praise. It was wonderful. I spent many hours praising the Lord, while my girls ran around a fairly large and fun church with lots of hiding places. It was held by CareNet of the Palouse. They even provided lunch and dinner for a small donation. I had some of the best Tri Tip I've ever eaten! The guy that provided it has his own special recipe. It started out with very quiet music in the morning and got louder and louder to the way I like it by the end! I know worshipping God is not about emotions, but I like it when the music touches my heart. I knew Chloe could not be in Sunday School with her runny nose, so I stayed home with her this morning while Josh took the other 2 to church. I figured I had an entire day of worship and fellowship, he probably needed it more than I did.

A Busy Saturday

Well, so far the CareNet Sing For Life hasn't been very fun. Just a very formal church choir. Couldn't really sing along with them. We're hoping later their will be some fun praise bands with music we can actually praise along with them. The kids and I all got new free shirts and the kids got balloons. Now, I'm home making some lunch for me and Chloe. Angela's at a pizza party with the T&T AWANA girls. Jeremiah's with his daddy in Pullman for a Scout promotion thingie. So, it's just me and Chloe having macaroni and cheese.

Plans Changed A Little Today

We ended up not going to CR tonight because of Chloe's allergies. She showed signs that she might be developping an infection, so I decided to play it safe and not irritate a whole lot of parents. Anyway, hopefully we'll be able to go to Sing For Life tomorrow.

Getting Ready For School

I'm half listening to my daughter read while reading other people's blogs and, of course, now, working on my own blog. It is almost time for them to leave for school. I let the kids check out books at the library yesterday. At least Angela and Chloe did. Jeremiah was at baseball practice. Hopefully soon we'll be able to get him a library book soon. Chloe's staying home from school again, cause of her allergies and she had a headache last night. She's still asleep, so I'm going to leave her that way. We have a busy weekend ahead of us. Angela has a party to go to with the T&T girls from AWANA. Also tomorrow is Sing For Life, a fundraiser for our local crisis pregnancy center. It starts at 10 in the morning and goes until 10 at night. We'll probably drop in from time to time. We won't stay all day. We'll find out tonight when the Celebrate Recovery band is performing and do our best to be there at that time. Otherwise, it's just a typical Friday at the Paparazzo home.

Genesis 2:19-20

Genesis 2:19-20



Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found.

Did you ever wonder how Adam came up with the names for the animals? Won't that be a fascinating conversation when we get to heaven? What made you name the horse a horse, etc., etc.? You know asking him all sorts of questions about what was going through his head when he was naming them. I think it will be very fun! And what language did he originally name them in? Was it Hebrew or maybe a language we no longer have in our world.It will be very interesting.

A Lost Game

Well, Jeremiah had his first loss of the season tonight. Only by one point, though. Again, he got stuck in the outfield and saw no action. Struck out at bat. I wasn't there, but this is the report I got when he came home. I'm sure he'll improve. He has slumps once in a while. Who doesn't! I just hope he doesn't get stuck in the outfield all season like he did two years ago. He's perfectly capable of playing in the infield. He proved that last year and he proved that at one of their scrimmages already. Oh, well. Hopefully, he'll still get his shot!

Allergies and Bible Study

Right now my allergies are driving me nuts. My sinuses are burning! I need to take a pill and get ready for bible study. I'd do a serious post, but I don't have time.

Marital Bliss

Wow, it's been gorgeous around here! Even my allergies haven't really been bad enough to shake the fairly good mood I'm in today! Although, I've sneezed a lot and had itchy eyes and stuffy nose quite frequently. I must be getting used to it. I was surprised today when my husband called me in the middle of the day and asked if I'd like to take a walk. What amazes me about this is that after almost 13 years of marriage my husband genuinely wants to be with me. There was nothing pressing he needed to talk to me about. He wasn't just hungry and didn't want to eat alone. It wasn't really a special occasion. He just wanted to be with me for an hour with no kids to bother us. No one else in my family has that kind of relationship. After only a few years of marriage they seem to just fall into a routine. Not Josh and I. We've probably had more trauma than most intact marriages that I know and yet we still like each other. Through all of my cycles in and out of depression, including hospitalization and two trips to the ER due to my suicidal tendencies, constant interruptions at work when I'm in one of my "cycles", he still wants to be with me. We've had constant financial stress. Never able to just go out for coffee without much thought even, and yet we like each other. We don't just love each other. We don't just occasionally need to get in the sack with each other. We really genuinely like each other, if you know what I mean. We seem to have an understanding of each other, despite our quirks, that no one else has of either of us. I don't think either one of us could explain it to anyone if we tried. I guess that's what 13 years of seeking God together, raising children to love God together, and being determined to make our relationship work does for you. I think most people if they choose to really engage with their spouse in these pursuits would probably experience the same thing. I think most people just give up after a while. In our marriage when one (usually me) was about to give up, the other one was still determined to have a strong Christian marriage and wouldn't give up on the other. It's what's saved our marriage countless times and we've come to understand each other at some level that I can't explain. Now, I have not naive enough to think we will continue for the rest of our lives in marital bliss. I know plenty of challenges will come our way in the future, but for now (and I hope forever) I will just hang on to the fact that my husband still likes me!

A Disappointing Game For My Son

Well, Jeremiah's new baseball team, the Mariners, Moscow Mariners, not Seattle Mariner, obviously, remain undefeated, after their first game today. It was beautiful and sunny, and the boys won, 3 to 2. A very low scoring game. The result of two very skilled Cal Ripken teams. Jeremiah didn't get to play a lot. He was in left field after being promised a shot at the pitcher's mound, and no balls came his way. I think the close game caused the coaches to decide to put in their more experienced and more consistent pitchers in instead. Jeremiah was obviously upset afterward. I told him, he should be happy. His team won. There will be more games. The season has barely started. I don't think it helped that his first and only chance at bat, he struck out. He went down swinging, though. If you're going to go down, that's the way to do it. It didn't seem like he was into it really when he was up, though. Not his normal self. I think he was still bummed that they opted to put his fellow church friend and teammate, now for 2 years in a row, on the mound, instead. Brock did a great job and I hope he will be happy for him once he gets over his own disappointment. I have no doubt there will be other chances for him to find his place on the pitcher's mound. In the meantime, there are nine players out there and he needs to get his head in the game and realize he still has his part to play and he needs to play it with everything he has.

Sick Kids

Chloe is home sick from school. Jeremiah should have been, just like he should have been yesterday. Yesterday, he had a Boy Scout event he wanted to attend with his daddy running it, and knew he couldn't if he didn't go to school. Today and tomorrow and Saturday he has baseball that he never wants to miss! He's actually sicker than Chloe I think, but refuses to stay home. The child is going to have to be rolled out of here on a stretcher before he sits still!

Morning Randomness

Well, Jeremiah woke up hacking up a lung. Hopefully he'll still be able to go to school. I gave him some Benadryl this morning, hoping that will help. We'll see. It was real cold this morning. The heat got turned down real low last night, so we all woke up freezing.

Allergies (Probably)

Well, I made it to bible study today. Jeremiah came home from his Boy Scout Troop meeting tonight sounding miserable and asking for cold medicine, though. Hopefully it's just allergies and he'll feel better in the morning. If he's developed allergies, though, that means we have to spend even more money on allergy medicine this spring and summer! I already know we're going to have to get Chloe something stronger than Zyrtec or Claritin. Maybe those will work for Jeremiah. Here's hoping.

Angela's Hockey Awards Ceremony

Well, we finally had the Hockey Awards Ceremony last night. Angela got a certificate for participation. Her coach said his favorite thing about her is that she always has a smile on her face. He likes her smile. So do I! She has a beautiful smile! She also got a hockey scrunchie. It's pink with blue crossed sticks and a hockey puck in the middle. Then, we had brownies and ice cream. That would be the kids favorite part of the whole thing! Angela seemed to enjoy it. She was the center of attention in our family for a while and the ham that she is that's how she likes it!

Genesis 2:18

Genesis 2:18

The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."

I realize that in this case the "suitable helper" God was preparing to create for Adam would be his wife, Eve. But I think, in general, if you think about it, we weren't made to live our lives out in isolation. Much as some of us would like to be, we are not an island. We need each other. We need relationships. Real relationships, not the kind where we pretend to be perfect and have our lives all together. Let's admit it, none of us have it all together. None of us are living our lives perfectly. So, since we all know this, let's be real with each other and love each other through it.

Sickness

I've had a really bad headache off and on since Friday, and got up this morning and had aches and pains all over. Didn't think anything of it, so I went to church. Now, I'm wondering if I'm getting sick. Ugh! I might have a mild flu or something.

Jeremiah Places Fourth In Open Class

Okay, so I was wrong. Jeremiah actually did compete in the open class and he placed 4th! Yay, Jeremiah!

Boy Scout Camp, Here He Comes

Well, it's a lazy Saturday. At least for me and the girls. Josh and Jeremiah are at the District Pinewood Derby. Josh is running it and Jeremiah is selling honey. Hopefully he'll be able to sell enough to go to camp this summer with the rest of his Troop. Of course, he'll be there anyway, but if he doesn't earn the money he won't be able to stay in the camper area with the rest of his Troop or participate in all of the activities. He'll just remain the son of the camp Director. But I am sure he'll raise the money in time.

Silly Angela

My silly daughter, Angela, is doing a very silly dance to the gospel music playing on my computer right now and lip syncing. You should see her. I wish I had a video camera. She's very silly!

My Struggle With Major Depressive Disorder

It's amazing how quickly moods change. And it's sickening. I hate suffering from Major Depressive Disorder. I seem to never know when something might set me off and when it does I have no control over it. Even sometimes as I'm typing or yelling or doing whatever awful thing I'm doing, I'm telling myself, "Shellie, this is ridiculous, stop!" And yet, even though I am consciously telling myself this I'm still ranting and raving! I don't get it, I know as much as they pretend to, doctors don't get it. Pastors don't even get it. I'm pretty convinced that only God gets it. Thank goodness I have a relationship with Him and know that even when I've screwed up all my relationships, He still loves me. I'm just wondering when He's going to tell me what's going on and what I can do to fix it. What I can feasibly do, not what I could do if I lived somewhere where I could get affordable Godly counseling and many other resources.

Genesis 2:15-17

Genesis 2:15-17



The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil for when you eat of it you will surely die."

Since we know the rest of the story (which we will go over at a later date), I think we should focus on this and realize when God denies us something He is only trying to protect us. And see how very many other better things He has given us. One thing that our culture sees as a denial is (at this point I should warn you not to let your children read this) is sex with anyone we want, at any time we want. I have recently had to face this challenge of teaching this to my children from a biblical perspective. And them facing the possibility of being teased and us, as parents, being criticized, for choosing not to let my children participate in the secular sex ed classes at their public charter school. Even other Christians might criticize me for this, which amazes me. They say I cannot count on my children making the best choice, so I must teach them other options. I disagree with this. Do I worry that my son (the one who's class is doing this) or my daughters, when their time comes, will make the wrong decision? Of course, I do, but my faith is #1 and I have faith that they will make the right choices and the responsibility to teach them in a way that is biblical. If I do my job wrong, then both of us will be in the wrong if they make the wrong choice. If I teach them right and they make the wrong choice, then they will suffer the consequences. They will suffer the consequences either way, but if I teach them right at least I know I did what was best for my children. I am not opposed to sex ed, just the way that it is taught in the public schools. The things that are acceptable to them, that are not acceptable to our God. Also, if they make the wrong choices in this area, I know for a fact there is forgiveness. I myself have received this forgiveness, and God has changed me. I still suffer many (mostly emontional) consequences of my behavior though. That is what I am doing my best to help my children to avoid. I believe that my children will make the right choice. My older two have already begun making some decisions in this area. It's important to teach them about these things before the hormones start raging! Mine raged early, before most people begin talking about these things, so I chose to teach my children sooner, rather than later, although Angela's education is limited. Jeremiah knows everything that he will need to know to get through his teenage years when he is expected to remain celebate. Angela knows just enough that she won't freak out like I did when her body starts doing "strange" things. Wow! That was loaded! Especially since I got into a subject that was not even mentioned specifically in this passage. It was just on my heart, because I just had to write a note telling Jeremiah's teacher that we do not want him to participate in these classes.

Another thing I notice in this passage that I would like to point out is that this is before the fall, and notice that He ordained work. Work is not a curse. The "weeds" of work are what is part of the curse! The struggles between people and I'm sure you all could name a few other "weeds" involved in your work that are probably a result of the curse. Of course, gardeners and farmers deal with literal weeds. I choose not to garden or farm, so the only thing from gardens and farms I suffer from is pollen! Oh, and dust, and smoke when they burn their fields! I'd like to know a few curses you have experienced at work? Hint: They're usually a result of sin.

He Is Risen!

Well, it's Easter morning. We'll be going to church to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ in just a few minutes. It's my favorite holiday, because as far as I'm concerned, Easter is the only reason we have to celebrate anything at all!

Yesterday we gave our children their Easter baskets. Chloe got one with a couple of stuffed bunnies. She's got a collection going of stuffed bunnies and expects one every year! Angela got a little backpack and wallet and some makeup and nail stuff. Jeremiah got a bunch of cars. Some of them were actually trucks and one motorcycle. Then, we went Easter egg hunting at East City Park and the University of Idaho. They had great fun. They received little bags with some Webkins from their grandma (my mom). Chloe got a lamb, Angela a turtle with flowers on it's shell, and Jeremiah a spotted frog. They are stuffed animals that are attached to a very popular website where they can build each of their Webkins' their own home and gardens and things. They have to feed them everyday. I usually get to keep the stuffed animals because it's really the website they care about. Not these one's though. They're soft and cuddly, so they like them. But we all know the real reason for Easter, right? Now I do expect a response to this! HE IS RISEN!

Thank You

Thank you for letting me know ya'll are still out there. I only post something about not getting comments by the time that there are no comments for an entire page of posts. I know sometimes there is nothing to say. I don't expect to get comments on every one of my posts, just one every now and again is nice. So I know ya'll are still reading.

Understandably No Comments

Either everyone's completely quit reading my blog (understandably) or you just don't want to comment. Also, understandable.

No More Emotions (or so I wish)

I know I'm not supposed to post negative feelings on my blog, even though this is the only outlet with other human beings I have since my issues are too big for anyone other than a professional and there are no decent Christian professionals in this area to help me, plus I wouldn't be able to afford one if there were any. I just found out that we're losing our car insurance cause between the two of us, too many accidents and tickets. Then, we also got a letter from our landlords telling us too basically fix up our place or get out (in not so many words), so now I've gone from no money to even less money. It's pretty bad when you can't even shop at Salvation Army most of the time, you're so broke, even when you need clothes. I'm just trying to quit feeling anything and forget about freedom in Christ or having healthy relationships or anything. I don't get to have anything more than going through the motions, so I'm going to go back to doing that, so I can get through life. I was doing well with that for a couple of years. Then, I did Beth Moore's Believing God study. It made me realize how messed up I was and made me want to be free. I should have known that would have never happened for me. Hope is a terrible thing. It's death to me.