Cool or Creepy?

I like checking the stats on our blog occasionally.
Apparently, our blog getting popular in some foreign countries that Joseph and I have never been to. (Brasil isn't included, Joseph served his mission there, we know who could be reading from Brasil)
 Here are a couple screen shots, while this slightly creeps me out, it's also kind of cool. But I do have absolute control over what is posted here, so it's alright.

(Click to view larger)

It went down like this... (short story style)

(This is the true story, thanks for your comments, and as you read you will notice that I incorporated all of them into my little story, look for them)

It was a chilly morning and in the slight breeze fog hung thick. As we departed for our journey that day we knew we would arrive our destination with time to spare, we had plenty of time and we had everything we would need. Little did we know the events that would unfold on our way. The trip started out well enough, my handsome companion Joseph and I were alone, and enjoying our time together. Julius (our car) kept us warm, comfortable and entertained us by playing lovely tunes, a soundtrack for our jaunt to Spokane (my birthplace). We were heading to see a magic man, called a neurologist, who looks at brains.

Remember the fog? Fog is a funny fellow, he loves to play tricks on us poor mortals, you know. He would tease, and leave for moments just to return to us full and thick the next. His best trick though is to persuade you to think you are moving slow when in fact if you aren't careful you could accidentally engage warp speed and miss your destination completely, or leave the planet entirely. Luckily, that was not the case with us, however we were traveling much faster than that of the posted speed limit signs. (And in the right direction, we didn't get lost.) I looked down, and discovered my error, but it was too late, curse you fog!

Without my knowledge a police officer had clocked me doing 81 in a 70. He turned on his spinning red, white, and blue lights, signaling me to pull over to the side of the road. I did so. This short, round, kind faced man approached my window and checked my papers (you know insurance, registration, license). He left and went back to his squad car. I was upset, can you blame me, really? The magic man only waits so long and if we were late he may not see us. The officer noticed my distress.... I must stop to explain that there was no crying, wailing or gnashing of teeth present from myself. However the officer was so moved at my demeanor that he called another officer to join us.

The man that came was a tall, and slender man with a very large hat. He approached my window much like the round man, and he asked if I would exit the vehicle and speak to him. I did. He was so very sweet, I was led to stand beside him out behind our car, on the side of a cold and long highway. Things then unexpectedly took a serious turn that held me in complete surprise, apparently my emotional response to the first officer alarmed him so much that it must have seemed necessary for this conversation (or something very close) to take place :

"I wanted to talk to you and make sure that you are doing okay, I was informed that you were pretty upset when you were pulled over. Are you doing okay?"
"Yes, I am fine."
"Are things going alright? Are you in a fight or something? Does your husband ever hurt you?"
Shock and bewilderment hit me, full force. And must have read on my face as I responded,
"What? No. Never. My husband is wonderful and wouldn't ever do anything to hurt me.
"Well we just wanted to check and make sure you didn't need help or anything."
"Thank you I appreciate it, I was just upset about being pulled over."
"So, where are you guys headed?"
"We are headed to see a nuerologist in Spokane."
"A nuerologist huh, so why are you seeing a nuerologist in Spokane?"
"My husband has MS and has had a recently had a flare up and he needs to see this nuerologist, who specializes in treating MS"
"Wow, MS that must be upsetting for you"
"Yes. sir."
"And that must be pretty tough to deal with."
"Yes, yes it really is."
"Now that we know what is going on, you are free to wait inside your vehicle." "Thank you, Officer."

Shortly after this conversation, and after rejoining my loving, albeit worried husband in the car, the round officer approached my window. He took pity on us in our situation, and gave me a ticket for going 75+, thus reducing the fine by $50. (And just so you know, I have already paid my ticket,my first real ticket -that wasn't totally bogus! Seeing as how I obviously earned it.) We continued on our way at a much slower pace, as you can imagine. That little stop cost us 30 minutes,and $93. If it weren't for a handy cell phone, we wouldn't have bean able to call the office of the magic man, and let them know we were going to be late.

Following all of this, we did indeed make it to see the neurologist, and had a productive appointment with him. You should know that Spokane is a busy place, with many one way streets, but for a talented driver like myself and no immediate need for crazy turns, donuts or swirly maneuvers, we found our destination, and also a cute Italian restaurant in which to dine and toast our birthday. Then off to DQ where we got caught up eating ice cream, because it is the best treat in the whole world.

-S

(comments please on my awesome story!)

"For this child I have prayed..."

By Sherilyn Clarke Stinson

(I pulled out some thoughts from this 13-page article to share with you all- Thanks Lindsey!)

As Latter-day saints, we place tremendous importance on families. We believe the psalmist who proclaimed"Children are an heritage of the Lord.. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them." From girlhood, women are taught that motherhood is the greatest career, most assume that one need only be obedient to obtain the blessing of parenthood.

The experiences of LDS couples and fertility usually include:

Isolation and Alienation: couples experiencing infertility often feel uncomfortable in ward and family activities, feeling that they don't fit in. Baby blessings, Mother's day programs, and even some relief society lessons can be very painful.

Marital Stress: the pressures of trying to create a family, combined with grief and loss issues related to infertility create stress within a marriage. A couple has the opportunity to pull together of pull apart.
Role Identity and Self Esteem: one researcher identifies infertility as a "catastrophic role failure for women" Although father hood is a role most of our priesthood brethren look forward to, men generally define themselves according to their careers and priesthood duties.

Gender Differences: Wives may express grief, husbands often manifest bewilderment. His wife is hurting and he doesn't know how to fix it. Socialized to be the protector/fixer, he may have a tendancy to look for practical solutions and attitudes. Wanting only to be held and consoled, his wife may misinterpret his best efforts as a lack of feeling.

Grief and Loss: Grief and loss are a very real part of infertility. It is the loss of a dream. couples often submit themselves to great discomfort, great expense, and tremendous emotional risk with each procedure. Each failure can be devastating, but often few are aware of their loss. Because infertility is so intensely private, well-meaning friends and family may feel frustration not knowing how to approach with support. Please be patient and sensitive.

Now for some myths about adoption.

Myth #1 :Children who are placed for adoption are not wanted by their birth parents:
One birth mother wrote: " I wanted Milli to have the best ife possible. I didn't ever want her to go withour anything. I as 18 years old and unmarried. There was no way I could have provided for her."I have sent pictures and keepsakes so that she will always know that I care..."

Myth #2: Birth parents can come back and take away my adopted child:
Adoption laws have been established to protect children legally placed for adoption, as long as adoption statutes are observed there is little chance birth parents could reclaim the child once their rights have been legally terminated.

Myth #3 Adopted chilkdren are more likely to have mental and emotional problems:
in 1994 a study conducted by the search institute, adolescents who were adopted as infants actually scored hight than children in single-parent homes in areas of academic achievement, social competency, self-confidence, and security.

Myth #4 All adopted children are exceptional:
They truly are celebrated children, but as President Hinckley said:"The fact is...most children grow up to be just people"

Myth #5 Adopted children should be spared the stigma of adoption by not telling them they are adopted or by waiting until they are old enough to understand.
Being adopted isnothing to be ashamed of and is not difficult to explain. Adopted child can understand from the very beginning that adoption means love. They can understand that their birth mother is the person who gave birth to tham and cose their parent for them. A healthy openness about adoption creates security and a positiye identity.

Myth #6 Adopted children and birth parents never get over the loss of separation from each other:
The truth is that newborn infants attach easily to adoptive parents, their security lies in the consistency of the care they are given. Although birth parents grieve and take time to heal after placing a child for adoption, they do in fact heal. THose who choose adoption actually may experience lass grief than those who choose to single parent.

Myth #7 It is in the best interst of all parties that adoptionas be completely closed:
An open adoption is one where information is exchanged between the birth parents and the adoptive parents. As we have discovered at LDS Family Services, this can be facilitated without sacrificing privacy and confidentiality. Our birth parents and adoptive patents have the opportunity to meet in an agency setting and to exchange letters, pictures, and gifts through the agency for as long as they desire.

Myth #8 Children should always be placed with families of the same ethnicity:
couples who choose to adopt children of a different ethnicity need to be well educated in the dynamics for them and for their families. Finding role models of their same race and teaching them about their cultural heritage helps them develop a healthy self-image.

Myth #9 Only wealthy couples can adopt children:
In order to provide sealed homes for children LDS Family Services charges a sliding fee based on income for qualified couples. Financial security and the ability to manage resources are more important than the size of the couples income.

Myth #10 Adoption cures infertility:
Adopting a child does not enable a couple to comcieve, adoption does not cure infertility; it cures the childlessness. "Adoption makes us parents, but it doesn't make us fertile."


Until next time,
Shaylee