Other blog

Trying out a Wordpress blog for a bit: http://shantijoy.wordpress.com/

CVS & prescriptions

When Joel had his heart attack (12/30/08), he got put on 5
prescriptions immediately - $90 in copays.
Thankfully, I has spent my Christmas vacation learning about The
Grocery Game & reading moneysavingmethods.blogspot.com.

By finding 'Transfer your Rx' coupons, I have spent only $10/month out
of pocket...

Here's how it worked yesterday:

Joel had 3 prescriptions Auto-refill @ CVS.
I prefer to keep my Rx's @ CVS, and so do they... So I don't transfer
them! I just use the coupon I would if I had transferred to Walgreens
without the hassle!

1st Rx$10 copay - $10 cash... Get $25 Giftcard with coupon from
Walgreens ad
2nd Rx$10 copay - $10 off GC... Get $25 GC= Balance $40
3rd Rx$30 copay - $30 off GC... Get $25 = Balance $35

If I was smart, I would save this GC for next Rx refills... Then I
wouldn't have the $10 out-of-pocket.

CVS Deal of the Day

Starting CVS Balance: $1.99 ECBs

Prescriptions:
Sincor $30
Paid $30 cash
Rec'd $15 GC
Net: -$15

Shopping:
(8) HoneyNut Cheerios $2.50 - coupon $1/3 = $19
Nature's Valley $3 - coupon $0.50 = $2.50
(2) Gummi Lifesavers - coupon $1.50 = $1.50
Milk $2.79 = $2.79 + $2 ECBs
(4) CVS Sinus meds (2)$5.29 + (2)$5.49 - (2)$2.50 off 12 = $16.56
CVS $10 off $50
Paid: $1.99 ECB + $15 GC + $14.36 cash
Rec'd: $2 ECB

Started with $1.99 ECB = $1.99
Ended with $2 ECB = $2.00
Product value: $84.64... For $44.36 cash - not bad considering I needed the prescription & sinus meds either way!

Easter, Holy week, and the church calendar

I've had mixed feelings about Lent and Holy week this year. It has
felt arbitrary and contrived.... so I have pretty much left it
unacknowledged.

Only yesterday did I start to contemplate this freedom... Is the
church calendar an order set up by the Father?

Stop slavery - support Love146 for $25/month

CVS Deal of the Day

Starting CVS Balance: $8 GC + $5 ECBs = $13

Prescriptions:
Lovaza $30 - Coupon $20 = $10
Lisinopril $10
Paid $8 GC + $12 cash
Rec'd $50 GC
Net: $43

Shopping:
(4) Campbell's soup B1G1 $1.69 & $1.49 -coupon (2)$1/2 = $1.18
(3) Pepsi 12-packs $3.67 - $2 ECB = $9
Schick Intuition $8.99 - coupon $4 - $3 ECB = $1.99
(2) Bayer Aspirin $2.79 - coupon (2) $1 = $3.58
Non-deal items $11.48
CVS $2.50 off $12
Paid: $5 ECB + $26.18 GC
Rec'd: $5 ECB

Started with $12 cash + $8 GC + $5 ECB = $25
Ended with $23.82 GC + $5 ECB = $28.82
Product value: $84.86... For $3.82 profit!

On the President

Internet Monk nailed it:

Christians: What are you saying about the President? by iMonk
When Mr. Obama was elected, I told some of my friends, "This is going to be difficult for some people." And, unfortunately, not only was I right, I was right on the money as to who would have the most difficult time seeing a black Democrat take the office of President. For the past two months, almost daily, I have listened to too many- not all thankfully, but many of the evangelical Christians around me say untrue and hateful things about President-elect Barak Obama.
As Inauguration Day grows closer, the rhetoric is getting worse.

"I will not support a man who hates our flag and hates our Bible." This from an educated adult.

"He's not even a Christian. He's a Muslim." I have heard this over and over and continue to hear it.

"He's not my President." This from all kinds of people.

"I hate Obama. I'd like to get in his face." And worse. This from a child.

"We shouldn't allow our children to watch the inauguration." From an adult.

"I can't wait till he's _________ed." I'll skip the word so my blog isn't sent to some FBI list. This from teenage boys, of course.

I could go on and on and on with these quotes. I hear them and hear of them almost every single day I am around my fellow Christians. I did not vote Barak Obama. I barely voted for John McCain. The choices this year left me unenthused to say the least. Obama's solutions to political, foreign policy, social and economic policy all seem wrong to me, and I'm concerned about his lack of experience. I'm hopeful that he will be a good president because I think he knows that he is a historic leader coming to power at a critical time. I believe he's made many good choices for cabinet positions. I think he is smart and I understand he doesn't suffer fools and divas gladly. I'll pray for him. Scripture tells me to pray for my leaders. They are ordained of God. (Romans 13, I Timothy 2, I Peter 2) I am to pray for all those in authority. I am to submit to them as authorities established by God. I am to pay my taxes, obey the laws and avoid doing what is illegal. As much as it depends on me, I am to be a peaceful citizen of this country. Should my President ask me to do what I cannot do without violating the law of God, then I must be faithful to God.
Let me say this again: Scripture is clear that those in authority are to have my obedience, my prayers and my cooperation in all things that do not violate my loyalty to Jesus Christ. These commands were all written to first century Christians who lived under hostile, pagan, anti-Christian, often actively persecuting Roman governments. No group of Christians in the first three centuries of the church every lived under a Christian ruler. Yet all these Christians took seriously the command to "Honor the King" and to "submit to and pray for" those rulers as much as possible.
If you are an evangelical Christian adult, please hear me out: You are sinning- badly and boldly - when you publicly denigrate and lie about the President. You have no basis to do this. Surely you know that this is wrong. You can state your opposition to the President as you choose, but it is wrong to say that a Christian should not watch the Inauguration, pray with Rick Warren and pray for President Obama when he puts his hand on the Lincoln Bible. You can oppose him in every way, but to speak threatening, hateful, hostile or untrue words is wrong, and it makes Christians appear, once again, to be hateful, hostile, unconcerned with truth and selfish to a fault. To speak this way in front of children and to pass this kind of rhetoric and attitude on to them is no different from passing on the worst kinds of racial or religious prejudice to our children. Our children trust us and believe what we say. When we say "Obama hates the Bible and hates Christians," we are brainwashing our kids with untruths and paranoid mythology. I know that many of you will be firing back at me saying that abortion and gay marriage and other social issues outweigh the Biblical commands to pray for, submit to and obey this particular
leader. I agree with you that his policies in these areas should be opposed- legally and without hateful personal attacks and untruths.
But I cannot agree with your abandonment of what the Bible clearly teaches. And I deplore your choice to speak these words in front of unbelievers and young people. You need to repent, and if necessary, apologize. As we approach January 20, please read the Bible's many
commands to Christians regarding our attitude toward the civil government. Remember that these commands were written when everyone knew that Jesus was executed by the government and every government was set against the belief that Jesus, not Caesar, was Lord. Nero was
no friend of Christians in the first century. Neither was Domitian.
Today, the commands of scripture apply to Christians in China, in Iraq, and in India. They apply to all Christians living under hostile governments. Jesus lived under a cruel Roman governor, yet he submitted and obeyed that governor, even to the point of death. Let us speak the truth in love. Let us love those we may not agree with. Let us leave the right example for children and young people. And let's not engage in blatant sin, and then excuse it, in the name of politics.

A new tradition.... Being St. Nick

So, this Christmas, Joel and I have tried hard to re-program the kids
from 'I want' to 'Christ gave, so I give'

The hard part is that we have never bought them Christmas presents -
but they get a TON from all our loving family.
We did tell our families we have all we need, but of course they still
showered us with blessings.

Also, we have never directly addressed Santa Claus. We see him in
Christmas movies, but we haven't said, 'this gift is from him.'
Then we went to a play @ the Interactive Theater that gave a history
of St Nicholas with the message of it is all about giving... But
ending with the normal Santa still alive @ the north pole.

So about 2 weeks ago, Holden tells Bella, 'Jesus is fake.'
I said, 'Holden, why did you say that?'
Holden: 'Cuz Santa's pretend, and Johnny (our 'Elf on the Shelf') is
fake, so Jesus is too.'
This was Joel's greatest fear realized. I did not hesitate to kill
Santa and the Elf. Salvation was at stake.
Me: 'Johnny is fake. And St Nick was a nice old man 100's of years
ago, and he is dead. But Jesus is alive, your creator and your
salvation.'

This pretty much shaped the rest of our Christmas. No more silliness.
Fortunately, my mom was thinking along the same lines.
We started a new tradition. While the rest of the children waited for
Santa Christmas Eve, we took blankets, socks filled with goodies, and
hot soup to homeless men on the streets of Houston. And this time,
Holden said, 'I'm being just like Jesus, feeding people.'
And I said, 'just like St Nick copied Jesus, too.'

Another Piper

Joel and I read the blogs of Abraham and Molly Piper.... Abraham is the 3rd son of Pastor John Piper.

Since he is the web-content editor for the Desiring God blog, he was
also at the conference.

We went to lunch and talked for a few hours.

Here's the weird thing: to sit across from basically a stranger, and
know their interests, family, sorrows and joys. Kinda fun....
Lots easier than starting from scratch.

Piper transforms me again!

Well, actually Jesus transforms me, but uses Piper's words to do it.

Back in 1999, 1 1/2 years after my conversion, I went to the Passion
Conference, where I heard the message that transformed my life. John
Piper did a LONG intro, explaining how glorifying God in abundance is
what the anyone would do, glorifying God in a tragedy is what a
Christian would do, but chosing suffering to bring Him glory is what
we should do.

I lived the next 7 yrs in light of this teaching, passionately driven
to bring Him glory.

When I met and fell in love with Joel in 2000, I drug him to a
conference in Dallas @ Park City Pres (PCPC) where Piper wrecked his
life, too (in a good way).
Piper told us that the call was not to be missionaries, but to be martyrs.
Joel's never been one to do anything halfway, so he understood that he
would have to put God ahead of EVERYTHING.
Joel wasn't ready. On the ride home from Dallas, Joel bought a pack of
cigarettes and tried to run back to his old life.

In the past year, I have been struggling with my faith a lot. No
disbelief, but faith. My courage for God has waned.... It began to
feel pointless.
And I haven't known what to do about it.

I shared some of this with a missionary, Shannon, I spent last weekend
at a Pastoral Vision pow-wow with. She prayed some poignant prayers
for me then.

This weekend @ the Desiring God Regional Conference in Austin, Piper
once again put me in my place.
Below God, in awe of Him, in need of Him.

The topic was Job and his suffering.
I saw God purpose and plan stretchng Job through the trials Satan
requested to attack him with.
I was reminded once again that I am the creation, and I have NO RIGHT
to question God.
I was inspired to pursue God's glory once again.

The Mortgage crisis and it's effect on the Capitalist Economy

I think the whole situation with our economy, and it's link to the mortgage industry is confusing... but it was made so much more clear by listening to 2 radio programs.
Seriously, listen to these 2 episodes of This American Life:
The Global Pool of Money
Another Frightening Show on the Economy

Crisis brings community

Since my 3 months in Rajasthan, India in 1999, there have been cultural elements I have ached for.
I have tried to articulate it many ways, from talking about living in
community-house-sharing, to trying to integrate a community meal into
Basilica.
During this recovery week post-Ike, I have had this ache 'satisfied'.... or pacified. Without a slam-packed schedule, unlimited food resources, and media, and WITH people revealing their needs to be met, I have seen lots of serious community going on.
It felt the most India-like for me at my parents' house:
- To begin with, their neighbors split their generator energy with 2 additional houses to keep all refrigerators running, instead of running more of their own stuff.
- Then as my parents' deep freeze thawed, each evening mom would set up a backporch potluck for the neighbors.
- Several days in, my Mimi came to stay there. Seeing Arabella chatter with her through the day reminded me of having my Indian Mama around Mon Singh and Anita's house.

I definitely think that I feel less alone each time a crisis comes and community helps meet the needs.

I wonder how much of this I missed out on from 2001-2004 by living on credit so that no one would know we were so desperately in need -$40,000 worth of it.

Awesome strategy

So, Joel mentioned an awesome 'problem' according to Pro-choicers.
Apparently, they (Pro Choice) are upset with the public's positive response to Sarah Palin's daughter, Piper, licking her hand and smoothing her new brother (with Down syndrome)'s hair during her mom's speech. They are afraid that this families joy at having this son, show by Piper's cuteness I guess, will prevent mothers pregnant with babies with Down syndrome from aborting.

Okay, I had no idea how flimsy their case was! If I can just convince people that Arabella and Darin bring joy, no more babies will be aborted.

This is awesome for me! Cuz I have been 'accused' before of making it sound like having a kid with Down syndrome is the next best thing after sliced bread! My accuser thought I did not acknowledge the difficulties....
When you are waiting your whole life to get married..... Do you talk about fighting and divorce, or just dream of honeymoons, sex and best friendship?
When you are talking about having kids... Do you talk about rebellious teens, broken arms, learning to turn an unruly preschooler into a functional adult, or just savor snuggles, hugs, teaching?
When you plan a vacation.... Do you stay home because it might be a long flight there, airplane food might be mediocre?

My kids are the best, and I hope our joy can save some babies lives!

Old gods

Before I was a Christian, from 1995-1997, I was controlled by anxiety.
I fought to control the people around me so they would not hurt me, and when that didn't work (it rarely does), I would be paralyzed by fear.
In the summer of 1997, I was healed from anxiety and released from taking Buspar by the Lord. This remains my main area of attack by the Enemy. I'm not sure if this is a family strong hold, or a female place of vulnerability, but I constantly pray against it for myself, my
girlfriends and my mom.

Yesterday, it slipped in and grabbed me again. I think something like a hurricane almost comes with 'permission' to worry and obsess. I heard it in the faithless statements from the news and the people around me Thursday as Ike approached. And I climbed on board. It continued in
the midst of the storm with sleepless, paralyzing fear of a tornado.
But it didn't leave with Ike. I had opened the door, and my former god, Anxiety, was happy to stay awhile. As yesterday progressed, I would get hot from no A/C and become unable to parent, to plan for the remainder of the day, figure out how to prepare for the future. When we returned to our hot house last night, I was exhausted and ready to go in debt for place to go wait for power. I could not imagine today in this messy life.
This morning, I woke up @ 4:15am. I was smoking hot but rested. I called Centerpoint to report our downed power line. Then I started looking for a cool place to go back to sleep...
And I had an anxiety attack. I was frozen with fear of today, what it would bring.
Graciously, God helped me realized right then how miserable that feeling is. And He provided the hope that He could remove it. I got out the candles and did my Precepts Bible study - day 3 in Isaiah 6, focusing on Isaiah seeing God and responding to Him.
And I could see, through these circumstances and the momentary re-surrender to Anxiety, and once more God's salvation, that i've been slipping into the bondage of Security - of having funds, family, routine and order. I've stopped being creative and willing to find any way to make things work. In India, I lived with no A/C, and no security outside of Him, and it was one of the best times. And 7 yrs ago, in Texas Children's Hospital, I lived with no knowledge and no control, as my baby was cared for and I learned to be a mom to a baby with a heart defect, and it was the best time.
The anxiety is gone. And the rain has come.... an undeserved gift (aka Grace) of a cooling breeze.
Thank you, Lord - YHWH, Alpha-Omega, Creator and King

Picking up the pieces from Hurricane Ike

So, Ike came through last night. It was pretty scary. I kept thinking
the wind was a tornado.
At about 9:30p, we pulled 3 twin mattresses into the hall. It had not
rained a drop, and the wind was just starting. Everyone but me fell
asleep, so I got up and watched the storm approach on the news. At
11:30p, our power went out. I went to lay in the dark and stillness of
our hall. About 12a, Joel woke up and started stepping over me, so I
got up and watched the storm with him - up and down with each noise
until Arabella joined us.
During this time, our fence blew down.
Then the Eye passed over @ 4am. It was so calm, everyone on the street
came out to clean up. Then it picked back up. It was louder and
stronger. And it brought down a HUGE tree towering above our garage.
It landed on our back deck and our neighbor's patio roof, and is
laying across our power line.
So, I don't know if we will get power when everyone else does, or if
that tree will cause further delays.

So, today is weird. Quiet - no media running. Hot - no A/C. Aimless -
how do you begin such a big clean up?

My Palin statement.... If anyone cares

Man, I have seen more political discussions in my community since Palin was nominated as Vice Pres candidate - Christians, families with children with Down syndrome, homeschoolers - than ever before.

A few people have asked my opinion about Palin. So here it is:

I was born into the one-issue conservative Right - pro-life. We marched for life and I believed that no one I knew would be a Democrate!

I birthed and adopted 2 children into the Left. They will rely on good social welfare for their whole life. And my occupation has led me to see that without the Church in their full Biblical role of feeder of the widows and orphans, I need to see a strong Democratic government in place to care for the homeless and forgotten.

But I am still so pro-life there is no party for me.

Enter Sara Palin.
1. I don't think anyone is a saint just for NOT aborting her baby. I think that view is OFFENSIVE and states something in people's hearts that I don't want to know about - that children with Down syndrome are lucky if they get born!
2. I don't know if a politician's children can change the political views of a party. The Republican's assumption that every man can/should care for themselves will not be challenged by a special needs child born into an affluent family. I assume all of Palin's children will have adequate funding.

On the flip side:
I was horrified and my mind sealed SHUT to Obama when I read he fought against saving the life of an out-of-the-womb baby who did not die during an abortion, since this would blur the question of when life begins. If life has not begun after birth, than my children may still be 'not alive'... And that's the dumbest idea I've ever thought!

So, I'm still hoping for a 3-party system, with option for some one to win between the Republican and Democratic platforms. In my dreams, a pro-life, socially liberal Christian who also opposes fighting people trapped in a religion far from God.

By the way, the war is my other political problem:
Don't argue that I have to follow my 'brother' Bush, killing children of Ishmael for oil - my brother is one doing the will of Our Father:

'Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.' Isaiah 1:16b-17

Camping

Holden and I just finished our first camping trip together. We arrived
@ noon on Monday, and immediately jumped in the Frio for 2+ hour
float.
Holden is an awesome River Rat, swimming in and out of his tube, not
even getting scared when we flipped on the rapids, and acting like a
little motor to pull me and Jessica alone.
Yesterday Holden spent from 10a-5p in the section of river by our
campsite. As we laid on the air mattress for a little rest, he said,
"when are we gonna swim again?"
After I replied, "not for awhile." he laid his head down crashed.

I loved camping with him. We enjoy the same things.

This might have to be our annual Mother-Son trip!

What do these 3 shows have in common?

1. The Office
2. Lost
3. Heroes

None are on right now.
I love them all.

Next best thing: talking about them!

The Office: I just fell in love with this one over the past month.
Favorite characters: Jim and Pam, although Michael Scott has really grown on me.
I think Michael's personality initially seemed weird, but he turns out
to be much like the social-different men in my life, whom I love ( my
dad, my husband, my brother Tim, Michael Rice).
Then there's Pam. Just an average girl, brought to everyone's
attention when Karen :-( comes into the office. The most normal person
there. I feel like she and I have lots in common. Trying to explore
art in a world of much more artist people, often made to look plain by
other's sophistication. But she's the most sincere.
And Jim. So adorable. Enough said.
Favorite episodes: Season 3 Finale & Season 4 Finale - especially the
Kevin joke told to the new HR lady.

Lost: the first of the 3 to become obsessed with, I must confess that
we would watch 3-6 hrs @ a time. I feel like a sci-fi geek when I
discuss podcasts and theories about it with my hubby and friends. It
still bugs me that all the answers to the mysteries may lie in the
imaginary - I know this is silly and illogical, but I like the show
more if I think it follows the same laws (gravity, space-time, etc) as
my world.... cuz then if my plane crashed, these things could happen
to me.
Favorite character: Sawyer. He's totally grown on me. I have become
more and more suspicious of Jack, the obvious favorite, and I think
Sawyer has made more and more selfless choices.
Biggest question: what's up with Jack's (& Claire's) dad?

Heroes: who doesn't love a superhero?
Favorite characters: Claire-bear and Peter
I love when they do the strings showing how everyone
overlaps/crisscrosses.... Although I don't like the portrayal of the
future.
Returning Sept 22nd!

Me and Holdie

So, Holden and I get to go camping on the Frio River this week
Monday-Thursday. I am so excited for 1-on-1 time with him. Plus I love
tubing!

Going out with a bang

Last night, Arabella graduated from her 6th year @ the Rise School of Houston. The night was so intentionally put-together, and I really enjoyed it.

Arabella's a little bi-polar in performing: she's the queen or she's completely shut down. The Annie video is being ON! Her ballet recital was her being totally OFF (we both knew the ballet dance backwards and forwards).

Last night, she was ON. Her class did an introduction routine, and she said her name and age on cue (although according to her, she's 5). Then they sang "Rise" by the Robbie Seay Band. Arabella started off totally still, but then kicked in with all the signs right on beat.

Then we went to the nearby Marco's for some food. They had a live musician, playing mostly Mexican music. As you can see from the picture, it was better than a playground. That girl and her brothers can cut a rug!