Sunday, March 24, 2013

Krista Michelle....The Quiet One

Back in 1980 I would go to the doctor and he would say, "You are having another boy, Jackie", and I would say "No, this is just a nice quiet little girl."  I was right and he was wrong.  As I am trying to think back, I can't remember my due date but,  I think it was the 19th.  I went into labor on the 20th and she was born at 1:07pm on the 21st.  She was perfect, not one blemish.  That was because she did not help at all to get here.  She left that all up to me.  The labor was not really all that bad, but the delivery was work.  Mike was very ornery because he carried her out and would not tell anyone whether she was a girl or a boy.  We did not know those things in advance back then, even though I did have an ultra sound with her....they just were not clear like they are today.  Mike was one of four boys so his family really wanted a girl.  There were also already two grandsons.  When we finally told everyone that it was Krista Michelle, Mike's dad said, "You finally did something right."  Even as a she grew she remained our  quiet child.  Now, along with quiet sometimes comes sneaky.  That's two adjectives that describe our Krista....quiet and sneaky.

She was and still is a great gift to our family.  She looked so much like her Nan Naw, Mary Jo.  Mary Jo was diagnosed with a brain tumor when Krista was 3 months old, so her looking like her and so much like her in other ways was rather ironic.  She was an easy keeper.  She had hazel eyes like my dad and she had very fair skin like me.  She had light blond hair and we had to check to make sure she was breathing because she was so quiet.  This was the complete opposite of her brother.  He got moved out of our room at night when he was about 2 weeks old because he made so much noise.

Mary Jo kept her the last four weeks of school when I had to go back, but we took her to day care when school started back in the fall.  They fought over her at the baby sitter. She absolutely hated being put down on the floor, so she didn't crawl until she was 9 months old.  Then she was walking very well by 10 months. Ryan loved her and thought he was big enough to carry her around.  He really wasn't big enough. She pointed at what she wanted and Ryan got it for her.  She didn't really talk much at all until after she was two.  This was definitely the opposite of her brother.  She remained quiet throughout grade school.  She was so quiet that even after she got older and had a sister 16 months younger than her, there were people who only knew we had Ryan and Amanda.  They would be like, "I didn't know you had three kids".  I'm telling you, she was a very quiet child and could entertain herself.

Krista was also very good at climbing out of her car seat.  They were not as good as the ones today, but I would buckle her in and the next thing I knew she was out.  She has always been able to do just about anything she puts her mind to.  She will practice over and over until she can do it.  This became very clear when she decided to roller skate.  If at first you don't succeed try, try again was her motto.

Krista was also my puny child.  She was in and out of the hospital a couple of times before she was a year old.  We put her through the infectious disease center at Children's Hospital.  She just didn't have a very good immune system.  She got that from Mary Jo too.  She's allergic to many antibiotics and other meds.  I am happy that after going through the allergy clinic twice and getting older we found a bio- cranial chiropractor that has been able to help her be much healthier.  Let me tell you, it has made a wonderful difference in her life.  Being sick is not fun.

Krista is tenacious and I mean that in a good way.  If you want something done and done right just ask her to do it.  Today she has a degree from Oklahoma State University, a husband, a son and another one on the way, and is special events planner for the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.  She loves wrestling and loves her job working with all the people involved in wrestling.  She has spent her birthday since 1998 at the NCAA Wrestling Tournament.

Krista Michelle McComas Graff, I am so glad that God saw fit to let me be your mother.  You have made your dad and I proud.  What a blessing you and your family are to us.  This has been a great 33 years and may you have many more.




Wednesday, March 20, 2013

What is Religious Freedom Supposed to Be???

What does it mean to be free.  Why did our ancestors come across those waters so many years ago.  We all know the little saying Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492.  We also know he was looking for a short cut to India.  We hear that many came to the America's to have religious freedom.  Many of these people who came for religious freedom were being made to worship a church that had been established by their government.  So......... what does religious freedom really mean.  This is when and where the separation of State and Church came into being.  Does that mean we must be free to do whatever we want to do anywhere we want in the name of religious freedom.  I REALLY don't think that is what our founding fathers had in mind.  I think what they were trying to say was that each and everyone one of us should have the right to worship who we want, and not be forced to worship who the government tells us to.  That means EVERYONE has a right to be religious or not.

I am a Christian and proud of it.  I pray anywhere and anytime I want.  That does not mean that I have to get down on my knees and say my prayer out loud so everyone can hear it.  I DO NOT PRAY FOR SHOW.  My prayers are between myself and God.  I choose to believe that the life I lead will be my testament to the fact that I am a Christian.  I am not perfect and I ask God in prayer every day to help me to be a better Christian.  This does not mean that I never share the word of God with others, but it does mean that I chose when and where to do that.  Not to just do it so people can look at me and think I am trying to put myself above others.  I was taught to pray by my parents and other Christians who made up the church I attended.  My parents were not really keen on the idea that someone at my school teaching me to pray, reading the Bible to me, or someone from another church coming to school to recruit us to come to a church revival.  All these things happened at school.  If Christians are allowed to do this, then any other religion should be allowed to practice their religion at school.  Most of us really would not like that.  That means that those who do NOT Believe in God should be allowed to practice their non religion.  I'm sure not very many people would be comfortable with that.  YOU have religious freedom, I have religious freedom, and so does everyone else.

I may upset some with this blog, but I truly believe that we can teach our children to have good morals without teaching religion in our schools.  If you truly want your child taught religion at school, then you should send them to a church affiliated school that you trust to teach your child these things.  I don't begrudge anyone who feels strongly about it to do that.  Mike and I chose to teach the Bible to our own children at home and at the church of our choice.  Mike and I did that so that our children would be prepared for the world out there that awaited them.  They choose to do the same with their children.  Just as my children learned from their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, Sunday school teachers, and ministers our grandchildren are learning from that same infrastructure.

So when I say I really am not for putting prayer and reading the Bible back in school, don't judge me and think that I don't believe in the Bible or Prayer....nothing is further from the truth.  At the school I taught at the last 20 years we gave each child a full minute to say a silent prayer if that is what they wanted to do.  They also allowed the students to gather at the pole to pray, but this is all voluntary and not forced.  The school does not come off as anti prayer or Bible.  They just respect the rights of all people not just those who proclaim to be Christian.

Our country was not founded on religious freedom but on FREEDOM.  Freedom for all, not just for some, but for ALL.  I don't have to agree with their beliefs, but I do have to understand that this country says they do have the same freedom I do.

Sunday, March 10, 2013

March is JJ's Month!!!!

Well here it is March.  I guess it is true that time flies when you are having fun.  Time flies anyway.  I retired May 2010.  Since that time my life seems so busy.  Mike says I traded a paying job for  many non-paying job.  The thing is I can say yes if I want or NO.  Well, most of the time I CAN say no, but I don't.  I have been preparing myself for the fact that the next two weeks are going to be very busy.  My grandkids are coming to stay with us.  JJ and Amara will be here tomorrow and then Dominic will be here next week end.  I hope that the weather cooperates so they can play outside.  They all love to play outside.  I am excited for them to be here.  They don't come as much as they used to, but they do come when they have a break at school.  They are all growing up so much.  It's hard to believe that JJ will be 8 years old next week.  It's hard to put into words just how much I love this boy.

JJ is one of the sweetest boys that I know.  He still comes up to me and says "GiGi I need a hug."  Believe me I cherish each of those hugs, because it won't be long before he thinks he's too big to give me one.  I hope he always wants a hug.  He is very smart and makes good grades at school.  He's such a likeable kid, because he has such a good heart.  He is a peace maker.  He can't stand for anyone to be mad at him.  He gets his feelings hurt pretty easy though.  He loves to go to church and help out with the jobs they allow young boys to do.  He loves his sister and is very protective of her....of course until she gets into his stuff.

JJ loves all sports.  He loves to watch and play just about any sport.  He is 8 and has already played baseball, basketball, soccer, flag football, rides his bike, four wheeler, scooter and does anything else that he can be active at.  He loves to help his Bop.  I am quite sure he will be a good athlete.  He works very hard at everything his does.

I must say that JJ has been a very large blessing to our family.  Born on St. Patricks Day, he must be lucky.  He is just about as good as it gets in the way of 8 year old boys.  I love you JJ!