text:
Dominican Republic Santo Domingo Hotels + LEXINGTON SERVICES
Know When You're Going?
More Search OptionsHotel Amenities
- Dry Cleaning (1)
- Free Breakfast (1)
- Free Parking (1)
- Internet (1)
- Meeting Room (1)
- Restaurant on Site (1)
"The hotel certainly deserves its promotion as a botique hotel. A charming small hote... Read more"
"From the time that my friends and I entered the hotel, the entire staff was very frie... Read more"
"My wife and i stayed here on are july trip to the DR it's a great hotel the staff is ... Read more"
Note: The nightly rates shown above do not yet include Tax Recovery Charge & Service Fees or (if applicable) Extra Person Fees, Child Fees, Additional Mandatory Hotel Charges or optional incidentals, such as parking, room service or movies.


text:
[Beowulf] Watts Up Pro
Many of your questions may have already been answered in earlier discussions or in the FAQ. The search results page will indicate current discussions as well as past list serves, articles, and papers.
Robert G. Brown rgb at phy.duke.eduFri Jul 13 21:52:46 PDT 2007
- Previous message: [Beowulf] Watts Up Pro
- Next message: [Beowulf] Watts Up Pro
- Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ]
On Fri, 13 Jul 2007, Greg Lindahl wrote: > So, the thing that logs power usage over time seems to be the "Watts > Up Pro", which says that it plugs into USB and has a Windoze program that > graphs power usage. Does anyone have one, and can you access the data > sans Windoze program? Are there any other cheap logging power meters? > > Also, can anyone recommend a USB temperature probe? Surfing at random > I see some that are battery powered and have Windoze programs, ideally > it would be powered by USB and readable from Linux, so you could leave > it plugged in your cluster... Some years ago I looked pretty hard for this sort of thing and have a few bookmarks still preserved. There is this: http://www.maxim-ic.com/products/ibutton/ibuttons/thermochron.cfm They allege to have C and Java source for at least serial port operation -- I don't know that they are exactly what you are looking for though. There are netbotz (as I'm sure you already know, and which I've used) with a web interface among others -- very nice rackmount server room appliances but pricey. WAY pricey compared to USB environmental monitors. However, this seems more like what you are looking for: http://www.temperaturealert.com/product_p/tm-std30.htm At least they say "contact us for linux drivers" on the ad, suggesting that it can work with linux. For server room products it's really pretty insane not to, and if the devices appear to the computer as a USB drive (effectively as R/W flash) one could probably read them in a simple perl script. However I never did end up getting one because physical plant came and put in their own sensors and alarm system. This one is ALMOST cheap enough to buy for the fun of it, and there are USB temperature sensors out there for as little as $50 (which IS cheap enough to do for the fun of it) but it would be good to discover just what the data interface is. HTH. There are eight million more, though, if it doesn't. rgb -- Robert G. Brown http://www.phy.duke.edu/~rgb/ Duke University Dept. of Physics, Box 90305 Durham, N.C. 27708-0305 Phone: 1-919-660-2567 Fax: 919-660-2525 email:rgb at phy.duke.edu
- Previous message: [Beowulf] Watts Up Pro
- Next message: [Beowulf] Watts Up Pro
- Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ]
More information about the Beowulf mailing list

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Software Testing Best Practices
March 2, 2009 Leave a comment
Often under-estimated and not much considered by developers, testing is however one of the key elements of software engineering, and a fundamental pillar without which no software can be put on the market with appropriate quality. The goal of this article is to evangelize the major dimensions of software testing and share our experience of best practices as we perceive them at SoftFluent.
An often undersized investment in quality
Software testing is a broad area that allows the control of software quality. This quality is made of several dimensions that can be grouped within the three following categories: features, engineering and adjustability.
Still investment in testing is often undersized from software vendors or IT teams. Similar to what happens with security, the feeling of spending non-productive time is stronger than the power of best practices that recommend forecasting at least one tester for two developers. Field reality can easily be two times less.
In some geographies such as France, the phenomenon is probably aggravated by the important weight of service companies and custom developments. Their relative importance is stronger than anywhere else, partly for cultural reasons, and consequently, the culture of packaged software is weaker. Service companies have a lower sensitivity than software vendors to quality, because the impact of a correction is often limited. On the contrary, a software vendor must invest upfront on product quality; otherwise the deployment of its product can quickly become very costly.
At companies such as Microsoft, whose software products are deployed by tenths of millions, some development teams can have up to two testers for one developer!
The different test levels
First, let us note that software testing is accomplished at various levels. Potentially, one can distinguish four levels:
Unit tests are accomplished by the developer to check the good execution of functions that he is responsible for. These functions are often tested independently, with limited set of data. It is a good practice to early define representative test samples, as the developer will be able to develop unit tests based on these samples which will improve quality.
Integration tests are usually accomplished by a dedicated tester, within the development team or inside a quality team which works closely with the development team. The particularity of these tests is that they target the testing of a full set of features that often relies on leveraging several components a full process beyond unitary functions. One usually talks about "white box" testing, as it is possible to have a look at relationship between components to check their efficient cooperation. Having test data early in the cycle is also an important element of efficiency.
System tests or qualification consist in playing complete scenarios, representing software use cases, without considering implementation or underneath components. These tests follow a "black box" logic and It is highly recommended that the team realizing these tests be distinct from development team. This team can even be placed "off-shore" with the need of requiring detailed formalism to fully describe usage scenarios. During system evolution, these scenarios will be replayed to validate non-regression.
Acceptance tests are lead with pilot users to validate software adequacy to the business and easy adoption by those who will use it regularly. Once again, involving users early in the cycle to use part of the software will be a good manner to get aware of user acceptance criteria, and, if necessary, adjust some elements such as ergonomics.
Our belief in unit, integration and system testing is that it is always a good idea to automate these tests. A manual test is an expense. A test which is consolidated in a replayable script is an investment. Automating unit testing and some integration tests allow extraction of some of these tests to be replayed directly in the automated build of the system.
Additionally, test artifacts such as unit test code, configuration files or data set are part of the software documentation necessary for its maintenance and serve as examples for using software public interfaces (APIs). This is particularly important for systems that will expose features as services, or get integrated with other systems.
Different test natures
It is also worth noting the different natures of testing:
Functional tests validate the right behavior of the software as per the service delivered. These tests are often described in detail in scenarios in which most of the investment is made, consistently with the effort made in specifications formalizing the feature. Our recommendation on this topic is consistent with points mentioned above. Writing scenarios early is a very good practice as it validates the functional analysis, while giving material to the developer for its own unit tests. But putting the exclusivity of the effort on these tests is a common mistake.
Platform compatibility
tests include as a minimum setup tests on targeted environments (operating system, database…) or even more advanced tests for certifying a specific platform, especially for ISVs. These tests allow checking the right application of best practices such as the use of virtual directories, execution without administrator rights, uninstall procedures, resource localization, etc. Developer desktops should not be confused with the target execution environment. -
Robustness tests are targeted to testing the software behavior in suboptimal conditions. These tests are scarce systematical, although they are not so complex to implement: unplugging a cable, stopping a machine… It is important to know how the software will behave within these circumstances and define a recovery scenario. Not testing these cases saves a few hours in the short term but preserves a risk whose financial consequences are often impossible to evaluate. It is quite obvious that the user will sooner or later be exposed to a network breakdown, so it is better to anticipate the software behavior and document it.
Performance tests are often delivered at the end of the project. Factors influencing performance are numerous and it is risky to conclude early on partial tests without having representative volume of data and exact execution conditions. However, developers can usually test behavior of some unitary services quite early in the cycle when these elements bear a performance risk. Moreover, experience demonstrates that the result of performance tests must be precisely documented to formalize measuring conditions. Conclusions must be made based on relevant performance counters such as CPU consumption, memory usage, requests per second, Input/Output flow…
Scalability tests should be distinguished from performance tests. An application can perform well but be limited in its ability to sustain an increasing number of users (or any other parameter). A software system, especially if it is supposed to be used through Internet, should be designed to scale up almost without limit by sampling adding machines. Tests must be made for this, with tools allowing simulating numerous simultaneous users.
Usability tests are quite never lead as they require involvement of final users. However, they are a significant factor for real and perceived quality, improving comfort of software usage. These tests include both "Look" (visual appearance) and "Feel" (ease of use).
Favor early detection of bugs
The reader will have understood, through the different comments made in previous paragraphs, that at SoftFluent we are closer to agile approaches than pure waterfall methodology, and we favor everything that allows short cycles, for testing as well as for functional specifications by the way. The reason is above all financial.
The cost of a bug is very different depending on the stage at which it is introduced and at which it is detected. As an example, if a design error, detected in the specification stage cost 1 to correct, the same error detected at qualification stage will cost 10, and potentially up to 100 if the software is already deployed. The following table estimates ratios for different kind of bugs depending on these stages.
Introduction/Detection | Specifications | Architecture | Development | Qualification | Post-Deployment | |
Specifications |
1 |
3 |
5 |
10 |
10-100 |
Architecture |
- |
1 |
10 |
15 |
25-100 |
Development |
- |
- |
1 |
10 |
25 |
This is why we try to validate most elements upfront, before having a significant development effort, costly by nature. Furthermore, bugs are easier to understand and correct on a limited perimeter than on a complete application which obviously bear some complexity.
Evolution towards agile methodology
The positioning of tests across time is quite different using a traditional V Cycle methodology or using an agile approach:
From a human prospective, agile approaches require a permanent collaboration between developers and functional experts, collaboration which is very often the secret of successful software. In traditional methods, an advanced formalism is often a way to be theoretically more confident, but it is also a way for developers to protect themselves behind written documents to avoid any modifications, even if these are necessary to fulfill business needs. The phenomenon also happens with testers, although the tester should be the developer's best friend, as it helps him find his bugs!
As a conclusion, let us remember that software testing is an important job, that comprises multiple aspects, but is not enough recognized and valued, although it plays a critical role in software quality. Everyone being able to evaluate its daily experience with computing should easily admit that progress is still to be made in this area! So let the developers and IT people give to software testing the place it deserves.
10 pieces of advice
Test is a real job, having test roles distinct from developers is an absolute necessity
Test should not be underestimated, about 25 to 30% of a development project
Test data should be produced early in the cycle to detect design errors and facilitate the work of developers
An application should always be designed to be testable, and a good split in components is a very important factor
One should invest in all dimensions of testing, including acceptance and usability tests
It is necessary to define operating conditions for the system to test configurations, scalability or robustness in suboptimal conditions
It is always a good idea to invest in automating the tests, especially for non-regression
Tests are developments that should be versioned
As for development, a partial work which is well targeted will cover most of the important elements following an 80/20 rule. It is better to start this way and improve through an iterative model than being utopist and believe in total completeness of tests
A model-first and strongly typed static approach facilitates testing, whereas a fully dynamic approach based on metadata, although very flexible for the developer, will postpone the discovery of key issues to very late moment in the cycle.
As usual, feel free to add your own comments
Daniel COHEN-ZARDI


text:
Widget and Gadgets Support
Mt. Carroll, IL 61053
WeatherBug Hurricane Watcher for Mac OS X Dashboard Widget Support
Below are answers to some common questions about the WeatherBug Hurricane Watcher for Mac OS X Dashboard Widget. If you do not see your question here, please fill out a Support Request Form or visit the WeatherBug Forums.
- How do I get the Hurricane Watcher Widget for Mac?
You can quickly download it here. Then follow the 'Installation Instructions'
- How do I change the satellite view to other regions?
Simply click on the letter i in the lower right corner to flip the widget. On this side, a drop-down menu is provided containing all of WeatherBug's satellite views divided into specific regions.
Weather News
Other Top Weather Headlines
Dangerous Winter Storm Strikes West, Central U.S.
There will be no shortage of heavy snow, dangerous travel and bitterly cold temperatures accompanying a major winter storm…More >
Arctic Outbreak Will Bring Wintry Mess to East
A major arctic outbreak will dive south out of Canada later this week, bringing near record cold and icy…More >
Deep Freeze Hits California Tonight, Early Thursday
The coldest air of the season so far is infiltrating far south into California.…More >
Weather Near Mt. Carroll, IL
Camera for Monroe, WI
Be Prepared, Know Before
Get faster alerts and better forecasts from the exclusive neighborhood-level WeatherBug network.
Learn More


text:
A dead neighbor. Headless dogs. And a millionaire on the run. All set against a backdrop of spectacular tropic beauty.
It would be difficult to imagine a more intriguing story than the one unfolding in Belize right now.
Police there are seeking to question Internet pioneer John McAfee in the killing of his neighbor, American businessman Gregory Faull.
Faull, 52, was found dead with a gunshot wound to the back of the head this month in his home near San Pedro, on the Caribbean island of Ambergris Caye.
McAfee, who is not a suspect, has not been seen since. Three people have been detained for questioning in the killing, police have said, and investigators are pursuing multiple leads.
CNN was recently granted rare access to McAfee's beachfront property by a former girlfriend, who asked that her real name not be reported.
Identifying herself as "Francesca," she said she'd spoken with McAfee since he disappeared, and that he is "frightened for his life."
"He's in constant fear, paranoid," she said. "I would say it's because of what he has been through. ... He thinks people are always after him, which they really are right now."
The former girlfriend said she doesn't know where McAfee is, except that he is not at home. They communicate by phone, "not often, once a day, or hardly ever," she said.
On Saturday, McAfee apparently began a personal blog, writing posts about being on the run, the media's portrayal of him and what he calls "harassment" by the Belize government.
"I am asking all people of conscience to read this blog ... and see the ugly truth unfolding here," reads one post that names six people he says have been detained by police in the case, including friends and household staff.
CNN cannot confirm the blog's authenticity.
Francesca pointed out buildings as she walked around McAfee's compound, a luxurious sprawl of screened rooms, pathways and an open air pool.
Police have searched the home and, according to witnesses, dug up the remains of McAfee's dogs.
Faull was killed after four of 11 dogs belonging to McAfee were fatally poisoned, said Wired Magazine Contributing Editor Joshua Davis, who said he had spent more than 100 hours with McAfee in recent months. Faull had frequently complained about the dogs barking, Davis said.
Raphael Martinez, a police spokesman, said a person working for McAfee called police about a poisoned dog; when police arrived at McAfee's residence, they found the dogs had been buried. McAfee is thought to have shot them to put them out of their misery.
Police took just the dogs' heads, instead of their bodies, witnesses said.
Authorities are now awaiting the results of ballistics tests to see whether there is any connection between the bullets in the dogs and the one that killed Faull.
McAfee, 67, told Davis last week that he did not kill his neighbor, the reporter said.
McAfee founded the Internet security company that bears his name, but left it in 1994.


text:
Wu and Broben right in the mix for 10m diving medals
Robert Dillon Australia's Melissa Wu and Brittany Broben will be diving for Olympic medals on Thursday night in the women's 10-metre platform final - and Wu denies the gold is already sewn up by China's Chen...
Wu and Broden right in the mix for 10m diving medals
Robert Dillon AUSTRALIA'S Melissa Wu and Brittany Broben will be diving for Olympic medals on Thursday night in the women's 10-metre platform final - and Wu denies the gold is already sewn up by China's Chen...
Baby of Australian Olympic team takes diving silver
Robert Dillon Australia's youngest Olympian in London, 16-year-old diver Brittany Broben, is not sure when she has to resume her Year 11 studies at Marymount College on the Gold Coast.
Drama at the diving as American beats Chinese favourite into second as British hope Daley wins bronze
Robert Dillon It was expected to be another Chinese win. In six of the first seven diving finals at the London Olympics, China walked away with the gold medal.
Faces of diving
Diving is a tough pursuit. Contestants require strength to jump high, rotate quickly, and finish with a tight, clean entry. The strain is evident on the divers' faces as they execute a dive.
Patrick joins countrywoman Stratton in the diving semis
Robert Dillon AUSTRALIA'S Jaele Patrick will join compatriot Sharleen Stratton in the three-metre springboard semi-finals after handling the pressure of a do-or-die final qualifying dive on Friday.
To Daley's credit, he sticks by his partner after diving disappointment
Peter Hanlon In any activity where synchronisation is paramount, the hardest time to stick together is when one of you comes apart.
Wiggins ponders a fourth Olympics after narrowly missing a diving medal
Robert Dillon The oldest women's diver at the London Olympics, Australia's Loudy Wiggins, has not ruled out competing at Rio de Janiero in four years' time after narrowly missing a medal in the 10-metre...
Mitcham to spearhead diving challenge
Olympic champion Matthew Mitcham welcomes feeling like an underdog again as he prepares to spearhead a 10-strong Australian diving team at the London Olympics.
What price medals?
Chris Johnston, Marc Moncrief, Caroline Wilson AUSTRALIA'S performance at the London Olympics, its worst result in 20 years, has cost taxpayers $10 million for each medal won.
Live coverage: London Olympics Day 12
Phil Lutton Gold medal drought? What gold medal drought? Thanks to Sally Pearson and Anna Meares, we've put those dark days behind us ... and today, there's more gold to come.
America's drought
Robert Dillon The US is the most successful diving nation in modern Olympic history, but they last won a medal in 2000.
Live coverage: London Olympics Day 13
Daniel Sankey Gold on the water, and gold in the water? It's a very real possibility for Australia today — a day in which Usain Bolt will also try to make history in the men's 200m final.
Six to watch: Friday 10 August
Scott Spits Steve Hooker aims to retain his title in the men's pole vault.
Mitchell gracious as she misses medal by narrowest of margins
Peter Hanlon Lauren Mitchell put one small foot about 10 centimetres in front of the other, tapped the floor, then brought her toes back into line.
Wu makes it five out of five for China
Robert Dillon WU Minxia made it five gold medals from five diving events for the Chinese after winning the 3m springboard final at the London Olympics on Sunday.
Final medal tally to be 'as predicted'
Samantha Lane THE tunnel looked dark and the hole deep, but after a late surge the Australian Olympic team has reassured national bosses that its targets for the London Games will be met. At least in a fashion.
Six to watch: Saturday 11 August
Scott Spits Mo Farah's attempt to back up his 5000m victory with a triumph in the 10,000m, the men's and women's 100m relays, the men's 10m platform diving and Australia's women's basketball bronze medal game...
Mitcham eases his way into 10m platform semi-final
Robert Dillon He ruled the pool in Beijing — but Australian diver Matthew Mitcham made a low-key start to his individual 10-metre platform title defence on Friday, finishing ninth to qualify for tomorrow's (UK...
Live coverage: London Olympics Day 14
Daniel Sankey Can Steve Hooker overcome months of injury and poor form to defend his Olympic pole vault gold medal? We'll find out in a few hours. Join us for live coverage of the 2012 London Olympics.


text:
Eric Duckworth's love for the New Orleans Saints did not prevent The University of Southern Mississippi business student from serving an internship with the NFL team's division rival.
Duckworth, a senior business management major, spent the first quarter of this year working as an unpaid intern with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers organization in Tampa, Fla. He considers the unique experience "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I was very blessed to receive."
The University of Southern Mississippi has received a favorable ruling from U.S. District Court in a wrongful termination lawsuit filed by a former professor.
The Office of University Communications has been honored by the Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF) with two awards, including one prestigious Lantern Award for its development of the Mississippi Polymer Institute (MPI) website.
The University of Southern Mississippi's Center for Black Studies, in collaboration with the city of Hattiesburg, Hattiesburg Historic Downtown Association and the Hattiesburg Convention Commission will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Summer, when more than 1000 volunteers came to Mississippi from across the nation in 1964 to launch an unprecedented voter registration drive for African Americans.
Film Program Offering 2-Week Screenwriting Course with Writer David Sheffield
The film program at The University of Southern Mississippi will host the intersession course, "Master Class in Screenwriting," with Southern Miss alum and former Saturday Night Live writer David Sheffield. The course will be held Jan. 2 – 14 from 6 – 10 p.m. at the Gulf Park campus in Long Beach.
With the required time period expired for filing new petitions to the United States Supreme Court, the Mississippi Supreme Court's favorable ruling toward The University of Southern Mississippi in three cases involving former coaches with the women's soccer program will stand.
Dr. Denis Wiesenburg, Provost at The University of Southern Mississippi, has announced that Dr. Daniel Norton will join the University as Associate Provost for International Programs, beginning March 1, 2014. He takes over for Dr. Rafael Sánchez-Alonso, who has served in an interim capacity.
More Southern Miss students are earning national scholarships to advance their education, thanks in part to Robyn Curtis' passion for helping them succeed.
Valencia Walls, coordinator of the Office of Multicultural Programs and Services, takes pride in seeing students achieve their dreams of earning a college degree.
Dr. Scott Blackwell, director of Housing at Southern Miss, says the best advice he ever received came from singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett.
As a top-tier research university, we pride ourselves on developing new innovation techniques.
Innovation Month in Mississippi has provided our state with a great opportunity to focus on innovation and what it means to all of our citizens.
Mississippi Innovation Month provides an opportunity to showcase our best efforts.
Faculty Experts Guide
Media Advisory for Week of April 25-30


text:
Turiski wrote:I move my boat at BA80 to AZ80.
I hereby claim the land located at (AZ, 1-3) and (AY, 3) and (AX-AZ, 4-6), and convert this land to farmland. I also convert BA1 and (BA-BC, 2) to factories.
Doesn't §4.12 state that all farms and manufacturing areas must have a neighbouring city?
I cast my vote in favour of Turiski's motion to get a new Chairman.
I, as motion-maker, hereby terminate John Citizen's motion to give the Manager of the NCD extra responsibility. As of this moment, this motion is no longer under vote and shall be removed and forgotten.
I like your solution better.
I make a motion to repeal §4.4. §4.4 shall be repealed. For the purposes of voting, this shall be called John Citizen's motion to remove a redundant rule.
§4.6 takes care of map updates.
Happy New Year!
I gain (3*2*1.2*[1+(0.005*18)])=7.8 internets from my factories and
(18*(100/25)*1.2)=86.4 (!) internets from my produce.
This gives me 94.2 (!!) internets total.
I hereby claim the land at AY31-AY16 + AZ16-BH16 + A15-A6 + B6-AA6
61 roods, 88.1 internets remaining.
I convert all of the empty land roods directly connected to Paradox (through other farms) to farmlands.
255 roods converted, 3.1 internets remaining.
I spread the FruitSalad Corporation from Paradox to Tet.
1.1 internets.


text:
Travelling solo and after reading many reviews decided this quirky hotel was perfect location in Barcelona. After much research of area this was the artsy, street performer section of town blocks from beach, so I decided to treat myself and upgrade to a balcony looking over las ramblas....to enjoy the evening entertainer. My horror began upon arrival! I had met... More
- Also Known As:
- Continental Barcelona
- Reservation Options:
- TripAdvisor is proud to partner with Booking.com, Expedia, Budget Places, Travelocity, Venere, Olotels, Priceline and Agoda so you can book your Hotel Continental Barcelona reservations with confidence. We help millions of travellers each month to find the perfect hotel for both holiday and business trips, always with the best discounts and special offers.


text:
Seamless legal service helping you move as quickly as possible...more
Sell your property fast using Countrywide Auctions...more
Sell your property quickly and efficiently at a price that's right for you...more
Competitively priced EPCs conducted by professional assessors...more
Buildings, Contents and Mortgage Care insurance...more
Struggling to sell? Let your property sucessfully...more
Ensuring the sale of your property is completed quickly is vitally important, especially if a chain is involved. By utilising our conveyancing expertise, you can make sure that your sale goes through quickly, legally and effectively.
There are many reasons why you might be selling property; you could be selling to release equity, to downsize, or to make your next move. Whatever the reason, we can help your property sale proceed quickly and efficiently. The legalities of selling property makes up our entire business – we are dedicated property lawyers, so our focus never waivers from the task at hand, with our offices open 7 days a week. Working with us means that you also have 24 hour access to your case online, enabling you to keep track of progress.
We also offer a unique 'Fast Start' option, which gives you a £100 plus VAT discount from our normal conveyancing fees. Our property lawyers will set up your file and start work straight away, so that as soon as you find a buyer we will be ready to issue the contract almost immediately. We aim to save valuable time at a critical and sensitive stage, helping to reduce the risk of your buyer losing interest in their purchase due to 'legal delays'. The benefits of Fast Start are:


text:
Jeremiah was just 15 years old, working in the unforgiving El Paso sun, when he says a man approached him with what sounded like a better gig. But police say it turned out to be a complete nightmare. »The Full Story
AMW is easy! Simply type the first name, last name or "moniker" of the person or case you are looking for and the search box will retrieve a list of all the cases in our system. Wait for the drop down box to appear with a list of possible matches and select the name of the case that you were looking for and click GO. You must type in a minimum of 4 letters.


text:
Homepage > ... > Fire > Emergency Preparedness > Flooding
Floods are one of the most common hazards in the United States, however not all floods are alike. Some floods develop slowly, while others such a flash floods, can develop in just a few minutes and without visible signs of rain. Additionally, floods can be local, impacting a neighborhood or community, or very large, affecting entire river basins and multiple states.
See the City's guide to What to do Before, During, & After a Flood for more information, and also visit the emergency preparedness page on Storms.In case of emergency, dial 9-1-1.


text:
PapersConference proceedings and journal papers introducing SmartHouse/SmartGrid concepts and solutions:
Other related publications (co-)authored by project members
PresentationsThe presentations of the project held at different locations are available here.
DeliverablesAll public deliverables submitted to the Commission can be downloaded here. |
Privacy | Copyright/Trademark | Imprint | © 2008-2009 by Smarthouse-Smartgrid Consortium |


text:
RWJF Forum Series
The Power of Placebo
This forum series, co-sponsored by RWJF, brings physicians, neuroscientists and the public together to understand "the big question: why we have the placebo effect."
You are now viewing 1 - 3 of 3 results
September 17, 2012 | Feature/Topic
Browse research, insight and analysis on key issues affecting health and health care in the United States.
May 9, 2011 | Video, Story
In Nashville, a coalition of faith leaders seeks to improve health and prevent obesity by ensuring access to healthy foods in three underserved neighborhoods without quality grocery stores.
October 27, 2009 | Story, Video
Nurse-Family Partnership programs such as Kane Kares help change the lives of vulnerable first-time mothers and their babies through ongoing home visits from registered nurses.


text:
Egypt's Prime Minister Hesham Kandil will travel on Friday morning to Gaza with a team of presidential advisers and ministers to meet with Palestinian officials.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon also will go to Egypt and Israel next week, because of the rising tensions between Israel and Hamas, a Western diplomat told CNN. The diplomat said the Secretary General has canceled a trip to Mozambique, Botswana, Seychelles and Mauritius to go to the Middle East.


text:
Psych Out Dress
UNIF offers a collection of contemporary womenswear that features iconic graphic T-shirts as well fashion-forward silhouettes. Expect edgy details, bold prints, and pieces fit for the modern downtown girl.
- 100% acrylic
- Shoulder seam to hem measures approx 33" in length
- Unlined
- Styled with Dolce Vita Rezzie Bootie in Black.
- Styled with gorjana Kaia Ring in Gold.
- Styled with gorjana Blake Gem Cuff in Gold.
- Styled with Luv AJ The Plain Ring Tall (Set of 4) in Brushed Gold.
- Styled with House of Harlow Rif Rebble Cuff in Rose Gold.
- Styled with Unearthen Double Mini Prism Ring in Clear Quartz/Gold.
- Modeled in size S. See fit guide for model's dimensions.
- Revolve Style No. UNIX-WD33
- Manufacturer Style No. UWD 1015


text:
This past weekend I started a new Upcycled Vader. This might be the most detailed Vader yet.
Air Vader Finished
Today I put the finishing touches on Air Vader. An upcycled sculpture created out of airplane and sneaker parts.
Finish a new Upcycled Darth Vader
I call this one Red Stag Vader
Finished the Clone Fembot
Today I put the finishing touches on the Clone Fembot. This one stands over 6 feet tall.
Fembot + clone wars helmet
Worked into the early morning on my latest sculpture not sure what I will call her. But I was able to finish up sculpting the right hand.
Steampunk Darth Vader
Started a new darth vader project this past week.
Darth Money
Today I put the finishing touches on my latest darth vader sculpture. I call this one darth money
Finished Upcycled Darth Vader #3
I put the finishing touches on my latest Darth Vader Sculpture. The helmet has some really cool details like Darth Vader Spelled out using the keyboard keys.
Vizio 10 Year Anniversary Sculpture at CES
Got some images back from the Vizio of my sculpture on display at CES Las Vegas.
Finished C3PO "Woody"
Today I finished up my latest Star Wars Sculpture. I call this one C3PO "Woody".
Put the finishing touches on the Vizio commission
Today I put the finishing touches on the Vizio 10th anniversary. Each letter represents a different part of their business. Tv's, Sound Bars, and Computers. The letters I and O at the end represent all of these products together and as a celebration of 10 years of being in business.
Finished the V, I and O
Over the weekend I made some huge progress on detailing the Letters to represent different parts of Vizio's business.
The letter "V" stands for their leading LCD technology and command of the market, It is made up of parts from used Vizio LCD TV's.
The "I" represents Sound Bars and is make from used Vizio Soundbars.
The "Z" represents their new line of computers and laptops and is made up of keyboard keys from their desktop computer models.
I also added the word "Years" under the "I" and "O".
LED's added to the I, and O of Vizio
Today I added LED lights to the back of the I and O. I really helps to make them pop and to signify the dual meaning.
Vizio Letters Attached To Sculpture
Was able to get the Vizio letters added today I love how the letters really pop on that green circuit board background.
Started Vizio 10 Year Anniversary Commision
I made some nice progress on my second commissioned sculpture by Vizio. This piece is to commemorate their 10 years of being in business. I have used a 55 inch Vizio TV as the canvas and Computer / LCD TV motherboards as the background.
Finished Peacock As One
I chose to do a frame around the piece made of used RAM. I'm really happy how the entire piece turned out.
Peacock Sculpture Done
Finished the actual sculpture today and the client loves it. Now I just need to put a frame around the wood and do some touch up painting.
Nearing The Finish Line
Make some great progress of Thanksgiving break. I will have this one finished by the end of the week.
More Progress on the Peacock
Make some nice progress on the head and neck of the peacock.
New commissioned sculpture (peacock)
I was commissioned this past week to create a peacock sculpture that would illustrate different departments of a company. I have infrastructure, distribution and IT represented.


text:
You need an account to access this area of the site. If you do not have an account click here for registration.
Properties delivered to your inbox as soon as they are listed.
Find Out More!
To login to your listings account to edit, renew or create ads..
Go here
Ads by Google Invitation Letters Sample Letters Letter Example Microsoft Template


text:
December 15, 2011
Jay Fielder OStateIllustrated.com
Another current OSU commit that is set to take his official visit to OSU this weekend is Corsicana, Texas defensive tackle Calvin Barnett. Inside, he talks with OSI about his upcoming trip ...More... To continue reading this article you must be a member. Sign Up Now for a FREE Trial
Already a member? Click here to sign in


text:
This recipe for braised short ribs using Knorr® Demi-Glace is a great way to add flavor and profitability to your menu. Serve with mashed red potatoes to complete the dish.
5 lb Beef Oxtail, cut
0.5 cup Oil
1 tbsp SEASONING SALT
32 oz mirepoix (carrot, celery, onion)
2 cup Red wine
2 qt Knorr Demi-Glace Sauce Mix 4 x 28 OZ, prepared
2 Thyme sprigs
3 Bay leaf


text:
Junior high football star tackles a rare disease
VIdeo by Steve Myrick
This Saturday, Chris Patnaude, an Edgartown School eighth-grader and two-time team captain of the Martha's Vineyard junior high school football team, will suit up to play halfback and linebacker against Boston College High School. In a brief ceremony before the noon kickoff, Chris will share his remarkable comeback story over a much more formidable foe, a potentially fatal blood disease known as Hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES), a disease that's as hard to diagnose as it is to pronounce.
Five years ago, Chris was in a wheelchair, wondering if he'd ever walk again. Despite the pricking and prodding of countless diagnostic tests, the doctors at Children's Hospital in Boston couldn't figure out why he was in constant pain, sometimes so much that he couldn't be touched. They couldn't figure out why his legs were swollen to twice their normal size, why he had fluid in his lungs that made breathing and swallowing difficult, or why he had skin rashes that burned and migraines that constantly hammered at his skull.
Eventually, Chris was diagnosed with Hypereosinophilic syndrome. According to the Mayo Clinic, "HES refers to a group of blood disorders that occur when you have high numbers of eosinophils — white blood cells that play an important role in your immune system. Over time, these high numbers of eosinophils enter various tissues, causing inflammation and eventually damaging your organs, most commonly targeting the skin, lung, heart, blood and nervous system. Hypereosinophilic syndrome can become life-threatening if not treated."
It's been a long road back for Chris Patnaude. It's hard to believe, watching him bark encouragement at his teammates in the waning light of a Monday afternoon practice, that a few years ago, this hale, gifted athlete with boy band good looks was in Children's Hospital in Boston wondering if he'd ever play sports again.
Mysterious malady
"The symptoms showed up when he was eight," said Chris's father, Dennis Patnaude. "We thought it was growing pains. For about a year it progressively got worse. We kept going to doctors, no one knew what was going on. That's the issue with the disease because the diagnosis period is so long. A lot of people end up with major organ damage before they come up with the diagnosis."
Despite his worsening symptoms, Chris fought doggedly to play the sports he loved. "He was at a baseball game, about to bat and he didn't look right," said Mr. Patnaude. "I suggested we get a pinch hitter but he refused. He gets walked and eventually ends up on third base. A kid hits the ball and Chris says to me, 'Dad I can't move.' So I picked him up to take him to the hospital, but he said, 'You have to hit home plate, dad.' So we touched home plate and dialed 911. They think he had a mild stroke brought on by congestive heart failure, but all he cared about was the game."
Chris described the low point in his battle with HES. "I couldn't walk because all my muscles and organs were shutting down, and I was in a wheelchair for almost a year," he said. "Some days I would wake up and I just couldn't move because my body just hurt so much. For a long time, they didn't know what it was. A lot of people die of this before they diagnose them. I'm lucky I was diagnosed."
Island recovery
The family moved from Plymouth to Martha's Vineyard when Dennis Patnaude took a job as construction manager for the new Martha's Vineyard Hospital. Chris's mother, Tanya Patnaude, said the family's move to the Island, shortly after Chris was diagnosed with HES, has been crucial to his recovery. "A lot changed when we moved here," she said. "The [Edgartown] school made him feel so comfortable. It's huge for a kid to feel safe and secure. He didn't feel like he was being judged. I think people are more accepting here. Nurse Barlett has been amazing. Doctor Goldfein at the hospital is a great pediatrician and he's become an HES expert."
The decision to let Chris go back to playing football was apparently an easy one. "Once he was on his meds and he was able to manage, we decided as a family to let Chris be Chris and do all the things he loves as long as he could," said Ms. Patnaude. "We need to put our fears and anxiety on the back burner and let Chris do what he loves. Being part of a team means so much to Chris. His football family is a huge source of strength. And they are a family. They do all kinds of things together. Coach Quinn is a very special person."
Coach Steve Quinn said that in 20 years of coaching youth football, he's never seen an athlete like his star linebacker/halfback. "Chris is the most amazing kid I've ever coached," he said. "He runs like an animal, he fights for every single yard. He's intense, he's the tone-setter for everything. When he came here, right off the bat, he was working his butt off, giving max effort all the time. I said to his dad, 'Why does he push himself like that all the time?' His dad said, 'If he stops, he'll die.' And he starts telling me about Chris."
'The most upbeat kid'
"You would never know the kind of pain this kid deals with daily," said Zeke Voight, assistant coach to Mr. Quinn and surgical assistant at Martha's Vineyard Hospital. "He's the most upbeat kid, he lives his life to the fullest every single day. He doesn't sweat the small stuff. After what he's been through, he's an inspiration to everybody."
"And he's a natural leader," said Mr. Quinn. "You can't teach that."
Chris's battle with HES is ongoing, but he's determined not to let it slow him down. "About a year and a half ago he had to go to the hospital because he had inflammation around his lungs," said Mr. Patnaude. "He went into the hospital on Monday, they kept him overnight. Then he ran the St. Patrick's day 5K for the Boys and Girls club that Saturday."
Chris decided to share his experience with HES before Saturday's game as a way to raise awareness of eosinophilic syndrome.
"When he first came, he didn't want to tell anybody about it," said Coach Quinn. "He didn't want to be treated different. But since he's excelling at such a high level, I think it's dawned on him that this is a great way to give back and help people with the disease. This was his idea."
"Some of my friends know about this disease but a lot of Vineyarders don't. It's very rare but more people are getting it, and I'd like to do something to make people aware of it," said Chris.
Real men wear hot pink
As a sign of solidarity, Chris and his teammates will wear hot pink — the color chosen for HES, and coincidentally, Chris's favorite color. "When Chris found out the disease color was pink, he was like, 'yeah!'" said Ms. Patnaude.
"Ask any of my friends, I wear pink socks, I wear a pink suit to school," said Chris with a wide grin.
"He even got a full pink body suit — a green man suit, but pink," said Ms. Patnaude. "We found out just how accepting people are here when he wore it around Edgartown during national [HES] awareness week."
At the end of Monday's practice, Coach Quinn informed his players about the pre-game ceremony being held this Saturday. He told his purple-clad charges that, to show their support for Chris, everyone was going to wear something hot pink. While it may seem a tad incongruous for a burly football coach to tell his team to wear something hot pink on game day, the idea was clearly popular with Chris's cheering teammates. "But not the helmets guys, please, they're way too expensive," said Coach Quinn.
Reader Comments
- When posting a comment you agree to our Terms of Service
- If you have questions about comments or comment policy, check out our FAQ page.


text:
President Barack Obama speaks on stage as he accepts the nomination for president during the final day of the Democratic National Convention at Time Warner Cable Arena on September 6, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Photographer: Alex Wong/Getty Images
Posted: 09/14/2012
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Kansas officials want more information before deciding whether to remove President Barack Obama from the state's November ballot.
The State Objections Board heard arguments Thursday on a claim from a Manhattan, Kan., resident that Obama is not eligible to be president because his father was from Kenya. The resident, Joe Montgomery, also questions whether Obama has a valid birth certificate.
The president released a copy of his long-form birth certificate last year, and Hawaii officials have verified his citizenship repeatedly.
But the Kansas board -- made up of the secretary of state, attorney general and lieutenant governor -- said Thursday it wants certified documents from Hawaii and two other states where similar questions about Obama's citizenship have been raised.
The board plans to meet again Monday and may rule then.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
More Political News
Salary hikes for Maryland's next governor, members of the General Assembly and other statewide officials elected next year are set to be decided next week by two compensation commissions specially appointed for this task.


text:
Maroon |
Save page Remove page | Previous | 1 of 20 | Next |
small (250x250 max)
medium (500x500 max)
large ( > 500x500)
Full Resolution
All (PDF)
This page
Loading content ...
The MAROON Vol. 64, No. 13 Loyola University, New Orleans, Louisiana 70118 January 24, 1986 University tightens belt as fiscal woes continue Reaching new heights By Becky Westerlund News Editor Loyola faces difficult budgetary problems, the Rev. James C. Carter, S.J., university president, said in his State of the University address Jan. 15. A $1 million loss of state aid and a drop in enrollment are the major problems affecting the operating budget, Carter said. These problems, along with economic depression in New Orleans, declining revenue in the local broadcasting industry, lower family incomes and federal student aid cuts have hurt the university, he said. This possible shortfall could amount to about $2.5 million which would be a severe blow to Loyola's endowment, he said, adding that a loss of this amount in the operating budget could be equal to taking about $50 million out of the endowment. The overall financial position of the university remains good, however, with assets which are strong in relation to the annual operating budget, Carter said. All state aid to private universities was eliminated from the 1985-86 state fiscal budget in the summer of 1985. Carter said the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities still is working toward restoring state funds to the university, but efforts have not been successful. Oil and gas exploration in Louisiana is at a standstill, he said, bringing hard times to this area, which is reliant on the industry. The effects are being felt in the state treasury as well as in the city of New Orleans. Dr. William W. Eidson, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said the oil glut is an accident of overproductionoverproduction and distribution that should vanish within two to three years. He called current difficulties a "local, lime- dependent problem." Loyola's broadcast operations in New Orleans and Lafayette are doing as well as ever in their audience share, but advertising dollars are scarce locally, Carter said. The broadcast industry currently is having national as well as local problems, he said. Student enrollment is expected to decrease next fall, a result of phasing out Loyola's dental hygiene program, the graduation of former Dominican College students who had transferred here, a declining college-age population, tuition increases, decline in family incomes and Reagan's student-aid cuts, Carter said. Retention problems also have had an adverse effect on enrollment, he said, adding that plans are underway to address the problem in-depth. A six-percent drop in enrollment from fall 1985 to fall 1986 has been projected. In a letter to the faculty, Carter outlined the increase of faculty and staff members from fall 1980 to fall 1984, and how enrollment for fall 1986 is projected to return to 1980 levels. "There will be fewer students to serve, and it appears that there will be no increase in salary funds available for the coming year," he said. "On the other hand, we are committed to salary increases." At the address. Carter said that with the present salary figures, there is no money available for salary increases. He said he is considering decreasing the size of faculty and staff next year, but no definite plans have been made. Construction on the theater wing of the Communications/Music Complex was completed during the semester break. This archway is now Loyola's signature at the corner of Calhoun Street and St. Charles A venue. —I'huio by Michael 11. Kleinschrmti Gambling: just Curad, not cure-all ROLLING THE DICE By Rene Sanchez Editor in Chief New Orleans is a festering wound filled with the salt of a deplorable educational system and rising unemployment, a city with an economy bleeding to the brink of bankruptcy. And legalized gambling will only serve as a band-aid. Such is the opinion of Dr. Stan Makielski, an associate professor of political science on campus who specializes in urban studies. "It may stop the bleeding, but it won't cure the wound," Makielski said of gambling in the Crescent City. 'Mf we don't want to end up with scars, we've got to do more than slap on a bandage." Casino gambling as well as a lottery are quick-fix solutions for an economically depressed metropolis such as New Orleans, Makielski said. "At this stage, though, every little bit would help," he said. "The city is facing a major financial crisis, and there is no sign of improvement." Earlier this month, Gov. Edwin W. Edwards proposed to legalize casino and cruise-ship gambling in the New Orleans area and create a statewide lottery, a move he predicted will bring in $250 million a year for ihe state and produce about 100,000 new jobs. His controversial suggestion will reach the state Legislature during a special session scheduled to begin Feb. 2. Nevada and New Jersey are the only states that now serve as settings for sdfsdfsd This is the first installment in a twopart series examine the potential impact legalized casino gambling and a lottery could have on the state, the city and the campus. casino gambling, primarily in cities such as Las Vegas and Atlantic City. "But those are relatively small communities," Makielski said, "so I don't think it's useful to compare what might be in New Orleans to them. If you took gambling out of Las Vegas, there would be nothing, except a gas station or two." Without relevant comparisons, predicting legalized gambling's impact on an established city is difficult, MaSielski said. Major cities, though, tend to absorb a significant change such as gambling with many people hardly noticing a change has occurred, he said. "Since the governor's proposal would be limited, 1 don't see it making a massive difference," Makielski said. "It might not produce the revenue hoped for. Remember, the world's fair was an incredible disappointment." But gambling could be successful here if regulated properly, he said. "A lot comes down to technical things: What kind of state control would be instituted? Would ownership be public record? And would those See Budget /page 7 See N.O. Gambling/page 4
Object Description
Title | Maroon |
Masthead | The Maroon Vol. 64 No. 13 |
Publisher | Loyola University (New Orleans, La.) |
Coverage | United States; Louisiana; New Orleans; |
Date | 1986-01-24 |
Type | Text |
Source | Loyola University New Orleans Special Collections & Archives (http://library.loyno.edu/research/speccoll/) New Orleans, LA |
Format | TIFF |
Subject | Loyola University (New Orleans, La.) |
Rights | Digital rights are held by Loyola University New Orleans. Copyright is retained in accordance with U.S. copyright law. |
Creator | Loyola University (New Orleans, La.) |
Relation-Is Part Of | http://www.louisianadigitallibrary.org/cdm/search/collection/LOYOLA_UMN |
Language | en |
Digitized By | BSLW |
Digitized Date | 2012-2013 |
Contact Information | For information or permission to use/publish, contact: mailto:firstname.lastname@example.com |
Rating |
Post a Comment for Maroon


text:
Because Knetbooks knows college students. Our rental program is designed to save you time and money. Whether you need a textbook for a semester, quarter or even a summer session, we have an option for you. Simply select a rental period, enter your information and your book will be on its way!
Chapter 1. Strategic Staffing
Chapter 2. Business and Staffing Strategies
Chapter 3. The Legal Context
Chapter 4. Strategic Job Analysis and Competency Modeling
Chapter 5. Forecasting and Planning
Chapter 6. Sourcing: Identifying Recruits
Chapter 7. Recruiting
Chapter 8. Measurement
Chapter 9. Assessin... MORE
Chapter 10. Assessing Internal Candidates
Chapter 11. Choosing and Hiring Candidates
Chapter 12. Managing Workforce Flow
Chapter 13. Staffing System Evaluation and Technology


text:
I am the drummer for the Nashville Metal band RISING FROM RUIN facebook.com/risingfromruin reverbnation.com/risingfromruin
No matches found.
The SouthComm Set Nfocus | The City Paper | LEO Weekly | NashvillePost.com | Medical News Papers
All contents © 1995-2013
City Press LLC, 210 12th Ave. S., Ste. 100, Nashville, TN 37203. (615) 244-7989.
All rights reserved. No part of this service may be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of City Press LLC,
except that an individual may download and/or forward articles via email to a reasonable number of recipients for personal, non-commercial purposes.
Powered by Foundation


text:
Regional News
SGMHS graduates inspire teacher to return after stroke
Wednesday, 11 December 2013 08:32
In Lincoln Heights: 'Rooted in the Heart of Jesus'
Wednesday, 11 December 2013 08:32
Sacred Heart HS students' films capture awards, prestige
Wednesday, 11 December 2013 08:32
Celebrating the strong faith of the Ugandan Martyrs
Wednesday, 11 December 2013 08:32
In Downey: 'I've had a good life'
Wednesday, 11 December 2013 08:32
Neither forceps nor accidents nor cerebral palsy have deterred Dr. Maria French from a life of faith and service.
More Articles...
Member Login
Latest Events
- Hayden Christmas Pageant
December 12, 2013 (8:30 AM)
- Nazareth House Auxiliary Christmas Luncheon & Card Party
December 12, 2013 (11:30 AM)
- Good Shepherd 90th Anniversary
December 12, 2013 (7:30 PM)
Prayer of the Month
Papal intentions for November: That priests who experience difficulties may find comfort in their suffering, support in their doubts, and confirmation in their fidelity. That as fruit of the continental mission, Latin American Churches may send missionaries to other Churches.Papal intentions for December: That children who are victims of abandonment or violence may find the love and protection they need. That Christians, enlightened by the Word incarnate, may prepare humanity for the Savior's coming.


text:
Scent-Lok® Savanna Vigilante™ Jackets for Men
Sale price: Clearance price: Starting at: Sale starting at: Clearance starting at: Reg. price:
- Lightweight two-way stretch fabric
- Carbon Alloy™ for maximum scent control
- Paneled shoulders and chest
- Drawcord closure
- Zip chest and side pockets with zipper pulls
- Helps reduce odors; does not guarantee 100% odor elimination
Carbon Alloy delivers Triple Threat Odor Control!
Activated carbon: universally recognized by scientists as the most effective odor adsorbent, activated carbon remains at the core of our technology
Zeolite: with its ability to adsorb smaller odor molecules better than carbon, zeolite extends the scent control spectrum further than ever before
Treated Carbon: the treated carbon particles in Carbon Alloy™ can adsorb up to 300% more targeted odors than untreated carbon alone
Manufacturer style #: 7410.
Scent-Lok Savanna Vigilante Pants for Men sold separately and can be found through item search for number 1904981
Rated 4.6 out of 5 by 5
Rated 4 out of 5 by tim13803 Great for warmer weather
Great for early season bow hunting. Lightweight, loose enough to wear layers but not too loose where it interferes with drawing your bow. Definitely not for use when weather gets colder though.
November 1, 2012
Rated 5 out of 5 by Tbuc Vigilante
Great coat. Quiet. Quality. Opening for harness strap is awesome
October 27, 2012
Rated 5 out of 5 by razorbackhuntr Super bow hunting jacket
comfortable, excellent scent inhibiting jacket, excellent maneurability
October 23, 2012
Rated 5 out of 5 by ahigh just what i was looking for
nice feel and fit. Can be used as outer jacket or layering.
October 3, 2012


text:
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Who is Your Counselor?
"Well... only have one woman, don't smoke or drink alcohol, and eat one bowl of oatmeal for breakfast every morning."
Words of wisdom in my mind.
Feeling convicted for serving cold cereal most mornings, which happen to be a fave for most of my kids, I resolved to serve oatmeal more often. Two weeks passed before I finally made it for breakfast-- better late than never. The pot of oatmeal was finished-- mission accomplished.
I found out that Rachel and Anna had thumbed their noses up at it. When I asked them about it, they came up with many excuses for not eating it so I simply said that they had to have a small bowl for their snack. Reluctantly they ate a small bowl with sweet milk on it. Mission accomplished--- this Mom fed all her kids oatmeal-- so why didn't I feel too good about it?
Why did I make such a big deal about them eating it? Was it really about making sure they reaped the benefits of eating the oatmeal? They are my best eaters (eating more fruits and veggies than any other child) so why should I make them eat one of the few things that they dislike? Why did I sometimes interpret what my girls do as an "adoption related issue" when in fact every child does it? Why don't I make Adam or Caleb eat borscht now that they have tried it and said they don't like it? Maybe I was the one who was in the wrong.
You can say, I called my Counselor.
I confessed everything to Him and He agreed that I should apologize to my girls for having them eat the oatmeal. I should let them know how I was wrong and how I wouldn't make them eat oatmeal again if they didn't want to. I should ask them to forgive me.
I pulled them aside and pretended that I had to tell them something that I had seen them do. Probably my way of "breaking the ice." They were a bit worried that they were in trouble so when I told them that it was me who wanted to apologize for the oatmeal incident they were all smiles-- and quick to forgive.
Lisa said...
So, what is it about your family that is different enough to bring about these changes in Galina? I'm not being sarcastic, I really want to know. I have a almost 17 yo son, adopted at 9 mos thru the US foster care system. He's wanted a new family for years - and I know he'd go absolutely anywhere with anyone to have it. His bio sister (adopted at the same time - 12 1/2 mos older than him) won't say it, but she feels the same. She was recently dx'd with BPD and we grieve for both of their futures. After years and years of intense work, therapy - and ultimately, rejection, we are distancing ourselves emotionally from them both as they near 18. I will always wonder if I had thrown in the towel years ago, if they might have had a better, healthier relationship with another family. I loved them too much to give up, but maybe that was selfish as well. I just wondered, from your perspective, what the difference is. Can she truly love all of you when she's not been able to love her family of 6 years?Also, do you believe in therapy for any of your kids? You've never mentioned it (as far as I remember) and just wondered what your opinion of it was. I'm not thrilled with it since it's not worked so far (after many years, and many different therapists), but we feel it's necessary since our two challenging kids have made comments like, "I will make sure I get a new family - no matter what it takes" or "I wish you hadn't adopted any of us, I will make sure we are all taken away". Scary stuff.
January 24, 2011 3:43 AM
Anonymous said...
This is not meant to be offensive and I hope it not too personal, please excuse me if is...I was just wondering if any of the children you have adopted, from disruptions or on your own, have received any professional help adjusting? I'm not asking for names or specific situations....it just seems hard to believe that you have adopted several children from disruptions, that were obviously happening for valid reasons, and that the children would turn around and fit and act so differently in your home... I'm just wondering if you and family have ever utilized services available and if so what and have they helped? or ever considered doing so....Just wondering if like the rest of us, you need some help from time to time(or if this is not the case, why do you think your children behave so differently in your family?)I haven't seen much on your blog about this topic (outside help) and it might be sensitive so I apologize if it is, but i was curious. Thanks!
January 21, 2011 8:13 PM
Stephanie said...
Congrats!!! Just curious.. what country was Galina from? I'd also like to hear your thoughts on outside therapy. Our foster son is in it and I feel like it's making things worse.. but the agency is "making" us take him.
January 24, 2011 8:00 AM
Holly said...
So often Christine, I read and don't comment simply because I just don't know what to say.I am so sad for Galina's other family, they must have so many broken dreams. I see that many of your readers are intrigued with what it is about you and John that allows wounded children to thrive in your home when they have failed in other homes. I'm not sure if that is something that you feel like writing about but as you know there sure are a lot of families who WANT to make it work and are struggling.Whatever it is, I call it a GIFTING from the Lord, I am thankful that You have hearts for parenting...hurt children especially. Blessings,Holly
January 24, 2011 11:25 AM
I figured I would group these four comments together since they seem to be asking the same questions.
Yes, our family receives counseling from our Heavenly Father. He is very much a huge part of our lives-- He is who John and I turn to countless times a day. He not only provides solid words of wisdom to live by, but He is the only One who actually is what He desires for us. Outside of Him, we do not seek additional therapy. Not only have we seen how little it actually helps when talking to some other families, but for John and I-- He changed us in ways that therapy could never have. Why would we seek out anything else at this point? With that said, we have seen two different psychologists at diferent times for two of our children at the advice of the school-- both with differing opinions. Which one is right, and why would we trust one over another-- and why would we go with either of them when our God has never failed us before? Oh, and we are not against medication either-- been there done that. But what little improvement we saw did not outweigh the side effects. Live and learn.
As for why our three girls (adopted through a disruption) are doing so well in our family-- well we do just that-- make them know and feel like they are in this family-- forever and ever and ever. This can be so incredibly hard to do because it requires tearing down our own feelings of failure when things are not going so well, our own feelings of rejection, our own feelings of inadequacy, our own feelings of saying the wrong things, doing the wrong things--- but we have to do it. AND NO MATTER WHAT WE DO NOT LET OUR CHILDREN'S PAST DECLARE WHO THEY ARE TODAY AND WHO THEY ARE GOING TO BE TOMORROW.
That means-- no excuses. Period.
So you were abused in the past. Let's talk about it, come to terms about it, pray about it, talk about it some more, pray about it some more, learn from it, and come out stronger in the end. Let's all agree that you have seen some of the worst in people but let's conquer with love anyway. With God anything is possible. Let's choose love... forgiveness... and count the blessings we have today. What we can't do is use their abuse as an excuse for them to treat me like I am the enemy. That doesn't give them the okay to curl up into a little ball in the corner from me like I am going to beat them when I raise my voice to them just because they don't like what I am saying. After all, they are the one who lied, or "forgot" how to wipe off the table, or chose to disobey when they knew better. (But at the same time, raising my voice is something I have to work on.) That means that they can't misinterpret my refusal to give them a second piece of cake as witholding food from them just because they had to beg for food at one point in their lives. I promise the cake will be their tommorow-- just take a chance and trust me.
So you didn't get to celebrate many of your past birthdays. I am so sorry, and I wish I could have been there for you to let you know how much you were loved even then-- but not having very many birthday celebrations before doesn't give you the excuse to be entitled to numerous gifts now to make up for lost time, or be ungrateful for not getting what you always wanted, or acting like a brat because you never learned how to handle being the center of attention, or have a birthday celebration at all if you have lied, disobeyed, and lived in opposite land for the past few months. (At the same time, I have to constantly be asking God to work on my heart like in the case with Annalyn's birthday.)
I think you get the picture. Now that may sound really harsh to some, but you asked-- and it works-- and by not enabling our children to live in their past we are freeing/enabling them to live for their future! Some things you just have to let go of or they will eat you up and prevent you from accepting the love of a family. I remind my girls of this often because I don't think they should deny themselves from forming healthy, long lasting relationships with God, with us, with their future spouses... children.
In addition to parenting this way, we have tried to live our our lives parenting outside of conflict before it happens. This is where adopting through a disruption has its advantages. When you adopt from an orphanage you don't really get an accurate picture of your child's behavior. For the most part, that kind of information is glossed over or omitted all together. But when you adopt from a disruption you will most likely hear everything-- not always but most times. This gives you the chance to address behaviors before they happen-- the real question is though-- do you have the guts? Or do you fear rejection, saying the wrong things, and conflict in general? This is where you have to be the parent and step up to the plate. Sadly, this is where I see most adoptive parents fail.
Trust me, I don't have all the answers and though we are thriving-- it does not mean that we do not struggle from time to time. We go through our seasons. We sometimes get so caught up in the behaviors that we lose sight of what is important and why we are doing what we are doing. I myself forget that God is right there with me, and I cause myself frustration and grief that I could have went through with Him or avoided all together.
And that is where grace comes in. I ask for it daily-- actually numerous times a day. I give it to my kids daily. That means not keeping a record of wrong. Not completely forgetting, but completely forgiving. That means not reacting until you have walked away from the situation for awhile and cooled down. I promise that if you walk away, and simply call out to God, when you come back you will be less angry... cooler.... calmer... and what seemed like a big deal won't be anymore.
Now does what all I have said mean that I only think there is one way to raise kids (No) or am I just speaking from our own experience? (Yes) Do I think less of someone who benefits from seeing a pyschologist? (No) Would I be willing to change how we do things if I saw that my children needed something more? (Yes)
Anonymous said...
Do you normally punish all your children when one does something wrong? That seems very unfair, especially when you already know which one did it. I mean, it's good that you convinced her to own up to it, but punishing all of her siblings because of her failure to 'confess' just doesn't seem right.
January 24, 2011 7:05 AM
First of all I am not answering this question because I feel like I have to defend myself, but I would like to help you understand why I do this. Have you ever heard of Adam and Eve? Did their sin not pave the way for all of us? And what about if someone in a company embezzles hundreds of thousands of dollars? Do you think that no one else in the company doesn't get punished when they don't get the bonus they had been promised? And what about if a spouse cheats and brings home a sexually transmitted disease-- is that fair? The fact is-- sin does not play fair. And sin affects everyone it touches. So maybe it seemed unfair, but it is how I have handled situations like these before we even adopted for the first time. And it has cut down on lying incidents quite a bit because facing "wronged" siblings just isn't fun.
Proverbs 28:13 He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
P.S. Galina is from Russia.
36 comments:
- Amy said...
No worries about the punishing all of them thing! Anybody who has ever worked with kids knows that sometimes everyone has to face the consequences or NOBODY will learn!
- January 25, 2011 at 9:00 PM
- steph said...
In a world where many feel it permissible to not admit to their mistakes and wrongdoings, I think it is very appropriate and necessary to teach children as soon as possible about this. If a child is on the receiving end of a punishment and is "innocent", they begin to understand how someone may feel when they make a poor choice and put another innocent party in an unfair situation. This provides a great opportunity to teach empathy. It gives the innocent party a chance to offer forgiveness for an offense. Both empathy and forgiveness are vital characteristics of those who are peaceful and happy. When we learn that our actions directly impact others around us, that our lives are intertwined with many others, we begin to see the big picture. Teaching a child to take accountability in a situation that Christine presents offers the child a chance for personal growth and development. Later in life, when mistakes may be bigger and the stakes may be higher, this will have provided a chance to practice doing the right thing. The child will then be aware that their mistakes affect many, that they have the power within to admit to their wrongdoing and rise above the situation and then ask forgiveness and right the wrong because, years before, they had a chance to rehearse this. Go Christine!
- January 25, 2011 at 9:28 PM
- Mama in Uganda said...
AMEN, amen, amen!
We too rely 100% on the Counselor.
He has never failed us.
Is always ready to fill us with wisdom and insight.
And is the only One who brings healing and restoration.
Summer - January 25, 2011 at 10:01 PM
- MommaMindy said...
Christine, thank you for continuing to be so honest in your dealings with your children. I appreciate you answering in Biblical wisdom and not feeling defensive when asked personal questions. It is part of the ministry and I appreciate it. When we shut ourselves up and portray ourselves as those perfect Christians, we are not being honest and we are not opening ourselves up for encouragement and help from others, nor will they seek it from us.
As I read about some of the agonies adoptive moms have felt, I want to say I don't think it's always an adoptive issue only, it is a parenting issue. I heard a 90 year old woman (believer) confess that she and her daughter (another wonderful believer) are just not kindred spirits. They love each other very much, but aren't close.
I have six birth kids, and have six different relationships with all of them. I had one child who never voiced it, but didn't want to be in my family. She did not like me very much at all. I prayed and prayed and prayed. The Lord changed her heart, and she loves me deeply now. Keep on, Moms, loving and praying and loving and praying! You may not see fruit for awhile, but it will come in the Lord's timing! - January 25, 2011 at 10:40 PM
Hi!Thanks for answering the questions I know it can be hard. Turn to the Lord for all your needs and HE will guide you in the right direction.He is the guiding light of the world -the great counselor.When one follows in the path he wants one to travel it will always be right.. It may not be the path one wants to take but if one takes the Lord's path it will always be right.I feel you have traveled the Lord's path for your family. May God continue to bless you as you travel on your journey with Him, Blessings Pat
- January 26, 2011 at 1:37 AM
- Tia said...
A word on the disruptions bit and how children can settle so readily with the new family.
I had a foster child (I've had lots, it's what I do - but this is one particular child). She came to me suddenly, but I was prepared to have her for the duration. However, she came kicking and creaming into our family, and she stayed mad. Everything in her blamed me for the move from her previous life, and everything in her rejected any kind of suggestion that this was her family now. I don't want to go into the details; there were times when things were good but mainly they weren't. It really wasn't her fault at all, but she wasn't ever going to settle into our family. So, eventually, we had to make the decision that she should move on. And, just like that, as she left us, so she left behind all her troublesome behaviours. Her new family were able to start again, wipe the slate clean. They knew everything which had happened, and she knew they knew, but she was able to leave it all with me. I now see myself as her bridge - we weren't supposed to be her family, we were a safe place for her to work through all her anger and fury and disappointment and resentment and fear. Not fun for me, but then that's why I'm the grown up - I can handle it. And now she's a beautiful young woman with a wonderfully supportive family behind her.
Sometimes, it really is as simple as that - the move creates the break.
I wouldn't recommend it all the time in all circumstances, of course. But there times when it has to happen, however much we might wish things to be otherwise. - January 26, 2011 at 3:02 AM
- Annie said...
I don't think "group punishment" would be effective used day in and day out, but in a classroom, too, it sometimes valuable. (Peer pressure to do right, is a great tool!) But, also, we DO all suffer for one another's failures. That's a "real life" lesson. And going to bed early is not the end of the world (Oh, would that I had that opportunity some day!!!)
Counselors are certainly a crapshoot, as they say. I've found them to be extraordinarily expensive for very little payback, and if you get the wrong one (and not all of them are good, or a good fit for any particular situation) it can be a complete waste of time, money and emotion - or even make things worse.
That said, I've gotten HUGE benefit from finding resources on-line who specialize in the issues that my children have. I understand them a lot better and have realized that occasionally what they need is contrary to typical parenting advice. - January 26, 2011 at 3:16 AM
- Lisa said...
Christine, this is one of the best posts you have ever written! You are so inspirational. I look forward to reading about each and every one of your children growing up to be wonderful adults, just like their parents! God bless you!
- January 26, 2011 at 5:33 AM
- The Beaver Bunch said...
Ah. One of our kids has some sensory issues. Without going into a lot of detail, I will say I struggle with it quite a bit.
The personality of this child is compulsive and I struggle to find a balance between helping the child cope with sensory stuff and understanding that I don't really "get" what it means to be oversensitive, without feeding the child's compulsions.
You know? For the most part, I treat the child like a normal child and make the child do/experience/taste/touch all the things I expect the other to do.
But it's a balancing act, knowing if I push the child too far that it takes an hour or more to calm the child back down.
Thanks for your perspective. I agree that having your kids work through their issues and not catering to their past fears is healthy. - January 26, 2011 at 5:59 AM
I love what the foster mother wrote about how she was a bridge. Really insightful. I totally agree, sometimes a power struggle has gone on for so long, that there is almost no way to break it, and a new person benefits from simply not being THAT person. Thanks for including all the questions, Christine, very interesting. I agree about psychologists, some are fantastic, and some are a waste of time. I think you know within one visit, so if they don't knock your socks off at the first visit, I wouldn't go back. I enjoy your blog!
Victoria - January 26, 2011 at 7:32 AM
- Mike and Christie said...
Christine, I think we have the same counselor! LOL :)
We have been asked the same questions and our answers are similar. Sometimes it is just hard work and a lot of listening, mercy, grace, and looking to the future.
I love the quote from the kid's movie "The Secret of Roan Inish"....
The East is our Future and the West is the Past, The Island is to the West." (You'd have to see the movie to understand it) but it means, you look ahead and you don't look back. :) I think there is biblical principle there too. I can think of Lot and His wife who were commanded to not look back at the destruction of the city.... She looked back and it destroyed her.
While the Past in our children's lives certainly has effect on them, it doesn't define, mold or shape them; and then there is the God factor! :)
Wow, what changes take place in a person's life when they turn their hurts over to the only one who truly understands! - January 26, 2011 at 7:51 AM
- The McEacherns said...
Sounds like our church's current mission statement: loving people to life. I think you guys are doing an amazing job. Keep it up!
- January 26, 2011 at 7:55 AM
- :)De said...
Very nice. Your answers are powerful and I can appreciate the belief of not letting our children's past delare their future. Very well said!
Peace - January 26, 2011 at 7:59 AM
- La viudita del Conde Laurel said...
Therapy is not the silver bullet a lot people seem to think it is. It's not for everyone, not for every situation, not for every stage in life, etc. I'll be the first to admit that psychotherapy and psychiatry have helped me tremendously, but it's not a magic trick, and sometimes it takes effort you're in no position to make.
I agree that punishing everyone for the mistakes of one can seem unnecessarily harsh, but like another commenter said, empathy needs to be learned as well - in an early age, when the stakes aren't as high.
In short, I agree with a lot of what you wrote today.
PS, Tia's post was very insightful as well. - January 26, 2011 at 8:50 AM
- FaerieMama said...
All I can say is....AMEN!
- January 26, 2011 at 9:06 AM
- Rachel said...
Great post! I never thought about the benefits of punishing all if one doesn't confess (even if you know who it is), but I agreed 100% with your reasons for it and can see them benefitting from it and facing future problems differently because of the lessons learned while they're young. Although it may seem unfair, life often isn't. You're doing them a great service.
- January 26, 2011 at 9:42 AM
- Wondering said...
Thank you for this. I needed to hear this today. Seriously. Your views on adoption and past abuse and discipline can also relate to parenting kids with medical issues. I really, really needed to hear that today. Thank you.
- January 26, 2011 at 10:19 AM
- Donna said...
Thanks for some wonderful insights. Though I have parented longer than you, you beat me at length of parenting kids from the hard places!
We have thought a couple of time of adopting out of a disruption, thanks for sharing some good ideas.
And I agree our wonderful Counselor is always the best place to go first. - January 26, 2011 at 10:22 AM
- Happymom4 aka Hope Anne said...
We prayed several times about counseling in the past for our Dd when we were still in the throws of horrible days with her. Every time, God said, "NO". We dug deeper with Him, and progress came. Not as fast as we would have liked, but it did come. She is now almost 11, and blooming. She's saved, and that has made THE BIGGEST change in her. I am not against counseling, but I think in our case it would have only delayed the inevitable--she HAD to learn to depend on us and trust us, and she had to feel we were the beginning and the end so to speak--not that just POSSIBLY she could con a counselor into her wants and demands. I take no credit for her thriving with us. I didn't have what it took to make that happen--but God taught us and showed us, and there times that honestly, I think ONLY God could have given us the words and insights into her that He did.
- January 26, 2011 at 10:37 AM
- waitingarms said...
Thanks for answering the questions that I had – I have always been curious why your kids from disruptions do much better in your home, but never thought it was my place to ask the question!
I think people have problems with the issue of fairness stemming from the mistaken belief that fairness is a human right (think of all the kids who get a trophy simply because they signed up for a sport, regardless of their individual effort)! And, people are actually under the notion that life is fair (it is not)! In my prior life as a teacher, nothing used to ensure compliance and excellent classroom control than strategies utilizing collective responsibility (like a table of kids not getting special treats if everyone on the table was not attentive and well behaved). Worked like magic (and better than any other strategy I had learned about classroom control)! Kids would glare at a misbehaving peer to ensure that they complied so that their group could get a special treat!
I agree with you about counseling –we are currently going through our son's IEP process and three different "experts" did the same testing coming up with three totally different diagnosis (all I could think is that psychology is either a very inexact science, or the diagnosis depends on the what is at stake for the professionals –i.e what services they do or do not want to provide, or sadly that the pre-existing biases of the "professionals" like on race or gender inform what their diagnosis will be). So if one professional is right and the other two are wrong, then how can we seriously take the "help" of the other two!
I think we also use the crutch of adoption issues to set different expectations (lower) for our adopted kids because it is easier to go there than expend the sweat and tears required to deal with it as a sin issue. I also think sometimes we spend too much time over analyzing and labeling our kids' behaviors that we miss the point that each of our kids is simply a fallible, fallen human being and our job as parents is to train them up so that their wills are conformed to Christ. Just my two cents! Love your family and your parenting philosophy! - January 26, 2011 at 12:13 PM
- Christian gal issues said...
Tia, loved your post.
Christine you do not have to answer for punishing all your children at once. We all have our own way of doing what works for our family. thank you for being honest.
This is a recipe for Oatmeal Bake. It is quick, easy and you make it the night before. This serves 8, so obviously you will have to adjust. It is loved even by the pickiest of eaters :)
1/2 C oil
3/4 C brown sugar
2 eggs
1 C milk
1/2 t salt
3 C oats
3/4 C raisins (optional)
Mix all ingredients, except cinn. into a 9X13 pan. sprinkle with cinnamon. cover with foil and leave in the fridge over night.
In the morning, turn oven on to 350and bake for 30 min. serve!! YUM! - January 26, 2011 at 12:33 PM
- Debbie said...
Hey Christine -
So good to hear you explain your philosophy! We just went to an adoption class on Saturday that rubbed my husband and I the wrong way. It was all about making sure that the schools and teachers don't do anything that might make your adoptive child feel different. But they are different! We don't feel children should be so babied - better to deal wisely with the hand you are dealt than to pretend you got a different hand. Confidence and self-esteem come from overcoming adversity, not from your parents telling you how bad they feel for you. - January 26, 2011 at 1:18 PM
- mommytoalot said...
Everyone parents differently. Schools punish the entire class if the "culprit" doesn't fess up.
I am glad your" counsellor" works for you and I am happy that all of your children do well in your home.
Like people often tell me.."you can't save the world"...you certainly are doing well with each and every one of your children.
I wish that prayer alone would work however..it takes a lot if your spiritual eyes ears and heart are not "open"....
My supports are different, other foster parents and parents going through similar situations . My children have had counselling in the past with no success..however I believe you have to be open to being helped..
Also as foster parents we must follow extremely strict guidelines to discipling children. Often times we are not even allowed to take them to church. So as a mixed family of sorts...i try to use the same discipline for all the children so none of them get mixed up.
..sorry for the ramblings..
Lisa - January 26, 2011 at 1:29 PM
Christine, I love this post!!!
Helps other families so much!
I really appreciate it more than you will ever know.
You two are wonderful parents and now, with your help, some of us have a chance to be wonderful parents too one day.
Nina - January 26, 2011 at 1:45 PM
- Emily said...
Have you ever considered writing a book for adoptive parents? It seems if you shared some of this advice with other families, perhaps it could help their adoption to turn out better too (then again, you do share it here, which helps, too.)
Also, my first thought when I was reading the questions of how you can do it and others can not was - there is so much love in your family! I've read blogs of other large families, and a lot of them seem more like a daycare center, or even an orphanage, but your family is a "regular" family that is just larger than most. You and John know each of your children and you celebrate with them and you discipline them, and you love them all!
Keep up the good work! Keep changing lives - in your own family and in the lives of the adoptive families around you! - January 26, 2011 at 1:57 PM
- Piano Safari said...
Thanks for this great post. I think that one of the reasons you have not had to use outside counseling is that you yourself have a really wise and discerning counseling gift. I've been blown away sometimes at descriptions of how you dealt with various situations, because you don't just deal with the behavior, but with the motivations and motivations behind the behaviors, getting to the root of the problem rather than just dealing with the behavior that results. God looks at the heart, and He cares about our attitudes, not just our actions, and I think maybe you have so much success with your kids because you focus on the heart attitudes rather than just hte behavior. Just my observation. Congratulations on adopting your new daughter!
Julie - January 26, 2011 at 2:14 PM
- Pam said...
That was a fantastic post Christine! I couldn't agree with you more.
- January 26, 2011 at 2:29 PM
- Expat Mom said...
Great post! I think anyone who questions your parenting methods should read the rest of your blog . . . you may struggle sometimes, but I see a family that is incredibly well adjusted and flexible and most of all, loving. If it works, why question it?! And your method obviously do work.
You make me feel like a better mom for some of the things I do . . . things that aren't "fair" but in the long run I feel they will help my children understand that their actions have consequences. Thanks for your encouragement . . . even if you didn't realize you were encouraging! - January 26, 2011 at 3:43 PM
- Elaine said...
Christine, I appreciate you so very much! What an encouraging post! God bless your beautiful family!
- January 26, 2011 at 7:22 PM
- Karen said...
This was a great post! We view things very much the same! Can't wait to read more :)
- January 26, 2011 at 8:12 PM
- csmith said...
I have read about and talked to quite a few families involved in adoption disruptions. Several of them have felt that the adopted child (especially if it's an older child) blamed their original adoptive parents for taking them away from their home, country, possibility of reuniting with birth parents etc. and that made bonding impossible. Then when they moved to a new family they left all of that emotional baggage behind and were much more ready to be part of the second adoptive family. Do you find that to be true? Do you have any advice on how adoptive parents can avoid having all of this "blame" laid at their feet?
- January 26, 2011 at 8:12 PM
- "Are These Kids All Yours?" said...
All I can say is WOW & AMEN! LOVE THIS POST!!!
- January 26, 2011 at 9:22 PM
- Natasha said...
Great post, Christine! I usually don't comment on your blog - I always think you have enough comments to read through by the time I'd comment! :)
You are so right. Erik and I parent our three very simularly. We teach consequances day in and day out. One kiddo with special needs, one adopted and one that's smaller equals three very different talents. I teach "YOU ARE ONE TEAM", so use your talents and get it done. I don't care who does what, but if I come home from work and the kitchen is dirty and you're sitting watching TV, there are consequances for that. We've dealt with many issues over the last couple of years, and although it was scary at first, no knowing if our beautiful Oksana would ever learn, she did. There are still things that come up, and we keep on addressing them, but making sure they understand that we still love them. You made a mistake. Fix it. Learn from it. Move forward.
Blessings to you. I grew up in a large family, being second oldest of ten kids (in Ukraine). Life was challenging back then but I'm so glad I have so many siblings now! I admire you for doing what you do. - January 26, 2011 at 10:49 PM
Great post Christine!
Your Counselor not only leads you in raising your family, but he also lead you to the perfect words for this post. Thank you for allowing us to follow your family!
Ann - January 27, 2011 at 9:27 AM
As a mental health therapist and a strong beleiver of Christ it saddens me to think that so many people do not think therapy is a good option. If your child was sick I am sure parents would take him or her to a doctor along with prayers to our Lord. I feel the same way about mental health. I am a specailsit in what I do. We as traned therapist, have 7 years of college we are not just someone with an opinion. While I think you can learn about ADD,ODD,RAD or any other diagnosis I stongly believe you cannot treat it as effectivly as a mental health professional can. God would not of placed me into this career if HE did not feel as if I could make a difference in the lives of children. I know that not everyone has a good therapist but as I tell all my client's it is like buying a pair of good shoes. Keep looking until you find the perfect fit.
I have follwed your journey for a few years and to be perfectly honest in the beginning I did not agree with your ways but God placed me in your life for a reason. And I was going to let Him lead me. I have come to respect the way you deal with opportunties that your family has been presented with and think you do a awsome job. So, the Lord is my counselor also and He placed this in my heart to share. Please if your children have a mental health disorder that needs professional guidance do not hesitate. I have been doing this a long time and I do it because of my love for the children and it is where God lead me. I would like to think that He placed me here to help :-) - January 27, 2011 at 3:13 PM
- ManyBlessings said...
This is precisely the reason I LOVE your blog. Love it.
My question, have any of your children ever been physically aggressive in the heat of discipline? If so, how do you combat that?
My new thought is that I will remove myself and pray. I'd love to hear your thoughts. And if it ever strikes you, I'd honestly love to hear more on how you deal with issues on a daily basis. You truly inspire me. Thank-you.
dawn - January 29, 2011 at 4:46 PM