So I've been hearing a lot about the upcoming movie "The DaVinci Code" on the Christian talk radio station. All this time I've been thinking to myself "what's the big deal?" Ok so yes the book portrays Jesus as an ordinary man who was not only married to Mary Magdalene but was also a "good teacher." I can see how this goes against Christian belief. It's contrary to everything the Bible teaches. The thing that bugged me so bad is this book is a work of FICTION. Why are Christians so worried about the book and upcoming movie? It's fiction. So I got me a copy of the book and read it.

It was a really interesting book, I was totally hooked. However, it is Fiction and I can see how it would be dangerous to people who are totally ignorant of history and the Bible. This book is written in a way that makes it seem real. Not to mention the disclaimer in the very front saying all Archeological, Artistic and Geographical descriptions are Factual. It's almost like the author is saying this book is "based on a true story." Well you might assume that from reading the disclaimer but it's only the authors descriptions of museums, art and cities that are real. The rest is pure fiction. Anyone prone to believing conspiracy theories would also have a field day with this book. The whole basis is that the Christian church made up the Bible to annihilate the pagan worship of the "sacred feminine." It's a great book but ridiculous to think it might be true.

Now that I've read this book I am going to get a copy of "Breaking The Davinci Code" and find out why Christians are so upset about it. I don't want to blindly take a side just because I am a Christian. Sure I think the book is full of crap but it's FICTION, it's no different than reading Curious George. Well I guess it is a lot different and it has the potential to make others believe Jesus was not God and was just an ordinary man so I better not make up my mind just yet. I'm gonna get this other book and read it first... Any thoughts?

We had a fun weekend. Saturday we played paintball. We had a group of younger kids come out for a birthday party, most of them were playing for the first time. They all had so much fun it was cute watching them get out there and play. I only got to play a few games after the kids had to leave. Emily, Logan and Brett had fun too as you can see from the pictures we took in the van on the way home. There was not one single clean spot on Logan's entire body!!!

Emily got poison ivy and we had to take her to the doctor Sunday and get her on some medicine right away. She doesn't want to miss any school and there is poison right around her eye. Poor girl she gets it every year at least a couple times a year. We made it a special day for her though. We took the boys to Grandma's house and Emily got to spend the afternoon with me and Chris all by herself. We even took her to eat at Red Lobster and then got ice cream cones (with the pointed cone as she calls them) for the ride home. It was a pretty enjoyable afternoon. We did get caught in a serious thunderstorm though. As we were walking into the doctors office it came pouring down torrential rain, accompanied by lightning and thunder. The power went off in the doctors office which freaked Emily out. It came right back on though so no worries. We got some really good rain yesterday and last night. My flowers are really starting to grow.

Oh and I almost forgot!!! Friday night we got us a pet hamster! Emily has named him Hammy Hamster. The lady at the pet store said we should give him a few days to adjust to his new home before trying to pet him or hold him so today will be the first day the kids get to pet him. We got him a little exercise ball and I'm gonna stick him in there for a while tonight and let the kids watch him run. Chris tries to act disinterested but I know he likes Hammy, he is always watching him run on his exercise wheel and commenting about the latest thing he's doing! He can't fool me :p

Brett had his ear operation done today! It only took like 15 minutes. We brought him to the surgery center and he got to change into one of those cute little gowns. They wouldn't let me go back with him and it was so sad. When the nurse was taking him away he just looked at me with the most horrified look like he was saying... "Mommy you just gonna let her take me away???" It was heartbreaking. When he woke up from the anesthetic I had to go back and get him. The nurse was holding him down cause he was kicking and screaming so much. That's my boy ;) I pity the fools who ever try to kidnap one of my kids. Brett is still little and doesn't understand but I've taught both Emily and Logan to kick, scream, claw, bite and poke eyeballs if someone tries to snatch them. Brett was just wanting his mamma back.

He couldn't have anything to eat or drink before the operation so he was really happy to get his sippy cup when we finally got out of there. We have to put drops in his ears for the next four days and he has his own special fitted earplugs. He is doing great you wouldn't even know he had anything done. Him and Logan are running around bugging Chris. They keep wanting to get in the counter Chris is cleaning. Logan also wanted me to take a picture of his dinosaurs... He's so funny he won't hold still for a normal pick but he always wants to pose with his critters.

I need some idea's. We are trying to change the structure of our Wednesday night Bible studies at church. So many people have grown bored with the way things are and attendance is slim to none. I have felt the need for a long time to change things up and try different ways of worship. I know God never changes but there is nothing wrong with changes in our activities as long as our hearts stay focused on God and whatever we are doing is for God's glory. We have a lot of elderly in our church who are set in their ways and don't want change. I'm afraid if we wait much longer to do something that our church will die. The younger generation needs to be fed too and doing the same thing for the last fifty years is starving young Christians in our church. I am not the only one who feels this need but I feel like God is wanting me to jump up and get the ball rolling.

We want to start with the youth program since Chris and I are in charge there. What do some of you do in your church for the kids that is fun and is still God centered? We have a drastic need for boy activities. The grade school boys have become so bored with church and it breaks my heart. I have two boys growing up and I want our church to provide what they need in their worship to help shape them into Godly young men. I know it starts at home but I don't want my boys to get older and dread going to church.

I could really use any advice anyone has to give. I am short most times on volunteers so group activities have to be for ages 6-16... Hopefully when we get something going more folks will want to be involved and pitch in and help. Please pray for us and our church. :)

Hope everyone had a great Easter! Emily was so cute after church she gave us a rundown on the pastor's sermon. She says, "resurrection is comin' back from bein' dead and THAT is why we get to go to Heaven." She's getting the concept but it's so funny to hear her point of view on what the preacher says. The kids got to hunt for Easter Eggs at Grandma's house after church.

I told Emily to stand by the bush in this pic but she stood IN the bush lol it turned out cute but I think the autofocus zoomed in on the flowers cause it looks a bit blurry. I love this pic.

Brett was confused about the whole Egg finding process.

Logan looks confused too... An Egg???

Emily hunting Eggs :p

Our Family picture didn't turn out good so this one will have to do. Chris took it and he does a good job. I forgot to change the setting for our family pic and it was horrible looking and by the time I realized it the kids had already changed clothes so OH Well :p

Today was a total blast!!! We had 30 plus people show up for our Easter paintball game. It was hilarious. We had Easter Eggs on the field with prize numbers in them but to get them the players had to get out in the open. I have never laughed so hard. Watching everyone out on the field scrambling for Easter Eggs was just too funny. I don't have a lot of good pictures but I have video I'm going to try to figure out how to post up here.

We held a mini-tournament to give away two paintball guns. There was one little kid who didn't have a second team mate so we stuck one of the really good guys on his team. His team got second but Chris, one of the players from the winning team gave his gun to the little boy. He was so cute. (the little boy not Chris :p)

I never found a group of people who didn't want their pictures taken as bad as these people though LOL. I had to beg and finally got most of them to let me take their picture. I even told them they could wear their masks if they wanted but they still wouldn't let me take their pictures :p Silly people.

Chris gives his prize to AJ!

These guys look bored but they were having fun they're just trying to look cool :p

Here's my group pic ;) We even had an Easter Bunny :p

Me being stupid & Sharon being Sleepy

hehe the wind kept blowing hair in our face :p I just finally cheezed and Chris took the picture... We shoulda just faced the other direction :p

In Loving Memory

Madilyne Wentz

Born: May 17, 2004 4:07 pm

7 pounds 11 oz.21 inches long
Death: April 14, 2005 9:50 am

I don't have much to say today. Emily had an upset stomach this morning but insisted once again on going to school. I gave her some motrin and pepto and let her go. I am sitting here praying for 2:00 to get here with no calls from the school nurse. I've been meaning to post these two pictures forever but keep forgetting. The first one is Emily's class picture. She is in the front row second from the left. She was so cute when she seen the picture she said, "That boy in the red shirt is Cody and he's my boyfriend." LOL I asked her if she knew what a boyfriend was and she says, "He's a boy and he's my friend." :p She's gonna have such a hard time when she's older. It's gonna take a brave boy to date a girl who's got two brothers and a Daddy who owns a gunshop. :p The next picture is the Spring school picture. She is so funny with her silly little grin. I really like these new pictures they started taking for the little kids. They look like senior pictures for grade schoolers ;)

Poor Emily :( She got sick at school yesterday right when I went to pick her up. The last ten minutes of school her teacher said she'd been complaining about her tummy hurting. Then when I showed up I she ran to the sink to get a drink and threw up instead. The whole way back to the store Emily kept telling me how she really didn't want to miss school the next day. She is so proud of her perfect attendance.

When we got to the store she threw up two more times... then when we got home she threw up three more times (once in the van yuck) and then last night at about 2am she threw up again. She hasn't had any fever or other symptoms and in between puking she feels fine. So I let her go to school today. She was a little weak from throwing up so much yesterday and not getting enough to eat but I just couldn't make her stay home and ruin her attendance. There are only a few more weeks of school, they get out May 17th so I prayed all night and all day that she would make it through the day. As long as she is there until 2:oo they won't count her absent. So everytime the phone rang I just knew it'd be the nurse. Well at 2:55 the nurse called saying Emily had a fever. God really came through for her today. We are praying again that she feels good tomorrow. If she can just make it through tomorrow and Thursday she'll be ok because there is no school Friday. So everyone pray for Emily she will be devastated if she misses a day.

So to talk about more puke Brett through up in his car seat as we were driving down the road earlier today. Poor thing I felt so bad for him. There was nothing I could do but drive home to get him cleaned up and he just looked so pitiful sitting there in a puddle of puke... And it was so gross cause he was eating Oreo's earlier... I got him all cleaned up and he just had a corn dog so I hope he doesn't get really sick. My poor kids have had the worst time the last few months. They've been sick off and on so much. We keep passing it around I guess.

Anyway I took some pictures of Brett before he puked on himself. I got him to pose in front of the flag. He did so good just standing there and letting me take his picture hehe. Usually he just runs from me when he see's I've got the camera. I can't decide which one's are the best so I'm posting them all :p They're just too cute! My little army man! Logan would only stay for one picture and he just wanted to steal Brett's Easter egg.

I'm having such a great DAY! No particular reason really I'm just HAPPY :D It's good to be happy! There's a blog I read called "The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey" well he's been talking about depression and giving some awesome advice on how to spot it and get out of it. I didn't really think I got depressed, I considered it more like mood swings but now I know better. I have read his advice and am here to say he knows what he's talking about. This guy is one smart cookie ;) Check it out and see for yourself.

Anyway I am trying to get as much done for our upcoming Easter Paintball Game this weekend. It is going to be so much fun! I wish I were playing instead of working but we're short handed on help so if I get to play it will only be sneaking in a few games. I am gonna get the video camera ready and hopefully get some footage to post on my blog. I've not tried that yet so I'm not quite sure how I'll be able to do it, any advice would be appreciated ;) I know how to make the videos just not sure how to get them on my blog.

Chris called me today just to say he loves me :p Now everyone knows he loves me ;) No hiding it now... With as much as I put him through it's amazing he hasn't stuffed me in a trunk somewhere by now :p Just kidding he'd never do that... he'd bury me with the backhoe ;) Well that's all I have to say for now so everyone HAVE A GREAT DAY! :D

I am so tired! We had a lot of fun playing paintball today. We had some help from three of the guys getting our new net put up. Our friends Chris, Aaron and Jason did a great job! We couldn't have done it without them. Now we have a new net system with pulleys that we can let down when we leave so the wind doesn't tear it up. We won't have to replace it so often this way. Here's a few pictures of the guys at work :p

Chris and Chris stretching the rope :p

Chris, Aaron & Jason nailing something :p

Chris did most of the nailing :p He went through lots of nails cause they kept bending :p

This was real funny :p Chris and Tim were holding up this pole while Chris climbed the ladder to set the rope. The pole would lean way out with Chris's weight against it on the ladder. Wish I'd have gotten a better picture because it was really funny.

This is a picture of our speedball field.

A picture of our friend Chris on the speedball field :p

Ok the two guys in the yellow are Chris on the left and Tim on the right. We were playing a game and it was me and Tim left in against each other. Chris was reffing and I ended up getting shot because I mistook Chris for Tim. I did shoot Chris in the head though :p It was an honest mistake lol look at them they look like twins.

Here's me looking really tired after playing and Brett in the background.

Brett was in awe that he got to hold the paintball gun.

Emily caught a moth but to her it was a butterfly She was very proud.

It seems strange going back to blogging as normal after my last couple posts. I originally started my blog for my Mama :D who moved to Hawaii and was feeling out of touch with me and my family. She loves seeing updates on the kids and how things are going. My Daddy commented so I see that he has finally found the time to visit me on the internet :p. I love you Dad! I know I have a lot of family members and friends who visit my blog because they care about what is going on in my life. I love that. I've started reading other peoples blogs who I don't even know and find myself drawn there every day just to see how they're doing or what funny thing their child has done today. Blogs are great! I am a blog addict.

My blog is my own for my opinions, my feelings and events taking place in my life. I think most blogs are that way. I am glad for all the comments I've received and all the folks who've disagreed with my point of view. If everyone always agrees with you how do you grow? It also helped me to search for facts. It was quite the learning experience for me.

I had the privilege to meet Rachel Sumner yesterday. I admire her in so many ways. She has been through so much and is such a strong young woman. The last few days I've been worried sick about meeting her because I didn't feel like I would say the right thing or be able to offer her any comfort. It's amazing though the way it all turned out. I think she did more to ease my mind and comfort me than I did for her. She also has an awesome family who support her and encourage her. I support her and I wish her the very best for her future. She is on a mission and I believe in her. God Bless you Rachel.

So now it's back to blogging as normal. It won't be as interesting for most of you but it's still me. :)

Brett is having tubes put in his ears Friday the 21st. He's had fluid in his ears for going on four months now so this will be good for him. It will help his balance and speech and he shouldn't get so many ear infections. It sounds like a pretty simple procedure. They will bring him in and give him a little gas to help him be still, then the doctor will make a small incision and insert the tubes. We will have to make sure he doesn't get any water in his ears so he'll have to wear ear plugs, but they fall out on their own in about a year.

Emily had a field trip yesterday to the Springfield Nature Center. They cancelled their hike though because it was raining and after lunch they ended the field trip because of severe weather. I felt so bad for the kids. They were all excited and all they got to do was touch a few smelly snakes :p Luckily going to the Springfield Nature Center is free so I think we're going to try to take Emily another day.

We all went with Emily on her field trip and poor Chris got another migraine :( When we go home he was puking and feeling so horrible. We think it was the McDonalds he had for breakfast but who knows. I wish we could figure out why he gets migraines so we could avoid whatever it is causing them.

So I'll leave ya'll with the most disgusting lunch picture I've ever taken. Brett was having chicken and noodles and he has a blue Squeeze-It... Well he decided to mix them together and use them to style his hair. It's not very appetizing but funny as heck. ENJOY!

Melinda Bautista found Not Guilty.

Anonymous said...
TWO WORDS... NOT GUILTY. Please next time you condem a person be sure you know tha FACTS!! 12 people heard the facts The TRUTH in the case and Not Guilty was their verdict. And i will be sure that her lawer is informed of this blog and is included in the slander suite. So next time you JUDGE a person on what you read in the paper A SMALL town paper take it with a grain of salt.
7:14 PM

You're right. I should not condemn anyone using information provided by a small town paper, that was my mistake. I have gotten so caught up in this story the past few weeks and all the information I've had was provided by a newspaper that all you anonymous commentors have been telling me I need to read. I didn't attend the trial so I don't know ALL the facts. However regardless of the juries decision I still can't get past the confession. Why did Melinda confess and then break down in tears? Do you have an answer for that? I can't believe her innocent of causing harm to Madilyne knowing about the taped confession. That is the one stumbling block that is still in my path. It doesn't matter now though. For everyone's sake this topic will stop after this post. I do not believe I slandered Melinda. Just because I think she committed a wrong doesn't mean I've slandered her in any way. If that's the case she would have to sue whoever wrote the stories for the Altus papers cause that's what I've been reading. What about the character assassinations against Rachel? Should she sue too? Maybe I can sue after that and we can all keep this going for a few more years. (sorry I'm being sarcastic... that was just a ridiculous comment)

Anonymous said...
Amen! Not guilty!! It only took the jury less than an HOUR to get their decision back to the court. No questions about it. Not guilty.I don't know who the other poster is, but I don't think this blog would be a case of slander. It just shows how the media can affect someone's judgment. Kristie...I see that you are a Christian woman, so I know that you wouldn't want to jump the gun and stand in judgment. But I'm telling you...as another Christian woman..and a mother...that the jury made the right decision.
7:59 PM

I doubt there are as you say "no questions about it," but there was reasonable doubt. I was misinformed and my opinion is just that... an opinion. I also totally agree, the media is not the best place to get information... I assumed the information provided by the Altus papers was pretty straight considering most of the commentors have been telling me to read them. I really hope the jury did make the right decision. I hope that Rachel Sumner can find the strength to move on and try to find some good in this whole situation. I never thought I would become so involved in this issue. I hate calling it an "issue," a child died and a woman almost lost her freedom... What would you guys say to Rachel now? Would you comfort her? I've taken a side in this and obviously it's been Rachels. I don't know what I would say to Melinda if I had to face her. I still think she's responsible, because of her confession, but hey everyone has an opinion right? Melinda has paid the price according to our laws so she certainly doesn't have to answer to me or anyone else. I feel like I should apologize seeing how she was found not guilty but my opinion hasn't changed based on the information I have so it would be a hollow apology. I am sorry I got so involved, I really didn't think this would escalate to what it has become. I will totally respect the verdict. Melinda goes back home to her family, I will never bring up her name on my blog again

However what is Rachel to do now? I believe it's God's will... the way everything has worked out. I don't understand it but can you people tell me what to say to Rachel Sumner when I meet her face to face? How can I comfort her? Next time she calls me crying what could I possibly say? You all had so much to say before please give me some advice now because I am lost. What do you say to a woman who has lost her child and feels like she has failed her once again? I have never been in a situation like this. Rachel needs your prayers, nothing has changed for her. Her baby girl is still gone, she isn't coming home.

This is just one of the recent comments I've received lately over the Melinda Bautista murder trial. She is accused of shaking 10 month old Madilyne Wentz to death last year. The trial is still in process.

Anonymous said...
I'm sorry but I consider it sheer stupidity to put personal information on the computer hence the reason I WILL NOT post my name but the facts don't lie. Obviously you have not read the Altus papers recently...like from this ENTIRE past week. She never admitted to that. READ THE PAPER- THE RECENT PAPER! There is proof on the tape she NEVER admitted that. There is also a wealth of evidence (hint read the RECENT paper) that proves that poor baby did NOT die from shaken baby syndrome. Stop your witch hunt mentality and get on with your life. Yes people abuse people-did you read about the father of the baby? Also, the mother of the baby can't even get her timeline for the day it happened straight. And the two convicted felons she was living with could keep their stories straight either when questioned on the stand. I am sorry to come across harsh but I will NOT let you perpetuate lies about my friend when YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT!

I HAVE been reading the Altus newspaper. I posted links to this paper on March 30th and one of the links was all about the allegations by the defense that Madilyne's death was caused by the EMT's... These are accusations of the defense to try and place the blame away from Melinda Bautista. There is not proof that it was their fault from what I read in that article.

A more recent article I read from the ALTUS papers about Rachel (the mothers) testimony did cause me to pause... But then I stopped for a second to think about it all. The defense is now attacking Rachel and her past trying to make her seem like she was a bad mother. There are questionable things in Rachel's past but none of them mean she is a bad mother, she also is not the one on trial. Why are you so adamant that I not, as you say perpetuate lies about your friend when I am only using information given by the ALTUS newspapers. They used the video tape of her confession in this trial, how can you keep saying she didn't confess when it's on TAPE?

I am not on a Witch hunt. I hate to think that other children are going to be hurt by this as well. Melinda's kids won't have their mother anymore, and her husband won't have his wife, if she is found guilty and sent to jail. That's a very sad thought. I believe she is guilty because of her confession. I've said this over and over. This all started when I posted about this not really even knowing much about the case. When I started being accused of judging unjustly I started reading newspapers and trying to find out more information. With the information I have now I don't feel as if I have an unjust opinion. It is however my opinion. You all have the right to your own and you obviously know and care about Melinda. But what about Madilyne's family? They lost their baby girl. Shouldn't the person responsible have to be held accountable? Do you think we should just ignore the fact that Melinda confessed and let her go free and face any consequences?

Just so I don't get accused of not knowing what I'm talking about again here are links to ALL the Altus articles I've read.

March 21 2006

March 22 2006

March 24 2006

March 27 2006

March 28 2006

March 30 2006

March 30 2006

April 3 2006

April 3 2006

God gave me an over active brain... I seriously think TOO much... I never realized it before but it's true... It could be one of the biggest problems in my life. I keep a journal for myself and one for each of my three kids... and my blog... I am constantly writing stuff in my journal or talking about how I can do this better or how I should do that better... When I get in an argument with my husband I always manage to make it worse by trying to analyze every single detail to figure out exactly what "really" happened. I cannot "just drop it" I have to TALK so that my brain can come to terms with whatever compromise I have to make or whatever apology I owe. I need to find the OFF button on my brain.

Anyway I had another strange dream last night. I wasn't going to write about it cause I'm not sure if I even remember it correctly but I'm going to give it a shot.

I was sent to live in this huge mansion with a very strange family. There was this lady who I don't even recall very much of other than she was training me for something... to be lady like or something like that. Then there was this guy who was like a prince and he and I were secretly having a relationship, but I didn't know he was a prince I just thought he was just a worker at the mansion.

So I go through all these weird tests like how to dress proper and how to look pretty blah blah blah you get the picture, and all the while I am being prepared by this woman to go "live" somewhere... I have it in my head that it's some nice place somewhere that I am going to be the boss of... so that is the reason for all the lessons.

Anyway we set off for my new home one day and this is the part that I remember really well. We get in this car and it's freezing cold outside, there is snow and ice everywhere. My Prince fellow comes along but I don't know it, I think I'm just leaving the mansion for good to go to my new home. Anyway the woman turns out to have this evil plan to commit me to a really scary mental institution because she is angry over my secret relationship with the Prince guy. That is why he is coming along so he can save me from the bad place :p

So we get there and I'm really excited about starting my new life and from the outside this institution is really scary looking, but here I am trying to be positive. I am also very trusting of this woman whoever she is and I figure it must be ok if she chose this to be my new home. So when we step out of the car my prince and one of his friends are there with us. The woman doesn't say much and neither does he as we go inside.

Ok now this place is straight from the worst horror movie's. I am not even going to go into detail cause it was a really scary part in my dream. There were horrible insane people doing terrible disgusting things. I can't believe I even have that kind of stuff in my brain where I would dream something like that. It was really really bad. Anyway when I realize that the woman who I'd trusted was leaving me here in this horrible place to live I realized that she wasn't good after all but horribly mean. So then my prince steps in and tells me he has come to save me from this place and I can come back to the mansion and live with him and he is going to make the woman live here in my place.

I am happy and I have this overwhelming love for the prince and then the weirdest thing happens. We go outside and he tells me that he lied to me and he wasn't a worker at the mansion and he was a prince and he loves me so much. Ok then I go and do the dumbest of all dumb things. I decide that I'm angry with him because of his lie and I would rather live in this scary place than with him... WHAT??? Even though he is telling me how much he loves me and my heart is filled with pain thinking I won't be with him if I live in the scary place. I decide of my own free will to live without him instead of forgiving him.

I woke up after that and I kept trying to go back to sleep so I could make myself change the ending... but I never did get back into that dream :p But I was so mad at myself. I think in a way I am like that in real life. I have so many good things with my husband but the second he makes me mad I bull up and get angry. I would rather be miserable sometimes than forgive or admit to doing wrong. Outwardly I try to forgive and admit when I'm wrong but I have a feeling that in my heart I am still holding on to things that have made me mad. It seems so stupid now after having that dream and I know it probably doesn't make sense I have a hard time saying what I mean a lot of times, but I think in a way that dream helped me. Do you think God shows us things in our dreams? I've always had weird dreams and I know it's a subconscious thing but I just feel like there was something to this one.