I have shared with you before the amazing events that happen at my church on the first Wednesday of the month called Inspire.  After a break for the summer, they have began again.  Once again, the music was amazing, the worship alive, and the my tears flowed freely.  But, I am not going to talk to you about what Inspire was about because I realized something even greater tonight thanks to Inspire.

I went with a great friend and we met another friend from our MOMS group for dinner.  We then went over to church and worshiped together and with some other friends (and a large amount of visitors and members of the church).  As I was sitting there among my friends, praying with and for them, I realized that I have isolated myself… again.

This isn’t the first time.  Things happen in my life and I pull away.  I pull away from my friends and even my family.  Mike has felt the distance.  I didn’t talk to my friends for a large portion of the summer.  Basically, ever since we found that my uncle has a terminal illness (which I am still trying to get the courage to post about), I have felt broken.  I haven’t been praying the way I was.  I haven’t been feeling God’s presence in my life.  I haven’t been a good friend.

I go to church every Sunday and it is my foundation for my week.  I need that each week.  So, why do I walk out of the doors and forget what I am doing?  Prior to a few months ago, I had a strong relationship with God and felt a connection in my daily life.  Now, I have fleeting moments where I feel a presence and the rest I am struggling to find my way.

Tonight, I realized that my friends are a source of God’s love in my life.  I need them as much as I need to go to church and as much as I need to pray.  I have my mom, my sister, and my husband and I am eternally blessed because of that.  My friends though, the ones that brought me closer to Christ to begin with through MOMS, are people I need in my life.  I need to have those phone calls, texts, emails and play dates.  I need to have their hugs and give them back.

Tonight, I prayed over a friend.  I prayed for my friends.  I have made a promise that I will not disappear from my friend’s lives again.  Even if I am ready to hole myself up in my house, I will reach out and talk to them.  Even if I don’t want to leave my house and want to sit in my pajamas all day, I will still call my friends to make that connection that I need so badly.  When I am away from my friends, I can convince myself that everything is okay. When I am with them, I realize just how important they are to me.  I went several years without having any real friendships.  Now that I have them, I need to hold onto them with all my heart.

©2010 To Be Thode. All Rights Reserved.

I have several giveaways running currently. Be sure to look at the sidebar to see them. If you have a giveaway, link up below! I will be running this every Thursday.

Please use this format so everyone is consistent:

Blog name- giveaway item (end date)

Please link directly to your giveaway (not your blog). When you are finished, I would love a comment and a tweet of this post (click on the Twitter icon below the post).
Note: Spam entries will be deleted!

©2010 To Be Thode. All Rights Reserved.

Lucy is certainly my cat.  She has wasted no time getting familiar with my computer and Tweetdeck. 

After you link up on my linky, feel free to go to any of the following (or all of the following)! Slice O’ Heaven, Outnumbered 3-to-1, 7 Clown Circus , 5 minutes for Mom, and J Leigh Designz.

©2010 To Be Thode. All Rights Reserved.

If you have been following me for any amount of time, you know that a hot topic for me is the mother’s right to choose how she births her child.  This cause is one of the main reasons I am going to go to Midwifery school next year.  I think it is appalling that any person or agency can tell a mother where or how she has to give birth to her child.

This has been brought to the forefront of my mind again.  Today on Facebook, I saw a heartbreaking story.  This is a true story and one that just makes my blood boil with outrage for this family.  A brief synopsis of the situation is this…

Baby Ruth was born on July 21st.  The birth was briefly complicated with shoulder dystocia (baby was not able to move forward in the birth canal because of her shoulder position).  This condition can be dangerous but the baby was born and appeared to be healthy.  Later that evening, the parents decided that the baby needed to be seen at a local ER because she was fussier than she had been previously.  The hospital conducted numerous tests and determined the baby had nerve damage in her arms.  They called authorities and the baby was taken from her parents citing medical neglect.

Authorities said they were guilty of medical neglect because they chose to have a homebirth.  The baby seems to be recovering well and is a happy and healthy little girl.  The baby was originally put in foster care and the parents were only able to see her twice for a few hours.  At this time, the baby is with the mother’s parents and they are allowed to see her for a few hours each day.  She is a newborn baby and has been kept from her parents.

(all of the above information taken from their Facebook page)

This angers me beyond words.  How can anyone say that these parents are guilty of medical neglect?  The child could have been born in a hospital, but that does not mean that there would not be complications?  NO!   A cesarean was suggested and that certainly means that there could be serious complications, including death.  I am so infuriated that this sweet baby has been kept from her mother and father.  Thank goodness she is with her grandparents and getting the love she deserves but it is wrong.  It is wrong that this family is torn apart because of a decision that should be no one’s business but the parent’s.

Where you have your child should be as much of your decision as to have a child in the first place.  I don’t understand how something like this could happen to a couple that very obviously loves their child.  They did not choose a homebirth for malicious reasons… they did so because they thought it was the right thing for them and their child.  These parents are highly educated, informed individuals.  This should not be happening to them.

I am making this my personal mission to encourage others to stand up for the woman’s right to birth her child where and how she chooses.  This should be her personal (informed) choice, not that of a doctor, the government, or anyone else.  I will be writing letters to authorities and praying for this family every day.  I can’t imagine being away from my newborn because someone else thinks they can govern my life and my body.

If you want to support this family, please visit them on Facebook at Bring Ruth Home!

©2010 To Be Thode. All Rights Reserved.

I attended private schools the majority of my educational years.  I started in a private grade school, graduated from a private high school, and received a bachelor’s degree from a private university.  While I am certainly okay with my step-children attending a public school and know there are many fantastic public schools, I want my children to go to private school.  Part of this reason is because of the school I want to send them to.

I have spoken on many occasions about the love I have for my church.  That loves has spilled over to the school associated with my church.  My son will be starting there next year for Kindergarten.  My nephew is starting first grade this year.  My best friend has a daughter that attends the school.  In addition, I have several friends that have children that attend the school.

Walking through the halls of the school when Johnny attended Sunday school, I could feel the positive energy of the school.  Every single teacher I have come across is amazing and loving.  You can see the concern they have for the children that attend the school.  You can feel that they care for them.  The principal gets involved and is an active part of the school and church community.  The priests visit the classrooms and are present in the lives of the children that attend the school.

Speaking to the children will give you a sense of how great the school is.  They are happy with their school.  They are not kids that are badmouthing their school or wishing they could go somewhere else.  They want to be there.  This speaks volumes to me about the school and those that run it.

The one thing that stands out in my mind though is what has happened just recently.  I shared on Twitter that a friend had a huge loss.  Her home was completely destroyed in a house fire. They walked away with their vehicle, a few personal items and their lives.  Everything else was gone.  The MOMS group I belong to has helped this family.  In addition, the school has made it a personal goal to help this family in other ways.  I have had children in several schools in the past but I have never seen the outpouring of love that I have seen for this family.   This isn’t the first time it has happened either.  They are always taking care of their own… and others as well.  Service projects teach the children humility and help those in the community and those the children do not know.

A school that teaches love, compassion, a stewardship is a school I want my children to to go.  I want my children to be part of the community that shares their gifts, shares their time, and shares their love with anyone and everyone that needs them.  This school is one that reminds me of my own childhood, but better.  As a parent, I want my kids to enjoy the things I did as a kid but I want better for them.  This school can do that and I am looking forward to the day that my son will walk in the doors as a student.

Each year school programs are cut for various reasons.  These are programs that are fun and that children enjoy.  Clorox wants to help schools keep programs that children desire.  They created the Clorox Power a Bright Future program for this very reason.

You can nominate your favorite school for this grant program.  What can they win?  There is a $50,000 grand prize grant and three $20,000 grants available that will help to keep the future bright for the children in that school by allowing the schools to keep the programs that need funding.  Be sure to visit Clorox and enter a school you think is deserving.  Winners will be chosen in November.

Clorox is also kindly offering one of you a prize pack for one of you!  You will receive Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, Dr. Harley Rotbart’s book Germ Proof Your Kids, Clorox Hand Sanitizer, Tissues, Fun stickers, Crazy cutting scissors, and markers, pencils, and crayons.  All of these great items will come in a nice back pack!

Here is how to enter:

• For your first required comment, tell me briefly about a school or teacher you think would be a good nomination for this program.

After the first required entry, you can do any (or all) of the following for one entry each!

• Subscribe to ToBeThode by Email (must be verified) or Reader. Leave me a comment that you did or if you already are.
• Follow me and Clorox on Twitter AND tweet about this giveaway. (You must do both for this entry.) Leave me a comment with your status update! You can tweet once daily for an extra entry. Be sure to come back and leave the URL for your status update.

• Share this giveaway (with a link) with your friends on Facebook. Leave me a comment letting me know that you did.
• Fan/Like ToBeThode onFacebook. Leave me a comment letting me know that you did or already are. Please include your first name and last initial so I can find you as a fan.
• Boost this giveaway on Prizey (it may take a one or two days for a giveaway to show on Prizey. If it is not there, please check back to complete this entry.)

Entries will be accepted until 11:59pm (CST) on September 8, 2010. Winner will be drawn by random generator and posted. The winner will be contacted by email and will have 48 hours to respond in order to claim their prize. This giveaway is open for US residents. One entry per household please!

Disclosure: I was compensated for writing this post and sharing this information through The Motherhood and Clorox. All opinions are my own.

©2010 To Be Thode. All Rights Reserved.

When we moved in to our home, we had two small children and a tween.  We knew we needed some space for toys and where the kids could hang out away from us but we didn’t feel comfortable with them being upstairs (we have  two-story home) by themselves.  Instead of buying dining room furniture for our dining room, we chose instead to create a play room.  At first, it was a unique “play room” that had a chandelier hanging up but the kids didn’t seem to mind at all.  We kept the carpet (who puts carpet in a dining room to begin with?) and left it empty for a little while.  Slowly, we moved all the kids toys into the dining room-turned- play room.  Over time, more toys entered the space as well as places for the kids to rest and watch movies and read books.

As time goes on, the play room is no longer seen as a dining room at all.  People that come in our house have no idea that it was once a place that people ate meals.  I am not a dining room kind of person though so it has never bothered me to be without this space.  We are a kid-friendly zone in our house and a dining room is just unnecessary.  A play room is absolutely necessary though.

When we talked about buying new living room furniture it wasn’t a matter of design or color.  We needed something that would withstand the abuse of kids and pets.  Luckily, I found something that I really like.  I didn’t buy end tables or a sofa table.  As a matter of fact, the only table we have is in our kitchen.  I didn’t want to have hard edges in the area where my kids learned to walk and play on a daily basis.  I have an ottoman that acts as a makeshift table in our living room.  Does it match the other furniture?  Not so much.  Does it matter?  Not to me.

We have toys everywhere which should go without saying since we have small children.  It amazes me the people that can keep their homes in model home condition after having children.  I don’t mind all the toys and games.  I want my family to be comfortable and others coming to visit don’t necessarily have to like that.  What we do in our house is our business… and we live in our house.

Do you (or did you) have a special place for your kids to play?  Is it on the main living level of your home or is away from the space others see when they visit?

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

©2010 To Be Thode. All Rights Reserved.

My older kids have been back to school for quite some time now.  Johnny is starting after Labor Day.  We have been preparing him for his big day for a few months now.  I received some great tips from Super WHY and thought I would share those with you.  Who better than the super kids of Super WHY to give us tips on getting the kids ready for school and help in encouraging our kids to be early readers?!?

• Visit the library or bookstore: Find books that start a dialogue about school to help get young children feeling comfortable and confident about new experience. Read the books together and identify key words.
• Practice going to school: Point out places that are familiar to your child on the way to school and encourage them to read or find letters on the signs as you pass – even their school sign!
• Tool up: While shopping for school supplies, read the list out loud and have kids spell out words like: pencil or paper.
• Create a cozy study space with your child: Before the school year even starts, set up an area together that is comfortable and quiet. This can also be a place to spend quality time reading.

Be sure to check out the new Super WHY DVD, Attack of the Eraser: A Comic Book Adventure and visit Super WHY for educational and fun online content, activities, games and more.

Disclosure: I did not receive any compensation for this blog post. I just love Super WHY and wanted to share the information I received.

©2010 To Be Thode. All Rights Reserved.

I have mentioned before that my kids love yogurt.  As a matter of fact, we all love yogurt.  The problem is that sometimes they taste, well, not so kid-friendly.  I am not saying that my kids won’t eat most types of yogurt, but they certainly prefer some over others.

Thanks to Yoplait, we now have a new favorite in our house.  Yoplait Splitz are super good and my kids love them.  What makes them so special?  They taste like a sundae!  When I asked Johnny if he wanted a Strawberry Banana Split yogurt, I don’t think there was anything that was going to keep that kid from trying it.  Both he and Joley were excited about the Yoplait Splitz and both finished the entire cup by themselves.

So we know that my kids love the taste, but what do I think about Yoplait Splitz?  First, they are yummy.  I will give them that much!  But, there is more that I like about them besides the flavor. Yoplait Splitz is a good source of calcium and vitamin D and they have no artificial flavors or sweeteners and no high fructose corn syrup.  Finally, they are only 90 calories per cup!

All of these things put together make this a great buy in my home.  Giving my kids something they love, something that is good for them, and something that I can enjoy as well… win!

There are 3 flavors to choose from:  Strawberry Sundae, Strawberry Banana Split and Rainbow Sherbet.  Personally, I want to try the Rainbow Sherbet flavor next.  That sounds like it will be super good!

Would you like to try Yoplait Splitz?  You can get a coupon for 75 cents off any flavor by clicking here.

How would you like to win a Yoplait Splitz prize pack?  Thanks to Yoplait and MyBlogSpark, I have a great giveaway for you!  You will receive a coupon for a free pack of Yoplait Splitz, a fantastic insulated tote, and a roll-up fleece picnic blanket in this prize pack! (This coupon offer for a free pack of Yoplait Splitz is not valid in some states, including California, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, Nevada, North Dakota and Tennessee.)

Here is how to enter:

• For your first required comment, let me know what flavor of Yoplait Splitz you are most interested in trying.

After the first required entry, you can do any (or all) of the following for one entry each!

• Subscribe to ToBeThode by Email (must be verified) or Reader. Leave me a comment that you did or if you already are.
• Follow ToBeThode publicly in Google Friend. Leave a comment letting me know that you did or if you already are.
• Follow me and Yoplait on Twitter AND tweet about this giveaway. (You must do both for this entry.) Leave me a comment with your status update! You can tweet once daily for an extra entry. Be sure to come back and leave the URL for your status update.

• Share this giveaway (with a link) with your friends on Facebook. Leave me a comment letting me know that you did.
• Fan/Like ToBeThode onFacebook. Leave me a comment letting me know that you did or already are. Please include your first name and last initial so I can find you as a fan.
• Fan/Like Yoplait on Facebook.  Let them know you came from ToBeThode!  Leave me a comment with your first name and last initial so I can find you as a fan.
• Follow my blog on Networked Blogs. Leave me a comment with your first name and last initial so I can find you.
• Boost this giveaway on Prizey (it may take a one or two days for a giveaway to show on Prizey. If it is not there, please check back to complete this entry.)

Entries will be accepted until 11:59pm (CST) on September 14, 2010. Winner will be drawn by random generator and posted. The winner will be contacted by email and will have 48 hours to respond in order to claim their prize. This giveaway is open for US residents. One entry per household please!

Disclosure: I was given the prize pack mentioned and another to give away from Yoplait through MyBlogSpark. No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own. Others’ may vary. Images were taken directly from the sponsor.

©2010 To Be Thode. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome to the original post sharing MEME offering you a chance to promote your blog!

Do you have a blog post you want to share from the last week? If there is a post, any post, you want to share, do it here! It can be pictures, stories, a meme entry, a giveaway, or anything else you can think of. Just link up and share your favorite post!

Then visit my entry and other entries (as many as you can please!) and share some comment love! Let them know you came from ToBeThode’s Saturday Sound Off! Be sure to return the comment love of anyone that leaves you a comment (that is only fair I’d say).

The more the merrier I’d say, so hit the Twitter button below this post or tweet it yourself with #SatSoundOff and let’s promote more and more each week! FUN!

I would also love it if you would grab the Saturday Sound Off button on the right sidebar!

©2010 To Be Thode. All Rights Reserved.

Joley loves her lovies.  She has an elephant that we bought prior to her birth that she has to sleep with every night.  We named her Elly and Joley asks for her if she isn’t in her bed at nap or night time.  I knew that Joley was going to be in love with what Makaboo Personalized Gifts sent her too as soon as I opened the package.

Joley received a Angel Dear Napping Blanket from Makaboo Personalized Gifts.  When I was ordering the blanket, I had some trouble deciding what style to choose from because they are all so cute.  I ended up going with the blue elephant since Joley has a linking to elephants.  I was able to choose the color of embroidery and what I wanted on the Angel Dear Napping Blanket.  I chose to have Joley’s name embroidered in the lower corner (it could have also been on the side).

Shipping was super fast and Makaboo Personalized Gifts did not disappoint with the product.  It is super soft and so very cute.  Joley was sleeping when it came but I went in her room and covered her up with her new Angel Dear Napping Blanket.  When we went to get her out of her bed, she was so excited to show us what she had.  She loved it from the very beginning.

I have since washed the Angel Dear Napping Blanket and it still looks perfect.  Joley likes to lay down on the couch with her favorite kitty and her favorite blanket and snuggle up.  The blanket is a nice large size and is plenty long for a toddler.  It is much larger than Joley and even Johnny can cover up with it, although Joley doesn’t let that happen often because it is “hers”.

If you are looking for a gift for a baby shower, a new baby, a birthday of a small child or toddler or just because, I highly recommend Makaboo Personalized Gifts. I was extremely pleased with the ease of ordering, the fast shipping, and the wonderful product received.  I am fully confident that any product you purchase from Makaboo Personalized Gifts will live up to the same standards.

Buy it: An Angel Dear Napping Blanket is sold for $34.99 with embroidery included. You can purchase 3 blankets and get one free and get free shipping on orders more than $100. Use the discount code THODE10 from now until 10/31/10 to receive 10% off any order (there is much more than this blanket!  Be sure to check out the site).

You can sign up for exclusive offers and special deals by joining the Makaboo Mavens newsletter.    You can also find Makaboo Gifts on Facebook and on Twitter.

Win it: Makaboo.com has kindly offered to give one of you an Angel Dear Napping Blanket!

Here is how to enter:

• For your first required comment, visit Makaboo Personalized Gifts and let me know what Angel Dear Napping Blanket you would pick if you won.

After the first required entry, you can do any (or all) of the following for one entry each!

• Subscribe to ToBeThode by Email (must be verified) or Reader. Leave me a comment that you did or if you already are.
• Follow ToBeThode publicly in Google Friend. Leave a comment letting me know that you did or if you already are.
• Follow me and MakabooGifts on Twitter AND tweet about this giveaway. (You must do both for this entry.) Leave me a comment with your status update! You can tweet once daily for an extra entry. Be sure to come back and leave the URL for your status update.

• Share this giveaway (with a link) with your friends on Facebook. Leave me a comment letting me know that you did.
• Fan/Like ToBeThode on Facebook. Leave me a comment letting me know that you did or already are. Please include your first name and last initial so I can find you as a fan.
• Fan/Like MakabooGifts on Facebook.   Write on their wall letting them know you came by from ToBeThode.  Please include your first name and last initial so I can find you as a fan.
• Follow my blog on Networked Blogs. Leave me a comment with your first name and last initial so I can find you.
• Boost this giveaway on Prizey (it may take a one or two days for a giveaway to show on Prizey. If it is not there, please check back to complete this entry.)

Entries will be accepted until 11:59pm (CST) on September 13, 2010. Winner will be drawn by random generator and posted. The winner will be contacted by email and will have 48 hours to respond in order to claim their prize. This giveaway is open for US residents. One entry per household please!

©2010 To Be Thode. All Rights Reserved.