17 Year Marriage Jinx or 4 Years Dating

        Let's start with the easy one. Have you been dating a guy four years or more? He's not going to marry you! He's using you until he finds someone who he thinks is better.
      Normally I don't believe in stats. All of those saying like , watch out if you've been married seventeen years. Statistics show that's the danger year. But it's true, Watch as you get close to the fifteenth year to the sixteenth? How is he changing, or she? One or the other starts to show changes, like meeting old friends, hair color, weight loss, a new car, out of town trips, emergency calls, has to go....yes, all excuses to meet the new lady or man in their lives. So what do you do?
        Usually this happens to a stay at home spouse because they have to be home to take care of the kids and then it just settles in that they keep on being a stay at home person without an outside job or income. The working partner no longer find the other interesting or valuable . So they seek out someone who is interesting, earns a paycheck.
           It's time before it's time to make your own money and make the other person who may be cheating accountable. If they have an emergency call and have to leave, let them know you're going to, to be supportive, you'll call a family member to watch the kids-then watch his or her face. Buying a new car, now has car payments, make sure somehow you put away each month a car payment for yourself in a personal bank account. Notice certain nights he has to go out after supper or shortly after he gets home? Beat him to the punch. Get ready before he gets in every night. Get an extra set of car keys made. As soon as he walks in you walk out.
       Tell him or her, going to meet friends, going to the library, take a college class about computers, self-worth, tell him you have a family emergency. If you get home he'll ask what family and you tel him, I'm the emergency, I have to get out as much as you do. Don't let him use you. Don't sit home and cry or wonder what he;s doing and with whom. Let him wonder.
      If you come home and he has a babysitter. Talk with her. Tell her you'll pay her not to come.
Be alert. MOST of all keep a file on everything that goes on and how much he makes and his SS number. Okay , I'm done for now, Good luck getting to and through the 17th year!

Autism-The Amazing Kids Club-Do You Have One ?

     I live not far from a place called The Amazing Kids Club. It's a place for kids, ages up to twenty or twenty -two to come to who have some form of autism. They must however be diagnosed with PDD to get in, at least here with this particular club. If they do not have that diagnosis, a doctor once explained to, will usually make it so.
      In this club there are also many parents involved and they call themselves FOAK, Friends of Amazing Kids. Whatever you need to know, they can tell you or find out weather it be concerned about devices, insurance, therapy and making friends as well as being so supportive of one another. The guy who leads this group last time I went there was a vet and beside his twin sons who are autistic, this man is patient, stern, strong, smart and aware of what parents face as much as what is ahead for these kids.
    This club is in Hanover Pennsylvania. I've looked them up to see where others are available as I wanted one closer to home-don't we all. Hanover was the best choice and so I am glad to have had some time with them, learned about the club, the people who work there and the kids. They have an after school program as well as after school.
   This club offers computers, am inside trampoline, a room with crafts,a touch room and so much more. Summertime arrives and kids get to go out to parks, an ice cream day etc. They also learn life skills at the club.
     If you don't have one where you live, get some people together, get grants and start one. You won't be sorry

The Absentee Parent

       Without getting into specific people, this can pertain to many kinds of parents. Some parents who are not in a child's life may be due to serving our country. Others because of jobs move across the country and then financially have a hardship and still others in the midst of a divorce create so many bad feelings that one or the other parent makes it difficult. Yet we still have another kind of parent. When one spouse, or ex-spouse simply can't pay the child support ordered, the custodial parent holds visits. Okay I get the bitterness and I get needing support, but I don't get using a child to see a parent. That goes for any parent.
        Be fair, and try harder. There are more parents who are also absent, but I have to leave them out of here. But those of you who can't for whatever reason be with your children, stop damning the people who are with your kids.  Those who take care of kids yours or not yours, are doing so because you don't or can't. I know custody is a right and a privilege and sometimes one parent doesn't get custody simply because they don't earn enough. Yet while in a marriage it was always okay to earn less as long as needs were met. Then the road to destruction happens and suddenly names are called, accusations made and children get left out.
Then children come right back into it when it comes to support.
        The non-custodial parent needs by all means to support the custodial parent, unless of course the custodial parent is never home, leaving kids unattended, spending support on them selves, kids not going to doctors, being left alone etc. etc. Then you need to make a sure-fire plan on how to get your children back. You have to have a plan that says, I can afford to do this. If you can't afford it, talk to family and friends. Just get help and support and stop criticizing parents or caretakers when you're not doing such a hot job yourself.There is plenty of help to be found, just never give up, and I know these are your children so you do want to be particular and it may be easy for me to say. Think again. I don't mouth off unless I do know just what I'm talking about. Yes, it's hard, it's very hard. But what are your options? Give up? Walk away as if you never had anything to do with bringing a child into the world?
    Lots of parents do that, more men than women and both are just as guilty of neglect and should have their stuff all tied up for good, never to have another chance at bringing another child in the world just because, well one didn't work but I'll do better this time crap-screw you! Now go and make a difference with your children and do it right.

Twin Pines, York New Salem Pa. Keep It Here!

        This is a country store for sure, from the people, to the food, the outside picnic benches and community relations. I love going to this family owned American Business, and many times wish I had a larger family to buy for. Oh taste their home made broasted chicken and daily lunches!
        We're in the age of buying on-line or that big store that has closed down small American owned family businesses. I'm making this short this morning as I have some local errands to do, but I want you to think about this the next time you shop, and I do realize the shape our economy is in and we feel we have to save where ever we can, but...
         Every time you shop local markets the money stays here in the USA. Every time you purchase from a crafter who only sells home made products, you are keeping money in America, you are the reason America still strives and grows. You get my drift right?
    Let's talk Christmas, or any time you want to buy gifts. You may not like what I say next but I hope you take a heartfelt, and very deep look at how you spend your money. You may even have an attitude, oh sure easy for her to say, she can make things. So what and big deal. I am so poor at asking people to buy, now down to business.
     Our children are spoiled as we are. Instead of going to these big stores and buying what they see on TV, tell your kids out right, we are doing it different this year. We are helping American businesses. Can you Imagine if everyone bought only American? CAN YOU?
    There are older men and women who make toy trucks and cars, houses and more. They are on-line too. Look at all of the practical needs people have. FOOD!
     Buy gift certificates from your local markets like TWIN PINES and while I don't know if they sell them, ask! If not shop a basketful  of meats and bakery, oh so fresh! Now that is recycling AMERICA at it's best.
     We have American doll makers too and so much more. Check out local movie theaters, skating rinks, bowling alleys, a gym membership, LL bean boots=all American.
    Keep it here, Keep it local, Keep America as it once was. Keep our jobs home. Pick us up and help. Even our churches send money overseas and I understand the Christian spirit, but...well you know.
Keep it here. Keep that father who lost his sense of self because his job went overseas. Keep that mom who may have been the only support, and is now crafting to earn extra and maybe working as a fast food to support her family. Keep that couple who retired early and now working again because their money is overseas, lost due to greed. I see elderly people all the time working who thought they would be resting. Keep them in your thoughts when you shop. Keep them all. Shop Local Markets like Twin Pines.
    I wish I knew the names of everyone at TWIN PINES, but like you I am busy, who isn't? So can you imagine the time it takes to shop away from your area? You use more gas, stand in longer lines, clerks are less personal, help is scarce at those big stores, and stress is so much higher. While on line you're thinking why don't they hurry up? I ask why don't you shop close to home. Shop American most of all. Please keep your family, your friends, your neighbors in mind when you shop and support and shop your small local family owned business. They really do care. Twin Pines, Thank you for your personal attitudes, your employees, how you run your market and being close to my home:)
    
      
   

How to buy AMERICAN Only & Where

       This morning I received a reminder from a crafter that she is buying from another crafter for gift giving. That is American Shopping . You can't do better that that. Sure kids want toys but who pays? America is paying every day we shop at that big W store. Imagine if we could control spending and just buy what we need. Go to local markets=healthier eating, supports the farmer as well as people who usually live locally, ends up saving gas, family time and makes happier people.
      I love music and would love a Susan Boyle CD, but first I want to know the whole process of making that CD and where it comes from.
      Just think and do what you can to SAVE AMERICA this holiday season, better yet, if you believe in the Bible, Christianity, maybe celebrate the business side less and the reason more.
       Another way to SAVE AMERICA is write letters, buy recycled, reuse and redecorate, paint a room for someone, help a neighbor, trim trees, ask, ask a neighbor, friend or relative (if you're still speaking) what you can do to help. Cook a dinner that will last a few days or at least for seconds. Babysit to give someone a day off, a night out or shop for someone. Cut coupons and give away. Wash and polish a car for an elderly person-not me:) SAVE AMERICA by helping the AMERICAN neighbor, small business owner, church group/mission and don't accept money. Give time if you can. There are so many AMERICAN NEEDS, so step out and step up, and support the AMERICAN NEIGHBOR, THE AMERICAN BUSINESS OWNER, THE AMERICAN CRAFTER and keep that support right here in our AMERICA this year!