Is sarcasm un-Christian?

My poll is still open till next week but I am leaning towards a blend of three choices. Make it private, reserve my sarcasm and "wit" for the weekends and pack heat:) So, is sarcasm un-Christian? I know the Bible is pretty clear on "judging" others but I don't see anything I can relate to sarcasm.

My thoughts are that if you use sarcasm and the people hearing/reading it get the sarcasm then well, it is hard to say it is "Christian." But I also have a hard time seeing it as being un-Christian. My first thought is that if it is not seen as Christian then it must be un-Christian. But if you use that argument then is bowling un-Christian? I mean sure you can have fellowship with others discussing the Bible while you bowl but you could also be gossiping about others which is definitely un-Christian, Romans 1:29. But is the act of "bowling" one or the other?

So maybe sarcasm, like bowling, is neither and both at the same time. Just as a gun is not good or evil until it is in some one's hands. Then it takes on the intentions of it's master.

I haven't got the slightest idea how to change people but I keep a list of prospective candidates just in case I should ever figure it out.
David Sedaris

Al

Addison thought she was from Missouri

Those of you with kids know that you are constantly asking them questions....

• What hurts?
• Did you fall down?
• Did Jackson take the ball from you?
• What is that in your nose?
• What is that coming out of your nose?
• What has torn the seams of your universe apart now?

When I ask questions I expect answers. In the mornings and after nap time I ask each of the Triplets if they have a poo-poo. Well, Addison decided that she would show me by sticking her hands, yes both of them, in her diaper. I was in the middle of changing William's dirty diaper when I noticed a piece of what I soon realized was her "evidence" landing on one of her stuffed animals. I quickly taped Williams dirty diaper back on him (parenting triage - take the worst first) and grabbed her. I quickly explained that she had just had a bath and if she got it anywhere other than her hands it would not be good. By the grace of God we only had a few casualties. We then had a long conversation (by toddler standards) about why you don't stick your hands down your pants, especially when you have a poopie.

Grooming is very important to Jackson.

Reason has always existed, but not always in a reasonable form.

Karl Marx (1818 - 1883)

Al

Just in case you didn't catch the reference... Missouri is the show me State.

When do we start doing and stop practicing?

I always joke about Lawyers and Doctors practicing, not "doing." Well, I feel the same way about parenting. So, when do we start doing and stop "practicing" as parents? I know, I know, the answer is NEVER! I started thinking about this during breakfast while the kids were "practicing" eating cereal with milk. We went through the same thing a few months ago with oatmeal. On a tangent... why do we need instant oatmeal at home? I always thought that old fashion oatmeal took forever to make. Turns out it only takes 2-3 minutes in the microwave vs. 1-2 minutes to heat up the water to make instant oatmeal. Anyway, when do you get to the point when you are not "training" them on the basics? I know, I know, never:) I still have potty training, bathing, dressing, undressing, tying shoes (is Velcro back in yet?), not to mention shaving, etc... to go.

Jackson winning a pulling contest with Dad at the science center. Hey, he had the advantage of a lever!

A committee is a cul-de-sac down which ideas are lured and then quietly strangled.
Sir Barnett Cocks (1907 - 1989)

Al

Now that is a look of excitement!

When not to follow directions

Women are always getting onto men about not following or even asking for directions. So where safety and/or the kids are concerned I have made a concerted effort to read and follow directions. That is until today. I decided to start using a conditioner/detangler on her hair. So I read the instructions. Mainly because I know that some you rinse out and some you leave in. Yes, I use to have hair so I know these things:)

Here is where I got confused. It said that after applying you should "comb or brush starting at the ends and work your way to the scalp." WHAT! I thought that was called teasing your hair. I envisioned Addison with a huge rats nest of hair. No way I was following those instructions! So I asked a friend that was visiting and she laughed. She explained to me that almost every woman on earth would understand what that meant.... to comb out the hair a little at the time starting at the ends. "OH!" I said, "I see, they are just sexist and believe that only women will be using their product."

This is just another example of why men don't like to ask for, read or follow instructions.

Pictures of our little artists when they painted their pumkins at a Fall Festival.

Nobody realizes that some people expend tremendous energy merely to be normal.

Albert Camus (1913 - 1960)

Al

Who needs toys?

If you have kids you probably already know this but I sometimes feel like money on toys is wasted. The things they like playing with the most are not meant for that purpose. They spent 30 minutes jumping off the stools that came with their potties.

The sad truth is that excellence makes people nervous.

Shana Alexander

Al

The Triplets head to the reunion days 4 and 5

The CFO did a much better job keeping the kids quiet on her morning than I did. She leaped out of bed when Jackson again started SCREAMING... DADDY! DADDY! DADDY! at 5:30 EST Sunday morning. I got to sleep till 8:30 am. After breakfast, getting ready and packing we headed to my Dad's for brunch (lunch by the time we got there.) My Aunt and Uncle drove in from out of town to visit and some friends came by. This was a stressful couple of hours to say the least. My Dad loves antiques, has a condo (no running room for the kids) and we had eight adults and Triplets in about 400 square feet consisting of a kitchen, dining area and living area. We all had a great time then headed out of town. We stayed with our friends again on the way home.

The kids slept in till 6:30 am EST this time and we got on the road around 9am. We stopped at Cracker Barrel for lunch. The kids LOVE stacking checkers and the rocking chairs. Addison had two HUGE meltdowns while we were there and Jackson had one.

Below are pictures of us at my Dad's then us at Cracker Barrel. Including Addison and I having a little "chat" about her melt downs:)

I write down everything I want to remember. That way, instead of spending a lot of time trying to remember what it is I wrote down, I spend the time looking for the paper I wrote it down on.

Beryl Pfizer

Al