Thought this might still be relevant

 Hello again!  Hello cousin "K"!  How are things?  STILL EXPENSIVE!  Even with the rate of inflation down, it doesn't mean there is no inflation.  Throw in supply line issues, drought, etc.  Gone are the days of a $400 grocery budget.  (sigh).  $400 was our average for years, but when DH and I got married, I could fill our pantry and fridge for a month for about $150.  (double sigh)

I've been trying to get us back on a good grocery budget, and by a good Grocery Budget I'm shooting for $600 a month.  This would include all pet food, chicken feed, paper products, and cleaning supplies.  This may be a bit of a challenge, but I'm determined to at least find a comfortable budget in the ball park.  $600 was the budget I had in August.  I stuck to it pretty well, but had some accidental debit purchases I'd not planned on.  September was the same, but, again, lost track of some things so not exactly sure of numbers.  So I'm trying again to do a cash only grocery budget.  October 1st is the day I get my grocery money.  Not sure how this is going to go, but in lieu of my foray into the grocery battle; I thought I'd bring forward an article I wrote o so long ago in 2021.  I found it useful for my own situation and thought it might be helpful to you dear reader.  I'll let you know how it goes.  😓

Stretch what you have

What can I say?

Charlie Kirk was a day younger than our son, Einstein. That doesn't make his assassination any worse than it already is, but it does strike us as to how young he was. DH and I were up last night talking about it all. Not just Charlie Kirk, but the senseless murder of the young Ukrainian woman, Irina Zarutska, on the subway in NC, and also the general state of things. I'm stunned, saddened, and worried. DH is MAD. Mad at what happened to Charlie and Irina, but mostly mad at the politicians that have whipped people into such a frenzy that a young man and woman are no longer here. He's calmer now than he was the day Charlie Kirk died, but still mad.

DH says he changed that day. I asked him what was different. His initial reaction to the death of Charlie Kirk wasn't a positive one, and he knew it. It was visceral. Now he confesses he's more guarded. He's keenly aware of the fact that someone could take something he posts and use it to target him or his family. He believes one on one he'd be bolder. During the course of our conversation, however, we determined that to be silent in any capacity is to give a win to the shooter.

To me, and this is my opinion, politics and faith go hand and hand. I believe this because our political beliefs are usually guided by our faith and values. I say "usually" because politicians are very adept at twisting faith to fit their narrative. Because I believe they're intertwined; I can't speak out about one without the other. For instance, I'm pro-life. Therefore I vote for candidates with a pro life platform. I wavered from that this past presidential campaign season when RFK Jr was running. He's the closest I've ever come to voting for a Democrat. The reason I came that close was due to his approach to abortion. To quote RFK Jr " every abortion is a tragedy". His plan was to find a way to support and incentivize mothers to keep their children rather than just a blanket statement that women shouldn't have abortions. I still would rather abortion not exist, but he was at least trying to solve the problem.

So I'm not supposed to be silent about my faith. As a result, my politics will show up! So just so you know, dear reader, I'm a conservative. I believe in the Father, Son, and Holy ghost. I believe in being responsible for my actions. Dh and I learned long ago to live our lives in such a way as to NOT need govt help. We learned that tough lesson a long time ago. We live within our means and want the government to do the same. I believe we are made in the image of God. God doesn't make mistakes. If he intended a child to be a boy; it's a boy. As an aside. I will never, ever, refer to a man by female pronouns. You haven't paid the dues buddy. You're a dude in a skirt. Anyway. I believe in Biblical marriage. I believe my husband is the head of the house, and Christ is the head of him. Does that make me weak or dumb? No. Does that mean he can abuse me? NO! I believe in life at conception. As unplanned pregnancies go, my first was not stellar. My daughters biological father was married at the time, and not to me. I worked at Wendy's. I lived with my daughters biological father AND HIS WIFE. Top that Geraldo! I was married, technically at the time, but separated from my then husband. I had to tell my parents!!!! Ugh! I had every reason in todays' world to have the pregnancy quietly terminated. I didn't, and I wouldn't. Even in the midst of the craziness of my heathen life, I still was prolife. I've never regretted bringing my daughter into this world. She's beautiful, funny, sharp as a tac, and she gets it all from me😁. Read my testimony here

So there you go.  You know me.  I will not be silent.  

Vaccine Vent. Well more of just my thoughts, but "vent" goes well

 Do you, dear reader, believe vaccines work?  This isn't a trick question.  I happen to believe that some do.   The idea of injecting a weakened or dead form of a virus for the immune system to learn and fight off is a good idea.  In fact I believe the return on the investment for some of these vaccines is worth it.  Vaccines like Polio.   However, I do believe there is a limit.  I don't believe every virus needs a vaccine.  Chicken pox for instance.  Our idea of a Chicken Pox vaccine was to nurse our children through it.  All three of our children caught the Chicken pox.  Yes it was miserable for them, but they're through it.  Before anyone brings up Shingles; vaccinated for Chicken Pox or not; it's still a possibility.  Vaccinated for Shingles isn't fool proof either.

What I don't believe in is the number of vaccines given to children before the age of 18. 72 if I remember correctly.  I also don't believe they have to be heaped on babies as they are.  In the first 2 months of life, it's recommended that an infant have 7 vaccines with 2nd shots given before they're 4 month old.  2 at birth, with 6 of the 7 having second doses between 2-4 months of age.  Some of these are a cocktail of illnesses rather than just one.  Rather than list them all here, I've included a link to the CDC website for child vaccinations.  Click here to see

I will pull out one of these vaccines; Hepatitis B.  This is given to every newborn regardless of potential risk: mothers drug use, mother having multiple partners, or diagnosis of Hep B.  While it is possible to decline this vaccine for a newborn; many times the hospital presents this vaccine as "newborn care" or phrases it in such a way that many parents don't realize they can opt out.  If a mother is at high risk the vaccine is prudent.  However, if the mother doesn't have Hep B, isn't a drug user, and/or hasn't had multiple sexual partners, opting out is an option.  As an aside, part of my nursing assistant, and home health training, was in wording requests in such a way as to get compliance from my patients.  It isn't just obtaining vaccine approval.  ALL medical staff knows the best way to approach a patient to get compliance.  During a hospital stay, my mother refused physical therapy.  We told staff she was independent.  She was in the hospital for a digestive issue and not a mobility issue.  She refused physical therapy out right.  Instead of honoring her wishes, the physical therapist showed up again the next day and pushed her into a session.  This physical therapist even acknowledged her prior refusal!  Unfortunately I wasn't with her at the time.  She was afraid if she refused they wouldn't treat her so she complied, even though she was too sick.  I'm hopeful my mother never has to attend a hospital again, but should she have to; I'm packing a bag and I will be camping there until she comes home.  Anyway, I digress.  

What I also don't believe is that the Covid "vaccine" has a place anywhere.  What started as "95% chance of not getting Covid or spreading it"  went to "well you can still get it and spread it but it won't be as bad".  In fact the 2024 strain specifically targeted people who had been vaccinated!  My husband was vaccinated.  My sons and I weren't.  We had Covid naturally twice; once in 2021 and once in 2022.  Then nothing else so far.  Even though all of us were exposed, he alone got Covid last year.  In addition are the recent revelations that have come out about the side effects of this vaccine.  No Thank you!  Myocarditis in young men especially, increase chance of heart attack and blood clots.  In fact we suspect the issues my mother had the year she was hospitalized came from her having been vaccinated a month prior.  

What set me off on this tirade is an interview on CNN with Senator Mark Mullin.  During the course of the interview the News Lady ( I don't watch CNN so forgive my ignorance of her name)  made a statement about her vaccinated child being at risk if another child wasn't vaccinated.  She, and others that believe like her can't have it both ways.  Either vaccines work or they don't.  If they don't, vaccinating a child is just mean.  If vaccines work the only person at risk of disease is the unvaccinated person.  So let people make their own INFORMED choice.  Let them know the risks, and benefits.  Let them know clearly that they can opt out or even take the shots at a pace they're comfortable with.  My choosing to not vaccinate either myself or my children doesn't in any way hinder another's choice to do so.   Full disclosure, we did vaccinate all of our children when they were small.  Not as many as are offered now, but we did.   However, by the "booster time" we knew enough to say "No".  To each his own, but know how, why, and when.  Be willing to accept the risks of each decision.  Just be informed.  Don't let the media tell you what to think.