Monday, October 30, 2006

Faith vs. Religion

My husband recently blogged about religion, Protestant Fundamentalism in particular. He only talked about his views, and it was regarding just one specific idea. I must say, as a preface, that neither Thomas nor I are overly religious. I do hold some of my Catholic upbringing close to my heart, but I don't buy into anything 100%.

Then, of course, the blogger people started coming out of the woodwork to comment, as I knew would happen. There were a lot of good comments, and challenging arguments, which I don't mind because it makes me think. However, there was one anonymous poster who infuriated me. I can only refer to this person as an idiot. I don't mind differing beliefs or ideas, in fact, I welcome them. However, the fact that people are very stuck in their own little boxes makes me angry.

The anonymous poster in question stated "you keep blogging about religion. Maybe you should blog about faith." I copied and pasted that from his blog, so there could be no mistake in retyping.

How dare anyone judge my husband's, or anyone's, faith based on a blog about religion! Religion and faith are not one and the same. There can be faith without religion, and there can definitely be religion without faith. I see so many people going through the motions of their religion without any real faith all the time. I also see many people with tons of faith who practice no religion at all. Now to be fair, there are a lot of faithful, religious people in this world. I, myself, know many.

What a small, boxed in world that person must live in to make that comment which sounds so accusing and judgmental. What little faith this person shows, when they make such a giant leap. They definitely seem to be of the mind set that religion = faith and faith = religion.

I think I will have to say prayers for this person as I don't think they are actually very faithful at all. I probably shouldn't refer to them as an idiot, as sad and stuck seem more appropriate.

If I have offended anyone, I am sorry, but I am really angry and I needed to vent.

Friday, October 27, 2006

Pet Peeves

Pet peeves, we all have them and I saw on a blog today one of my big ones.

Daylight Saving Time. Not Daylight Savings Time. There is no "s" at the end of Saving.

There are others like this.
It is Valentine's Day, not Valentime's Day.

On New Year's Day, we should wish each other a "Happy New Year" not a "Happy New Years."


Other grammatical things like this bother me also.


Say "I couldn't care less," not "I could care less."

Or supposedly, not supposebly.

Congratulations does not have a "d" in it.


I will stop here for now! I know about a year ago I ranted on grammar, and my opinion hasn't changed so no need to go there again.

Thursday, October 26, 2006

Six Years

I have been thinking about six years ago. In January, Thomas and I will be married for six years.

A lot has changed in six years. I have four children instead of one. I am an old married woman now (how did THAT happen?) I have been a registered nurse for 7 1/2 years now. I have been a pediatric nurse for almost two years and I have now been in the PICU for five weeks.

We have moved eight times, in five different states (North Carolina, Missouri, Virginia, California, and Georgia.) I have worked at nine different hospitals (of course, as a travel nurse for part of the time helped boost those numbers.) Drew has been in TEN different schools in that time period plus the catastrophy of trying to home school him when we were travelling (so he didn't have to change schools so frequently.)

Thomas and I married January 14, 2001. We moved to St. Louis in June of that year. Sam was born June 15, 2002. Olivia was born August 12, 2003. We moved to Virginia in January, 2004. We moved to California in April, 2004. We moved to Georgia in November, 2004. Sofia was born December 5, 2005.

Whew, I am tired from thinking about all of that!

Has anyone else's life changed significantly in a relatively short period of time?

Friday, October 13, 2006

PICU

Well, I am starting my third weekend of orientation in the PICU. I have an outstanding preceptor, she is an unbelievably awesome nurse. Working with critically ill children, and their families, is very different than when I was caring for kids on the regular floors. I think I like it a lot. There is an awful lot to learn, and sometimes I wonder if it is possible to become competent at all with this. I do like it and I am going to work hard to learn as much as I can. This is a challenge, but one I am enjoying. I work tonight and tomorrow night, so I am heading to bed soon. Everyone have a wonderful weekend.