I am on a soapbox today . . .

I know it has been forever since I blogged, shame on me. It isn't that we haven't been doing anything, we have been busy, but I have kinda become a facebook kinda gal, so I neglected my blog and I am sorry.

We have had a good summer. Baseball, Rodeos, Fair, Rodeos, camping, Rodeos . . . . It has been a great summer. With the economics like they are right now, we have enjoyed doing things "cheap". Sure can make the imagination work doing that, but it has been fun.

I wasn't going to blog, but figured since I have had a burr under my saddle for while, I would work it out here. Tattoos have become the in thing in the past few years. I am very much against them, I have preached at my kids and some of their friends. I know the Bible tells us to take care of our bodies and not destroy them and there are alot of ways of destroying our bodies other than tattoos; then there is the "they will look horrid when you get old", yeah, they probably will, but so will everything else on a persons body. I have heard all kinds of arguements. BUT I have a personal reason not to get a tattoo and I think maybe people need to realize how it can hurt others.
Most of you know 10 years ago, my son passed away from leukemia. He went through 3 different kinds of transplants from a unknown matched donor. This man gave of himself for my son. The only thing he was compensated for was the hospital bill, nothing more, except the satisfaction of helping someone else. Well if you have a tattoo, you cannot donate for up to a year or more depending on the tattoo for someone. I have pushed and even have helped with 2 successful bone marrow transplant drives, bringing in over 200 potential donors.
Now while we were in Seattle, there were close to 20 children on our floor waiting for donors. There was one boy that caught my heart. He had loving parents and siblings, he was from a rural town in Montana. He was waiting for the unknown donors cells to be delivered. Mom and dad were excited in hopes that they would see their son start healing and enjoying life as a normal teenager. The next morning they were gone, the nurses said back to Montana. I worried about him alot and finally found out that his donor had been on the roster, then decided to get a tattoo of some kind, so therefore he was no able to donate to SAVE A LIFE, because of his selfishness (in my opinion), this kid had no chance, this mother and fathers hearts were broken as they watched their son suffer from cancer. Until you have watched your child suffer from a horrible disease, go through all the surgeries and have a glimps of hope, of a life like he should have, depending on someone else, to have that person basically say "I don't care about anyone but me", it is not a good thing. The young man passed away not too long after that ordeal and I have been on a mission to encourage young people especially to THINK before you INK! (I know kinda silly, but maybe someone will remember it)

If you are on the Bone Marrow Roster, THANK YOU so much, you will never know how you can help a person and their family. BUT if you have a tattoo and are on the roster, please contact the bone marrow organization and let them know.

Thank you for reading, if you are angry and thinking I am judgemental about your tattoos, you didn't have to read this. If you have tats that is your choice, but please don't let a family down, take your name off the list, don't let them get their hopes up only to have them smashed.

Off to Brandons first football game tomorrow. Looking foward to it!