Chalkboard Paint

I took my behavioral intervention class today. It went really well. Now I have 2 classes to take online, then my PRIDE classes. I also had my fire inspection today. It went really well. The director at Buckner was concerned that my loft wouldn't work as a personal bedroom. He told me to make sure I asked the person who did my fire inspection if they approved it as a bedroom, and if they did then there wouldn't be any problems. It has been approved and the only non-fixable thing that could have posed a problem is now a non-issue! So now all that's left is the home health inspection and the homestudy which will be done all together! I still need to get my TB test but I will get that done around the first of the month. So things are running right along!

What does all that have to do with chalkboard paint, though? Well nothing really. I wanted the first part of this post to update you guys on where I am in my process. Where chalkboard paint comes in is now. I told you guys I have been considering different paint colors for my child's bedroom, and while I was doing that I also decided to pick up chalkboard paint for my kitchen. I picked up the chalkboard paint today and have applied the first coat. It takes about 2 to 3 coats to get a good coverage, but so far I'm really liking it!

I covered one entire wall in the kitchen area so that I can use it to write appointments and lists, and my little one can use the bottom part to draw and play on. I have to wait 3 days before writing on it so that it can cure completely, but I am so excited to use it! I have also decided on the paint color for the toddler room. I have decided to go with soft sage. I just love the color and I think it will work great for a unisex room. Plus green is my favorite color so yep, I am a wee little bit biased towards it lol. The next few days are going to be busy.

My brother and I will be moving my queen sized bed upstairs, going out to the farm to find the toddler bed, working on building the fence, and a whole lot more. I don't know what I would do without him. He has been so good about helping me out around the house, especially now that I am trying to adopt. I don't know if he'll ever know how much I appreciate him helping me out so much. He installed my fire extinguisher today, taped off the area I wanted to paint the chalkboard paint on, and is already planning for helping me build my fence for my dogs, and is going to run the tractor and level my land out so that I don't end up with a lake, again, out in front of my house the next time we have another big rain. I would never be able to get all this done without him.

So there ya have it. That's all that's going on right now. Later tonight I will post some of those spells I was telling you about and discuss an adoption friendly Wiccaning. So in closing I would like to share a picture of my kitchen wall chalkboard. Its only the first coat of paint mind you, and remember my brother taped off everything that didn't need paint on it, so the messy edges you see are on the tape lol. I'll post another picture when it is completely finished!

Finding a Paint Color

I don't know if you can see the color differences here or not. Mom and I were checking out paint at Walmart the other day and picked up some sample bottles of 2 colors that we liked on the paint chip. The bottom color is called soft sage. I really like it but it seems a little dark. I tested it with a sponge as well and it is perfect sponged on so I may end up using a sponge roller with that color. The color on top Mom picked out. It is called soft meadow and on the paint chip it looked primarily green with a soft blue undertone. Even in the bottle it is a very pretty green and when I originally painted it near the soft sage I thought "Oh what a pretty light green color!" But strangely, as it dried, it turned out to be baby blue and not a cute baby blue either.

I wanted a green because it is unisex in my mind. I've also found this really cute toddler bedding set that is a jungle theme with lions and monkeys, and the primary color on it is green. I thought it would be nice to find a color that complimented that bedding set. I just can't decide now! I love, love, love the soft sage but I just don't know if it is an appropriate color. And really, are there any appropriate colors for a child's room as long as it isn't some scary garish color?

My little brother will be out of school for the summer on Thursday and he has agreed to help me build my fence, level out the area of land in front of my house, and get my bed upstairs. I think our first point on the list will be moving my bed. Once my bed has been moved I am going to steam clean the carpet and rearrange some things, then I'll post a picture of the room and you can give me your opinions. I'm still leaning towards my green right now.

Another idea I've had is to turn a wall in my kitchen into one big chalkboard. That will create a large space for me to write down appointments for me and my potential child, and a large space for my child to get creative and draw. Walmart sells two different kinds of chalkboard paint. One is a spray paint can for about $4, and the other is a one quart can for about $10. I have some very beautiful woodwork around the baseboards and a door, so I plan on buying the quart can so I can control exactly where the paint goes. I have a sneaking feeling if I was to use the spray paint there would be chalkboard sections on the floor and all over my pretty woodwork. I'm not sure how much of it I will need to cover the area of wall I want to cover but I plan one buying at least 2 cans to be sure about it.

Well that's all for now. If you guys have any other suggestions or comments, feel free to leave them in the comments section. You guys know I love hearing from you!

Preparing For a Child

There are thousands of preparations going on here at my tiny house. Not only am I physically preparing my home for a toddler, but I'm planning magickal preparations for the new addition as well. A lot of adoptive parents prepare the child's bedroom or nursery, as well as several things around the home, such as childproofing cabinets and plug-ins, they do their best to prepare their pets for the changes, they discuss changes with their extended families, and they prepare themselves as best as they can. For Pagans that are adopting there are other things you may like to consider as well.

When preparing your potential child's room, think about doing a cleansing while preparing the room. While doing the cleansing think about asking for good health for anyone staying in the room and keeping illness at bay. Ask for the room to be infused with happiness, joy, and comfort. This is especially important for children that are being adopting from foster care. These children will need all the health, happiness, joy, and comfort they can get.

A lot of times we periodically do cleansings like this on our homes in general, but it's a really good idea to do this on the child's room once a week until the child is placed with you. Because the room is set aside for the child, no activity will happen in there, except for you adding things for your child, while at other times it will sit empty until the child is placed with you. In my case, once I move into my loft, the child's room will remain empty, except for me adding things to the room like decorations, and such, until my child is placed with me, and the door will remain closed, unless I am in there, to keep my dogs out of there.

When a room is essentially "closed off" from the rest of the house, the energy becomes stagnant. This is why it is a good idea to do your cleansing once a week until your child is placed with you. After your child is placed with you, you will be able to sense when the room will need a touch up. You should also take this time to do a deep cleansing and blessing on the entire home, and do so as often as needed to keep the energy flowing in a healthy, happy way. This is a good way of keeping yourself busy while either waiting for a placement, or even from the very beginning of the process.

Other magickal workings could include writing a spell to help the process along. This process can feel as if it is dragging by, and sometimes you may feel as if you will never get to the end point of the process. Doing a spell to help speed the process is a good idea. Depending on where you live, if you are adopting through foster care, this process can take anywhere from 6 months to a year or longer. I just recently started the process, and I'm about halfway through. Tomorrow I am being fingerprinted which is an essential part of the process, and I am also having a TB test, yet another essential part of the process. What takes the longest is not the paperwork if you are "homework" oriented like I am, but the classes. They are scheduled to happen at certain times, and you cannot race through them.

By doing a spell to speed the process up, you may be able to create an environment where you're classes happen in quick succession. My first class was my CPR class which was last Thursday. My second class will be my SAMA training (which is a behavioral intervention class and teaches you ways to defend yourself from a child acting out violently without harming them) and I will be taking that class this coming Thursday. After that is my psychotropic drugs class, which is taken online, and I will be given the link for it after my SAMA class. The biggest obstacle I have run into is my PRIDE class. The director at the Lubbock Buckner agency has said he is willing to work with me on those classes one on one, but it is suggested that I take the group class, because the people in that class will essentially become my support group after the class.

Now I fully understand the need for continued support, especially from people going through the same thing, so I would normally be all in for the group class. The problem is there is no group class scheduled until the end of July. That would put me becoming a licensed foster/adopt home around September. So what is a person to do. I would like the group class because I would love to have that support group after all this, however just like any normal person who is excited for something to happen, I want to be a licensed foster/adopt home as soon as possible as well. My director told me there is hope of getting a group class started sometime soon because he has had a few phone calls from others interested in the same program, so the witch in me instantly perked up. I can do a spell that will help give a little boost to people's interest, at least enough to get a class started sooner. Then I have a chance of being licensed by early August. This is something you may like to consider as well. Spells to obliterate obstacles will come in very handy.

You may also wish to write a spell to help bring the ideal child to you. After becoming licensed a child can be placed with you as soon as a month after licensing, sometimes potential families get calls before becoming licensed, and at other times it could take longer. If you have an idea of the kind of child you would like to adopt, not only will they ask you that in some of your paperwork to be able to keep on file, you can also list that within the universe. This will help keep things straight, speed things up, and keep you from digging through pile after pile of potential children. The spell will help bring exactly what you ask for. But just like with any other spell, be careful of being too vague. They will tell you at the agency you are working with not to restrict things too much with them, because that will make it harder for them to find a child to place with you. Spells don't work that way though. The more vague you are with your spell, the more dreck you will have to dig through. You may get thousands of potential children, but they may be nothing like what you are looking for. Sit down and write down exactly what you would like in a child. This could include key points about their personality, things they've been through, what they might look like, medical issues, and more. Just remember to be very specific with your spell.

There are many more magickal things we can do to prepare. But to keep this post from being too long, or boring you to the point of tears my friends, I will end this post now. Soon I will write specific posts for child finding spells, speeding up the process spells, and one very important spell, magickally preparing yourself.

One of My Favorite Pagan Songs Ever

Ok, so I've gotten slightly distracted while I should be doing other things... however, I am sick and I am allowing myself to do whatever I want. So I found one of my favorite Pagan songs of all time and I wanted to share it with you guys. Hope y'all like it as much as I do :D

Welcome to Our New Home

I'm sure you've noticed by now, if you've gone to the Wordpress blog you are being redirected here. That's because I missed my home here at Blogger very, very much. Wordpress runs smoothly which I appreciate, however it stifles my creativity, unless I want to pay extra fees. Granted I am paying a little bit of money yearly to redirect you guys here, but I missed my bloggy home here at Blogger.com so much that I figured I may as well just "move home" and have everyone forwarded here. I'm more comfortable here anyway. So please don't be alarmed. You are in the right place. This is still In The Arms of Mother Earth, just at a different host.

With that being said, notice that all the old posts from Wordpress are here. I imported them all before moving here. Also, you will notice that the sidebars here are not finished, and may be missing things like the button exchange, etc. Please have patience with me. I'm adding those things as you read. I'm also sick today, so between my violent coughing fits and laundry, I hope to get this blog at least sort of finished before Midnight. Although I do believe that is just a pipe dream lol. Things I hope to add since the move are adoption resources, books I've found informative about the adoption process, and of course magick tailored to the adoptive family!

Hello Again!

I'm so sorry I've been missing my friends. Let's see here... there's been a whole lot of stuff going on! I finally got my license and have been working in the salon. I've been working more diligently at advertising than anything else, but hopefully that will pay off soon. I've missed you guys very much though, and you have been on my mind a whole lot here lately. I have news for you my friends, and I hope you will be just as excited about it as I am.

I am adopting a child! I have been considering adoption for a long time, a couple years in fact, and I finally just said to myself, "Amber, you are 24 years old, you have a permanent home, and a stable job ... Why not at least start the process, and discuss things with a professional and see how you feel about it after that." So I recently started working with an agency in Lubbock and decided to do the foster to adopt program through the state. That way I'll be licensed as a foster parent and as a potential adoptive parent. I will have a chance to spend time with the child as my foster child before jumping right into adoption, so that way I have a chance to bond with the child before adopting.

Now, I've had to lie about my religion through this process. I had a choice of working with the agency I'm working with right now, or working directly with CPS and state officials. I weighed both options and settled on the agency, because they work a little bit like middlemen between me and the state. The only downfall is the agency is a Christian agency. However, any Pagans trying to adopt will be hard pressed to find an all Pagan agency that is licensed to work with children in foster care. Lying about my religion has pained me a little bit, but I believe it will be worth it in the end.

I'm so excited and nervous and scared, but mainly excited. I've wanted to be a mother for a very long time, and thankfully the state of Texas allows single applicants to adopt. I've been informed that I will be watched closer than the couples because of the fact that I'm single, but I don't think it will be too big of a deal. I think I can handle all their "watching" and I'll just watch them right back!

There are currently many changes going on in my little house. I've bought a slightly larger washer and dryer that still fits in the laundry niche, I'm having a repairman come out to check out my central heat and air unit which has been acting up since I moved home from Amarillo, and I have enlisted a friend who trains dogs to help me with extra training for my precious doggies so they will be ready for the change. Soon I will be moving my queen sized bed up to my loft, taking out the built in night stands in my bedroom, and adding a toddler bed to the bedroom on the first floor. I've been busy putting latches on my cabinets and drawers to keep the little one out of it, and I'll be having a baby gate built specifically for the size of the stairwell up to the loft.

So there are big changes going on! Any of you guys know of any good Pagan adoption blogs or Pagan adoptive parenting blogs? I'd love to get connected with other Pagans who are considering adoption or have already gone through the process. I am still in the process of getting my foster/adopt license. I've completed all the paperwork, will be going to get fingerprinted on Monday, and have completed my mandatory CPR class. I still have my behavioral intervention class, my psychotropic drugs class, and my PRIDE parenting classes to do. I also still need to have my home fire inspection, health inspection, homestudy, and physical/TB test. My caseworker thinks I will be licensed by the end of August or early in September and then hopefully I'll have a placement soon after that.

So leave me your comments below. Questions, resources, anything you would like to say. I miss talking to you guys!

When Will The Stupidity End: A Rant

I'd like for you guys to watch this video, all the way to the end... then we'll go into my rant.

Have you watched it? Good, cuz it's kinda important to know what my rant is about. First let me say, I don't care if you've studied for over 20 years, or 200 years; if you haven't actually taken Wicca's true meanings to heart, you're not a Wiccan. Please note this is not pointed at anyone who doesn't claim to be Wiccan, and I also do not mean this as offense to any of my dear bloggy friends, because you guys are amazing.

Wicca specifically states, An' It Harm None, Do What Ye Will. A lot of people take this differently, but I personally (especially after what my mentor taught me) believe that this statement means you don't intentionally harm yourself, or others. This woman states that because there isn't the concept of sin in our religion, she started drinking, doing drugs, and having sex.

First off, I don't know what's she's been studying, and if there is something I haven't studied when it comes to Wicca (which is likely, because to study everything available on Wicca would take longer than I have in this lifetime) let me know, but what I have studied about Wicca says this: drinking and doing drugs while working magick DO NOT MESH! While taking wine during ritual is acceptable, becoming and staying drunk affects your personal energy, making it difficult to focus enough to raise energy, and causes all kinds of things to run amok.

I tested that theory when I was much younger, and guess what... in my case it was true. Let me explain something ... no matter what religion you are, when you lose your life in the bottom of a liquor bottle, bad things will happen. Drugs have the same friggin effect. I again know that, because I am a recovering addict, and the addiction had absolutely NOTHING to do with my religious choice. In all actuality at that time, I had pretty much stopped believing in any Gods, Christian, Pagan, or otherwise. I drug myself out of the pit of addiction with the help of my family, and my own will. After I got my life straightened back out from the shambles I had turned it into (notice I said what I turned my life into, not what Wicca turned my life into) with the addiction, I went back to Wicca, and have always felt fulfilled with my religion.

Just because there are few rules when it comes to Witchcraft, doesn't mean you shouldn't have your own set moral codes that tell you what's right and what's wrong. Relying on a religious belief to tell you what's right and wrong is idiotic and brings to mind the argument of bad cults, with their punch cups, and "all knowing" leader ruling over their flock. Please people, when will we learn to use our brains, other than processing what others tell us to do? I know something that does that, and I'm typing on it right now. Computers don't make good humans, and humans don't make good computers. That's why we have brains, and computers have processors.

Now, I don't want it to sound like I have something against Christianity itself, because I don't. In it's true meaning, Christianity is an awesome religion, with a wonderful moral code, and great intentions. However, I cannot stand the people that shove that religion down your throat and tell you that you are making the wrong decision, you are going to hell for the decisions you are making, and that God will always love you, and why are you turning your back on him? First off, how in the hell can anyone tell anyone else what is right for them? Who knows what's better for me than I do?

There are so many arguments I have that prove to me that the religious choice I've made is right FOR ME. Maybe it's not right for someone else, and that's fine. Having a one size fits all religion makes about the same sense as having one size fits all shoes. Trying to force people into a religion that isn't right for them is like trying to force someone into shoes that don't fit; it pinches, hurts, and at some point that person is going to rebel against those painful freakin shoes.

It's regrettable that her first serious relationship didn't work out, because her fiance's family didn't approve of her religion, and I truly sympathize with her on that, but if he had really loved her enough to go through with marrying her, it wouldn't have mattered. The fact that she completely changed religions for her second fiance proves that, yes she loved him enough to do that; but it shouldn't have been necessary. Of course, if she truly found something better in Christianity, I'm very happy for her; and I appreciate that she didn't have too many horrible things to say about Wicca in general.

What I'm truly angry about is the 700 Club did not even show what Wiccans actually worship. It kinda ticked me off that the announcer said she worshipped her favorite tree to try to find answers. Yes, we find answers in nature, and I talk to trees, but we don't just worship trees! Our religion was completely misconstrued! And it truly ticks me off that the 700 Club is using idiotic crap like that, with a person who obviously hadn't paid close enough attention to her studies, to launch a smear campaign against Wicca! Get the freakin facts straight, and correct before you start smearing religions, and the people in those religions.

But I think what really ticked me off about this video, is that I forgot how bad it still is. I live in my little bubble with my bloggy friends, my true friends that know what religion I am and that often call and ask for distance healing or card readings, and my amazingly supportive family, and I forgot. I forgot how hateful, and stupid some Christians can be, and how ruthless they can be when trying to convert someone. I forgot how much of a struggle it is to be taken seriously at best, and to be treated as if I am the devil incarnate at worst. So, to end this rant, I want to thank the God and Goddess for bringing this video to my attention. I appreciate them reminding me how hard it is for those of us in this religion, trying to live double lives, just to be able to worship the way we want to. So, I'm going to end this here, before I go into a further rant about the fact that America was created because people wanted the right to WORSHIP THE WAY THEY WANTED TO!