I've worked with & have been exposed to thousands of children in a number of different circumstances & situations. That being said, I'd like to take a moment to thank a few parents:
Thank you to all you parents who are actively involved in your children's lives. Thank you to those of you who have taught your children to have manners, to respect authority, to share, and to speak kindly to others. Thank you to those of you who do not allow your children to talk back to you, who are consistent in your discipline, and who stay on top of your child's whereabouts & behavior. Thank you for being good parents!
7.07.2011
2.15.2011
ESP Emporium's Customer Service (or lack thereof)
On Sun. I wrote to ESP Emporium:
I purchased a coupon to use on your website on Homerun.com yesterday. However, after I added items to my cart and tried to add the coupon code, the website gave me a page of weird script. No links, no clear explanation of what happened, just a bunch of technical-looking gobbledy-gook.
Later last night I found out that someone got a hold of my checkcard information online yesterday & used that information to purchase things on other websites. Since I didn't enter my credit card information on any others sites aside from yours yesterday, I have to assume whoever hacked my info hacked it from your website.
I'm concerned about the security of your website. I'm also concerned about my ability to use the coupon I purchased.
Can you please look into & address this issue for me?
I received this response:
Hello Allie,
We take website security VERY serious at ESP Emporium. As evident by the security banners on our site from McAfee Secure, GeoTrust and Authorize.Net. The scenario that you are describing is impossible, in order to provide us your credit information, you would have had to create a user account (it's a requirement to make a purchase, no anonymous purchases are allowed), We have explored our database and we can not find your name or email address. Before making fraudulent accusation about our website being hacked, you should first understand that we track this type of activity. We will be submitting your IP address and other information to the proper authorities and the credit card agency.
You want to track your steps further back to the REAL last place you entered your card card information instead of falsely accusing our company. Sounds like YOUR computer has been comprised, not our 256 bit encrypted (greater than industry standard), PCI compliant website.
Warm Regards,
Steve
____________________________________________________________
Steve Popec
ESP Emporium, A World of Tea
www.ESPemporium.com
I purchased a coupon to use on your website on Homerun.com yesterday. However, after I added items to my cart and tried to add the coupon code, the website gave me a page of weird script. No links, no clear explanation of what happened, just a bunch of technical-looking gobbledy-gook.
Later last night I found out that someone got a hold of my checkcard information online yesterday & used that information to purchase things on other websites. Since I didn't enter my credit card information on any others sites aside from yours yesterday, I have to assume whoever hacked my info hacked it from your website.
I'm concerned about the security of your website. I'm also concerned about my ability to use the coupon I purchased.
Can you please look into & address this issue for me?
I received this response:
Hello Allie,
We take website security VERY serious at ESP Emporium. As evident by the security banners on our site from McAfee Secure, GeoTrust and Authorize.Net. The scenario that you are describing is impossible, in order to provide us your credit information, you would have had to create a user account (it's a requirement to make a purchase, no anonymous purchases are allowed), We have explored our database and we can not find your name or email address. Before making fraudulent accusation about our website being hacked, you should first understand that we track this type of activity. We will be submitting your IP address and other information to the proper authorities and the credit card agency.
You want to track your steps further back to the REAL last place you entered your card card information instead of falsely accusing our company. Sounds like YOUR computer has been comprised, not our 256 bit encrypted (greater than industry standard), PCI compliant website.
Warm Regards,
Steve
____________________________________________________________
Steve Popec
ESP Emporium, A World of Tea
www.ESPemporium.com
11.09.2010
A lesson in beauty
Z. received the Veggie Tales movie Sweetpea Beauty for her birthday this year. There is a short episode before the movie called Snoodlerella. It's all about how God views us vs. how the world views us. Below, I've quoted the lines the Snoodle King says to Snoodlerella near the end of the story. I think it's beautiful text & I want my daughters to grow up truly believing it.
(The king represents God, speaking to us):
I think you’re beautiful
I treasure you deeply.
You’re lovely, my child.
I think you’re beautiful- your hair & your braces,
Your glasses and clothes, your cumbersome graces,
and many more traits, which I could speak of.
There’s nothing about you I don’t truly love.
You’re kind and you’re honest. You’re funny and smart.
You’re really quite charming. You have a good heart.
...
Of course it is true, every word that I say.
Daughter, I am the king and I made you that way.
I delight in your beauty. You’re wonderfully made.
I knew you before Earth’s foundation was laid.
You’re precious to me- every hair on your head.
Daughter, hear and believe
(It’s what the king said)
(The king represents God, speaking to us):
I think you’re beautiful
I treasure you deeply.
You’re lovely, my child.
I think you’re beautiful- your hair & your braces,
Your glasses and clothes, your cumbersome graces,
and many more traits, which I could speak of.
There’s nothing about you I don’t truly love.
You’re kind and you’re honest. You’re funny and smart.
You’re really quite charming. You have a good heart.
...
Of course it is true, every word that I say.
Daughter, I am the king and I made you that way.
I delight in your beauty. You’re wonderfully made.
I knew you before Earth’s foundation was laid.
You’re precious to me- every hair on your head.
Daughter, hear and believe
(It’s what the king said)
10.11.2010
Mama Bear
pet peeve: when people try to parent my kid(s) when I'm right there--especially if they try to do it while/right after I'm doing it!
My rule: if my kid is about to hurt herself & I don't see what's going on, please stop her. But if she is just doing something that annoys you, let it go & let me deal with it. If I don't see her doing something naughty, please tell me & let me discipline her. I'm her mom, it's my job & I take responsibility for my kids. In fact, it's best if you always wait to see if I'm going to step in before you try to parent my kids. I'll try to do the same for you.
I think it's important to remember that not everyone's parenting styles are the same--especially when it comes to discipline. At our house we have rules and we choose our battles. We are not, by any means, perfect parents (do those even exist?), but we've thought about, talked about, and prayed long & hard about how to raise our children. The rules we've set work for our family & we don't expect everyone else to live by them (unless they are in our home, in our care). We often reevaluate our strategies, methods, and rules & adjust as necessary.
We love our kids & are constantly aware of our responsibility to as parents to be attentive, loving, and consistent. We make our family the priority & feel it's important for our kids to know they are important-- more important than whatever's on TV, wherever we want/need to go, and whoever is on the phone. We believe our kids are not the responsibility of the school system, church, society, or even our extended family to raise: God gave them to us for a reason, and they are our blessings.
I get frustrated when friends or family treat my girls as insignificant, or as less of a priority than things that are truly insignificant... Also, when they show blatant disrespect for my girls or the boundaries they know I've set for my girls. I try to be careful about the types of people I expose my children to (people who are rude, lack manners, disrespect their elders, swear, etc), limiting time with friends or family who fall into those categories.
I admit I also have certain expectations. i.e. if you invite us over, I expect to be treated like a guest (with respect). It breaks my heart when one of my sweet kids asks why certain people didn't want to play with them, why they were ignored, or why someone said or did mean/rude things to them--ESPECIALLY when that person is an adult!
Again, I know not everyone has the same viewpoint as me... but there are such things as common courtesy, consideration, and thoughtfulness (and remembering the age of kids in the room and adjusting the conversational & other audible content appropriately).
There are often times I get frustrated with other people's children, too, but I have to remind myself I'm not their mother. I'm not responsible for their behavior. I try to give other parents a chance to do their job before I step into a situation with kids. And I desire the same respect in return.
The end.
My rule: if my kid is about to hurt herself & I don't see what's going on, please stop her. But if she is just doing something that annoys you, let it go & let me deal with it. If I don't see her doing something naughty, please tell me & let me discipline her. I'm her mom, it's my job & I take responsibility for my kids. In fact, it's best if you always wait to see if I'm going to step in before you try to parent my kids. I'll try to do the same for you.
I think it's important to remember that not everyone's parenting styles are the same--especially when it comes to discipline. At our house we have rules and we choose our battles. We are not, by any means, perfect parents (do those even exist?), but we've thought about, talked about, and prayed long & hard about how to raise our children. The rules we've set work for our family & we don't expect everyone else to live by them (unless they are in our home, in our care). We often reevaluate our strategies, methods, and rules & adjust as necessary.
We love our kids & are constantly aware of our responsibility to as parents to be attentive, loving, and consistent. We make our family the priority & feel it's important for our kids to know they are important-- more important than whatever's on TV, wherever we want/need to go, and whoever is on the phone. We believe our kids are not the responsibility of the school system, church, society, or even our extended family to raise: God gave them to us for a reason, and they are our blessings.
I get frustrated when friends or family treat my girls as insignificant, or as less of a priority than things that are truly insignificant... Also, when they show blatant disrespect for my girls or the boundaries they know I've set for my girls. I try to be careful about the types of people I expose my children to (people who are rude, lack manners, disrespect their elders, swear, etc), limiting time with friends or family who fall into those categories.
I admit I also have certain expectations. i.e. if you invite us over, I expect to be treated like a guest (with respect). It breaks my heart when one of my sweet kids asks why certain people didn't want to play with them, why they were ignored, or why someone said or did mean/rude things to them--ESPECIALLY when that person is an adult!
Again, I know not everyone has the same viewpoint as me... but there are such things as common courtesy, consideration, and thoughtfulness (and remembering the age of kids in the room and adjusting the conversational & other audible content appropriately).
There are often times I get frustrated with other people's children, too, but I have to remind myself I'm not their mother. I'm not responsible for their behavior. I try to give other parents a chance to do their job before I step into a situation with kids. And I desire the same respect in return.
The end.
9.15.2010
Please vote for this.
http://www.limeadesforlearning.com/projects/view/432252
This link will take you to a website where you can vote for a class of students with Autism in Oklahoma to receive the equipment they need to be able to play inside when the weather is bad outside.
This link will take you to a website where you can vote for a class of students with Autism in Oklahoma to receive the equipment they need to be able to play inside when the weather is bad outside.
8.02.2010
July has gone by already...
Well, school starts August 16th (yikes!). We have been VERY busy this summer (as always). Here are some pictures from the last month:
5.24.2010
Important Info About Homeschooling & the Upcoming Election
http://journal.homefires.com/2010/05/heads-up-california-voters/
5.23.2010
The longest process imaginable.
Well, last July we received an offer for a short sale on our house in the Central Valley, which was in the process of foreclosure... If you know anything about the foreclosure process, it can take FOREVER. So, when an offer came in we jumped on it. We sent all the necessary paperwork immediately, and got a fantastic realtor to facilitate negotiations with the lender (which had just switched from Countrywide to B of A). The bank said it would take a couple of weeks because they were so overloaded with foreclosures and short sales.
Weeks go by....we hear nothing. I call to make sure everything's going through. Oh--they LOST our paperwork. Weren't going to contact us to let us know. So I fax it in AGAIN. Wait a few more weeks.... They handed it off to a negotiating company. Again, didn't tell us we should contact that company. I call that company. They need fresh copies of our paperwork. Okay.... I send copy #3 of all the paperwork. Wait some more... and some more... meanwhile our realtor is calling DAILY, asking why it's taking so long, asking to speak with supervisors, etc.
MONTHS go by without any progress. "Waiting on a person to be assigned as the case negotiator" they said. FINALLY someone get assigned. Inspections need to be done. We send keys. They sit on the paperwork for a few more months. Oops. Inspections need to be renewed. So does the paperwork. Everything needs to be current.
There are a lot more scary, frustrating details and phone conversations that happened in the process. But, eventually, we qualified for a short sale, the offer got approved, inspections went great, and we signed the papers.
10 MONTHS after receiving the offer on the house, we close escrow on the short sale. GEEZ, B OF A!!!!
Weeks go by....we hear nothing. I call to make sure everything's going through. Oh--they LOST our paperwork. Weren't going to contact us to let us know. So I fax it in AGAIN. Wait a few more weeks.... They handed it off to a negotiating company. Again, didn't tell us we should contact that company. I call that company. They need fresh copies of our paperwork. Okay.... I send copy #3 of all the paperwork. Wait some more... and some more... meanwhile our realtor is calling DAILY, asking why it's taking so long, asking to speak with supervisors, etc.
MONTHS go by without any progress. "Waiting on a person to be assigned as the case negotiator" they said. FINALLY someone get assigned. Inspections need to be done. We send keys. They sit on the paperwork for a few more months. Oops. Inspections need to be renewed. So does the paperwork. Everything needs to be current.
There are a lot more scary, frustrating details and phone conversations that happened in the process. But, eventually, we qualified for a short sale, the offer got approved, inspections went great, and we signed the papers.
10 MONTHS after receiving the offer on the house, we close escrow on the short sale. GEEZ, B OF A!!!!
5.05.2010
Can't Believe It's Finally Over
After MONTHS (I kid you not) of trying to get Countrywide (which turned over to B of A during our horrible, way-too-lengthy battle with them) to approve a short sale on our house, we FINALLY closed escrow. More to come on the process we were led through...
4.08.2010
3.01.2010
This Month
Not a whole lot of exciting news to share. Just felt bad that I haven't posted anything this month. We've been busy with everyday events: school, sports, music, youth groups, work... and we've all taken turns being sick. Last week was the first week in two months when not one of us was sick...now D. is.
1.16.2010
Sweetness
I know I need to put some Christmas photos up here... and I will. But we had a birthday recently & a friend from high school took the girls' pictures. I wanted to share.
12.23.2009
Cookies & A Field Trip
It's an annual tradition for us to make & decorate cookies at my parents' house during the week of Christmas. Yesterday the girls displayed their artistic creativity with colored dough and glitter gel frosting.
We also took a trip to a local science museum yesterday. The girls loved climbing on the DNA strand and whale outside.
12.22.2009
December
There are so many fun pictures to share! However, because I'm super cautious about posting my kids' faces online, you'll have to email me when you want to see more of an event.
This month we've gone Christmas tree shopping, decorated the house, had 2 gymnastics shows, made ornaments with friends, gone ice skating & visited a science museum!
Thanksgiving
This month we had a birthday party & celebrated Thanksgiving on 2 different ranches! The girls enjoyed horses, karaoke, tractor rides & even driving a tractor!
Oops (again)
Oh yeah....we have a blog. Oops! Okay, so obviously we haven't posted anything since Halloween. But we DID have a fabulous Thanksgiving & we are looking forward to Christmas here in a few days. I'll post some pics of the last couple of months after I post this.
11.01.2009
Happy Halloween
Pumpking carving (okay, so that wasn't done on Halloween, but it still counts for the holiday), trick-or-treating and watching cartoons. That was only half of what we did yesterday, but my little pumpkins had a great day!
Quote of the day
"aahh--shhoo, aahh-shhoo, aahh-shhooo" (the sound of a doll sleeping).
Me: "Why are you saying it that way instead of making the real snoring sound?"
Oldest Child: "Because I don't have any spit in my mouth!"
Me: "Why are you saying it that way instead of making the real snoring sound?"
Oldest Child: "Because I don't have any spit in my mouth!"
10.11.2009
Bunyons!!
It's pumpkin season (yay!), and what do you do during pumpkin season when you have children? You visit all the cool pumpkin patches your other friends with children tell you about! We decided to cram two large pumpkin patches/farms into one week.
My youngest has fallen in love with tiny "bunyons," as she calls them, and my oldest discovered "tiger pumpkins." Between pony rides, petting zoos, hay bales, train rides and bounce houses we found time to pick out our favorite pumpkins to bring home (the rule: you get to bring home the heaviest one YOU can carry). Decorating said pumpkins is planned for this week (more pics to follow).
My youngest has fallen in love with tiny "bunyons," as she calls them, and my oldest discovered "tiger pumpkins." Between pony rides, petting zoos, hay bales, train rides and bounce houses we found time to pick out our favorite pumpkins to bring home (the rule: you get to bring home the heaviest one YOU can carry). Decorating said pumpkins is planned for this week (more pics to follow).
10.01.2009
Wish Lists
Whenever I'm out shopping with my kids, one of my least favorite questions is: "Mommy, can I have this?" It puts me in the place of having to say, "No" more than I'd like. So, I came up with one of my most (self-declared) brilliant ideas: I say, "Let's put it on your wish list." Saves me the money, my kids getting spoiled, AND the time trying to explain WHY we can't purchase each item immediately.
So...did you know you can create wishlists online at Target & Toys R Us? You can. Then, anytime you're in the store, you can ask for a scanner/gun thingy and let your kids go nuts adding all their favorite things to their wish lists.
When you get home you can go back online and edit what they chose according to what you're willing to have in your house should a grandparent purchase from the list.
There's another cool website called wishlist.com, but it's slightly more complicated than the others.
Now, whenever I'm out I hear, "Mommy, can I add this to my wishlist?" and the answer can always be "yes." My kids think I'm the best because I don't say no to anything they want to add and I have peace for the shopping trip.
So...did you know you can create wishlists online at Target & Toys R Us? You can. Then, anytime you're in the store, you can ask for a scanner/gun thingy and let your kids go nuts adding all their favorite things to their wish lists.
When you get home you can go back online and edit what they chose according to what you're willing to have in your house should a grandparent purchase from the list.
There's another cool website called wishlist.com, but it's slightly more complicated than the others.
Now, whenever I'm out I hear, "Mommy, can I add this to my wishlist?" and the answer can always be "yes." My kids think I'm the best because I don't say no to anything they want to add and I have peace for the shopping trip.
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