Hello there, G. Watson Beagle here again with this important message. I write tonight from Mrs. Pastor's computer for the simple reason that Pastor Dan is beating himself to a bloody pulp on his own.

Yes, brothers and sisters (heh), Pastor Dan has finally lost what precious few marbles he possessed. More on this potentially tasty development below the fold.

I told pastordan I would lead the prayers this weekend.  I'm going to keep it simple, with a hymn from this morning and a few words.  

May all who join us here find comfort.

And, even though I see it every week, I'm not entirely sure where the * goes.  So please, if you rather, join us in medidation or good thought for those joys and concerns brought before us this evening.

Today, June 3rd, is Pastordan's birthday.

He also shares this birthday with his father (otherwise known as pastordad) and his twin sister (known as Becky).

So, the summons comes in the mail and before I even open it I have the knee-jerk "ah, shit" reaction.  What an inconvenience.

From there, it only got better.  Really, it wasn't that bad.

I'm not kidding.

Really.

Pastor Dan and I have just returned from the wedding of our good friend, Joel.  We're killing time before the reception...so since it's Saturday night you know what that means.

What you looking at?  Check below the fold.

Friends, are you experiencing Cheers & Jeers withdrawal today?  Does the world seem cold and gray? How many times have you hit refresh hoping to see a place for snark?  Are you dying to post a pootie pic or a song of the day?  

If so, don't call 911. Whatever you do, don't pray...see below the fold.  

Tuesday, I posted a diary on Childhood Depression.  I noted in that diary that it is also Children's Mental Health Week.

Why is children's mental health so important?  Well, just like nutrition, exercise, and immunizations, a child's mental health is critical to their healthy development.  If a child's mental health needs are met they can think and learn better, develop new skills, and adapt to their environment.  

This, of course, is in addition to May being Mental Health Awareness Month and this week being Children's Mental Health Week.  Again, the folks at the National Mental Health Association have done a fantastic job of putting together resources.  Today's link is related to Childhood Depression and Children's Mental Health, please check it out.

Children can and do get depressed.

Depression in children can present differently than depression in adults.  Below the fold are signs of childhood depression and facts.

My interest in mental health is twofold.  Professionally, my background is in Child Development and Counseling Psychology and I am currently an administrator for a children's mental health treatment program.  As a Licensed Professional Counselor and member of several professional organizations dedicated to mental health, I feel an obligation to speak out about mental health issues, hopefully to educate the public.  

The other reason for my interest is purely personal.  As many of you already know, my husband, pastordan, was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, Type II about 5 years ago.  So I don't get to leave it at the office.  We deal with his disorder on a daily basis.