Detox Day 3 - It's the Magic Number

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have turned a corner!  No more nausea!  No more brain fog!  Woohoo!

At first, I woke up feeling yucky.  I blame it on the mashed potatoes I couldn't resist at birthday dinner last night.

Pre-breakfast: Glass of ice water

Breakfast: Chocolate shake with Fiber Booster and a ThermoBooster

Mid morning at the gym and after: LOTS of water (3-4 glasses)

Lunch: Vanilla shake with half banana and 5 frozen strawberries, Fiber Booster, and ThermoBooster

Afternoon snack: Citrus fizzy energy drink and three fit chews

It should be noted that I resisted temptation at every turn today.  I took my kids to a birthday party and did not eat cake or ice cream.  I did not eat snacks or party food.  I drank LOTS of water (probably another 3 glasses).  Whenever I felt the urge to grab a handful of chex mix and stuff it in my mouth, I drank more water.  Whenever I wanted to bury my face in birthday cake, I drank MORE water.  I've always heard that hydration is key and today I proved it to myself.

After the birthday party, around 5:30, I ate a granny smith apple.  I knew I would have a late dinner again, so I needed something to tide me over.  It is truly amazing how satisfying one apple is!

Dinner: blackened tilapia and steamed veggies (broccoli, carrots, and zucchini), 1.5 glasses of sweet tea.

I just finished my cup of Herbal Detox Tea.  It has replaced alcohol as my favorite way to wind down at the end of the day.  :)

Easiest/best part of the day: no guesswork when it comes to meals.  Yay!

Hardest part: resisting the urge to revert back to my usual eating habits.

What I've learned so far: sip and savor, my friends, sip. and. savor.  Don't chug your shakes!  On average, it takes me about and hour an a half to finish a shake.  I feel SO full by the time I'm done that I often don't even drink the last ounce.

I've heard people say that their taste buds change at some point during their detox and all the unhealthy things that used to taste so good, suddenly don't any more.  I wonder if it's because they know how those foods will make them feel the next day or if their taste buds really do change.  I've also heard that eventually the cravings for unhealthy things go away too.  I'm really ready for that.  My Pinterest feed is totally messing with me!  It makes me want cheese and lightly breaded foods!  Needless to say, these first three days have given my will-power a major workout.

Cheers to the weekend!  Here's hoping I can stay strong!

Detox Day 2

It's late, so this one's gonna be short and sweet.

Breakfast - Arbonne vanilla protein shake w/ fiber booster + thermobooster

Snack - 2 fit chews and a fizzy energy drink

Lunch - thermobooster + chocolate almond butter shake: 2 scoops chocolate protein powder, 1 scoop fiber booster, half banana, 1 heaping tablespoon almond butter, 5 ice cubes.

Snack - 2 fit chews and a green apple (I knew I would eat a late dinner)

Supper - Birthday Dinner with the hubs!  So I kiiiiind of cheated a little at dinner... but it's my biiiiiiiirthdaaaaay!  

The good: Steamed asparagus and a filet (grass-fed).  

The bad: I also had a wedge salad with a little bleu cheese dressing and a few bacon crumbles.  

The ugly: I did NOT have the will power to resist a glass of sweet tea and a few bites of mashed potatoes.

Best part of the day - besides being told happy birthday by my son... a delicious steak dinner and sweet tea ;)

Worst/Hardest part of today - again, not eating my kids' snacks.  I really think there's some addictive property in goldfish!

The brain fog was marginally better.  It's definitely more noticeable in the afternoon/evening than in the mornings.  I'm expecting to turn the corner on that by day 3 or 4.  Stay tuned!

D-Day: Detox Diary Day 1

So... Brian and I are tired of being tired.  And we're tired of our snug-fitting clothes.  Since we're building a house (still), and on a budget (always), we decided to do the Arbonne 28-day detox plan together.  Everything's better together, right?  I'm going to do my best to give a detailed, non-sugar-coated depiction of our journey.  Hopefully, I'll work up the nerve to post some before and after pics too ;).
First, let's be clear... I don't think I'm overweight and I'm really not doing this to lose weight.  I'm doing this to get healthy.  I KNOW my eating habits are terrible.  I KNOW Brian's eating habits are terrible.  He wears a pedometer at work and we found that he walks an average of 10 miles each day.  TEN. MILES.  Yet, his weight remains the same.  The only logical conclusion is that he eats too much crap.  The saying is true, you really can't outrun (or out walk) a bad diet.  So here goes...

Carrie's starting measurements:
Bust: Ha!
Waist: 30.5"
Hips: 39"

Ouch!  That's motivation enough!

6:15 a.m. - RUSH downstairs and pack Joseph's lunch for school, drink 1 glass of water, and fix my breakfast shake.  I used my Arbonne shaker cup (quick and easy) with 2 scoops vanilla protein powder, 1 scoop Fiber Booster (aka "Muffin Top Melter"), and about 10 ounces of unsweetened almond milk.  I also added a little crushed ice to make it extra cold.

7:00 a.m. - Finally leave the house and start drinking my shake in the car.  I'm a sip and savor kind of girl with my morning shake.  As part of my promise of full disclosure, I will tell you, mixing my shakes in the shaker cup is NOT my favorite way to have them, but for busy mornings, it's a must.  I also took one of Arbonne's new ThermoBooster pills.  You can find more detailed info about it here, but a quick description is: fat burner, metabolism booster.

8:45 a.m. - Finished my breakfast shake and went to the gym.  Drank 16.9 oz of water during workout.

10:00 a.m. - Left the gym drenched in sweat (it hurt so good!) and had a Fit Chew on my way home.  Why does working up a sweat automatically make me crave unhealthy sweets?  Must retrain my brain!
*on the way home, I got a signal that I was getting a flat tire.  Had to make a detour to the Gateway Tire store to get the tire patched.  Took longer than anticipated and was starving by the time we left at 11:00.  Had another Fit Chew.

11:30 - Finally got home, and was starving.  MUST. HAVE. DELICIOUS. SHAKE.  I put 4-5 frozen strawberries and half a banana in the blender, along with 2 scoops chocolate protein powder, 1 scoop of Fiber Boost, 10 oz unsweetened almond milk and 3 ice cubes.  Oh, sweet goodness... tastes JUST like a banana split!  Take another ThermoBooster.

After my lunch shake, I mixed up a pomegranate fizzy energy drink (I like to call it my "mommy crack") to ward off the dreaded 3:00 p.m. slump.  It is a fact that your metabolism slows down around 3:00 p.m., which is why we (Arbonne) suggests having your shakes for breakfast and lunch.  It's not a hard and fast rule, but a strong recommendation.
The package says to mix your fizzy with 8oz. of water, but that's a little too tart for me.  I mix it with about 12-14oz.

Now a word of WARNING about Fizz Sticks: it is FIZZY!  It will blow the cap off your water bottle if you shake too vigorously.  Shake it TWICE and then open it.

2:00 p.m. - Carpool line.  I'm feeling a little woozy and my thinking is a little foggy.  I was wondering when this would happen.  I've always been told that if you can make it through the first 3 days of the detox you'll have a breakthrough and will feel better then you've ever felt.  I've also heard that the symptoms of detox (removing toxins from your body and your diet) can feel like anything from a mild hangover to the flu.  It just depends on how toxic you are.  The solution?  DRINK MORE WATER!

3:00 p.m. - Not tired!  YAY!!!  But hungry.  Snack time!  My snack today: 1 whole carrot (organic), hummus (gluten free, organic, non-GMO), and water.

6:30 p.m. - Supper: Roast chicken with veggies and MORE WATER!

9:30 p.m. - Detox Tea to wind down and two fit chews to curb my late night sweet tooth.

Overall, not a bad day.  I must say, it's a pretty good feeling to know that I've had 40 grams of healthy protein, 40 vitamins and minerals, plus your entire daily allowance of fiber by lunch.  The hardest part?  Not eating my kids' snacks.  The easiest part? Not having to think about what I would eat for breakfast and lunch!  Goal for tomorrow: Drink 8 glasses of water.  (I only drank about 6 today).

By the way, if you want more information/details on what exactly Arbonne's Detox program includes (and excludes!), please comment below with your email address and I'll be in touch!

I Drank the Kool-Aid and You Should Too

A while back, I had the opportunity to go to Memphis, TN to witness an Arbonne car presentation.  For those of you reading this who don't know what in the world I'm talking about, here's the deal:

I work for myself as an Arbonne consultant.  Arbonne is a health and wellness company.  It's a network marketing business (not a pyramid scheme -- that's illegal!) and when someone becomes a Regional Vice President in Arbonne, they get a white Mercedes Benz of their choice and we have a big party to celebrate.  In Memphis, I heard wonderful and inspiring stories about other peoples' adventures in Arbonne.  All the way home from Memphis my friend (a fellow consultant) and I planned how we would achieve our goals in Arbonne.  Tonight, while I was snuggling with my sweet, sleeping baby big boy, I started thinking of what brought me to Arbonne.  What brought me to this point in my life journey?

I first heard of Arbonne in 2005.  I was 24 at the time and laughed at the idea of using anti-aging skincare... never mind the fact that there was a FREE Mercedes attached!  A year later, I got married.  A year after that, I had a baby.  Three years later, I had another baby.  Three weeks after that, I turned 30 and my younger sister brought me sample packs of Arbonne's Anti-aging skincare and told me that it was time to start using it.  Talk about a blow to my ego!  But my sister and her husband saw the bigger picture.  They saw people experiencing great success and financial freedom through Arbonne.  They knew our budget was tight.  They could see the stress and tension it created in my marriage.  Through a little pressure from them, I agreed to meet with a consultant.  The thought of going back to work after almost 4 years at home was daunting.  The thought of leaving my four-month-old with a stranger was terrifying.  Then I remembered what I liked about all my past jobs.  I loved helping people.  That's why I always worked in retail.  That's why I enjoy being a mom.  Although, it can be exhausting to help little people all day long.  I realized that through Arbonne, I could have the best of both worlds, so I signed up.   

When I started out, I had a four-month-old baby and I wasn't about to leave her with anybody for any reason.  Needless to say, I didn't do much with my Arbonne business at first.  I told myself that my goal was to get my own products for free.  When I reached that goal, I told myself that it would be nice to have a little extra shopping money each month.  I despised asking my husband for money and feeling like a free-loader (can I get an AMEN from all the stay at home moms?!), so I worked my business to make that happen.  Then I met all these people who were not only making a little extra spending money, but were paying for their kids' college -- IN FULL, were quitting their full-time jobs in corporate America, were rescuing their families from bankruptcy, etc. and it was ALL because of Arbonne.  I told my husband these wonderful, inspiring stories about these successful women and men in Arbonne and he said, "So why aren't you doing that?"  That question weighed heavily on my mind and on my heart.  Why aren't I doing that?  I desperately wanted to take some of the financial burden off my husband.  I saw the stress that it caused him to be the sole provider for our family.  We had/have very little "family time" because of it.  I've dreamed my whole life of being a wife and mother.  I couldn't bear the thought of leaving my kids at daycare each day, so a typical day job wasn't going to work for me.  I knew Arbonne was the ONLY way for me to fulfill my wants.  

The further into my Arbonne journey I went, the more self-discovery I did.  That weekend in Memphis, I had a lightbulb moment (several actually).  Tonight I realized that I started my Arbonne business for financial freedom, but I have stayed in it because I wanted to return to being myself.  If that doesn't make sense, just keep reading and hopefully it will.  You see, in college, I was a bright and bubbly, happy girl without a care in the world...as most college students are.  But the older I got, the more I worried and somewhere along the way, I lost myself.  My worry was stealing my joy.  I became "Brian's wife," "Joseph and Katie's mom," not "Carrie-the-girl-who's-always-smiling."  I needed to regain that part of myself.  I have realized that Arbonne is the answer to all of my WANTS: 

Looking 25 again -- check!

Feeling 25 again -- check!

Building a house that we can stay in and never out-grow -- check!

Paying for my kids' college -- check!

Shopping anytime I want -- check!

Driving a PAID FOR Mercedes -- CHECK PLEASE!

FEELING like myself again -- PRICELESS!

All of this is to say, that Arbonne has been transformational for me.  I am renewed and excited to help people again.  I am looking forward to living in my new home and knowing that it will be "the house that Arbonne built."  For most people, their debt is rising and their savings are falling, but I am determined to reverse that trend in my own home and to help others do the same.  Here's to HEALTH and WEALTH!

Take Me out to the Ballgame

As baseball season begins, many parents find themselves concerned with whether or not their child has the right shoes or glove or technique.  Perhaps we should take a cue from the boys in the story though, and make sure that our kids have the right attitude as well.  Please feel free to share this post!  My husband sent it to me from work today and as I watched our son at his first baseball practice of the season, I couldn't help but tear up seeing all the happy, healthy, perfect kids smiling, catching and running.

"Baseball is the only place in life where a sacrifice is really appreciated."  ~Author Unknown

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its
Dedicated staff, he offered a question:
'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection.
Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do.
Where is the natural order of things in my son?'


The audience was stilled by the query.


The father continued. 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.'
Then he told the following story:


Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a fatherIalso understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.


I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning..'


Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt.. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.
In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again.
Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.


At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?
Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.


However, as Shay stepped up to the
Plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.
The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed.
The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.
As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher..


The game would now be over.
The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman..
Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.


Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates.
Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first!
Run to first!'
Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base.
He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.


Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!'
Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.
By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball . The smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team.
He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.
Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.


All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'


Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third!
Shay, run to third!'


As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!'
Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team


'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'.


Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

Breaking "Bad"

I'll be the first to admit, I am hardly a candidate for "mother of the year," but I'm often appalled and deeply saddened by the things I overhear parents saying to and about their children. In our house, we have pretty strict rules about the words we use when talking about each other. We do not label each other with negative words or practice name-calling. That's not to say we don't joke around, but words are pretty serious business around here.

You see, when my brother was about three years old, a daycare worker constantly told him he was bad. The thing is, he wasn't BAD... it's not like he was killing cats and burying them in the backyard... He was just a BOY. One day, my mom asked why he wasn't allowed to do something at daycare and his sad little reply was, "Because I'm bad." It was heart-breaking for my mother and for me as well. That moment stuck in my 16-year-old brain and has never left. It was apparent that he was ashamed of this label that had been assigned to him. That day, I realized the importance of the words we use when describing children's behavior and actions. Choosing our words carefully prevents children from misunderstanding what we are saying and also prevents them from taking those words and using them in negative self-talk.

Another way to describe this form of talking to kids is "shaming." It's not something that anyone likes to think they do or would readily admit to, but when a child is told that they're being "bad" or called a brat, or cry-baby, etc. they are really being shamed. Many well-intentioned parents and teachers use shaming to stop a certain behavior, and it can be a very effective tool. The downside to shaming is that it causes children to have negative thoughts and feelings about themselves. Shaming involves a comment -- direct or indirect -- about what the child IS. This gives children a negative self-image and does not teach them about the impact of their behavior. It happens to the best of us when we feel tired or frustrated or out-of-control. We say the first thing that comes to mind, which is often the most hurtful thing you can say. A child's self-identity is shaped by the things they hear about themselves. If children's emotions are dismissed or their experiences are trivialized, they grow up feeling unimportant and that feeling follows them to adulthood.

I've read this Peggy O'Mara quote a million times and I always thought it was a good one, but I never realized the science behind it until recently.  I've been reading a book by Lysa TerKeust called "Unglued: Making Wise Choices in the Midst of Raw Emotions."  In her book she states that when we hear something or even say it to ourselves, it creates a small channel in our brains.  The more we hear these things, the deeper the channel becomes.  We are literally carving a path in our brains with the things we say.  When something is so ingrained in us (literally!) it's hard to believe anything else.

In an article on the website The Natural Child Project, Robin Grille and Beth Macgregor state:

"Recent research tells us that shame motivates people to withdraw from relationships, and to become isolated. Moreover, the shamed tend to feel humiliated and disapproved of by others, which can lead to hostility, even fury. Numerous studies link shame with a desire to punish others. When angry, shamed individuals are more likely to be malevolent, indirectly aggressive or self-destructive. Psychiatrist Peter Loader states that people cover up or compensate for deep feelings of shame with attitudes of contempt, superiority, domineering or bullying, self-deprecation, or obsessive perfectionism."

Shaming does not teach children empathy, in fact in does the opposite. Don't we all want kind, empathetic children who care about others and respect the feelings of others? I sure do! When we label our children, they become absorbed with themselves and their labels. They don't learn anything about recognizing other's feelings or emotions. Telling a child he or she is "bad" does not teach them the effects of their behavior. It does not show them the emotional impact their behavior has on others. It only causes them to think that something is wrong with them. Shaming does not teach respectful behavior. It only teaches submission and compliance to avoid punishment or to please others.

Empty threats and name-calling will only get you so far. It's also important to recognize the child's stage of development. Just because having a toddler is exhausting and sometimes frustrating does not mean that they are "bad." It probably means they are developmentally right on track!

It's hard to retrain your brain to say the right things to your kids, but isn't it work a try?  I love the positive talk that Aibelene used in "The Help."  After reading the book, I initiated something similar with my own kids.  Every night, no matter what has happened that day, I tell them the same things every night before bed.  I hope my nightly words of affirmation will create such a deep channel in their little brains that no one can ever undo it.  There are enough things in this world that can crush little spirits and I think it's my job, as a mom, to undo as much of it as I possibly can.  I want to give my kids the tools to have a positive self-image, to be empathetic, kind, considerate, and resilient.  I want to bubble-wrap their spirits with so much positivity that they will bounce back from whatever (or whoever) eventually knocks them down.

Be Kind to One Another

DISCLAIMER: I am NOT engaging in a biblical debate.  I am NOT stating my opinion on gay marriage.  I AM standing up for Christians (real Christians...the kind that "love one another" not the bigots who use God and Christianity to cover their hatred) and for the right to state one's opinion.

*********************************************************************************************

I have tried my best to stay out of the Chil-fil-A hoopla.  I think the whole mess is ridiculous.  I was reminded how ridiculous it was when I saw this floating around on Facebook:

I was just about over it when I read a recent interview with actress Sophia Bush online.  Here's a little taste of what ignited my fire:

"I'm sorry, it's 2012, if you really think it's OK to deny anybody their basic human right of loving who they choose to love, you can go f--k yourself, honestly. And you can print that, because I'm done. I am so over it!  Be a kind person...We are all supposed to be equal here."

Annnnd the fury is back!  First of all, this statement is so ignorant that I'm embarrassed for her.  Sadly, someone will read this and nod their head in agreement.  They might even clap or say something equally as ignorant like "Preach on, sister!"  But here's the thing, no one is trying to deny anyone the ability to love who they wish.  You can't really legislate love.  Certainly Mr. Cathy is not attempting to deny anyone the emotion of love.  Additionally, he was not unkind in his response to the question.  He did not bash anyone or any group of people.  In fact, his entire business is built upon the tradition of treating every person with honor, dignity, and respect -- regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender.  Ms. Bush did get one thing right, though:  We are all SUPPOSED to be equal here, but let's get real, we're NOT!  Women still experience sexual discrimination all the time! 

Then she really got me going...

"When you use God as an excuse to hate people and you use God as an excuse to cut people down, first of all, I think it's insulting to God. And second of all, you're missing the point."

No, Sophia, YOU'RE  missing the point.  Dan Cathy isn't expressing hatred toward anyone and he didn't use God as an excuse for his opinion.  As has been stated repeatedly, he expressed HIS OWN OPINION, which happens to be shared by millions of Christians.  Sadly, it is also shared by thousands of other small-minded, loud people who CLAIM to be Christians as well.  So you've obviously confused Dan Cathy with the preacher of Westboro Baptist Church.  

Here's the thing, as a company, Chick-fil-a takes NO POSITION on gay marriage.  That's right folks, NONE!  Mr. Cathy can do whatever he wants with the proceeds of HIS company because it's HIS BUSINESS!  In June of this year, General Mills-- whose products include Cheerios, Pillsbury and Green Giant vegetables -- announced that it is opposing a Minnesota constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman.   Do you see Christian groups lining the streets and jamming the internet with petitions against General Mills products?  No!  Has anyone stopped feeding their kids Cheerios because of this?  I don't think so!  Also in June, Nabisco's Oreo brand posted on Facebook a picture of an Oreo cookie with six colorful layers representing the gay pride rainbow. The caption: "Proudly support love!"  Does this mean that Oreos are no longer milk's favorite cookie?  No.  Would you have even known about this if I hadn't written this blog post?  Probably not!  Because no one made an issue of it.  It is their right to support who/what they want, just like it is my right not to buy their products.  This does not require a major protest.  If conservative Christians reacted to these things the way liberal groups react to Christian statements, then we (Christians, that is) would all be driving around with "Death to Doughboy" bumper stickers.

As Christians, we are taught to love everyone.  We are also taught not to judge because it is not our job (John 8:7, James 4:11-12).  I was always taught that, in the eyes of the Lord, no sin is greater than another.  Therefore, the person who covets their neighbor's house is no better or worse than the person who disrespects their parents.  And who hasn't been guilty of one or both of these before? 

 Here's my point:

There was a time when it was dangerous to be black in this country, and now, I fear, we are entering a time when it is dangerous to be a Christian and share your beliefs.  My preacher recently posted a status update regarding this debacle.  He stated, "the Founding Fathers... believed that diversity of thought, denominations, and religion was a good establishing principle for our new nation. I believe it has served us well as a country. We are treading on dangerous ground when it is no longer acceptable to express a religious opinion whether Christian, Mormon, Muslim, or atheist."  He's exactly right!  We have become a society that is so hypersensitive that if anyone expresses any opinion about how one should live or love, then they are infringing on someone else's civil rights!  Get Over It!

This is my proposed solution:

Christians, if you truly are a Christian, then you should examine yourself before you condemn anyone else.  Look at your own heart before judging what is in someone else's.  We are all sinners in the eyes of God.  Pointing fingers at someone else because they have sinned "more" than you or "worse" than you doesn't detract from your own short-comings.  Remember, we were all created in God's image.  

And to everyone, Christians and non-Christians alike, take some advice from the book of James:

"...always be more willing to listen than to speak. Keep control of your anger." (James 1:19)

And remember:

"A big forest fire can be started with only a little flame. The tongue is like a fire. It is a world of evil among the parts of our body. It spreads its evil through our whole body and starts a fire that influences all of life." (James 3:5-6)