Unfortunately, in the United States alone, there have been a staggering number of documented cases about children that were removed from their home by the Child Protection Services under the pretense that it was “in the best interest of the child”.  Sadly, a large number of these children have been murdered by the foster parents. 

There are numerous reasons that children are removed from their parents.  Sometimes, the biological parents actually DO abuse and neglect their children.  I thank God that the Child Protection Services are there to protect the children from harm.

But, have you ever sat back and wondered how many of these children that were removed were NOT actually being abused and neglected? 

The first thing that crosses the majority of people’s minds is “Well if their children were taken from them, they must be doing something wrong.”  In some cases, the children were removed for valid reasons.  In a large majority of cases, the parents did nothing wrong beyond being poor, having a lack of resources, pissing off a neighbor, letting their child go outside to play or having a “lived in” looking home.  I’m not talking about a filthy home, I’m talking about a home that has dishes in the sink, toys laying around, some unfinished laundry…..that type of thing.  There’s a huge difference between a “lived in” home and a “filthy” home.   But, as we all know “filth” is in the eye of the beholder.  What one person might consider “lived in”,  might be seen as “filthy” by someone that grew up in a spotless home. 

For some unknown reason, a neighbor with the right connections to the wrong people, can make a difference as to whether someone’s children are taken away or not, if you make them angry.  If your neighbor is friends with someone who works for the police department, sheriff’s department or social services, pissing them off could be very dangerous to your family life.  You may not believe it, but to be honest, your belief is not my concern.   This particular senario played out in real life with a member of my family.  If it can happen to them, it can happen to you.  How much money you do or don’t have isn’t going to make a whole hell of a lot of difference once CPS gets involved. 

I’m sure there are some honest police officers, sheriffs, CPS workers and judges…..somewhere.  But, if you think that all members of law enforcement and Social Services are law obiding citizens, you really need to take off your blinders and take a look at the world around you.  You don’t see the articles all of the time that show the damage that CPS and the law have done to children and their families,  but they are out there.  Look in the right places and you will find them. 

It is truly sickening to see even a majority of the cases in which CPS claimed to be doing what was “in the best interest of the child” when they were removing the children from their families that love them, just to find out that the children were murdered.  How in the HELL is that in the best interest of the child?  My thought is……..IT’S NOT!

2/3 cup butter or margarine, melted

2 eggs, slightly beaten

2 cups sugar

1 1/3 cups all purpose flour

3/4 cup baking cocoa

1/2 tsp baking cocoa

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup water

1 cup (6 oz) semi sweet chocolate chips

Glaze:

3/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

1/4 cup milk

2 TBSP butter or margarine

1 1/4 cup confectioners sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

 In a bowl, combine the butter, eggs and vanilla.  Combine the dry ingredients and add to the butter mixture and mix well.  Stir in water and chocolate chips until combined.  Pour into a greased 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until brownies pull away from the side of the pan.  Cool on a wire rack.  In a saucepan, combine the chips, milk and butter until chips and butter are melted.  Remove from the heat.  Whisk in the confectioners sugar and vanilla until smooth.  Cover and refrigerate until frosting is room temperature. (About 20 minutes)  Frost  brownies and cut into bars.  Make about 4 dozen

1 lb pork sausage
1 (10.75 oz) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
2 (14.5 oz) cans of green beans, drained

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

In a skillet over medium high heat, crumble sausage and cook until browned.  Drain grease well.

In an 8 x 8 inch casserole dish, mix together, sausage, mushroom soup and green beans. (You can add 1 cup of sour cream if desired).  Cover dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes. 

If you would like to, you can sprinkle 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese on top and return to oven, uncovered for another 5 minutes or until the cheese melts.

8 potatoes, cubed (peel half of the potatoes and leave the skin on the other half)

1-2 tsp of salt (optional)

6-8 slices of bacon cooked and diced

4-6 green onions

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

16 oz container of sour cream

1/4 tsp pepper

1 cup Miracle Whip

Cube and boil the potatoes. Drain.

Crumble bacon and slice onions.

Combine sour cream, pepper and Miracle Whip

Add to potatoes

Mix 3/4 of the bacon, onions and cheese with the potatoes (reserve the rest for putting on top)

Pour mixture into a baking dish

Top with the reserved bacon, onions and cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees or until cheese melts.

2 egg yolks

1/4 tsp almond flavoring

3/4 C sugar

2 1/2 C flour

Cream butter and sugar thoroughly; add egg yolks and almond flavoring; mix well. Work in flour with hands. Force dough through a cookie press onto ungreased cookie sheets making whatever shapes you wish to. Bake at 400° for 7-10 minutes or until set but not too brown.

2 C sugar

1 C brown sugar

1 C light corn syrup

1 C milk

1 C whipping cream

1 C margarine

4 tsp vanilla

Cook all ingredients except vanilla over medium-high heat. Cook until mixture forms a ball when dropped into cold water (or 240° to 260° on a candy thermometer). Remove from heat and add vanilla. Pour into buttered 9 x 13 pan; cool. Cut into pieces and wrap candy in waxed paper. Yields 3 dozen

1 C sugar

1/2 C nuts

1 stick margarine, softened

4 eggs

1 C unsifted flour

Brownies:

Mix together chocolate syrup, margarine, sugar, eggs, nuts and flour. Spread in cookie sheet. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes; cool.

Icing:

1 C sugar

1/4 C margarine

1/4 tsp almond extract

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 C chocolate chips

1/4 C milk

Combine sugar, milk and margarine; bring to a boil and boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and add chocolate chips, almond and vanilla extracts. Beat and spread on cooled brownies.

1 C shortening

1 1/2 C brown sugar

2 eggs

1/2 C milk

1 3/4 C flour

1/4 tsp baking soda

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

3 C rolled oats

1/2 C raisins

1/2 C chopped nuts

Cream shortening, sugar and egg till light and fluffy. Stir in milk. Sift together flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder and spices; stir into creamed mixture. Stir in rolled oats, raisins and nuts. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet; 2 inches apart. Bake at 400° for 8 minutes. Makes 5 dozen

1 C softened margarine

1/2 C brown sugar

2 tsp vanilla

1 tsp salt

1 pkg (12 oz) chocolate chips

1 C sugar

2 eggs

2 C flour

1 tsp baking soda

Cream butter with sugar, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla. Combine flour, salt and baking soda; blend into creamed mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 375° for 8 to 10 minutes. Makes approximately 8 dozen cookies.

3/4 C oil

1 C brown sugar

3 eggs

1/4 C molasses

2 1/2 C flour

1/4 tsp salt

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp ginger

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp cloves

Combine shortening, sugar and eggs in mixing bowl. Beat until fluffy. Add molasses and beat well. Mix dry ingredients together and add to molasses mixture; mix well. Chill dough and shape into 1 inch balls and roll in granulated sugar. Place 2 inches apart on greased cookie sheet. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes at 350°.