Despite the fact my daughter has had diarrhea for 3 days, she is sleeping through the entire night and can officially crawl.
Despite the fact that I was awake and sitting near my toilet at 3 and 5 am to relinquich everything I had eaten just hours before, I have food in my fridge that I can eat when I am able to keep it down again.
Despite the fact that I was at the Dr.'s office this morning to have an 8 month discomfort diagnosed, I have the ability and option to go to the Doctor.
Despite the fact that my son was vomiting throughout the day, we were able to watch a movie together in the comfort and warmth of our home.
Despite the fact that my husband got sick this evening, and aside from visiting the toilet a few times, has been in bed since about 6:30 pm, we have a bed to lay our heads on and a bathroom of our own.
Despite the fact we won't know if I am taking the kids to my in-laws for Thanksgiving if M goes into work or staying home so M can recover from his illness, we still have a choice in which both involves family and food.
No matter what seems to be going wrong, there is always something to be thankful for.
Happy Thanksgiving and God Bless!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Going on a Bear Hunt
K and I read Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury last night. It's one of our favorite b0oks as we play out the parts. We've read it so much that he has it memorized.Here's a picture of our own bear with two big furry ears, two big goggly eyes, and one wet shiny nose.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Raising Blessings
All too often I hear people say, "I don't know if I want to bring a child into this world." I understand there are a lot of negative influences in the world, it's everywhere. As a Christian, I shouldn't be afraid to bring a child into a world of corruption. I should be joyful of the godly things and ways they can bring into and give to a "corrupted" world.
Walls Closing In
We just had some friends over and they invited us to lunch. Unfortunately, we couldn't go eat with them because K was overdue for a nap, which he didn't want to take. Upon their departure he started throwing a fit. He usually only throws a fit when he's hungry or tired. In this case, he was probably both. Either way, being hungry or tired does not excuse a bad attitude or disrespect. So, he was punished and sent to his room.
"Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him." (Proverbs 22:15)
I'm not afraid to spank my children, although I really don't like to, but if I'm not careful it can turn into a power battle. He'll get spankings and in turn will get louder and more disrespectful and the cycle will continue for a while if I let it. I've found the best way for him to calm down is to explain to him why he's in trouble, have him repeat it back to me, and then just leave the room. He'll fuss and scream for a while, but he'll fall asleep and I don't harbor anger.
Why can't he just listen to me and calm down immediately? Why does he have to fight it so hard to only realize it's really what he actually wants and needs? He knows he's tired. He knows I love him. Wouldn't it just be easier to say, "yes, mam, I'll take a nap" and just go to his room? There wouldn't be any punishment involved and no feelings would be hurt.
So, as I listen to my son scream in anger in his room, I can't help but imagine myself in an enclosed room with the bare walls closing in around me and screaming at the top of my lungs. No one can hear me and there isn't a door for anyone to rescue me. I'm at the end of knowing what to do so I surrender to my emotions and feelings and cave to my knees to pray. It is only in the comfort of prayer that I begin to feel the weight lifting off my shoulders. I start to feel my heart lightening again and the room is starting to regain it's size. I feel peace again.
Why is it I sometimes wait until I can't find any other answer to any of my problems that I surrender all I have? Why do I wait until I feel hopeless in my problems before I take them to God?
"Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul; if you find it, there is future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off." (Proverbs 24:14)
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him brings eternal praise." (Psalm 111:10)
"Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him." (Proverbs 22:15)
I'm not afraid to spank my children, although I really don't like to, but if I'm not careful it can turn into a power battle. He'll get spankings and in turn will get louder and more disrespectful and the cycle will continue for a while if I let it. I've found the best way for him to calm down is to explain to him why he's in trouble, have him repeat it back to me, and then just leave the room. He'll fuss and scream for a while, but he'll fall asleep and I don't harbor anger.
Why can't he just listen to me and calm down immediately? Why does he have to fight it so hard to only realize it's really what he actually wants and needs? He knows he's tired. He knows I love him. Wouldn't it just be easier to say, "yes, mam, I'll take a nap" and just go to his room? There wouldn't be any punishment involved and no feelings would be hurt.
So, as I listen to my son scream in anger in his room, I can't help but imagine myself in an enclosed room with the bare walls closing in around me and screaming at the top of my lungs. No one can hear me and there isn't a door for anyone to rescue me. I'm at the end of knowing what to do so I surrender to my emotions and feelings and cave to my knees to pray. It is only in the comfort of prayer that I begin to feel the weight lifting off my shoulders. I start to feel my heart lightening again and the room is starting to regain it's size. I feel peace again.
Why is it I sometimes wait until I can't find any other answer to any of my problems that I surrender all I have? Why do I wait until I feel hopeless in my problems before I take them to God?
"Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul; if you find it, there is future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off." (Proverbs 24:14)
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him brings eternal praise." (Psalm 111:10)
Sunday, November 23, 2008
An answered prayer
As I was folding laundry in the bedroom, I heard my cell phone ringing. By the time I had found it, the caller had hung up. I noticed it was my sister, which NEVER calls. I quickly called her back to find out it was her middle child, my niece C, that had actually called. She had called to thank me for praying for her. It brought tears to my eyes just thinking about it and wondering if I had actually told them I, and many others, had been praying for all of them, not just C.
C had moved in with her dad and step-mom a while back. I don't really know all the details of what happened, but she's back with my sister now. My sister and her family have had a lot of drama in the past year and I am continuing to pray for them as they adjust to everyone being home again.
C had moved in with her dad and step-mom a while back. I don't really know all the details of what happened, but she's back with my sister now. My sister and her family have had a lot of drama in the past year and I am continuing to pray for them as they adjust to everyone being home again.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
M's mini-vacation
Well, M went to Washington to check out the car he agreed to purchase. Unfortunately for him his gut instinct was right. The car he agreed to buy was not worthy of the money he was about to spend. He had been completely misled and misinformed. He was really upset at first. Then, I reminded him that he's better off having spent the money on the trip than to have got the car in the condition it was in and be upset b/c it wasn't anything like he had been told.
At least this way he got another stamp on his passport when he drove up to Canada to visit. I'm sure he'll start looking for another one when he gets home. This time I won't say or post anything until we have it in our possession.
At least this way he got another stamp on his passport when he drove up to Canada to visit. I'm sure he'll start looking for another one when he gets home. This time I won't say or post anything until we have it in our possession.
What a day!!!
I'm ready for a nap too! It's been a very full, but fun day. Being that I was 2000 miles over needing an oil change, we did that first. While the oil was being changed I watched K play with the train inside. We weren't there very long when a gentleman walked up to us and asked K if he wanted to see a bird that he had in his truck. K didn't know what to say being that it was a stranger and all. Lucky for me he didn't say anything until I said it would be OK. I picked up baby L and we followed the guy out to his truck. For the next 20 minutes or so we watched him handle a beautiful blue and yellow parrot. K didn't want to pet him on the head in fear of being bitten. So, he settled for touching his tail feather. As we parted ways, the guy gave K a tail feather that is almost as long as he is tall. (I'll post pics when M gets back with my camera). We weren't back in the lube shop very long when the car was ready. That was one of the quickest oil changes I've had done.
Next, we stopped at a friend's house to put together shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child. We were able to get 3 of them together from the extra toys we had from the shoe boxes we assembled at MOPS yesterday. Unfortunately, I had left my checkbook and money at home so I wasn't able to drop the shoe boxes off today.
Then, it was off to the first b-day party. It was fun. The cake was cute and the kids got to decorate tiaras and top hats. It was a really cute idea. We weren't able to stay for the cake or gifts because we had another b-day party to go to.
Off to the second b-day party. There the kids played capture the flag while the parents got to visit and relax a little. After about 30 minutes, the kids came in and made Christmas ornaments out of modeling clay. Another cute idea. We were able to stay for the opening of gifts and cake at this one. As the kids went back outside baby L started getting tired so we packed up and headed for home.
About 3 minutes from the house, K fell asleep and both kids are taking a nap now. I think I'll go do the same.
Next, we stopped at a friend's house to put together shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child. We were able to get 3 of them together from the extra toys we had from the shoe boxes we assembled at MOPS yesterday. Unfortunately, I had left my checkbook and money at home so I wasn't able to drop the shoe boxes off today.
Then, it was off to the first b-day party. It was fun. The cake was cute and the kids got to decorate tiaras and top hats. It was a really cute idea. We weren't able to stay for the cake or gifts because we had another b-day party to go to.
Off to the second b-day party. There the kids played capture the flag while the parents got to visit and relax a little. After about 30 minutes, the kids came in and made Christmas ornaments out of modeling clay. Another cute idea. We were able to stay for the opening of gifts and cake at this one. As the kids went back outside baby L started getting tired so we packed up and headed for home.
About 3 minutes from the house, K fell asleep and both kids are taking a nap now. I think I'll go do the same.
Never too Young
In a society where things are freely given (and taken) it's become harder and harder to teach my kids how to give from the heart when in public. It seems as though people are always willing to do things for kids, expecting that they can't or are not capable of doing things themselves.
They're smarter than we think. I just read a blog about teaching your kids responsibilities when they're old enough. Every child is different, therefore "old enough" should be determined by the child, not by a standard age. In my house, when K learned to get down from the table by himself, he was taught to put his own dishes away, whether it's in the empty dishwasher or in the sink.
As soon as he was able to make a mess with his toys, he was taught to clean them up. This even applies at church. I remember his teacher telling me once that they would clean it and not to worry about it. I just smiled and asked K to clean up his mess and let her know what our expectations of him were and are. By K helping clean up the mess he helped make, other kids started doing the same and the teacher was able to leave earlier because she didn't have to clean it up by herself.
He feeds the dog. He turns on the DVD player and TV by himself when he wants to watch a movie or watch Signing Times. He buckles himself up in the car. He started helping fold laundry
when he was only 2. He enjoys sweeping the floors and now he likes to mop my floors. When the UPS man delivers a package to the door, he brings it inside for me (if it's not too heavy). He's even responsible for taking his own clothes to the laundry basket when he undresses or changes clothes. He picks out the book he wants me to read every night. He brushes his own teeth, but I go behind him and sparkle them up a bit. Oh, he even answers the phone. That works great, because if it's a telemarketer they hang up thinking they have a wrong #. LOL
I don't say this to boast, but to let you know they will live up to the expectations we have for them. K has been labeled as a "good helper" and good big brother, therefore he enjoys helping and truly is a wonderful big brother.
Now when we first started teaching my son these responsibilities, it took a little longer (by my clock) to get done than I would have liked, but they got done. Now, he's mastered a lot of them and completed them before I realize he even started. He takes pride in being a "helper". He'll even ask me if he can be my "Good Samaritan".
I don't want my children to be ones that expect to be given to, but freely gives to others.
I realize I was put here to serve the Lord. In serving the Lord, I know I am to serve others before self, but if I do everything for my children, than who am I teaching them to serve? In teaching my children to be self-sufficient, it's teaching them to serve others by not having to be served in ALL they do.
They're smarter than we think. I just read a blog about teaching your kids responsibilities when they're old enough. Every child is different, therefore "old enough" should be determined by the child, not by a standard age. In my house, when K learned to get down from the table by himself, he was taught to put his own dishes away, whether it's in the empty dishwasher or in the sink.
As soon as he was able to make a mess with his toys, he was taught to clean them up. This even applies at church. I remember his teacher telling me once that they would clean it and not to worry about it. I just smiled and asked K to clean up his mess and let her know what our expectations of him were and are. By K helping clean up the mess he helped make, other kids started doing the same and the teacher was able to leave earlier because she didn't have to clean it up by herself.
He feeds the dog. He turns on the DVD player and TV by himself when he wants to watch a movie or watch Signing Times. He buckles himself up in the car. He started helping fold laundry
when he was only 2. He enjoys sweeping the floors and now he likes to mop my floors. When the UPS man delivers a package to the door, he brings it inside for me (if it's not too heavy). He's even responsible for taking his own clothes to the laundry basket when he undresses or changes clothes. He picks out the book he wants me to read every night. He brushes his own teeth, but I go behind him and sparkle them up a bit. Oh, he even answers the phone. That works great, because if it's a telemarketer they hang up thinking they have a wrong #. LOLI don't say this to boast, but to let you know they will live up to the expectations we have for them. K has been labeled as a "good helper" and good big brother, therefore he enjoys helping and truly is a wonderful big brother.
Now when we first started teaching my son these responsibilities, it took a little longer (by my clock) to get done than I would have liked, but they got done. Now, he's mastered a lot of them and completed them before I realize he even started. He takes pride in being a "helper". He'll even ask me if he can be my "Good Samaritan".
I don't want my children to be ones that expect to be given to, but freely gives to others.
I realize I was put here to serve the Lord. In serving the Lord, I know I am to serve others before self, but if I do everything for my children, than who am I teaching them to serve? In teaching my children to be self-sufficient, it's teaching them to serve others by not having to be served in ALL they do.
Friday, November 21, 2008
M went to Washington
M called me Wednesday night while he was at work and asked me to book him a flight to Washington leaving Friday (today) and returning on Sunday.
After getting home at 6 am this morning, he woke up at 8:30 am, got ready and left for the airport. His flight left around 11 am. He should be getting into Washington by now, but I was reading K a bedtime story when he called so I didn't get to talk to him and am not sure where he is.
He went to Washington to "inspect" a car he just bought online. Normally, he would have just had it shipped, but he had a few concerns about this transaction and wanted to give the guy the money in person. He'd rather be out the cost of a plane trip than the cost of a car. If things go right, M will be shipping the car to LA and we should have it in about 2 weeks.
I'm excited about seeing the car in person. It's not a practical family car as it only has 2 seats (we're a family of 4) and is a mid-engine. There will not be room for any kids or a stroller for that matter.
God really worked on me to be the ever supportive wife and just smile and say OK.
Merry Christmas, M!!!!
Who wants to go shopping with me when M gets back??? :-)
Creative Website
I found this website and wanted to share it. It has a lot of great pictures of fun crafty ideas for the kids. I know I'm planning on doing some.
Check it out!
http://belladia.typepad.com/crafty_crow/
Check it out!
http://belladia.typepad.com/crafty_crow/
Proverbs 21
As I read my daily Proverbs, I found a new favorite verse. I don't know how many times I have read this verse, but today it stands out and is speaking to me more than ever.
"The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord." (Proverbs 21:31)
There is so much meaning to this verse that I don't even know where to start. It's comforting to know that no matter how much someone prepares for something (good or bad), the victory rests with the LORD and it's not determined in the immediate time frame we see. It is up to us to prepare for the battles, daily or long-term, but rest knowing that the ultimate victory is in the Lord's hands.
I can go over to a non-believers house with my Bible in tow and verses in mind and prepare to minister to them, but it's not up to me to save them. That responsibility is God's. I can only prepare for the battle of leading others to Christ. I can't decide their fate for them. How refreshing to know I play such an important role, yet am being led by the Lord.
Economical, political, personal, spiritual, relational. Am I properly preparing for the battles, yet allowing the victory to rest in the Lord's hands?
Who is leading your army?
"The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord." (Proverbs 21:31)
There is so much meaning to this verse that I don't even know where to start. It's comforting to know that no matter how much someone prepares for something (good or bad), the victory rests with the LORD and it's not determined in the immediate time frame we see. It is up to us to prepare for the battles, daily or long-term, but rest knowing that the ultimate victory is in the Lord's hands.
I can go over to a non-believers house with my Bible in tow and verses in mind and prepare to minister to them, but it's not up to me to save them. That responsibility is God's. I can only prepare for the battle of leading others to Christ. I can't decide their fate for them. How refreshing to know I play such an important role, yet am being led by the Lord.
Economical, political, personal, spiritual, relational. Am I properly preparing for the battles, yet allowing the victory to rest in the Lord's hands?
Who is leading your army?
Thursday, November 20, 2008
No need to worry
M works shift work, so when he is off during the day we don't get much "school work" done. I honor and cherish the time we get as a family and don't want to lose the little time we have together indoors doing "school work". I didn't realize how little we had actually been doing until I thought about how long it had been since we'd been to the library.
Often times when I wonder if I'm doing enough, I'm reminded that I'm a "Deuteronomy mom".
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." (Deuteronomy 6:5-7)
My husband and I use every possible moment as a learning and/or teaching moment. We know, understand, and respect that children are smarter than most people give them credit for.
I was talking to a homeschool mentor the other day when I mentioned that we haven't done much "school" lately. Sure, we have been reading books, almost every day, at least every night at bedtime, but not 3-4 books a day like we had been. I was beginning to wonder if I would be able to teach him the things he needs and wants to know.
I'm blessed to have a son that has a true love and curiosity for learning. The boy walks around the house sounding words out. I hear him say, "uuuuuumbrella, hhhhhouse, ttttractor, bbbball." You name it, he probably knows what it starts with. I got caught the other day when he asked what our lawn guy, Jorge, starts with. Jorge doesn't sound like it should start with a J, so when he asked me how to spell it, he got a little confused. Luckily, he wasn't very interested in the rules of the language and he went on to something else.
So, as I began to ponder about our past weeks and the things we had (or hadn't) done, I quickly realized he's only 3.5 and he needs to be a kid. He doesn't have to know everything, but will learn the things he needs to because I have completely surrendered homeschooling to God. God will provide when it's time.
This evening, about 8:30, K asked to do some school work from one of the books I bought last summer at the local bookstore. As we sat down together, he began to trace some different letters. He then tried to write them on his own. He doesn't do too bad. He'll eventually get it between the upper and lower lines. As of now, he just writes wherever he wants and that's OK. Well, for some reason, I decided to write h-a-t out. For the next 30 minutes he read over 20 different 3 letter words to me, my mom (on the phone), and his dad (on the phone). As he read each word, he got increasingly quicker. He started by sounding out each letter. Then, he would sound out two of them together. As soon as he realized what he was saying, it was like a light bulb went off and he just spouted out the word. It was one of the cutest expressions I have ever seen. It was such a mommy moment. I wish I could have captured the look on his face when he realized he was actually reading.
I guess us not doing school work for the past few weeks didn't hurt his love for learning too much.
Often times when I wonder if I'm doing enough, I'm reminded that I'm a "Deuteronomy mom".
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." (Deuteronomy 6:5-7)
My husband and I use every possible moment as a learning and/or teaching moment. We know, understand, and respect that children are smarter than most people give them credit for.
I was talking to a homeschool mentor the other day when I mentioned that we haven't done much "school" lately. Sure, we have been reading books, almost every day, at least every night at bedtime, but not 3-4 books a day like we had been. I was beginning to wonder if I would be able to teach him the things he needs and wants to know.
I'm blessed to have a son that has a true love and curiosity for learning. The boy walks around the house sounding words out. I hear him say, "uuuuuumbrella, hhhhhouse, ttttractor, bbbball." You name it, he probably knows what it starts with. I got caught the other day when he asked what our lawn guy, Jorge, starts with. Jorge doesn't sound like it should start with a J, so when he asked me how to spell it, he got a little confused. Luckily, he wasn't very interested in the rules of the language and he went on to something else.
So, as I began to ponder about our past weeks and the things we had (or hadn't) done, I quickly realized he's only 3.5 and he needs to be a kid. He doesn't have to know everything, but will learn the things he needs to because I have completely surrendered homeschooling to God. God will provide when it's time.
This evening, about 8:30, K asked to do some school work from one of the books I bought last summer at the local bookstore. As we sat down together, he began to trace some different letters. He then tried to write them on his own. He doesn't do too bad. He'll eventually get it between the upper and lower lines. As of now, he just writes wherever he wants and that's OK. Well, for some reason, I decided to write h-a-t out. For the next 30 minutes he read over 20 different 3 letter words to me, my mom (on the phone), and his dad (on the phone). As he read each word, he got increasingly quicker. He started by sounding out each letter. Then, he would sound out two of them together. As soon as he realized what he was saying, it was like a light bulb went off and he just spouted out the word. It was one of the cutest expressions I have ever seen. It was such a mommy moment. I wish I could have captured the look on his face when he realized he was actually reading.
I guess us not doing school work for the past few weeks didn't hurt his love for learning too much.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Mommmmaaaaa
After I finished reading K's choice read, Katy No-Pocket, by flashlight tonight, I tucked him into bed, he said his prayers, and I turned off the lights. As I anxiously walked the hallway to the desk to sit down and catch up on e-mails and do a little reading, I heard, "Momma,.....Momma.......Mommmmaaaaaa." I couldn't help but smile. I didn't even get to sit down. I figured he would ask me to turn on a night light, since he had just asked me to close the door (completely). I was wrong. Just when I thought I had him figured out. No, he didn't want any lights on, he wanted to know if I "locked all the doors?" To which I replied, "yes" "OK. goodnight." and off he went to sweet slumber.
As soon as he KNEW he was safe and secure, he rolled over and went to sleep. Is that what is meant by childlike faith? How much easier would life be if I would just say OK, roll over, and let God take care of it.
Why is it so hard to just say OK when I know I am being called or pulled away from something?
"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails." (Proverbs 19:21)
Just as I do my best to protect my (HIS) children, I KNOW God is protecting me in all that I do.
As soon as he KNEW he was safe and secure, he rolled over and went to sleep. Is that what is meant by childlike faith? How much easier would life be if I would just say OK, roll over, and let God take care of it.
Why is it so hard to just say OK when I know I am being called or pulled away from something?
"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails." (Proverbs 19:21)
Just as I do my best to protect my (HIS) children, I KNOW God is protecting me in all that I do.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Cabinet doors
I can't help but laugh at how things happen.
Last night I had some Moms over for a Mom's Night Out. We Watched Anita Renfroe, ate desserts, and got a chance to fellowship. It was a good time.
Now that everyone has left and all the visitors are gone, my husband and I are putting the cabinet doors up in the kitchen. How nice it would have been to have all my mismatched dishes and tupperware hidden and out of sight. In honesty, I really didn't mind that they were not hidden, but it's funny how just hours later, it looks like such a different kitchen.
Just as I invited the ladies over for fellowship, not to "check" out my house, I know they felt the same. They were coming over for a little time away. A little adult conversation and a chance to watch a Christian comedian in the solitude of other moms.
I have been blessed with friends that truly don't care about the condition of my house, but of my heart. Friends like that are hard to find. I think it's easier to find them if you first become the kind of friend you are looking for. How could I ever expect someone to come to my house and not judge me if I am judging them?
Last night I had some Moms over for a Mom's Night Out. We Watched Anita Renfroe, ate desserts, and got a chance to fellowship. It was a good time.
Now that everyone has left and all the visitors are gone, my husband and I are putting the cabinet doors up in the kitchen. How nice it would have been to have all my mismatched dishes and tupperware hidden and out of sight. In honesty, I really didn't mind that they were not hidden, but it's funny how just hours later, it looks like such a different kitchen.
Just as I invited the ladies over for fellowship, not to "check" out my house, I know they felt the same. They were coming over for a little time away. A little adult conversation and a chance to watch a Christian comedian in the solitude of other moms.
I have been blessed with friends that truly don't care about the condition of my house, but of my heart. Friends like that are hard to find. I think it's easier to find them if you first become the kind of friend you are looking for. How could I ever expect someone to come to my house and not judge me if I am judging them?
Our Zoo
I finally surrendered my control over the pipe cleaners and allowed K to use his imagination to create something. I guess I finally realized that's what I bought them for.
The first thing we made was a butterfly. M didn't like it too
much since K went around the house pretending to be a butterfly saying "swoodle" everywhere he went.
much since K went around the house pretending to be a butterfly saying "swoodle" everywhere he went.
The next thing we made was a turtle. It's a blue, green, and black turtle, but... it's a turtle. That's what I love about a child's imagination, it has no boundaries.
Then we made a monkey. I actually made 2 different versions of a monkey. K picked out the colors. M was a lot happier with the "results" of K being a monkey versus a butterfly.
Then we made a monkey. I actually made 2 different versions of a monkey. K picked out the colors. M was a lot happier with the "results" of K being a monkey versus a butterfly.Then, we made a horse and added a chicken that one of K's friend had given him.
Of course, all the animals have to have a place to live, so I found a perfect shoebox that already had "bars" on them. I just had to cut them out. As I was cutting the bars, K gently reminded me to make sure I made a door so the animals could get in and out. :-)
Of course, all the animals have to have a place to live, so I found a perfect shoebox that already had "bars" on them. I just had to cut them out. As I was cutting the bars, K gently reminded me to make sure I made a door so the animals could get in and out. :-)
This morning, we made a silver elephant with red legs. I just finished making a baby green elephant. So, I guess when our zoo is completely finished, if that ever happens, I will post more pics.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
A Baby L first
Baby L decided she would try to stand today. She hasn't even learned how to crawl yet, but she's starting to pull herself up. I sat her down in her crib and being the curious one that she is, she grabbed on to the side of the crib and stood up. It wasn't for very long, as her legs aren't that strong yet, but before I know it, she'll be crawling and walking everywhere.
It seems as though she was just born the other day...
It seems as though she was just born the other day...
Monday, November 10, 2008
Idolatry?
I was at a church for a leadership meeting this weekend when I noticed something that really bothered me and I wanted to share it someone hoping to get insight. I'm sure I misinterpreted what I saw, but to be honest, I just don't know.
As I turned the corner, I noticed a big cross on the wall. Above the cross it said, "Soul Winner". That's a good definition and is definitely fitting above a cross. I then looked down and saw children's hand prints all around. Just as adults need to won over to Christ, so do children. What bothered me though, was the picture in the middle. It wasn't Jesus Christ, it was President-Elect, Obama hugging different children. Is that a form of idolatry or did I completely misunderstand or misinterpret what I saw? He's not even in office yet and people are holding him in such high regard that his face is already plastered on a cross and he's been given the title "Soul Winner."
There is not one human being on this planet that can win souls. It is our responsibility to "...go and make disciples of all nations.... teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." Matthew 28:19. It is only through their personal decision to accept Christ as their savior that their soul can be won.
As I turned the corner, I noticed a big cross on the wall. Above the cross it said, "Soul Winner". That's a good definition and is definitely fitting above a cross. I then looked down and saw children's hand prints all around. Just as adults need to won over to Christ, so do children. What bothered me though, was the picture in the middle. It wasn't Jesus Christ, it was President-Elect, Obama hugging different children. Is that a form of idolatry or did I completely misunderstand or misinterpret what I saw? He's not even in office yet and people are holding him in such high regard that his face is already plastered on a cross and he's been given the title "Soul Winner."
There is not one human being on this planet that can win souls. It is our responsibility to "...go and make disciples of all nations.... teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." Matthew 28:19. It is only through their personal decision to accept Christ as their savior that their soul can be won.
Cycle of Democracy
I enjoyed reading this article and thought some of you might too....
Cycle of Democracy by Orrin Woodward
http://orrinwoodward.blogharbor.com/blog/_archives/2008/11/6/3965183.html
Cycle of Democracy - Alexander Fraser Tyler
by Orrin Woodward on Thu 06 Nov 2008 09:21 AM EST Permanent Link Cosmos
The following quote is from Alexander Fraser Tyler - (in his 1770 book, Cycle of Democracy). I have been thinking about this quote and the state of our union for many months. I do not write this article in an attacking spirit, but in a spirit of searching for the right path in a world wandering down blind alleys.
"A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising them the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that a democracy always collapses over a louse fiscal responsibility, always followed by a dictatorship. The average of the world's great civilizations before they decline has been 200 years. These nations have progressed in this sequence:"
Here is Tyler's "Cycle of Democracy" with my thoughts of of America in the cycle.
From bondage to spiritual faith;
The Great Awakening of the 1730’s in the American Colonies was a time of revival and spiritual longing. Jonathon Edwards, considered by many to be America ’s greatest mind, led the revival with Biblical sermons and a fire for truth. Edwards taught the unvarnished truth about sinful man and our accountability to an Almighty God. Not surprisingly, he is mocked and laughed at today, but that is more of an indictment of our society than Edwards preaching. Pastor Edward’s magnum opus, Freedom of the Will has never been refuted by any scholar. This was a critical step in developing the conviction to fear God and not man. Even if man happened to be the largest empire in the world in which the sun never set – the British Empire .
From spiritual faith to great courage;
Spiritual faith leads to great courage based upon convictions worth sacrificing for. A person who will does not stand for something, will fall for anything. Think of the true heroes throughout history. One of the uniting principles that all heroes have is a willingness to stand for truth and convictions in a world of untruth and apathy. The Founding Families had great courage to stand for the truth of against tyranny and oppression. They did this because they knew the Bible said, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty .” The British were moving in the direction of excessive taxation (1 %) and the Colonist would not sit back and allow an offsite government to tax local colonist.
From courage to liberty;
The Colonist defeat of the British Empire was not a defeat of British military forces as much as a victory over British will. The Colonists were fighting for their deeply held principles that they were willing to give their life, wealth and sacred honor for. The British were fighting for some extra taxation in one of their many colonies. The American will defeated the British will because of an imbalance in the convictions involved. With the defeat of Cornwallis and the subsequent genius of our American Constitution, liberty reigned in the United States under rule of law.
From liberty to abundance;
The abundance generated by free enterprise and limited government was one of America ’s biggest blessings, but also one of our biggest challenges. One of the few standing economies after WWII was America ’s. Our products flowed to nearly all foreign markets creating the wealthiest society in the world’s history. It takes incredible discipline to remember where our blessings come from with abundance heaped upon further abundance. Over time, people forget the principles that created the liberty and the fruit of that liberty. Seeing the inequalities in the blessing of individual citizens, an envy of our fellow Americans germinates. The fruit of this unholy thinking is a desire to take our brothers and sisters abundance and give to those less abounding. Government would have to intervene and right this wrong according to the envious.
From abundance to selfishness;
The 1960’s were a decade of self masquerading as a care for those less fortunate. Free love, destruction of society’s norms, and a drug culture prevailed in the youth. The 1960’s were a rebellion against the plastic society of abundance without the belief in the principles that created that abundance. The Church, having lost conviction of the truths of the Bible, ossified into ghetto culture within America . With little truth in the Church, the youth were left on their own to search for answers to the hypocrisy that engulfed them. Instead of returning to the Biblical principles and the God that created the blessings, society entered into the worship of self and self-actualization. The youth of the 60’s saw the hypocrisy, but in their endless faith in their own holiness marched America even further from its Biblical roots.
From selfishness to complacency;
Without a Biblical foundation, the rebellion was bound to produce worse fruits than the plastic culture it attempted to replace. With no firm convictions to stand upon, the rebellion dissolved into peace and personal affluence. The loss of Biblical absolutes is bound to lead from convictions to surrender to complacency as no one is sure what the truth is. What is the use of standing for anything, if we are not sure that what we are standing for is truth? The 1970’s saw this complacency as the youth joined the “system” and pursued peace and affluence with little understanding of original principles that America was founded upon.
From complacency to apathy;
1980’s were a brief respite in the cycle. Thanks to the leadership and convictions of Ronald Reagan, America stood its ground against Communism and found that Communism was a paper tiger. The respite was short lived because the President, even with his bully pulpit, cannot consistently educate Americans on Biblical truths. This must be a function of the church, which has abdicated their responsibility in an effort to be relative to a lost generation.
The 1990’s saw a near complete surrender to apathy and personal fulfillment. With a near complete rejection of absolute values, people defined their own values and pursued fulfillment in the myriad of choices available to them. People did not care who was running the government as long as they were left alone to pursue the own personal agenda. Government performed by doing focus groups to ascertain what the people wanted and giving it to them, surrendering all leadership responsibilities to the disparate wishes of the people. Government, instead of playing the role of umpire and defender of our freedoms began to play the role of a benevolent dictator. The dictator studied to learn what we wanted and offered that to us with only a presumed token price of submission to the almighty sovereignty of government in the affairs of the citizens.
From apathy to dependency;
The 2000’s will be remembered as the decade of complete submission to the government’s largesse. The American citizen’s depend upon government for their welfare, health care, social security, etc. It would be unthinkable for most Americans to live without the direct involvement of our beneficent Big Brother. The price of dependency is submission of our freedoms to the dictates of Big Brother. The old saying that you boil a frog one degree at a time aptly fits here. If you take a frog and throw him into boiling water, the frog will have enough sense to jump out. But if you turn up the temperature slowly, the frog will open up its pores and will literally be boiled without an attempted escape. Americans are now boiling in our dependency on our government.
From dependency back again to bondage.
Eventually in our dependence, we see our status falling in the free world as slaves can never perform the functions of free men and women. Although the government still mouths the words of our founding fathers, the words have new meanings. The citizens cannot put a finger on the malady, but they know something is not right. In their desperation, they look for a messiah to save them. Because the Churches are not sharing the message of the true messiah and the true way to liberty, the citizens look for a worldly messiah. A perceptive leader, with words that tickle the ears promises to be the searched for messiah. With the republican form of government torn asunder and transformed into a nascent democracy – the powerful words and promises of deliverance speak directly to the masses. A savior is born unto the people and salvation is just around the corner.
A shocking truth is learned too late that man cannot save man and only Jesus Christ can liberate the soul in bondage. A people held in bondage to sin can never be responsible to run a free government. The people in bondage will look to the government the way Christians look to their Savior. Government cannot be the savior to the people and was never intended to be so when created by our Founding Families. America’s national debt is now over $10 trillion and to service the debt on the interest is over $450 billion per year. This makes interest on debt the 3rd biggest item on our governments budget! We are bankrupting our children's inheritance on the altar of self indulgence! Ben Franklin said after the creation of our Constitution when asked what type of government was created, “A republic, if you can keep it.” A republic was formed to keep the masses from directly running the government and voting the government into bankruptcy. How far have we traveled from our founding principles and roots?
I did not write this to scare people into inactivity, but to awaken our consciences to the choices that face us. We do not have to complete this cycle and just as Ronald Reagan interrupted the cycle, we can too! Will it take convictions and guts? Yes, but a Godly people that have studied the truth of our founding principles will not be swayed by the promises of an almighty government. Examine yourself. Where do you stand at this historic time?
Let me close with one of my brothers favorite authors. The science fiction writer, Robert Heinlein called this issue "Bread and Circuses" - a reference to Roman Emperors providing food and entertainment to distract the masses. In "To Sail beyond the Sunset" the character Lazarus Long discusses this problem:
"A perfect democracy, a 'warm body' democracy in which every adult may vote and all votes count equally has no internal feedback for self correction. It depends solely on the wisdom and self-restraint of citizens...which is opposed by the folly and lack of self-restraint of other citizens. What is supposed to happen in a democracy is that each sovereign citizen will always vote in the public interest for the safety and welfare of all. But what does happen is that he votes his own self-interest as he sees it...which for the majority translates as 'Bread and Circuses'
"Bread and Circuses is the cancer of democracy, the fatal disease for which there is no cure. Democracy often works beautifully at first. But once a state extends the franchise to every warm body, be he producer or parasite, that day marks the beginning of the end of the state. For when the plebs discover that they can vote themselves bread and circuses without limit and that the productive members of the body politic cannot stop them, they will do so, until the state bleeds to death or in its weakened condition the state succumbs to an invader--the barbarians enter Rome."
Where do you think America is on the cycle and what do you think we must do to address and fix? I will close this article with the Biblical passage from Hosea 4:6-10, which I believe captures the crossroads where America stands. I will address proposed solutions in several future articles. God Bless, Orrin Woodward
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also will reject you from being priest for Me;
Because you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children.
7 “ The more they increased,
The more they sinned against Me;
I will change[a] their glory[b] into shame.
8 They eat up the sin of My people;
They set their heart on their iniquity.
9 And it shall be: like people, like priest.
So I will punish them for their ways,
And reward them for their deeds.
10 For they shall eat, but not have enough;
They shall commit harlotry, but not increase;
Because they have ceased obeying the LORD.
Cycle of Democracy by Orrin Woodward
http://orrinwoodward.blogharbor.com/blog/_archives/2008/11/6/3965183.html
Cycle of Democracy - Alexander Fraser Tyler
by Orrin Woodward on Thu 06 Nov 2008 09:21 AM EST Permanent Link Cosmos
The following quote is from Alexander Fraser Tyler - (in his 1770 book, Cycle of Democracy). I have been thinking about this quote and the state of our union for many months. I do not write this article in an attacking spirit, but in a spirit of searching for the right path in a world wandering down blind alleys.
"A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising them the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that a democracy always collapses over a louse fiscal responsibility, always followed by a dictatorship. The average of the world's great civilizations before they decline has been 200 years. These nations have progressed in this sequence:"
Here is Tyler's "Cycle of Democracy" with my thoughts of of America in the cycle.
From bondage to spiritual faith;
The Great Awakening of the 1730’s in the American Colonies was a time of revival and spiritual longing. Jonathon Edwards, considered by many to be America ’s greatest mind, led the revival with Biblical sermons and a fire for truth. Edwards taught the unvarnished truth about sinful man and our accountability to an Almighty God. Not surprisingly, he is mocked and laughed at today, but that is more of an indictment of our society than Edwards preaching. Pastor Edward’s magnum opus, Freedom of the Will has never been refuted by any scholar. This was a critical step in developing the conviction to fear God and not man. Even if man happened to be the largest empire in the world in which the sun never set – the British Empire .
From spiritual faith to great courage;
Spiritual faith leads to great courage based upon convictions worth sacrificing for. A person who will does not stand for something, will fall for anything. Think of the true heroes throughout history. One of the uniting principles that all heroes have is a willingness to stand for truth and convictions in a world of untruth and apathy. The Founding Families had great courage to stand for the truth of against tyranny and oppression. They did this because they knew the Bible said, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty .” The British were moving in the direction of excessive taxation (1 %) and the Colonist would not sit back and allow an offsite government to tax local colonist.
From courage to liberty;
The Colonist defeat of the British Empire was not a defeat of British military forces as much as a victory over British will. The Colonists were fighting for their deeply held principles that they were willing to give their life, wealth and sacred honor for. The British were fighting for some extra taxation in one of their many colonies. The American will defeated the British will because of an imbalance in the convictions involved. With the defeat of Cornwallis and the subsequent genius of our American Constitution, liberty reigned in the United States under rule of law.
From liberty to abundance;
The abundance generated by free enterprise and limited government was one of America ’s biggest blessings, but also one of our biggest challenges. One of the few standing economies after WWII was America ’s. Our products flowed to nearly all foreign markets creating the wealthiest society in the world’s history. It takes incredible discipline to remember where our blessings come from with abundance heaped upon further abundance. Over time, people forget the principles that created the liberty and the fruit of that liberty. Seeing the inequalities in the blessing of individual citizens, an envy of our fellow Americans germinates. The fruit of this unholy thinking is a desire to take our brothers and sisters abundance and give to those less abounding. Government would have to intervene and right this wrong according to the envious.
From abundance to selfishness;
The 1960’s were a decade of self masquerading as a care for those less fortunate. Free love, destruction of society’s norms, and a drug culture prevailed in the youth. The 1960’s were a rebellion against the plastic society of abundance without the belief in the principles that created that abundance. The Church, having lost conviction of the truths of the Bible, ossified into ghetto culture within America . With little truth in the Church, the youth were left on their own to search for answers to the hypocrisy that engulfed them. Instead of returning to the Biblical principles and the God that created the blessings, society entered into the worship of self and self-actualization. The youth of the 60’s saw the hypocrisy, but in their endless faith in their own holiness marched America even further from its Biblical roots.
From selfishness to complacency;
Without a Biblical foundation, the rebellion was bound to produce worse fruits than the plastic culture it attempted to replace. With no firm convictions to stand upon, the rebellion dissolved into peace and personal affluence. The loss of Biblical absolutes is bound to lead from convictions to surrender to complacency as no one is sure what the truth is. What is the use of standing for anything, if we are not sure that what we are standing for is truth? The 1970’s saw this complacency as the youth joined the “system” and pursued peace and affluence with little understanding of original principles that America was founded upon.
From complacency to apathy;
1980’s were a brief respite in the cycle. Thanks to the leadership and convictions of Ronald Reagan, America stood its ground against Communism and found that Communism was a paper tiger. The respite was short lived because the President, even with his bully pulpit, cannot consistently educate Americans on Biblical truths. This must be a function of the church, which has abdicated their responsibility in an effort to be relative to a lost generation.
The 1990’s saw a near complete surrender to apathy and personal fulfillment. With a near complete rejection of absolute values, people defined their own values and pursued fulfillment in the myriad of choices available to them. People did not care who was running the government as long as they were left alone to pursue the own personal agenda. Government performed by doing focus groups to ascertain what the people wanted and giving it to them, surrendering all leadership responsibilities to the disparate wishes of the people. Government, instead of playing the role of umpire and defender of our freedoms began to play the role of a benevolent dictator. The dictator studied to learn what we wanted and offered that to us with only a presumed token price of submission to the almighty sovereignty of government in the affairs of the citizens.
From apathy to dependency;
The 2000’s will be remembered as the decade of complete submission to the government’s largesse. The American citizen’s depend upon government for their welfare, health care, social security, etc. It would be unthinkable for most Americans to live without the direct involvement of our beneficent Big Brother. The price of dependency is submission of our freedoms to the dictates of Big Brother. The old saying that you boil a frog one degree at a time aptly fits here. If you take a frog and throw him into boiling water, the frog will have enough sense to jump out. But if you turn up the temperature slowly, the frog will open up its pores and will literally be boiled without an attempted escape. Americans are now boiling in our dependency on our government.
From dependency back again to bondage.
Eventually in our dependence, we see our status falling in the free world as slaves can never perform the functions of free men and women. Although the government still mouths the words of our founding fathers, the words have new meanings. The citizens cannot put a finger on the malady, but they know something is not right. In their desperation, they look for a messiah to save them. Because the Churches are not sharing the message of the true messiah and the true way to liberty, the citizens look for a worldly messiah. A perceptive leader, with words that tickle the ears promises to be the searched for messiah. With the republican form of government torn asunder and transformed into a nascent democracy – the powerful words and promises of deliverance speak directly to the masses. A savior is born unto the people and salvation is just around the corner.
A shocking truth is learned too late that man cannot save man and only Jesus Christ can liberate the soul in bondage. A people held in bondage to sin can never be responsible to run a free government. The people in bondage will look to the government the way Christians look to their Savior. Government cannot be the savior to the people and was never intended to be so when created by our Founding Families. America’s national debt is now over $10 trillion and to service the debt on the interest is over $450 billion per year. This makes interest on debt the 3rd biggest item on our governments budget! We are bankrupting our children's inheritance on the altar of self indulgence! Ben Franklin said after the creation of our Constitution when asked what type of government was created, “A republic, if you can keep it.” A republic was formed to keep the masses from directly running the government and voting the government into bankruptcy. How far have we traveled from our founding principles and roots?
I did not write this to scare people into inactivity, but to awaken our consciences to the choices that face us. We do not have to complete this cycle and just as Ronald Reagan interrupted the cycle, we can too! Will it take convictions and guts? Yes, but a Godly people that have studied the truth of our founding principles will not be swayed by the promises of an almighty government. Examine yourself. Where do you stand at this historic time?
Let me close with one of my brothers favorite authors. The science fiction writer, Robert Heinlein called this issue "Bread and Circuses" - a reference to Roman Emperors providing food and entertainment to distract the masses. In "To Sail beyond the Sunset" the character Lazarus Long discusses this problem:
"A perfect democracy, a 'warm body' democracy in which every adult may vote and all votes count equally has no internal feedback for self correction. It depends solely on the wisdom and self-restraint of citizens...which is opposed by the folly and lack of self-restraint of other citizens. What is supposed to happen in a democracy is that each sovereign citizen will always vote in the public interest for the safety and welfare of all. But what does happen is that he votes his own self-interest as he sees it...which for the majority translates as 'Bread and Circuses'
"Bread and Circuses is the cancer of democracy, the fatal disease for which there is no cure. Democracy often works beautifully at first. But once a state extends the franchise to every warm body, be he producer or parasite, that day marks the beginning of the end of the state. For when the plebs discover that they can vote themselves bread and circuses without limit and that the productive members of the body politic cannot stop them, they will do so, until the state bleeds to death or in its weakened condition the state succumbs to an invader--the barbarians enter Rome."
Where do you think America is on the cycle and what do you think we must do to address and fix? I will close this article with the Biblical passage from Hosea 4:6-10, which I believe captures the crossroads where America stands. I will address proposed solutions in several future articles. God Bless, Orrin Woodward
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also will reject you from being priest for Me;
Because you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children.
7 “ The more they increased,
The more they sinned against Me;
I will change[a] their glory[b] into shame.
8 They eat up the sin of My people;
They set their heart on their iniquity.
9 And it shall be: like people, like priest.
So I will punish them for their ways,
And reward them for their deeds.
10 For they shall eat, but not have enough;
They shall commit harlotry, but not increase;
Because they have ceased obeying the LORD.
Prayers for Our Nation
Let it be known, I started praying for our country LONG before I even knew who was going to be on the tickets. So, to say I am praying for our country means just that. Just as I prayed for our current President, I will also pray for our President-Elect and his family before and after he takes office. The higher the level a person is in leadership, the more eyes are on them and the harder the fall is.
Our country's moral standards have been declining for quite some time. It has nothing to do with our economy, but with people's expectations. It seems the busier we get as a nation the less we expect of others and our children. Expectations tend to be inconvenient. We have become a nation of convenience.
In regards to the economy, I didn't know it was bad until someone told me. Yeah, I noticed gas prices went up. I noticed I got less food but spent more money at the grocery store. I noticed the prices of candy bars :-) went up, but it didn't really effect us too much. My husband and I decided to take control of our personal economy and not depend on the government or someone else a long time ago. We've been blessed. We've tried to share our blessings, at least how we obtained it, with others, but I was surprised at how few were actually interested in learning and educating themselves.
"Anyone who trades liberty for security deserves neither liberty nor security" Ben Franklin
To be honest, I got kind of excited when someone told me we were in a recession. When Mike mentioned he wanted a house on the lake, I smiled. There's almost no better time to buy land or build a house than when there is a "recession" because prices are low.
"By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail." Ben Franklin
Our country's moral standards have been declining for quite some time. It has nothing to do with our economy, but with people's expectations. It seems the busier we get as a nation the less we expect of others and our children. Expectations tend to be inconvenient. We have become a nation of convenience.
In regards to the economy, I didn't know it was bad until someone told me. Yeah, I noticed gas prices went up. I noticed I got less food but spent more money at the grocery store. I noticed the prices of candy bars :-) went up, but it didn't really effect us too much. My husband and I decided to take control of our personal economy and not depend on the government or someone else a long time ago. We've been blessed. We've tried to share our blessings, at least how we obtained it, with others, but I was surprised at how few were actually interested in learning and educating themselves.
"Anyone who trades liberty for security deserves neither liberty nor security" Ben Franklin
To be honest, I got kind of excited when someone told me we were in a recession. When Mike mentioned he wanted a house on the lake, I smiled. There's almost no better time to buy land or build a house than when there is a "recession" because prices are low.
"By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail." Ben Franklin
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Differing opinions
I LOVE talking to people about ideas and opinions in which we DON'T agree. I just wish I could find more people that wouldn't be offended by the fact that I may not agree. I know I don't know every answer, every option, or every outcome, but I am more than willing to listen to other people's ideas and opinions with an open mind. I enjoy enlightning conversations that can possibly open my eyes or mind to things or ideas I had never thought about.
I have a friend that I went to school with. Her and I disagree on many things, but it doesn't change the fact that she is God's creation and she has a right to her own opinion and ideas. I love reading her blog because her ideas are so different than mine. I'm not offended by them, I respect them. It doesn't change the fact that she's doing great things by involving and teaching her 1 year old in and about politics and the things she believes in.
I have a tendency to play "devil's advocate", not because I believe in all the situations, but because I want to be aware of all the possibilities and knowing that my way might not be the best way.
I got called out on it once at work. They told me I shouldn't be asking particular questions because it didn't pertain to me. If I'm in a room full of people and I have a question about something that I may have observed or could actually get in trouble for, I doubt I'm the only person that has ever had that question. Why shouldn't I be able to ask it?
Why is it so hard to find people that can truly appreciate others' difference and not feel the need or urge to argue about everything? I know some people don't even share their opinions or ideas in fear that someone will argue with them or even insult them.
I have a friend that I went to school with. Her and I disagree on many things, but it doesn't change the fact that she is God's creation and she has a right to her own opinion and ideas. I love reading her blog because her ideas are so different than mine. I'm not offended by them, I respect them. It doesn't change the fact that she's doing great things by involving and teaching her 1 year old in and about politics and the things she believes in.
I have a tendency to play "devil's advocate", not because I believe in all the situations, but because I want to be aware of all the possibilities and knowing that my way might not be the best way.
I got called out on it once at work. They told me I shouldn't be asking particular questions because it didn't pertain to me. If I'm in a room full of people and I have a question about something that I may have observed or could actually get in trouble for, I doubt I'm the only person that has ever had that question. Why shouldn't I be able to ask it?
Why is it so hard to find people that can truly appreciate others' difference and not feel the need or urge to argue about everything? I know some people don't even share their opinions or ideas in fear that someone will argue with them or even insult them.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Change
I'm truly excited about being a part of a history making election.
The people voted for change and I'm sure they (we) are going to get it. I just don't know if it's going to be what they hoped for. For one man to make so many promises, he has a lot to live up to.
Even Christ didn't make promises, but was a fulfiller of them.
God Bless our Country and God Bless our President-Elect and his family.
The people voted for change and I'm sure they (we) are going to get it. I just don't know if it's going to be what they hoped for. For one man to make so many promises, he has a lot to live up to.
Even Christ didn't make promises, but was a fulfiller of them.
God Bless our Country and God Bless our President-Elect and his family.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Monday, November 3, 2008
Free $$$???
As I siphoned through the mail today, I noticed I had an envelope that said "check enclosed". As I curiously opened the check, I wondered if I had overpaid someone or something. It was a $10 check made out to me. Woo Hoo!!! Who wouldn't want free money? Since I didn't recognize the sender, I quickly flipped the check over to notice the fine print on the back.
"By cashing this check I agree to a 30 day trial offer in PrivacyGuard. I understand that the $64.99 semi-annual membership fee will be automatically billed to the card I have on file with B***** unless I cancel the membership by calling...." I quickly tore the envelope into pieces.
I couldn't believe it... There was a catch. You mean I wasn't getting free money in the mail. I wholeheartedly believe there are a few places that give things away for free, occasionally, but you must be careful to read the fine print. Sometimes all they want is for you to test the product and advertise for it. Other times, like some government funding, you MUST be careful to know and understand what kind of trap you could be falling into. You may not ever have to personally pay the money back, but someone does.
If the government is offering us free health care, what will the "cost" be in 10 years? What will the quality of service be like? How long will we have to wait for our checkup or prescription refill? What will it actually cost our retirement funds when and if we can retire?
Be cautious of all the things that are promised, unless they are promised by God.
Even my salvation cost Jesus Christ's life.
"What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" Matthew 16:26
"By cashing this check I agree to a 30 day trial offer in PrivacyGuard. I understand that the $64.99 semi-annual membership fee will be automatically billed to the card I have on file with B***** unless I cancel the membership by calling...." I quickly tore the envelope into pieces.
I couldn't believe it... There was a catch. You mean I wasn't getting free money in the mail. I wholeheartedly believe there are a few places that give things away for free, occasionally, but you must be careful to read the fine print. Sometimes all they want is for you to test the product and advertise for it. Other times, like some government funding, you MUST be careful to know and understand what kind of trap you could be falling into. You may not ever have to personally pay the money back, but someone does.
If the government is offering us free health care, what will the "cost" be in 10 years? What will the quality of service be like? How long will we have to wait for our checkup or prescription refill? What will it actually cost our retirement funds when and if we can retire?
Be cautious of all the things that are promised, unless they are promised by God.
Even my salvation cost Jesus Christ's life.
"What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" Matthew 16:26
Sunday, November 2, 2008
What Should we Protect?
In my intro of myself, I mentioned I started blogging as a place to "get it out". With the upcoming election, this is something that has been on my mind more than ever. This post might offend some people, but I don't apologize for my beliefs, just as you shouldn't for yours. So, unless you are reading with an open mind, you might not want to read this.
Currently, 1,556 known species in the world have been identified as endangered, or near extinction, and are under protection by government law (Glenn, 2006, Webpage). This approximation, however, does not take into consideration the number of species threatened with endangerment that are not included under the protection of such laws as the Endangered Species Act.
Currently, 1,556 known species in the world have been identified as endangered, or near extinction, and are under protection by government law (Glenn, 2006, Webpage). This approximation, however, does not take into consideration the number of species threatened with endangerment that are not included under the protection of such laws as the Endangered Species Act.
Humans have also set standards for which species they think should be saved and which species they find unimportant. For example, the coqui frog in Hawaii is so common that its “nocturnal singing” reduces the value of homes and prevents hotels from using rooms near the forest. Hawaiians have proposed eliminating the frog, and several wildlife managers want to release a pathogen to kill the frogs (Minteer & Collins, 2005, p. 333). This example of the coqui frog demonstrates how humans have no consideration for the life of another species, and are more concerned about their own contentment and personal gain. The frog decreased the value of homes and lost business for several hotels, so the Hawaiians figured it was acceptable to get rid of the group of coqui frog living near them, without taking into consideration the environmental impact of destroying the species.
How is it, there are laws protecting 1,556 different animals, yet we can take an innocent human life, because like the coqui frog in Hawaii, it wasn't what we wanted, planned, or could be a nuisance?
I truly believe human life begins at conception, not when you hear the first heartbeat (which can be as early as 6 weeks). At what point do we look at ourselves as a nation and realize we've messed up somewhere. Are those 1,556 animals more important than your child? Oh, of course not, you decided to have him/her. Had you chosen the other option, as a nation, it would have been "OK". No one would have questioned your reason. Yet, if I kill an endangered animal on the list, I could go to jail or be outrageously fined. I truly don't understand!
If I weren't ready for the consequences, I should not have participated in the actions. I know there are cases of rape in which a child is conceived, but just because the conception didn't happen the way you planned it, does it make God's creation less worthy of living?
At only 3 weeks, you can already distinguish the eyes, spine, and feet.
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb." Psalm 139:13
Time to Reevaluate
At the beginning of the "school year" I couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed by the things I had agreed to do. Although I felt slightly overwhelmed, I also felt peace because I knew God was in control. I never agreed to do anything without praying about it first. Once my heart was at peace, I agreed. Now, the pace as lessened and I feel as though I need to let a few things go. Oddly enough, it's not what I thought I would have been letting go either. I also wonder why I am pulled to let some of the activities go now that I actually have the time to do them all.
Why didn't I let them go when I didn't have the time? Was I being tested to see if I had truly let God take control? Whatever the reason was/is, I feel a peace about the things I am saying good-bye to and the things I am going to continue to do.
Many are the plans of a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21
My confirmation of one the activities I am going to continue to pursue came in the form of dreams. Not just one, but 2. I feel as though I was being reassured that I am on the right path. Although I have prayed about it (many times), it's the only thing I still have yet to completely surrender to God. I still try to get in the way and think it's something I am doing, sometimes forgetting He doesn't need me. I will know I have completely surrendered it to Him when I stop holding back and do more than I should and not the bare minimum.
good-bye BSF
good-bye story time at the library
(at least for now)
Why didn't I let them go when I didn't have the time? Was I being tested to see if I had truly let God take control? Whatever the reason was/is, I feel a peace about the things I am saying good-bye to and the things I am going to continue to do.
Many are the plans of a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21
My confirmation of one the activities I am going to continue to pursue came in the form of dreams. Not just one, but 2. I feel as though I was being reassured that I am on the right path. Although I have prayed about it (many times), it's the only thing I still have yet to completely surrender to God. I still try to get in the way and think it's something I am doing, sometimes forgetting He doesn't need me. I will know I have completely surrendered it to Him when I stop holding back and do more than I should and not the bare minimum.
good-bye BSF
good-bye story time at the library
(at least for now)
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