Question the Culture

Going...going...

2011-06-24T19:47:00.002-05:00

Gone! I'm at http://oddlysaid.com now. Comments closed here, but open there. Come on over, the water's fine!

I haven't abandoned the blog!

2011-06-23T08:39:00.000-05:00

But...I am planning on abandoning the blog. Or relocating. So watch this space and then watch this space.

So, I was wrong

2011-04-27T15:46:00.001-05:00

Last fall when I wrote about the TSA molestations (Yeah, I'm gonna use that loaded term. It's what they are. Deal or don't read.), I figured it would be a temporary thing because Americans would never put up with this kabuki theater. Once our moms and grandmas started getting felt up, once our grandfather's urine was spilled all over him, once rape victims, toddlers, and six year olds were violated, we'd stand up and say, "That's it! Line crossed. Back up or bleed." I really thought that.

Boy, do I have egg on my face.

So... go here and watch the video at the bottom of this blog post. (Watch at least the first 3 minutes, but all of it worth the watch. This young woman is amazingly brave and strong.)

"This woman, she touched my vagina four times."

Let that sink in. Apparently, you have to stand and be violated multiple times if you want to travel by air. What the hell was that TSA agent expecting to find the fourth time?

Oh, and now the TSA agents are going to unionize. Lovely. That will make it much easier to fire the thieves and sexual criminals among their ranks. Or even to get them to back the hell off from feeling up little kids. Or wear clean gloves.

But I was wrong. I thought Americans loved liberty, loved their families, and loved their self-respect more than to stand like sheep while being manhandled, while allowing women and children to be molested, while being humiliated in the name of security theater.

I was wrong. God help us all.

ht: Evan Pokroy on twitter

He is risen, indeed!

2011-04-24T17:15:00.000-05:00

Just a thought, Easter service in heaven must be pretty awesome. I really can't wait to take part.

Lenten Devotions, Part IV

2011-04-06T23:36:00.001-05:00

And now for the finale. Sort of. Life has been so frantically frantic and we're taking a roadtrip, so I haven't finished looking up the music. BUT I will be updating this week and will hopefully have everything finished before Easter. It's important to have goals.

Ahem: the ornaments for the last eleven days.

31st Day: Crown of thorns; 32nd Day: Robe; 33rd Day: Donkey; 34th Day: Palm branches (Palm Sunday); 35th Day: Nail

36th Day: Spear; 37th Day: Basin & Towel; 38th Day: Bread & Cup (Maundy Thursday); 39th Day: Cross (Good Friday); 40th Day: Butterfly/Chrysalis; 41st Day: Empty Easter Egg (Easter Sunday)

Check back for updates on the music. I promise to try to post the music the day before it's "due." (How's that for the run-around.)

Day Thirty-one: "My Jesus, I Love Thee" music "O Sacred Head Now Wounded" music "Jesus Is All the World to Me" music
Day Thirty-two: "We Will Glorify" music"My Eternal King" music"Crown Him with Many Crowns" music "What Child Is This" music
Day Thirty-three: "Hosanna, Loud Hosanna" music "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" music "Be Still, My Soul" music
Day Thirty-four: "All Glory, Laud, and Honor" music "Tell Me the Stories of Jesus" music "Alleluia" music
Day Thirty-five: "It Is Well with My Soul" music "Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart" music "He Never Said A Mumbalin' Word" music
Day Thirty-six: "Were You There" music "Rock of Ages" music "O Love Divine, What Hast Though Done" music
Day Thirty-seven: "Freely, Freely" music "Take My Life, and Let It Be" music "This Little Light of Mine" music
Day Thirty-eight (Maundy Thursday): "Let Us Break Bread Together" music "One Bread, One Body" music "In Remembrance" music
Day Thirty-nine (Good Friday): "The Old Rugged Cross" music "In the Cross of Christ I Glory" music "At the Cross" music
Day Forty: "Beneath the Cross of Jesus" music "What Wondrous Love Is This" music "Open My Eyes" music
Day Forty-one (Easter): "He Is Lord" music "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today" music "He Lives" music

Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed!

Asplode with the cute

2011-03-30T21:05:00.000-06:00

I swear, that first kid is telling the second kid the story behind the lost sock. I think it's happened before. And it will happen again. Because he will not listen to his brother's advice.

April invades New York, part III

2011-03-29T22:04:00.000-06:00

Grand Central Station: the adventure begins!

And now for filling in some of the blanks, as my rather terse blog posts left much to be desired. So instead of pathetically brief, this will be interminably long.

The background. During the huge, never ending project with late hours and lost weekend that MTG worked on through the winter, I said, "If I survive this, I'm taking a vacation." (Yes, he worked the long hours, but I wrangled the children. I get the vacation.) He said, "You should go see Lori."

Lori was my supervisor when I was lobbying mumble mumble years ago, and she is one of the best people on the planet. She found another one of the best people on the planet to marry and together they had a superb child. Just...awesome. Said child was two months old when last I saw all of them. She is now 5. That's really much too long.

Anyway, I contacted her and said, "Can I come?" and she said, "Can you! SQUEE!" (Incidentally, she didn't know that what she was doing was squeeing until I explained it to her. I don't know what to think about that.)

After much juggling, we finally pinned down a date that fit both our busy schedules. And I'm off to New York.

After the show! Still very cold.

Although she's near Albany, she suggested a quintessential NYC experience, since my previous trips into the City had been brief, work related, and not all that much fun. This time was also brief, but instead of work, we had all the fun one could cram into 29 hours.

Of course, New York City and Broadway are synonymous, so we went to see Mamma Mia. After lunch at Rosie O'Gradys, we stood in the very cold line for tickets. I was wearing flip flops and shorts in the 80 degree Texas weather before I left for New York. I'm not sure my body appreciated the temperature difference. After getting the tickets, we decided to go get drinks and a snack at South Street Seaport. This required a short subway ride and a five minute walk. Right when we decided we ought to leave, the bartender disappeared. So we were running a little behind schedule. Not to worry, Lori sprints! Nobody checked, but I'm not really much of a sprinter. But we made it with a minute to spare. Literally: one minute.

Mamma Mia was hilarious and very singable. Who doesn't like ABBA? (If you don't, I'd rather not know. Don't make me feel poorly about you.) After the show, we got turned around a bit looking for the Pig and Whistle and ended up at the Mean Fiddler.

Lori's Guinness on the left, my Half & Half on the right.

The Mean Fiddler was a fine establishment, but all the children--I mean patrons were a wee bit on the young side. So we finished our beers and headed to more age appropriate climes. Incidentally, one of the reasons I love New York so much is that you can always get Guinness on tap. Guinness is the most beautiful drink on the planet. A properly poured Guinness will stun you with it's beauty. And then it's so delicious; it's like eating a loaf of bread. Guinness, my friends, is goodness.

So we left the Mean Fiddler and ended up at another pub whose name escapes me at the moment. They had live music, which was fun, and also a dining room further back, so we could eat and talk. We did a lot of both over the 4 days. Baked macaroni and cheese with bacon. That's all I'm going to say. Our first 13 1/2 hours in NYC was pretty jammed packed.

On the second day, we went to church at Times Square Church. It was jammed packed. Who would've thunk there would be a overflowing church in Times Square? But there was and I wish all God's blessings on them. After the inspiring service, we sprinted (seeing a theme) to the hotel to make the noon check out, stored the bags, and then got directions to some good NYC pizza. For the record, I think I prefer New York style over Chicago style. But to each his own.

After lunch and some warm our frozen blood coffee, we headed toward Rockefeller Center. We met Elmo and had our picture taken. Why not?

I was lax on taking pictures; a giant red Muppet is a good reminder to take more.

We got to the ice rink just as they were closing it for cleaning, so we did some window shopping. I shall probably do an entire post on the Lego Store at Rockefeller Center. It was truly impressive.

Hat headed pictures are wonderful.

As I blogged a couple of days ago, I'm not the most stable skater on ice. I did okay though, only falling--and taking Lori with me--once. I did get clipped in the jaw by another skater while attempting not to fall. It probably would have hurt less had I fallen. Also, I used muscles that aren't in normal usage, and they registered their complaints to management.

After skating, we shopped our way back to the hotel to pick up bags. Throughout the weekend, Lori kept saying we had to stop in at the Toys R Us to take pictures. I thought, but didn't say, "We do have Toys R Us in Texas. I've been there." I should have known to just trust Lori. There's a Ferris Wheel in the store. Yeah, we don't have that at our store.

We had just enough time to grab our bags and, wait for it, sprint to Grand Central to catch the last train out. At the station, it finally dawned on us how very exhausted we were. But we talked all during the leisurely train ride to Poughkeepsie and a not too long drive back to Albany. Some day I'll have to blog about Tom Tancredo's refusal to shake my hand, and about Lori meeting Ann Coulter but not remembering it. (I was there, too, but I remember it.) Good times.

We finished up my stay with lunch in Saratoga Springs. It was an excellently excellent trip, over too soon. Hopefully, they will come see us before too long. I can't wait til Lori invades Texas.

Home

2011-03-28T22:09:00.001-06:00

"Roads go ever ever on
Under cloud and under star,
Yet feet that wandering have gone
Turn at last to home afar."
Bilbo Baggins
The Hobbit J.R.R.Tolkien

Adventures are delightful, and friends are treasures, but home is best of all.

April invades New York, part 2

2011-03-27T21:28:00.000-06:00

Lori and I spent 29 hours in New York City, and we shoved about as much into those 29 hours as people can without going crazy. We also caught up after 5 years of not seeing each other. It was a very good 29 hours.
Day one from arriving at Grand Central Station (noonish) to hitting the sack (1:30 am ish) was a blast. We stayed in and around the Times Square District, expect for our jaunt to South Street Seaport. This morning we went to Times Square Church. Yes, there is a mega-church in Times Square. We sat in an overflow room. It was awesome.

Brooklyn Bridge is actually behind us. Unfortunately, so is a window.

After breakfast, we checkout of the hotel, stored our bags and asked the concierge about good pizza. "As a New Yorker, I like" are generally words that you should heed if you hail from Texas. So we passed on the sit-down restaurant and hit the corner dive "Two Brothers."

A slice, two slices, who's counting? (Me. It was two.)

In my 29 hours in New York, Lori wanted me to experience the quintessential NYC experiences. Like the Broadway show. So, of course, we went skating in Rockefeller Center. As we are wobbling around the ice, I told Lori, "I can promise you two things: Before we're done, I will get better and I will fall." I was right on both counts. Not only did I fall down, I took her with me. I also was the unofficial photographer of the ice rink. I figured so many people had taken pictures of Lori and I that I should pass on the favor. Although, I'm not sure how smart people were to give the wobbly girl their cameras.

If you're not moving, people can't tell you don't know what you're doing.

After skating, we shopped our way back to the hotel to pick up the bags. I'm proud to say that other than the subway we took to South Street Seaport, we walked everywhere (or sprinted in the case of the theater, making it 2 minutes before curtain.) Which is a good thing since I fairly gorged on bread. Walking into Grand Central Station, I saw a bakery and had to look away. Don't worry, I'm sure it will pass in a day or two.

It was only at the train station that we realized we were utterly exhausted. Barely able to move, we did what anyone similar tired does on the train ride home: we discussed various tax systems and the positives and negatives of each. I have really missed Lori.

I may post more pictures later, but for now let me say: I love New York.

April invades New York, part I

2011-03-26T23:59:00.000-06:00

So, after not seeing my friend for five years, I got off the plane and there was much rejoicing. Also, blurry picture taking.

This morning, we came to New York City. I have pictures. I also have issues with my brand new phone. We're still getting the hang of each other.

But, to recap:
Rosie O'Gradys
Ticket line for show tickets (COLD)
South Street Seaport for drinks and much fun talking while looking at the River.
Mama Mia. Squeee!
The Mean Fiddler for a Half and Half, but we were a little older than the other clientele, so we found a different pub where I had baked macaroni and cheese with bacon. I love New York.

More detail and hopefully pictures soon. But I'm having too much fun to figure it out.

Squee!

Everything you need to know...

2011-03-25T21:15:00.001-06:00

about Little Miss in one letter, with the note "Do not open till you are on the plane!!"

Spelling and punctuation in the original. (My friend is Lori, not Lourie, I think she was compounding some names.)

Dear Mom,

I love you a lot and hope you have a safe flight. I will miss you a lot! But I know you will have fun with Mrs. Lourie. Hear is a tung twister of New York. You know you need unice (unique--her spelling word 2 weeks ago!) New York. Please try to remember all you do take pictures and have fun so you can tell us about all your adventures when you come back. Don't forget you are on vaction so get a lot of sleep. I love you.
Love,

(Little Miss)

And a cute little drawing of she and me.

I love my people a lot. (Note to self, look up synonyms for a lot with Little Miss.)

Katy bar the door

2011-03-24T21:32:00.000-06:00

I'm invading New York. I imagine it will be something like this (language warning):

I'm getting to spend the weekend with one of the best people on the planet because I have the best husband on the planet. Blogging will be Lori/Lori's family/New York centric. And squee-filled.

Squee!

The one anothers

2011-03-23T22:11:00.000-06:00

Somewhere a long time ago (I think it was a MOPS event) someone talked about the "one anothers" throughout the New Testament that Christians are called to do. Here's a partial list, because I've been reminded of our duty to one another and to God. Feel free to add more "one anothers" in the comments. (Scriptures taken from the English Standard Version.)

Be at peace with one another. Mark 9:50
If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. John 13:14
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. John 15:12
Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Romans 12:10
Live in harmony with one another. Romans 12:16
Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. Romans 14:13
Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. Romans 5:7
Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 2 Corinthians 13:11
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Galatians 5:13
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4: 1-3
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32
[B]earing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Colossians 3:13
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. I Thessalonians 5:11
See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. I Thessalonians 5:15
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. James 5:16
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace. I Peter 4:8-10
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. I John 4:7

A Little Madness in the Spring

2011-03-22T21:43:00.000-06:00

May be wholesome for a king, but is hard on a momma. Softball and tee-ball season are upon us. That's five practices & three games to juggle. Practice for the spring musical is in full swing, and the warm weather brings with it a plethora of outings, activities, and obligations. Additionally, I'm getting ready to leave Friday for a weekend in New York with one of the best people on the planet. And as soon as I get back, MTG is leaving for Amarillo for the week. (I totally win that one.)

Life is a lot like this:

Just so you know. Carry on!

Blogging on a deadline

2011-03-21T21:29:00.000-06:00

I have made a (perhaps unwise) goal of blogging everyday in March. I'm trying to kickstart my blog-fu, because, if you'll notice, I've been a little light in the blogging over the past few months.

So I said (wrote) I will blog every day in March. Really, people do it all the time. How hard could it be?

Apparently, harder than I thought. I have a couple of in-depth, need investigation blog posts to write. I've written a couple of "cheater" posts, quotes, etc. But the home stretch is getting a little tough. Funny how children and school and housework and LIFE get in the way of blogging. But I'm hanging in there and I'm confident that I'll make it ten more days.

Also? This totally counts.

(P.S. If you have any tips for blog topics, I'd LOVE to hear them.)

Lenten Devotions, Part 3

2011-03-20T20:58:00.001-06:00

Welcome to the third installment of our Lenten Tree ornaments and songs. Our tree is starting to get a little crowded, but the kids are really getting into it now. I'm afraid they are going to want ornaments with our family devotions every morning. Apparently they didn't get the memo that I am not crafty.

21st Day: Boat; 22nd Day: Vine; 23rd Day: Lamp; 24th Day: Mat; 25th Day: Lily

26th Day: Perfume; 27th Day: Praying Hands; 28th Day: Rooster; 29th Day: 30 pieces of silver; 30th Day: Whip

Here are the songs for the third group. Maybe it's just me, but these seemed heavy on the "Jesus People"/60s and 70s/Kumbaya genre. (Again, substitution is not only accepted, but encouraged. I'd love to hear your alternatives!) There's no Alan Jackson this time. I'm a little sad about that. If you find any of those I missed, please comment with the link!

Day Twenty-One: "Jesus Loves Me" I'll assume you don't need the music. "Through It All" music "Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me" music
Day Twenty-Two:"This Is My Commandment" music "In My Life, Lord" music "Trust and Obey" music
Day Twenty-Three: "Give Me Oil in My Lamp" music "I Want to Be Ready" music "Work, for the Night Is Coming" music "I Know Where I'm Going" (unable to find this)
Day Twenty-Four: "Christ for the World We Sing" music "Thank You Lord" music "They'll Know We Are Christians by Our Love" music
Day Twenty-Five: "Everybody Ought to Know" music "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming" music "Pass It On" music "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee" music
Day Twenty-Six: "Father, I Adore You" music "Jesus, I Just Want to Thank You" music "Give of Your Best to the Master" music
Day Twenty-Seven: "I Stand Amazed in the Presence" music "Where He Leads Me" music "More Love to Thee, O Christ" music
Day Twenty-Eight: "I'll Tell the World That I'm a Christian" music "Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus" music "Are You Able, Said the Master" music-no lyrics
Day Twenty-Nine: "Jesus Paid It All" music "O How He Loves You and Me" music "Jesus Loves Even Me" music
Day Thirty: "Wounded For Me" music "And Can It Be That I Should Boast"(couldn't find this) "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" music

If I can finish the last set this week, I'll post it next Sunday. But I'm going out of town next weekend, so I may wait til the following week to finish it up. I hope your enjoying your Lenten season!

UPDATE: I found this site for free pdf of hymns, etc. I haven't checked it out thoroughly to see what's there, but it may fill in some of the blanks.

My not-quite swagger wagon

2011-03-19T20:27:00.001-06:00

We have been looking to replace our faithful, abused 1996 Ford Windstar. After 15 years and 200,000 miles, she's given all she can reasonably be expected to give. Today, we purchased a 2007 Ford Freestar. (Insert dance of joy here.) What I really wanted was this. But apparently it's illegal in Texas to bungee your children to the roof. It was also a wee bit out of our price range. (Fun April fact: this was my first car. I called him Mr. Ed and made my kid sister ride in the hatch. Shhh, don't tell my mom.)

Anyway, when we moved to Texas, we replaced the 1985 Volvo with a 2003 Toyota Tacoma. We financed about half of that. We bought this car with actual cash. It feels really, really good. We are still working to pay off what Dave Ramsey calls "stupid debt," but have been saving our pennies because we new the poor Windstar wouldn't last much longer. We had to put $1500 from the car fund into it in December and that really stung. It also pushed back the purchase by a few weeks. But we have been really blessed by overtime opportunities this winter. Of course, I'm starting to forget what MTG looks like, but there are trade-offs in everything.

Stop by and I'll take you for a ride in my new van. But wipe your feet & no food allowed. And stop fighting. Don't make me pull over!

Kids, criticism, and culture

2011-03-18T20:13:00.001-06:00

In case you missed it, (and you are very blessed if you have) this video went viral today. So you won't have to click on it, I'll sum up. It's a pop song titled "Friday" by a young (13?) girl named Rebecca Black. I'm tempted to say it's a parody of a mindless pop song, except I really don't think it's a parody. The young lady in question has a passable voice, but dear heavens the lyrics are... Well. Here:

7am, waking up in the morning
Gotta be fresh, gotta go downstairs
Gotta have my bowl, gotta have cereal
Seein’ everything, the time is goin’
Tickin’ on and on, everybody’s rushin’
Gotta get down to the bus stop
Gotta catch my bus, I see my friends (My friends)

Kickin’ in the front seat
Sittin’ in the back seat
Gotta make my mind up
Which seat can I take?

It’s Friday, Friday
Gotta get down on Friday
Everybody’s lookin’ forward to the weekend, weekend
Friday, Friday
Gettin’ down on Friday
Everybody’s lookin’ forward to the weekend

And so on.

As you might imagine, the citizens of the internet were a bit cruel. Because really, the internet is the perfect medium for mockery and the song and the video were created to be mocked. It was perfect storm conditions. And frankly, the mockery was dang funny and I was laughing along. Until a very wise, humble woman pointed out the young lady in question is only 13 and said, "People work hard at being mean like it is a character trait to be admired."

Um, ouch.

I still think this is an awful song. I still have serious problems with a culture that serves out pablum to young kids and calls it "entertainment." I really have a problem with how the culture idolizes young teens, and when we're done being amused by their talents, we amuse ourselves mocking their falls and faults. Has any child star ever ended well? Someone said Black is the next Miley Cyrus. That may be the meanest thing they could have said. Who is a more frequent subject of "E! True Hollywood Story" than troubled or fallen child actors?

And frankly, it's just a bad song. Horribly, painfully awful. Just like we don't do tween soap-operas, there is no way we will be listening to this "musc" in our house. I think teaching my children to appreciate between good and bad art, to critique and criticize, and to defend their opinions is a good and noble pursuit. But, really, I don't have to be mean about it.

One last big push

2011-03-17T20:30:00.001-06:00

I'm tired after along week of single parenting. I have really NOT got this gig down. One of my big problems is failure to pace myself. So here I am, with one more day to go and slightly panicked about where I'll find the wherewithal to last that one more day. There oughta be a book. (There probably is.)

But if there's anything that my sporadic single-parenting has taught me, it's that the men and women who do this everyday are the unsung heroes of our society. The single-parents, military spouses, people who have traveling spouses, they carry a burden that is enormous for one person to handle. So, if you run into a single parent, buy her a drink. Or better yet, volunteer to watch the kids so she can take some time for herself. Just don't let her waste it on a trip to the grocery store.

A quote for the times

2011-03-16T21:32:00.000-06:00

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."
C.S. Lewis

Beware the links of March

2011-03-15T22:17:00.000-06:00

Fifteen days into my "blog everyday in March" challenge, I have hit a wall. So I'll do what all good bloggers do: link-fest!

(Don't judge. MTG is out of town for the week and Tuesdays are hard with therapy and people being all people-like.)

Ahem.

I haven't linked to the Carnival of Homeschooling in a while, but one of my favorite on-line people--one I've actually met in real life!--is hosting. Renae at Life Nurturing Education posts the Wish-List Edition, and does a beautiful job as always. Seriously, her blog is beautiful and makes me happy just looking at it. There's lots of good, useful, and entertaining posts, but this one made my heart happy. One of my favorite thing about homeschooling families is the wonderful sibling relationships.

Now I'm going to go meta on the linkage and link to Jimmie Bise's post of political links. Why duplicate what has already been done very well? Also, you should check out The Delivery. It's a fun hour long podcast, 30 minutes political, 30 minutes pop culture. Good times.

Obviously there's lots of news going on, newsy like. Probably the most pressing is the situation in Japan, a frightening and horrific situation made even more frightening and horrific by the situation with the nuclear reactors. I'll say what I said a couple of days ago: pray and give and pray some more.

Finally, on a lighter note, from xkcd. I'll feel bad about it later. via Matt at Old Line Elephant. (You should check out that blog, especially if you're interested in Maryland politics.)

Repost: For my Grandpa

2011-03-14T13:04:00.000-06:00

This is slightly edited, from three years ago. I thought I'd write something new, but I keep getting something in my eye. I can't believe how much I still miss him.

My grandpa passed away Friday morning, March 14, 2008. Wednesday, he was sedated to manage his pain. Friday morning, my mom and dad were going to my grandparent's house to say goodbye, but he died before they arrived. I had sent a note for mom to read to him, a note he never heard, but I know that he now understands perfectly my love for him. This is what I wrote.

My childhood memories are filled with your presence. All the best stories have you in them. Do you remember when you said, "April's full of baloney!" And I said, "Grandpa's full of baloney!" And you said, "April's full of sugar!" And I said, "Grandpa's full of baloney!" Do you remember when we'd hold hands and race? Or when we'd sit on the dock at sunset and fish?

Mom likes to tell me the story of when she was telling me about Jesus. She said, "April, Jesus is your best friend." I asked, "Is Grandpa Jesus?" While that 's funny and sweet, it also has always rang true. Because you are the most Christlike man I know. You are gentle yet strong. I have never heard you say an ill word about anyone. You are gracious and forgiving. And you have the best sense of humor. Jesus has always shone through you and blessed me and everyone else who has had the privilege of knowing you. I love you so much and I am so thankful that God has blessed me with so much love and so many memories. Thank you for being the best grandpa anyone could ever have. I love you.

Lenten Devotions Part 2

2011-03-13T21:47:00.001-06:00

For those interested in the Lenten Tree devotions, here are the ornaments for days 11-20.

11th day: bronze snake & pole; 12th day: veil; 13th day: the tabernacle; 14th day: a rock; 15th day: a priest

16th day: a big fish; 17th day: a goat; 18th day: a dove; 19th day: a fish; 20th day: jar of water

You will notice I found the missing jar of water. It was in the box all along, it just blended with the tissue paper. It was a moment of joy, I'll tell you what.

Again, you can use these songs or songs you are more familiar with. I think with younger children, especially non-readers, it's best to do songs already familiar to them. You'll notice I linked to more than one (3, I think) Alan Jackson versions and added a bonus Phil Keaggy track. I also included the more traditional version of that song. Blogger's prerogative.

Day Eleven "Lift High the Cross" "My Faith Looks Up to Thee" music "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" music
Day Twelve: "Tis Finished! The Messiah Dies" "Spirit of Faith Come Down" "Nothing Between" I couldn't find any good examples of these hymns. If you do, I'd love to have the link.
Day Thirteen: "I Am the Church" I couldn't find music "Surely the Presence of the Lord Is in This Place" music "Lord Prepare Me to Be a Sanctuary" music "Behold, Behold, I Stand at the Door and Knock" music
Day Fourteen: "The Wise Man and the Foolish Man" music "My Hope Is Built" (The Solid Rock) music "His Name is Wonderful" music
Day Fifteen: "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling" music "Sweet Hour of Prayer" music "Blessed Assurance" music "Jesus Loves the Little Children"
Day Sixteen: "I Wonder How It Felt" music "Christ Arose" music "He Lifted Me" music
Day Seventeen: "For God So Loved the World" music "Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley" music "I Must Tell Jesus" music
Day Eighteen: "Spirit Song" music "Blessed Quietness" music "Spirit of the Living God" music "Sweet, Sweet Spirit" music
Day Nineteen: "Fishers of Men" music "Rise Up, O Men of God" music bonus: Keaggy "O Jesus, I Have Promised" music
Day Twenty "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" music "Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow" music "Rejoice in the Lord Always" music

UPDATE: I found this site for free pdf of hymns, etc. I haven't checked it out thoroughly to see what's there, but it may fill in some of the blanks.

My precocious child

2011-03-12T19:49:00.000-06:00

Because I've told this story twice in the past week and I'm too tired to blog anything that makes my brain work: a story about Sprite, my 8 year old daughter. (That's so you can skip this if you'd rather not read a mommy blogging post.)

Last fall I was taking Sprite to something softball related and we started talking shark. She loves sharks and has for as long as I can remember. She's read every children's book our library has on sharks, and she can identify most sharks by sight and several by silhouette. She's a total sharkophile.

If you are unfamiliar with children's science books, almost every one ends with the obligatory "Save the _____ " chapter: sharks, whales, ocelots, you name it. In the case of sharks, one of the issues brought up is the damage the consumption of shark-fin soup does to the shark population.

So Sprite and I are talking about this and she is very upset at the cretin's who eat shark fin soup. I'm trying to emphasize the need for wise stewardship and management of resources vs. "shark fin soup eaters are bad people!" So we did that.

After that fun conversation, Sprite says, "When I grow up I want to be a veterinarian."
Says I, "Sure you can, but you know it's marine biologists who work with sharks."
Sprite: "No, what Aunt Carrie is." (My sister and her family are vegetarians.)
Me: "Oh, you mean vegetarian. Well, you know Sprite, that means no hamburgers."
She: "I'll be a vegetarian that has Steak Tuesdays."

I think I can participate in that brand of vegetarianism.

Prayers for Japan and reflection

2011-03-11T23:04:00.000-06:00

My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Japan. I can't even fathom the intensity and power of an 8.9 earthquake, nor the fear and sorrow of the survivor.

I also wonder about people who offer a "reason" for this devastation: from God's judgment of sins to the effects of climate change. (Okay, those people I just laugh at. And then desire to send them this. The Frizz will sort them out.)

But the passage in Luke 13:1-4 kept coming to my mind, as well as this thought: it's not that God is not powerful enough to cause or to prevent such disasters. It's not that he is not sovereign over all things, even earthquakes and tsunamis. The trouble is that I am not God and attempting to divine the purpose of the Divinity is a foolish and vain task.

But I can pray. And I can give. And then I can pray some more.

Cheating, musically

2011-03-10T23:02:00.001-06:00

I've got nothing in my blog brain, but I am determined to do this "every day in March" blog thing. So I give you the one and only, Phil Keaggy.

The incredible "Shades of Green," in honor of St. Patrick's Day (Yeah, early. Whatever. Watch and be impressed.)

The quintessential concert piece, "True Believers." It's wonderful and sad, because you know when he plays it, the show is over.

And finally, "Sunday's Child" from the album of the same name, and the first Phil Keaggy album I owned. I have a few (dozen) more now.

Three observations:

Phil Keaggy is very small. I think I could put him in my pocket.
He kinda looks like a muppet.
When he and Randy Stonehill are playing, the Jesus-freak vibe really comes out. It's adorkable.

And of course, Phil Keaggy is very possibly the greatest living musician. He does it all with only nine fingers. Wow.

10 for 10! Go me!!

Hiding behind words

2011-03-09T23:12:00.000-06:00

Dana over at Roscommon Acres has started a new group writing project called Words Matter. Dana's words have long blessed me, not only as I educate my children, but also as I think about matters of government and culture. Since the tragic death of her little Mattias in December, her honest and open words about their grief have touched my heart and brought me to my knees in prayer for her and for many grieving families. Her words have mattered greatly to me.

I am good with words. I am glib, quippy, and occasionally very amusing. I can craft a well-turned phrase, frame an argument just so, and too often pack an insult like a brick and hurtle it full force at someone's head.

I am good with words.

Words are the medium to express thoughts, feelings, or ideas. Words have the power to reveal who we are and what we think. As a Christian, I'm called on to encourage my fellow believers through words, to share my faith through words, and to express my love and worship of God through words.

Unfortunately, I have found that what I'm really good at is hiding behind words. Rather than revealing who I am, I use words to distract and disarm. Instead of the simple, honest words that show my heart, my struggles, or my sin, I tend to rely on words primarily to persuade others to my way of thinking. Not a dishonorable use of words, but perhaps not the best choice for my primary use of words.

I spend all day every day speaking to my children, using words to teach, to inspire, to correct, to encourage, and to cajole. But I wonder how many words I use to reveal who I am, how I struggle, what I hope for? Am I revealing my heart to my children or just attempting to shape my children to my desired end?

When I'm speaking of myself, I tend to pick my words with excruciating care, so that I reveal precisely the bit of information I want to reveal. While not dishonest, my words aren't exactly "the whole truth."

What I think I'm getting at is that while words do indeed matter, they are only a tool to express what truly matters: the human heart. Of course, even our hearts are deceitful, and so words will only go so far in revealing what we cannot fully understand ourselves. But I do pray that God would give me the courage and boldness to use words--a tool I wield rather adeptly--to open my heart and not just to try to change others' minds.

For more posts in the "Words Matter" group project, go to Roscommon Acres.

The important questions of our day

2011-03-08T21:50:00.000-06:00

Which one is more over the top.

This

Or

This?

Go vote.

(Lazy blogging, I know, but I'm 8 for 8!)

Victory and Defeat

2011-03-07T22:54:00.000-06:00

One hundred seventy-five years ago yesterday, the Texian defenders of the Alamo fell to General Santa Ana. Lead by Lt. Col. William Travis and Jim Bowie, the 150 to 250 men (accounts vary), stood for 13 days against a far superior (numerically) force. All the defenders were killed during battle or executed by the Mexican army after the fort fell.

A month and a half later, at the Battle of San Jacinto, the Texian forces lead by Gen. Sam Houston defeated the Mexican Army to the cries of "Remember the Alamo" and "Remember Goliad."

The details of the battle are well known to most Texans. (If you don't know, educate yourself.) However, this is the thought that has been going through my mind: Rather than being demoralized by their losses, and after a series of defeats and retreats, the Texians road to victory against a much larger army with the cries of their two biggest defeats on their lips. And that, I think, sums up the magnificent character of Texas and of Texans.

Remember the Alamo and God bless Texas.

Lenten Devotions, Part 1

2011-03-06T19:27:00.001-06:00

This year, I participated in a Lenten Tree ornament swap organized by a very impressive friend. The book I'm using is Lenten Tree by Dean Meador Smith. Some of my friends asked me to post the ornaments and I'll also post links to songs suggested in the devotions. My plan is to do 4 posts of 10 or 11 days. Not just because that spreads it out to four blog posts for my blogging every day in March goal. (Okay, mainly because of that.)

So, these are the ornaments for the first five days:

1st day-a heart; 2nd day-stones in the wilderness; 3rd day-fig leaf; 4th day-a baby; 5th day-seeds

On day one, our group decided to do a crystal heart for an ornament, since the verse is "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." Ps. 51:10

These are the ornaments for days 6 through 10:

6th day-lamb; 7th day-hyssop branch; 8th day-The Ark of The Covenant; 9th day-water; 10th day-manna/bread of life

The Ark of the Covenant is freakishly detailed and more than a little intimidating.

This is a close up of the contents of The Ark of the Covenant.

I think the ornament I assumed was a hyssop branch is actually suppose to represent the palm branch and I either lost the hyssop or never got it. (UPDATE: I didn't get the hyssop, so I'll update the photo when I receive that ornament.) I know for a fact I lost my little bitty water glass. Just now. Somewhere on the couch. Or the dog ate it.

Following are the songs suggested in the book. You may want to use other songs, particularly songs that your children sing in church regularly. We'll probably do a combination from the suggestions and songs from our church. I would suggest you have a "song book" for each family member--readers and non-readers. We use simple color folders, and each family member has his own color so the little guys can pass it out. I HIGHLY recommend preparing this ahead of time. (This would be my 6:45 am song scramble experience talking.)

Note the "music" link will go to a youtube version of the song. I tried to pick a version that illustrated how it is to be sung, rather than the best artistic example. The video will play upon opening the page. You can find links to the sheet music on many of the lyric pages.

The songs suggested in the book are:

Day One: "Lord, I want to Be a Christian" music "I Surrender All" music "Just As I Am" music
Day Two: "Take Time to Be Holy" music "Be Still My Soul" music "I Want Jesus to Walk with Me" music
Day Three: "Calvary Covers It All" music "Are You Washed in the Blood?" music "Jesus Paid It All" music
Day Four: "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence" music "Redeeming Love" music not found "O Little Town of Bethlehem" music
Day Five: "Soon and Very Soon" music "Hymn of Promise" music "Now the Green Blade Riseth" music
Day Six: "Worthy Is the Lamb That Was Slain" music "Only Trust Him" music "Just As I Am" music
Day Seven: "Into My Heart" music "I Surrender All" music "Just As I Am" music
Day Eight: "Grace Greater Than Our Sin" music "My Tribute" music "Nothing But the Blood" music
Day Nine: "Deep and Wide" music "The Joy of the Lord is My Strength" music not found "Fill My Cup, Lord"music "I've Got A River of Life" music
Day Ten: "Grumblers" music "Guide Me, O Though Great Jehovah" music "Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God" music

Over the next week, I'll post the rest of the ornaments and music. I'll also probably post links to the songs we're using as substitutes. Suggest your favorite hymn or praise songs in the comments.

Recognizing the Grace of God

2011-03-05T21:48:00.002-06:00

This weekend MTG and I went to a marriage conference at our church. Dave Harvey, author of When Sinners Say "I Do", spoke on "Marriage and the Mercy of God." It was, by far, the best thing I've heard or read on marriage.

Friday night he spoke about sin and marriage and the fact that marriage is a sinner marrying a sinner. Of all the really great stuff from that session, this was the most profound to me: "Our strengths become our weaknesses when we become smug."

And now, for a musical break:

Back to the program already in progress. But first, a little background on me & our marriage: I am a competent, self-reliant person. I don't say that to brag, it's just the fact of who I am and how I'm built. In fact, relying on others and opening up to others is something I struggle with to my detriment. MTG and I were married on September 4, 1999. Sometime in the next 3 or 4 weeks, Little Miss was conceived. I then proceeded to get sicker than I have ever been in my life. I had hyperemesis gravidarum. Have you ever had food poisoning? Now imagine that, all day, every day, for months. If you ever meet a woman with hyperemesis, here's a tip: do not tell her to sip ginger ale & eat a cracker. If she can muster the strength, she will kill you. Be assured, she's murdering you violently in her mind.

So here we are, weeks into our marriage, and this highly confident, self-reliant woman is sick as a dog and weak as a kitten. The drug we could afford knocked me out and the drug we couldn't afford, but got anyway, we used so sparingly to be of little real use. I was completely and totally reliant on MTG.

I survived that pregnancy and rather unkind delivery (I won't go into the gory details, suffice it to say not every woman's body responds kindly to childbirth.) 13 months later, The Sprite was conceived and another, longer bout of hyperemesis. Four pregnancies, all with hyperemesis. We did wise-up half way through pregnancy #3 and learn how to use the mail-in system with the maximum prescription. We were also blessed with doctors willing to subscribe whatever we need. Many doctors are "discouraged" by insurance companies from prescribing the full dosage of Zofran because of the high cost.

But my point, and I do have one, is that very early experience with my extreme incapacitation had a profound effect on our marriage. My strength is my competence. You got a job to do, I can do it. Just don't get in my way. I can bring home the bacon, fry it up in the pan. But because I was forced to utterly rely on MTG, I think we "became one" in fact easier and more quickly than we would have had I not suffered that illness. In short, I think God showed me and our marriage extreme mercy by allowing me to suffer through the most trying time in my life.

And I want to be clear, it was awful. I literally prayed for God to allow me to die from the floor of my bathroom. I suffered depression and condemnation about not being the mother my children needed or the wife my husband deserved. My dream of having a big family gave way to the reality that my body just couldn't handle anymore pregnancies. I have struggled with this, not "why me" because, well why not me. But nonetheless, I felt the loss.

This weekend, I recognized that God granted me a special grace and our marriage a special grace by binding MTG and I together in this struggle. I received such tender, compassionate care from MTG. He not only carried my part of the household chores, but he cared for me with such gentleness and understanding. For a time, all I could choke down (ever so briefly) was fruit loops and bagels. He was faithful to keep me well supplied in these essentials. He never once complained, never once whined about his new bride's lovely shade of green and occupied a semi-permanent position on the bathroom floor. I was and am blessed beyond comprehension. I won't say that I don't still struggle with self-reliance and "do-it-myselfness", but rather that MTG and I are much more a team than had we never dealt with that trial.

And I am thankful that I have been blessed with the revelation of God's grace through that trial. Hopefully, my eyes will be open to the next experience of His goodness and grace to me in trial.

A zoological expedition

2011-03-04T14:55:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, MTG took the day off and we packed up the van for a day at the Fort Worth Zoo. It was homeschool day, which I didn't realize until we got there. We got half price tickets AND no school field trips were there. SCORE!

The Fort Worth Zoo is the zoo I went to as a child. Except my family always visited as part of a larger vacation, usually visiting my mom's family, and generally in the middle of summer. So in addition to my fond memories of the zoo itself, I also associate the zoo with unbearable heat. Yesterday went a long way to break that association. Have I mentioned that I love spring in Texas? Because I do so love spring in Texas. It was in the low 70s, beautiful blue skies, and no wind to speak of.

Greta Garbo orangutan spent several minutes arranging her covering before waltzing to a cleft in the wall.

One of the interesting things was the total lack of the “homeschool uniform.” I saw not a single denim jumper. The homeschoolers were not discernable from the population at large, except for perhaps showing less skin. I did see one Amish or Mennonite family (I think) and one lady wearing 4” stilleto boots and a fancy dress. The young woman with her, a nanny perhaps, was wearing 3” platform sandals, and the toddler in their care was wearing a very nice “church dress.” I was tempted to take a picture, but I resisted.

In addition to the traditional exotic animals, the Fort Worth Zoo has a large section called “Texas Wild,” a very well done exhibit displaying the wildlife of the various Texas regions. I was impressed with the space allocated and the exhibits themselves, although I do wish they gave the big cats larger enclosures. The cheetahs in the “African Savannah” section had a spacious enclosure. The trade-off was that we couldn't see them when we were there around one. The jaguar, cougar, and other Texas cats had much smaller areas. They were beautiful and inspiring to see, but you couldn't help but feel sad at seeing these powerful creatures confined to such a small space. (I have mixed feelings about zoos. I know that they play an important role in fostering interest in animals and their survival, but I think we have a responsibility to the individual animals as well as to the species. If we are unable to display an animal in a manner that respects its nature and native environment, we shouldn't display it at all. Yes, I realize this would severely limit what animals are exhibited and how much we would be able to see the animals, as well as increase the cost of zoos. I think I'm okay with that.)

One of the most interesting aspects was the obligatory “take care of the environment” show in the Texas Hall of Wonders. This was the most practical, people friendly conservation display I've seen. The focus was on good land management, rather than gloom and doom. Some key points were that while wildlife had been greatly harmed in the past, species were rebounding and doing better than they have in a long time. According to the presentation, 97% of Texas land is privately owned, only 3% is owned by government; so the emphasis was on good land management by private owners and the importance that individuals, including sportsmen (read hunters and fishers) play in taking care of the land. I appreciated that it was pro-people as well as pro-environment.

I do think they could have done a better job with pointing out that humans were responsible for the decimation of wildlife, not just instruments of its recovery. It is mentioned, but only briefly and in passing. I also wish the “better urban development” received more attention. Some of these city planners act like they're on Charlie Sheen. (I'm looking at you, Frisco! “First, let's build several hundred houses. Hey, maybe this little two-lane, no shoulder little country road isn't sufficient.” Ya think?) Overall, I really appreciate the optimistic, hopeful approach taken. Because honestly, the "people are evil and all the animals will die unless you sell your car and never buy anything (and by the way, visit our giftshop!)" approach is irritating.

Of course, the downside of taking a day off for a field trip is that life doesn't stop just because you do. The cost of going to the zoo: no clean pants. Ah, it was worth it.

The last message of William Travis

2011-03-03T22:24:00.001-06:00

Lt. Col. William Travis arrived at the Alamo on February 3. On March 3, he sent the last of several messages to the outside world, including this letter to David Ayers, the man caring for his son.

Take care of my little boy. If the country should be saved, I may make for him a splendid fortune; but if the country be lost and I should perish, he will have nothing but the proud recollection that he is the son of a man who died for his country.

175 years of pissing people off

2011-03-02T17:11:00.002-06:00

On March 2, 1836, Texas declared its independence from Mexico. Like all children in Texas public schools, I received a year of Texas History, where I learned important things like the "true story" of the Yellow Rose of Texas. I also studied Texas Independence and read of the earlier "Green Revolution, but I have never read the actual Texas Declaration of Independence until this day. (Bad Texan!)

Two things stand out when reading the Texas Declaration of Independence: First, it was obviously greatly influenced by the American Declaration penned by Thomas Jefferson 60 years earlier. Second, the Texans could have used an editor.

When a government has ceased to protect the lives, liberty and property of the people, from whom its legitimate powers are derived, and for the advancement of whose happiness it was instituted, and so far from being a guarantee for the enjoyment of those inestimable and inalienable rights, becomes an instrument in the hands of evil rulers for their oppression.

"Evil rulers!" I think George W. Bush read the Texas Declaration. Also note it's "lives, liberty and property." None of this coy "pursuit of happiness" business. Get your mitts off my stuff! We are a straight-shooting people, both verbally and ballisticly.

Among the grievances listed are the lack of trial by jury, attempts to disarm the colonists, violation of due process, quartering troops, prohibition of freedom of religion, and lack of representation in the Mexican government. Tyranny really only has a couple of notes, doesn't it?

One section near the end struck me, "We are, therefore, forced to the melancholy conclusion, that the Mexican people have acquiesced in the destruction of their liberty, and the substitution therfor of a military government; that they are unfit to be free, and incapable of self government."

Ouch.

Anyway, Texans in particular should read the whole thing, as the kids say. Check out the signature page. The columns are divided by a cute lil' curvy line that wouldn't look out of place on a middle-schoolers notebook.

(Please note, this is 2 days in a row I've blogged. Somebody should give me a cookie!)

Time flies when you're slacking off

2011-03-01T23:37:00.000-06:00

I have been a negligent blogger of late, posting infrequently, stealing from myself and presidents. It's a crying shame, that's what! However, I vow to do better. At least for a month. I'm going to make every attempt to post something (however lame or thefty) every day for the month of March.

And to start things off, I'll post a video that I have 1. not only posted before, but 2. have posted on social media sites this week. But it's a great video and it makes my heart happy all the time.

And for an added bonus, I'm recommending The Lenten Tree by Dean Smith for those who want to do Lenten Devotions with their kids. It has directions/suggestions to do a Lenten Tree, much like a Jesse Tree. I haven't reviewed EVERY devotion in the book, but it seems pretty orthodox. It also has devotions for children and accompanying devotions for adults, which I appreciate. You still have a week to get it, so order yours now!

And that's day one. Trust me, it'll get better. Or not.

Happy National Mattress Sale Day!

2011-02-21T15:40:00.003-06:00

In honor of Presidents Day, I give you Presidential Quotes! Yes, technically and legally, it's just George Washington's Birthday (observed.) Live a little. I chose quotes that I found interesting, profound, funny, or telling from each of the 43 presidents. (Some president's got two quotes. Abraham Lincoln got 18. Yeah, the other presidents were jealous. They'll get over it.) Also, posting the quote doesn't necessarily mean I agree with the quote or the greater philosophy/actions of the president. These are short because I originally tweeted them, which obviously limited my options. All quotes taken from Great Presidential Quotes. Enjoy!

1. "It is our duty to make the best of our misfortunes, and not to suffer passion to interfere with our interest and public good." George Washington

2. "The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with power to endanger the public liberty." John Adams

3. "I tolerate with the utmost latitude the right of others to differ from me in opinion without imputing to them criminality." Thomas Jefferson

4. "I go on the principle that a public debt is a public curse." James Madison

5. "The right of self-defense never ceases. It is among the most sacred, and alike necessary to nations and to individuals." James Monroe

6. "Duty is ours; results are God's." John Quincy Adams

7a. "I hope and trust to meet you in Heaven, both white and black--both white and black. " Andrew Jackson

7b. "It is a damn poor mind that can think of only one way to spell a word." Andrew Jackson

8. "Most men are not scolded out of their opinion." Martin Van Buren

9. "I contend that the strongest of all governments is that which is most free." William Henry Harrison

10. "Wealth can only be accumulated by the earnings of industry and the savings of frugality." John Tyler

11. "No president who performs his duties faithfully and conscientiously can have any leisure." James Knox Polk

12. "It would be judicious to act with magnanimity towards a prostrate foe." Zachary Taylor

13. "It is not strange . . . to mistake change for progress. " Millard Fillmore

14. "The storm of frenzy and faction must inevitably dash itself in vain against the unshaken rock of the Constitution. " Franklin Pierce

15. "Liberty must be allowed to work out its natural results; and these will, ere long, astonish the world." James Buchanan

16a. "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power. " Abraham Lincoln

16b. "Stand with anybody that stands right. Stand with him while he is right, and part with him when he goes wrong." Abraham Lincoln

16c. "My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure." Abraham Lincoln

16d. "Tact is the ability to describe others as they see themselves. " Abraham Lincoln

16e. "Towering genius disdains a beaten path." Abraham Lincoln

16f. "I want every man to have a chance, and I believe a black man is entitled to it--in which he can better his condition. " Abraham Lincoln

16g. "On the whole, my impression is that mercy bears richer fruits than any other attribute." Abraham Lincoln

16h. "Common-looking people are the best in the world: that is the reason the Lord makes so many of them." Abraham Lincoln

16i. "No matter how much cats fight, there always seems to be plenty of kittens." Abraham Lincoln

16j. "The probability that we may fall in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just." Abraham Lincoln

16k. "Better to remain silent and to be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt." Abraham Lincoln

16l. "Determine that the thing can and shall be done, and then we shall find the way." Abraham Lincoln

16m. "Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." Abraham Lincoln

16n. "Laughter is the joyous, beautiful, universal evergreen of life." Abraham Lincoln

16o. "The struggle of today is not altogether for today--it is for a vast future also. " Abraham Lincoln

16p. "I intend no modification of my oft-expressed personal wish that all men everywhere could be free." Abraham Lincoln

16q. "By all means, don't say "if I can": say "I will."" Abraham Lincoln

16r. "I go for all sharing the privileges of the government who assist in bearing its burdens, by no means excluding women." Abraham Lincoln

16s. "The world shall know that I will keep my faith to friends and enemies, come what will." Abraham Lincoln

17. "The goal is to strive for a poor government but a rich people." Andrew Johnson

18. "The war is over--the rebels are our countrymen again." Ulysses S. Grant

19. "Fighting battles is like courting girls: those who make the most pretensions and are boldest usually win. " Rutherford Hayes

20. "Ideas control the world." James Garfield

21. "If it were not for the reporters, I would tell you the truth." Chester Arthur

22. "What is the use of being elected or reelected, unless you stand for something?" Grover Cleveland

23. "We Americans have no commission from God to police the world." Benjamin Harrison

24. "Minds do not act together in public; they simply stick together; and when their private activities are resumed they fly apart again.” Grover Cleveland (Bonus, non-tweeted quote, to get my numbering right.)

25. "That's all a man can hope for during his lifetime--to set an example--and when he is dead, to be an inspiration for history. " William McKinley

26. "We cannot do great deeds unless we are willing to do the small things that make up the sum of greatness. " Theodore Roosevelt

27. "A government is for the benefit of the people." William Taft

28. "The firm basis of government is justice, not pity." AND "There is no indispensable man." Woodrow Wilson

29. "A regret for the mistakes of yesterday must not, however, blind us to the tasks of today." Warren Harding

30. "Don't expect to build up the weak by pulling down the strong." AND "We made freedom a birthright." Calvin Coolidge

31. "No public man can be just a little crooked. There is no such thing as a no-man's land between honesty and dishonesty." Herbert Hoover

32. "Be sincere, be brief, be seated." Franklin Roosevelt

33. "There is nothing new in the world except the history you do not know." & "The reward of suffering is experience. " Harry Truman

34. "History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid. " Dwight Eisenhower

35. "Too often we . . . enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." John F. Kennedy

36. "Evil acts of the past are never rectified by evil acts of the present." Lyndon Johnson

37. "Idealism without realism is impotent. Realism without idealism is immoral." Richard Nixon

38. "A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have. " Gerald Ford

39. "Like music and art, love of nature is a common language that can transcend political or social boundaries." James Carter

40. "Concentrated power has always been the enemy of liberty." Ronald Reagan

41. "Leadership to me means duty, honor, country. It means character, and it means listening from time to time. " George H.W. Bush

42. "Of course, you can't gain ground if you are standing still." William Jefferson Clinton.

43. "Freedom and fear, justice and cruelty, have always been at war, and we know that God is not neutral between them." George W. Bush

44. "You know, my faith is one that admits some doubt." Barack Obama

An authentic civilization of truth and love

2011-01-22T14:47:00.000-06:00

The following is sort of a love letter to the pro-life movement generally, and Birthright—the crisis pregnancy that was the nursery of my beliefs—and my parents specifically. My mom started a local Birthright chapter when I was ten. I'm so thankful for her example and the education that gave me. This describes much of that education. It is long. But I've cut it down from a 20 page speech, so be thankful. Ahem:

If you've been in the pro-life movement for any amount of time, you've probably heard the phrase "culture of life." Culture is the things that binds us together, the beliefs and values that we hold in common. It is our history and our celebrations; our language and our literature. A Culture is not made of those who hold everything in common, but those who share important connections. The Culture of Life is a diverse, world-wide community of people bound by the belief that all human life has inherent value. The guiding principle of Birthright sums up one aspect of this belief: “It is the right of every pregnant woman to give birth, and the right of every child to be born.”

The true scope of "the culture of life" is often misunderstood. Many people hear that phrase and think it means only those who oppose abortion or euthanasia politically . Being a part of the culture of life is more than a political opinion, it is being a member of what Pope John Paul II called "an authentic civilization of truth and love."

From the example of my mother and other Birthright volunteers, I saw that to do the thing set before me today would impact the lives of other people far into the future. The Culture of Birthright does not march on seats of power or petition the mighty. It does not shout. The Culture of Birthright quietly takes the lost and confused by the hand. In small, comfortable rooms across the world, mothers are offered hope and a shoulder to cry on and practical solutions to each unique circumstance. Throughout my life, I have seen my mother and the other Birthright volunteers offer hope to the mothers who come to Birthright.

In addition to my experiences with Birthright, I was part of the student pro-life movement and worked for political candidates. In fact, my earliest political experience was pulling my red wagon around our neighborhood and distributing campaign material for Ronald Reagan. I was 6. These experiences lead me to a career at the National Right to Life Committee in Washington, DC.

While working at National Right to Life, I learned even more about the diversity and the commitment to the defenseless that characterizes the Culture of Life. Individuals from all races, faiths and backgrounds have come together and given of themselves for unknown mothers and their children.

I also had the opportunity to learn about the Culture of Death and those who have committed themselves to promoting and protecting abortion at any cost. This commitment has cost the lives of countless of children and has damaged millions of women and their families. The Culture of Death is well-organized and well-financed, but despite this, the Culture of Death is fading. The number of abortions has steadily declined since the early 1990s. Moreover, pro-abortion groups bemoan the “graying” of their organizations. Meanwhile more and more young people are self-described pro-life or oppose the vast majority of abortions. At the annual March for Life in Washington, DC, huge numbers of the participants are students.

Like a tapestry, there are many interconnected pieces in the Culture of Life. There are national legislative organizations like the National Right to Life Committee which seek to pass protective legislation and to educate the culture on the realities of abortion at a national level. These groups look at the big picture: where we are going and where we have been. They seek to stem new threats against life and to promote the message of life on the broadest level possible. There are political action committees that seek to elect pro-life legislators who will stand for life. There are local and state grassroots organizations that work within their communities, both through legislation and educational efforts. There are youth organizations on college and high school campuses. These groups have the unique ability to speak truth directly to their peers facing abortion decision.

Then there are crisis pregnancy centers, such as Birthright. Unlike the other threads in the tapestry, Birthright is not involved in legislative efforts. The work of Birthright and other crisis pregnancy centers is to meet the needs of individual women and their families. The purpose of Birthright is to provide life-affirming options in the face of difficult circumstances. Even if abortion were outlawed tomorrow, Birthright and other CPCs would still be needed to be that soft, reassuring voice and that steady arm to guide mothers through difficult decisions and hard circumstances.

President Bush has describe the Culture of Life saying, “The Culture of Life is a welcoming culture, never excluding, never dividing, never despairing and always affirming the goodness of life in all its seasons.”

The Culture of Life is welcoming. It does not exclude based on race, creed, class or circumstance. Speaking of the women who came into that first Birthright in Toronto, Canada 42 years ago, your founder Louise Summerhill said “I can never see anything wrong with any of them.” The Culture of Life does not say some children are worthy of life and some children are not. It does not say that some women have no right to give birth to their children. It welcomes them all.

It does not divide bad circumstance from worse to absolutely unimaginable. The Culture of Life sees each beautiful individual and helps her work through her own circumstances. While we do not—indeed we cannot—minimize or deny the problems facing mothers in crisis pregnancies, we realie that there are life-affirming solutions to these problems.

The Culture of Life does not despair. Sometimes the reality of abortion, the reality of millions upon millions of lost lives, the reality of millions of broken women is overwhelming. It can be easy to despair. Sometimes the woman who is not open to the truth can be disheartening. But we do not despair because we realize that every life saved has value and that each woman who chooses life for her unborn child strengthens and enlarges the Culture of Life.

The Culture of Life always affirms the goodness of life in all its seasons. We recognize the beauty of every mother and every child, and we come alongside families to bring life-affirming positive options so that life can be valued.

The Culture of Death assumes that each life is placed on a scale and if the hardships, costs or inconvenience outweigh its so-called "potential" then that life has no worth. In high school, I had a teacher who spoke passionately about the children in our city who lived in poverty and didn't have enough to eat. She was deeply touched by the plight of these children. However, she saw these children and their problems as a justification for abortion. Her cultural assumption was that life that does not meet certain material standards is not worth living. Her solution to the problem of hungry children was to abort children who would otherwise be born into poverty.

The Culture of Life assumes every life is precious and has inherent worth. Problems and hardships must be confronted. Disease, poverty and violence are all issues to which our society must respond. However, the Culture of Life rejects the notion that eliminating human beings solves human problems. We understand that devaluing life at any stage creates rather than solves problems.

Every culture has traditions and a heritage that frames how the members of that culture live and think. The Culture of Life and the Culture of Death also have their own framework. The heritage of the Culture of Life is truth. The heritage of the Culture of Death is deception. These two cultures are battling for the hearts and minds of the broader culture that exhibits confusion and contradiction when faced with important questions about precious young lives.

The Culture of Life is committed to the truth. First and foremost, we are committed to telling the truth about the tiny human being growing in her mother's womb. At Birthright, the women who come in hear and see about this tiny life within them. Using beautiful medical models of babies in the womb, volunteers tell the truth about life. They speak of the tiny baby who at 18 days after conception has a beating heart and the 9 week old child who has fingerprints and all her internal organs. Mothers learn of the unique DNA that world-renowned geneticist Dr. Jerome Lejeune once called a “symphony.” At the moment of conception, each human being is genetically complete. We are dedicated to making sure every pregnant woman knows the truth about the child she carries.

Our culture does embraced the wonder and beauty of the unborn child--at times. Pregnant women sing and talk to their unborn children, they send grandma first pictures of baby inside the womb, mothers are careful what they eat and drink and monitor their activities to protect the fragile developing life within. Unless a woman has bought into the deception that her baby is not, in fact, a baby. The Culture of Death denies truth through euphemisms. Terms such as “product of conception” or “blob of tissue” try to hide the reality of the unborn child. The horrible, harmful phrase "a wanted child" seeks to convince mothers in difficult situations that emotions, desire and circumstances can change a baby into "pregnancy tissue."

The Culture of Life is committed to telling the truth about the harmful consequences of abortion. Abortion is physically, emotionally and spiritually devastating. The Culture of Death must deny the very real, very painful consequences of abortion. To admit that abortion may be harmful would their already shaky foundation.

In a 1993 interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer, the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League or NARAL president Kate Michelman admitted in a rare moment of complete candor, "We think that abortion is a bad thing. No woman wants to have one." After the story was printed, Michelman and NARAL desperately tried to back track, claiming she said no such thing. Unfortunately for NARAL, the reporter had recorded the interview. But even confronted with cold, hard facts, Michelman attempted to deny that she had said “Abortion is a bad thing.”

But this is exactly what mothers must know. Pro-lifers tell the truth about the physical risks of abortion and of the pain and heartache women who've aborted their children feel. It is critical that mothers know that abortion can lead to secondary infertility, infections and is even connected to breast cancer. They must hear about post-abortion syndrome and the depression and anxiety that often follows an abortion. Yes, Ms. Michelman: Abortion is a bad thing and no woman should have one.

Again, we see the confusion as the broader culture struggles with these two philosophies. Most people support limits on abortion, laws that require women to be told of the harm of abortion. Many say things like "I could never have an abortion myself," or "I am personally pro-life, but I couldn't stop someone else from having an abortion." The natural inclination to protect life and to cherish children has been corrupted by the Culture of Death which pits mother against child.

The Culture of Life assumes that every woman should be able to choose life for her child—Birthright seeks to make this choice possible. One of the things we hear again and again from women who've had abortions is the statement, “I had no other choice.” How ironic that the “pro-choice solution” should be an act of desperation. Birthright and all those in the Culture of Life seek to educate mothers about all their life-affirming options and help them through the difficult—but ultimately rewarding—decisions.

How do we challenge and ultimately defeat the Culture of Death? We have a tendency to think that cultural changes are due to one event: one battle, one speech, one law, one court case. We look for the magic bullet: the politician, the judge, the advertising campaign that will completely alter cultural opinions. The reality is that numerous factors over time influence shifts in our beliefs and values. The Culture of Death did not take hold overnight and it will not change overnight. But I am confident that a cultural shift is occurring because of the truth and compassion communicated by the Culture of Life. The Culture is changing because we show up every day. The Culture is changing because of each woman helped by CPCs. The Culture is changing because we are being light in a dark place.

I think the Prayer of St. Francis best expresses the spirit of The Culture of Life:
"Lord make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
And where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master grant that I may
Not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.
And it's in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen."

Facing the horror

2011-01-21T15:09:00.000-06:00

For years, from college through my early married life, I was deeply involved in the pro-life movement. I lead my college and state pro-life groups. I interned and then worked for National Right to Life. Even after I had my first two children, I continued to write and work on special projects.

And then I got busy educating my kids and having more babies and just living life. I just didn't have the time to active, or so I told myself. But this is the truth: Abortion is horrific. The fact that over 50 million children have been killed in the past 38 years, in this country alone, is heartbreaking. When you become familiar with the wonders of fetal development and the reality of what abortion does to those little lives, it is hard to bear. Then I had my own precious children. I felt them move within me, and hoped and planned and dreamed for them and about them. Then I treasured the unspeakable joy of holding them close. After all that, the reality of abortion just became almost unbearable.

But that's cowardice, pure and simple. Millions upon millions of babies are being killed gruesomely. I don't have the right to stay silent. We don't talk about it for fear of offending, because it's distasteful or heartbreaking, or we don't want to “pass judgment.” So we stay silent and the the number of dead babies continues to climb. We don't have the right.

Recently, a Philadelphia abortionist was arrested for the deaths of one mother (in a botched abortion) and seven babies. (Although there were many, many times seven children killed.) The details are some of the most disgusting, evil acts imaginable. The babies were delivered alive and then slaughtered with scissors. Michele Malkin has an excellent write-up, including the Grand Jury Report. Steve Ertelt, the pro-life newsource has a story at LifeNews.com. And there's this snippet from the Grand Jury report. Caution: You can't unknow it. It is evil. But nevertheless, I encourage you to read it.

The anger and disgust are profound. I can't recall the last time an abortion case caused this great of an outcry. And it is disgusting and disturbing. I wish more people were yelling, crying, and doing whatever it takes to make sure it never happens again. But frankly, once you say “It's okay to kill babies” all the future horrific details are just that: details.

Does it matter if children are killed in filthy conditions by heartless mercenaries, or if their mothers are led down sterile hallways in tastefully appointed centers by soft spoken philanthropist? Either way, the baby is dead. We are heartbroken and angered by the first, and only mildly offended by the second.

C.S. Lewis wrote, “The greatest evil is not done in those sordid dens of evil that Dickens loved to paint but is conceived and ordered (moved, seconded, carried, and minuted) in clear, carpeted, warmed, well-lighted offices, by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voices.”

While evil has always existed, and infanticide and abortion are prehistoric crimes, it is the dignified Justices, the well-heeled politicians, and the glib pundits who have made it a “right” in our culture. It is far less easy to be outraged by the passage of a law than by the horrors that came out of Philadelphia. It's easier to be outraged for a week than to engage in politics or volunteer at a crisis pregnancy center.

This is my concern: after this, then what? We are offended and outraged and indignant for a while. Then this abortionist goes to jail and his clinic is closed down. So we move on. And the number of babies being killed continues to climb. Do those children not deserve the same compassion and attention as the babies killed by Kermit Gosnell? Or are their deaths not sensational enough? What will we do, what will I do, next?

Thoughts on Martin Luther King, Jr.'s dream

2011-01-17T19:07:00.000-06:00

Today we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. a man of great conviction and great courage who, along with his compatriots, remade race relations in this country. Although many would say his dream is not fully realized (the higher rates of poverty and incarceration among minorities support their position), we have come a long way from the era of Jim Crow laws and casual, pervasive racism.

When I tell my children about the Civil Rights Movement or about slavery, they find it hard to believe. Why would anyone enslave someone, demean someone, forbid them jobs, or food, or hotel rooms because of the color of their skin? "Seriously, mom? Seriously?"

The fact that they have trouble believing me shows that our country has made progress. The fact that the big deal of Obama's election is strange to them shows we've made progress. ("Really, mom? He's the first non-white president? That's weird.")

What would Dr. King think of our progress? I don't know. I have trouble figuring out what I think about things, much less what a man who died almost almost 50 years ago and who lived in a very different culture might think. But I do think an honest examination of where we've been and where we are shows we have made progress, and we are making progress. I don't believe in the perfectability of man this side of Glory. I think we are always going to have divisions, sometimes on matters that seem so stupid they can't be serious. But at least in this, we're making progress.

Teaching my children the whole lesson

2011-01-12T08:47:00.001-06:00

One of my favorite poems to teach my children is “Listen to the Mustn'ts” by Shel Silverstein. It was one of the first poems memorized by both of my girls, and the boys will memorize it as soon as they master certain consonant combinations.

Listen to the mustn't, child.
Listen to the don'ts.
Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts.
Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me...
Anything can happen, child.
Anything can be.

Dream! Wish! Hope!

But as a parent, I can't stop there. One of the most important lessons a parent can teach his child is illustrated in this quote borrowed from the Commonroom blog:

"If you believe in yourself and trust in your dreams and follow your star ... you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy." Terry Pratchett

(Incidently, read that whole post, tangentially related to this and very, very good–far better and more useful than this.)

Dream big! Work hard! But...

There's another lesson that everyone must learn; one that life teaches us all: You win some, you lose some. Frankly, the sooner that lesson is learned the better. Whether when playing Candy Land, or not getting the last cookie, or being chose last for sports, you will lose.

Fact: Any native born citizen reaching the age of 35 years old may be elected President of the United States of America. Lie: Anyone can grow up to be president! Fact: Hard work is necessary for success. Also a fact: Cheaters do indeed sometimes prosper, in this world anyway. Fact: hard work is necessary for success. Also fact: the guy who won the silver medal worked hard, too. You may be the very smartest, bestest, most attractive person in your family, your school, or even your hometown. There are a great many people in this world who are smarter, more able, and prettier than you. And there are people who may be demonstrably less smart, less able, and less attractive who will lead far more successful lives.

So, to sum up: don't listen to the naysayers, kid, you dream big! Also, you can wish and hope and dream with all your might, but the guy who hustles is gonna get the gold. Sometimes. And sometimes you'll work your butt off and come up short. Sweetie, you are going to fail. You will lose. You'll slip and fall and make a fool out of yourself. Then, kiddo? At that point? Listen close to me...anything can happen child. Anything can be.

Overcoming Evil with Good

2011-01-11T13:13:00.000-06:00

After the horror of the Arizona shootings, it is hard to think of anything that could be more evil, more wicked than gunning down a group of complete strangers. Hard, but not impossible. It can be argued that those who would spew hateful things at the funeral of a child are more despicable than the obviously insane man who killed that child. Maybe it's a tie.

The Westboro jerks, who call themselves baptists but probably couldn't articulate the gospel if a gun was pointed at them, are going to “protest” the funerals of the victims of the Arizona shootings. And they are getting what they want: publicity, even if it is basically the entire country giving them the finger. (In this, at least, we are united: those people are evil.)

I don't know what is being planned to deal with them, particularly since these funerals will probably be high profile with “important people” being in attendance. (God spare me from a funeral attended by “important people.”) I would like to point out the recent and highly effective manner of dealing with the Westboro bunch.

Here:

And based on their example and organized in part by my friend Holly, here:

Love, dignity, and respect for the fallen blocking hate. As the Good Book says, “Love covers a multitude of sins.”

Names worth remembering UPDATED

2011-01-09T08:53:00.001-06:00

Yesterday, our nation was attacked. A raving nutcase walked into a political event and shot 20 people, killing six of them. Gabrielle Giffords, a United States Congresswoman, was the apparent target of the killer was shot in the head and is in critical condition.

That hurts to type.

There has been lots of mostly wrong speculation about the political ideology of the murderer. Let me clear it up for you. He is crazy and evil and fueled by hate. The details are just that, details. Trying to tie his crazy to the ideology of a peaceful person is foolish and wrong (even if they use harsh language, like say "If they bring a knife, you bring a gun"--President Obama or "Don't retreat, reload" Governor Palin.)

We're going to hear a lot about the raving nutcase, but I hope never to mention his name on this blog.

These are the names we should remember:

John Roll, 63, chief federal district court judge for Arizona. He was a husband, a father, and a grandfather who stopped by the Congresswoman's event to pay his respects after attending Mass.

Gabriel Zimmerman, 30, Giffords' director of community outreach was recently engaged.

Dorwin Stoddard, 76, a pastor at Mountain Avenue Church of Christ shielded his wife Mavy from the shooter. Mrs. Stoddard was shot three times in the legs.

Christina Green, 9, a student at Mesa Verde Elementary School. She had just been elected to her school's student council, which is why she was at the event.

Dorothy Morris, 76
Phyllis Scheck, 79

I can't find any information on Ms. Morris and Ms. Scheck, yet. But they were someone's neighbors, someone's friends. Perhaps wives, mothers, and grandmothers. They were my fellow citizens. They were Americans and their deaths hurt me.

There is another name we should remember, a man we should honor: Daniel Hernandez. Mr. Hernandez is the 20 year old intern of Congresswoman Giffords who ran toward the shots when the gunfire started. He stayed with the Congresswoman, applying pressure to her wound, holding her up against him, very probably saving her life. Repeat his name: Daniel Hernandez. And whatever you tell your children, remind them that even when very bad people do very bad things, there are heroes who will run toward the danger.

I know my country. I am confident that we will hear of more admirable people doing admirable things in relation to this horror. Learn their names. Tell people about them. Remember them.

UPDATE:
From the Wall Street Journal, more on the victims.

Mrs. Schenk was a homemaker who retired to Arizona from New Jersey. She lost her husband four years ago and leaves behind three children, seven grandchildren, and one great grandchild.

Mrs. Morris was at the event with her husband George, who was also shot and still in the hospital. She has two daughters and was a grandmother. She and her husband were high school sweethearts who traveled the country in a motor home until retiring to build their dream home in the mountains.

Mr. Morris and Mrs. Stoddard, two people who were shot and who lost their spouses, weigh heavily on my heart. I'm praying for all the families, but sending extra prayers for them.

Useless ritual

2011-01-07T18:32:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, Little Miss and I watched the reading of the Constitution on the floor of the United States House of Representatives. She read along and stayed with it despite all the “yielding to the gentleman/gentlewoman” stuff that dragged it on for an hour and a half. She is now probably better versed in our government's founding document than most adult citizens.

One of the more interesting aspects (amusingly or sadly so, depending on your P.O.V.) of the whole reading of Constitution is the opposition to it being done. Yep, you heard that right. There were pundits and politicians opposed to reading the Constitution on the floor of one of the institutions birthed by said Constitution.

Yeah, I don't get it either.

The act was represented as a “useless stunt” or a “gimmick” by those in opposition. Just a way for the Republicans to grandstand and take advantage of an overwhelming electoral win where they won a record number of seats in large part thanks to the Tea Parties and their “back to the Constitution” emphasis. Or something.

Aside from the political grandstanding—on both sides, sure—why would anyone be opposed to the government reading the document which establishes its existence and its authority? Even if it is just “ritual,” what's so bad about that?

When I started this blog in 2007, one of the first things I wrote about was ritual. Ritual helps to center us, it reminds us of who we are, of what we believe and why. We just finished the Christmas season, chocked full of ritual and liturgy: the Advent wreath, candlelight services, feasts, charitable actions, songs, and stories. All these ritualistic elements reinforce our beliefs and help us pass them on to our children and share them with others.

For people of faith, ritual or liturgy is a critical part of worship. When we read scripture, sing hymns, or recite creeds we are proclaiming our beliefs, but we're also preaching to ourselves. Sometimes, the person most benefited by reciting a creed is the reciter.

We could use a political liturgy. When was the last time you attended an Independence Day event and heard the Declaration of Independence (now we've even stripped the name of the holiday and usually refer to it by the generic “4^th of July.) Do we do more than buy mattresses on President's Day or Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday. Even those dates that are most sacred—Memorial Day, Veteran's Day—have lost much of the symbolism that made an impact and stopped our busy lives to remember and honor.

Yet, we do have a political liturgy. Our peaceful succession of government is drenched in ritual, not the least of which is the taking of the oath to uphold the Constitution. The inauguration of a new Executive Administration every 4 years is so full of ritual that books are written about it. The ritual reaffirms the fact that the peaceful transfer of government is an amazing and impressive thing. It deserves to be taken seriously, with pomp and circumstance. And Aretha Franklin singing in an awesome hat.

Even if ever silly accusation about the Republicans reading the Constitution was true, so what? Why not include it at the opening of every session of Congress, in both houses jointly or separately? Like the man in his hour of need who recalls the Lord's Prayer learned as a child, it may return to lawmakers as they write laws demanding more and taking more from the citizenry. Especially that part about “Congress shall make no law.”

Whose dumb idea was this, anyway?

2011-01-05T13:30:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year! *thud*

I don't know about you, but January never really feels like a New Year to me. There's nothing fresh or shiny about it. Everybody's pretty much hung over and stressed out from over-celebrating the winter holidays. Nature is brown, grey, and lifeless, and the sun sets at five o'clock. It feels old and worn out, not new.

Now spring would be a great time to start the new year. Planting season, new life, new birth, you know—NEW! Even fall would be better than winter, with harvest celebrations and the start of school.

I don't know how it happened, although I'm sure there are books and even a wikipedia entry on January 1 as New Year's Day. Frankly, I don't care why it was done. I just want to be on record saying it's stupid and I oppose it. As a homeschooler, January and February are the hardest months. It's like being in the middle of a twisty tunnel, no end and sight and you can't even see where you've come from. Bleh.

I think I'll have my own New Year's celebration when the wildflowers are in bloom. Champagne among the bluebonnets! Who's with me?

Goodbye & Good Riddance

2011-01-02T20:19:00.001-06:00

The general consensus seems to be that 2010 was, very possibly, the Worst. Year. Ever. Or at least in the top ten. In case the passing of time has blurred your memory, I give you Dave Barry's Year in Review. Do me a favor, go read it some place public like a coffee shop. Your stifled snorts will provide amusement for everyone. After a year like 2010, everybody could use some entertainment.

So we're done with the old, looking forward to the new. But here's some advice, shamelessly stolen from Abraham Piper's blog Twenty Two Words:

Here's to survival!

Deliberate

2011-01-01T22:39:00.000-06:00

That's my New Year's Resolution: to be more deliberate, to live deliberately.

This past year has been hard. No major tragedies or upheavals (although family members and friends have faced both), but just hard in a "pecked to death by baby ducks" and "if it's not one thing it's another" sort of way. There were days (more frequent than I care to admit) where I found myself just white knuckling it to get through, or waking with a sense of apprehension that I wasn't ready for anything. Basically, I just let my life get out of control.

So, I resolve to be deliberate:

To be deliberate in my faith and my relationship with God instead of just being dismayed at the lousy state of my spiritual life.
To be deliberate in my marriage: to encourage and cherish and appreciate the husband God was so kind to provide.
To deliberately and delightfully parent my children. Parenting is challenging, and parenting my boys is often exhausting. But letting the challenges and the exhaustion steer our family isn't fair to any of us. The children least of all.
To be deliberate in my appreciation of the wonderful life I have. Occasionally, I find myself in a moment: cuddling with MTG, reading to the kids, or being chased by pirates and think "Wow, this is really wonderful. I should savor this." How many moments do I miss because I'm too distracted to recognize the opportunity.
To be deliberate in my reading, in my thinking, in my blogging, in how I interact with others. Just...deliberate. Thoughtful. Purposeful.

Which, when it comes down to it, is a rather vague resolution, of the "I'm gonna be a better person" variety. How, exactly? Ah, excellent question. And I'll let you know when I figure that out. I have a couple of thoughts banging around my noggin, not practical steps, but a jumping off point.

The Apostle Paul wrote, "I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." (1 Cor. 9:27 NIV) and C.S. Lewis, quoting St. Francis, called the body "Brother Ass" explaining

"Ass is exquisitely right because no one in his senses can either revere or hate a donkey. It is useful, sturdy, lazy, obstinate, patient, lovable and infuriating beast; deserving now the stick and now a carrot, both pathetically and absurdly beautiful. So the body." The Four Loves C.S. Lewis

What has this to do with being deliberate? Being deliberate is basically being disciplined. (Other translations use "discipline my body" rather than "beat my body.") I, like the rest of creation, tend toward entropy. When things are going well, I just let them go along until "suddenly" things aren't going so well. And in the up and down and round about, I feel all those things "useful, sturdy, lazy, obstinate, patient, lovable and (most of all) infuriating." To be deliberate is to work against the entropy at every step, to keep a tighter rein on "Brother Ass", to do and to be with purpose.

And, to quote Paul again, "But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Whatever happens this year, whatever challenges I face, I pray that I meet them deliberately, with faith in God and courage to walk whatever path is before me. Deliberately.

A little help with your New Year's Resolutions

2010-12-30T17:38:00.000-06:00

I hope you find it helpful.

Happy New Year's Eve Eve!

Grabbing a snake by the tail

2010-12-29T21:20:00.000-06:00

I'm putting my toe back in the blog waters and picking up a very hot topic: CPAC, GOProud, FRC and CWA. (Or was that picking up the alphabet?) It's a sticky wicket and I'm very likely to offend some or all who read this post. (Good thing I get almost no traffic, huh?) It's a political issues, but I only want to touch on the politics, mainly examining the brouhaha from the point of view of an evangelical Christian.

This is the situation: CPAC is a large gathering of conservative political types. Last year, some people (I forget who) pulled out of the convention because GOProud, a group of gay Republicans, was invited to attend. Tempest in a tea pot. This year, Family Research Council and Concerned Women for America--two larger and more influential conservative Christian groups--pulled out for the same reason. Tempest in a tea kettle. See the difference? Yeah, nobody cares outside the very small bubble of political freaks (myself included), but it's a deal for them.

Fact: I am a evangelical Christian and I believe the bible when it says homosexuality is a sin. Also sins: lying, pride, fornication, adultery, greed, drunkenness, unrighteous anger, etc. (I'm just trying to think of those most likely to be represented among a group of politicians and political types. Not trying to be mean, but I lived and worked in DC for years. Sin is, uh, abundantly evident.)

This is the thing: CPAC, heck any gathering of political types, is not a church service. (One might even say it is a field white unto harvest.) It's a marketplace of ideas, specifically political ideas. There's all sorts of overlapping interests and alliances and chances to debate, to confront, or to persuade. Does FRC or CWA really think that by not attending CPAC they wield more influence in that marketplace? No one is talking about the beliefs behind their decision to forgo the conference. No one is discussing the issues they presumably want discussed. The only discussion is are they fools who don't want gay cooties or are they jerks who don't want gay cooties.

So how is a Christian to interact with homosexuals? I think we interact with homosexuals just like we do with any other sinner, (you know: people.) I get that it truly ticks homosexuals off to say that homosexuality is sin. I feel bad that they feel bad, but I can't not say what I believe to be true. (Little to "true" not "Truth." That is, "homosexuality is sin" is NOT the gospel.) Listen, if you tell a prideful person that he is sinning, or a vain woman that she is sinning, or a person committing whatever sin that he is sinning, well, it doesn't go over well. But frankly, the telling of the good news isn't just to say "Jesus saves!" but "Jesus saves sinners from just judgment of their sins." The how, the when, and the in-what-manner we do that is the question.

Do we run up to everyone leaving a plastic surgeons office saying, "Vanity is sin!" What about the people biting their nails off with worry? Do we wave signs saying, "Phillippians 4:6, Sinner!" (Try it and I will hit you.) Why is it okay to do that with homosexuality? Shouldn't there be evidence of love and even friendship before we start pointing out logs and motes? Shouldn't our emphasis be Jesus and what he has done for us (for me, the chief of sinners) about all else?

I don't get any of that from the actions of FRC and CWA. I get the whole "gay cootie" thing, but that's about it. And maybe that's the problem with "Christian organizations." God didn't save an organization, he saves individuals whom He knits into His body, the church. I would hope that our concern for individuals and desire to see them knit into Christ's body--whatever their sins--would outweigh the PR concerns of a political organization.

So that's my two cents on the issue. Have at me in the comments. (But my mom reads my blog, so watch your language.)

My friend Jimmie Bise of the Sundries Shack and the podcast The Delivery did a most excellent rant on the situation from the political angle that I pretty much agree with. It's an hour, but if you're interested in the situation, it's worth the time. (Actually, it's half an hour. Then he gives some good social media tips & taunts me with his Kindle. I'm fairly certain that Kindle part was just to make me frothy with a jealous rage. Jealousy, btw, is a sin. As is tempting someone to covet. Sinners, the both of us.)

God With Us

2010-12-21T12:30:00.002-06:00

My favorite Christmas carol is “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” It is hauntingly beautiful and, particularly this year, it is my heart's cry: “Come, Emmanuel– God with Us, save us. Ransom us from captivity.”

There is no doubt that this world is held captive by sin and suffering. The reality of a fallen world is sickness, selfishness, greed, violence, and death. And too often, the captives don't even realize the need to be saved. C.S. Lewis said, “Human history is the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.”

We struggle, we scheme, we very creatively search for ways to sate the soul; but we really need to cry, “Emmanuel, save us.”

This Christmas is more somber than in years past. In the past six weeks, two friends, one “in real life” and one blog friend, have lost their precious children. A beautiful 8 year old girl and a sweet 22 month old boy are missing from Christmas celebrations, and I can't even begin to imagine how much their families hurt.

Emmanuel, be with them in their grief.

Several of my family members have health problems, some chronic. There is something especially disheartening about futilely watching while people you love suffer every day, not knowing what--if anything, you can do. And the incontrovertible fact is we will all suffer the failing of our bodies.

Emmanuel, strengthen our spirits, though our flesh fails.

Two people I follow on twitter are fighting for their lives– Raquel Esparagozza, a twenty-two year old young woman with cancer, and Andrew Lawton. He's also only twenty-two. Not only because they are exceptional people, but also because they are so very young, many people are concerned and praying for them. When the young and strong fall, we become starkly aware of our own frailty. And we pray for them, “Emmanuel, save them from death.”

Ultimately, though, this world will fall away. However desperately we cling to it, we all will leave it. And Emmanuel, God With Us, came to us so that one day, those who call upon his name might forever be with Him.

Andrew Lawton's last tweet before his stroke says simple “2 Corinthians 5:8” That verse reads: “Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”

Be of good courage, for God became Emmanuel—God With Us and God for us.

Please pray for the Hasslens, who lost Hannah to cancer on November 1, and the Hanleys, who lost Mattias in an accident on December 12. Also pray for Raquel and Andrew, who are still fighting for their lives. May God grant them grace and deliver them from death. I'd also be grateful for prayers for my family: my parents, my sister, and my sister-in-law, who are all suffering various ailments. Thank you.

On this day, (mumble mumble) years ago...

2010-12-02T10:54:00.001-06:00

... I was blessed with the coolest, craziest, most fascinating sister on the planet. Of course, I didn't realize that at the time. I thought she was kind of a pest and mildly amusing. Okay, hilarious. She'd entertain me and my friends for hours. But I digress.

My little sister, Carrie, mocking the fact that she's taller than me since circa 1995.

She has become an amazing woman. Strong and brave and brilliant. I'm so proud of her: how she has triumphed over obstacles that flatten most of us, and how she stand up for what she believes in. She is stubborn, loyal, and principled. You definitely want her on your side in any battle, and you do not want to cross her.

She is also officially know as "Cool Aunt Carrie." And my kids want you to know this:

Little Miss: "Aunt Carrie is brave, bold, and happy."

Sprite: "Aunt Carrie is very kind and she likes elephants."

Bulldozer: "Aunt Carrie is fun."

Satchmo: "Aunt Carrie has dinosaurs."

Happy Birthday, Sis. I love you.

Help a girl out

2010-11-28T16:39:00.000-06:00

I'm looking for a quote to decorate a bulletin board. Would you vote on your favorite quote? If you have a better one, leave it in the comments. Thanks!

We. Are. Adorable!!

2010-11-26T17:46:00.000-06:00

It's memory and nostalgia and awwww, how cute all rolled into one lump of happy feelings.


Me, at 7 or 8, taken by my grandfather

The Sprite, 8 years old, taken by my grandmother

A sweet potato by any other name still tastes good with cinnamon butter

2010-11-20T19:50:00.000-06:00

Thanksgiving is upon us, and I am in no way ready. Isn't that exciting? Making my shopping list, I notice that the store has yams on sale. Except they don't. They have sweet potatoes on sale, yams being a totally different beastie altogether.

And really, who makes "yam pie" for Thanksgiving?

This has been your Thanksgiving PSA.

Rights, limits, and not getting blown up

2010-11-18T12:26:00.000-06:00

Have you heard the latest holiday trend? If you choose to fly this year, the TSA will either irradiate and take a naked picture of you OR perform an invasive physical exam where every part of your body, or your child's body, is touched and prodded. Merry Christmas!

So, some people are, um, upset with this, including me. Others say that, while not pleasant, it's the cost we pay to not get blown up. (Some are thrilled about the new procedures, but I prefer to pretend those people don't exist.) One of the most prominent arguments is articulated by Jazz Shaw who says we have no right to fly, and this is necessary for security.

To the first argument: Do we have a right to fly? Yes and no. We have a right to engage in commercial transactions and to travel if we can provide the means for ourselves. But, no, we don't have a right specifically to fly. Otherwise people who can't afford to buy a ticket be eligible for “plane stamps.” (Oh, great. I hope I didn't just give somebody a bright idea.) No one has a right to fly. Not nuns, not three-year-olds, not even Penn Jillette.

However, the appropriate question isn't “Do we have a 'right' to fly,” but rather, “What are the limits of government?”

The pro-grope position is: since we don't have a “right” to fly, our Fourth Amendment rights aren't valid. The government subjecting us to radiation, taking naked pictures taken of us and/or being feeling us up all violate the 4^th amendment which limits governments ability to search and seize (and grope) our persons and property. It doesn't matter if some people are okay with naked pictures or being groped by a stranger, it violates the 4^th amendment. That's the line the government doesn't get to cross.

“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.” The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America

The key word here is “unreasonable.” If we say the 4^th amendment doesn't apply to these invasive procedures, then really there is no limit to what the government can do to us in an airport. “We need this to protect us, so I'm okay with naked pictures and being felt up.” What happens when we cross the line of what you aren't okay with? Strip searches? Tossing your bags? Detention? Does that violation of your rights change things, or is there no limit to the governments power to debase and humiliate travelers?

The second argument is we need to surrender our rights and our dignity to keep us safe, but that's not what is happening. Randomly searching people is like the firefighters picking an address out of the phone book and hoping there's a fire when they get there. We're surrendering our rights and our dignity so government officials can cover their butts by exposing ours. No terrorist have been apprehended in TSA examinations. If they had been, TSA would have big ol' billboards in front of every airport proclaiming that fact. Terrorists have been stopped via security agencies here and abroad and through passengers now forced to surrender their dignity with their ticket purchase, but not the TSA.

If we do indeed lose our constitutional rights in order to procure our security upon entering an airport, then we should demand actions that actually make us more secure. Ditch random checks of persons and bags by technology that can or will soon be circumvented and adopt the Israeli method of profiling behavior or other risk-based approaches. Oh, but we can't do that because it violates civil rights. So let's violate your civil rights by virtual strip searches and groping everyone from toddlers to the nuns. Do ya see the problem there?

Very simply, if we do not have a right to fly without our rights being violated, then at least “violate” our rights to some purpose. Although I disagree that profiling passengers behavior, origin, and destination violates anyone's rights. And, at the very least, those “violations” would be far more likely to stop terrorists than manhandling three-year-olds and nuns.

An appeal from a social conservative

2010-11-16T16:22:00.001-06:00

The scenario:

GOProud and some Tea Party leaders suggest social issues be backburnered.

Social Conservatives reject that proposal, sometimes snippily.

Food fight!!

Melissa Clouthier has a good post at Liberty Pundits calling this a “needless division.” And I agree, mostly. But not entirely.

One reason, as I've written previously, is because we've heard this before. While I think that some (most?) of this is good faith analysis of what we need as a country, there is a faction in the Republican party who really just want social conservatives to shut up and vote “right.” I also think, to steal a meme from Obama, we have a messaging problem.

The message seems to be that the only reason there is any “fuss” on social issues is because social cons won't stop bringing them up. Really, we're only making things worse by talking about these divisive issues all the time. Or something. Right.

Let's just take the issue of abortion, the issue that I'm most familiar with and most passionate about.

Since 1973, there have been—conservatively—50 million abortions in this country. That's 1/6^th of the current population. Imagine every 6^th person you meet gone. Moreover, support for abortion is the litmus test for support for many groups on the left and pretty much every “feminist” group. “Feminist” now meaning “rabidly enthusiastic about killing our young.” They did not look at the election results and say, “Oh my, the nation wants to talk economics. Let's all take a vacation until people are paying attention again.” The debate goes on, the battle rages. The real questions are who frames the debate and what is the battle ground.

When pro-lifers frame the debate, the issues are things like the Partial-Birth Abortion Act, the Born Alive Infant Protection Act, and the Unborn Victims of Violence Act. We talk about the humanity of the unborn, about members of our human family that need and deserve protection, and about violent deaths of babies and harm done to mothers. The battleground is the humanity of unborn children and how abortion stops a beating heart. We move the ball forward. Every year, more and more people reject abortion and consider themselves to be pro-life. That's the educational AND legislative efforts of the Right-To-Life Movement at work.

So what happens if we shut up and let pro-abortion groups frame the debate? Abortion advocates want to frame the debate in ways that completely obscures what abortion actually is. That's why they use the phrase “pro-choice.” They don't want to discuss what that choice is. They also want to frame the debate in ways that pit mother against child and born against unborn. The mantra of "Rape, Incest and Stem Cell Research" will be the rallying cry. Any discussion of what abortion actually does to mother and child will be non-existent. Policy will focus on “access” meaning mainly taxpayer funding, mandating training for doctors, and requiring hospitals to perform abortions. Moreover, this will happen mainly out of the public eye, through actions of the executive branch of government.

If the pro-life movement falls silent, we give Obama—the most pro-abortion president in our nation's history—free reign to implement disastrous policies without a fight. We understand what the 2010 mid-term elections were about, but frankly, pro-lifers have been in this fight for more than 40 years. One election doesn't alter our long term strategy of eliminating abortion.

But yes, the mid-term elections were primarily about fiscal issues and the role of government. Still, there is a HUGE overlap of social conservatives and the Tea Party movement. I went to the April 2009 Dallas Tea Party wearing a “TANSTAAFL” t-shirt, not an advertisement for social issues, but rather focused on the fiscal disaster. Many social cons are also fiscal cons. To say that the GOP could have taken the house without social cons is silly for the simple fact that they are by and large the same people. (Yes, there are a few social conservatives who are okay with government being the boss of everyone. I probably less in common with them than with the fiscal conservatives that are socially liberal. But by and large, social conservatives agree with the goals of smaller government and fiscal responsibility. And yes, Sen. DeMint's comment that you can't be a fiscal conservative without being socially conservative was stupid. See: Libertarians.)

Now to the Messaging Problem: rather than telling social cons to shut up, ask them to join forces to work for the common goals of smaller government and fiscal responsibility. Not only is it “needlessly divisive” to alienate social cons, it's really poor political strategy. Listen, social conservatives are organized, trained and motivated to do all the things that have to be done to actually effect policy, not just elect politicians. Honestly, that was the easy part. Getting your goals into law is the hard part.

This social con would love to see all social policy pushed back to the state and local levels. Make a case for that and you'll win some support. People of all opinions on social issues can agree that tax dollars shouldn't be funding controversial things—from abortion to NPR. (Abort NPR! No?) On Obamacare, the Right-To-Life Movement has serious experience from the Clinton Health Care battles, not only on abortion but also on health care rationing. We've also got grassroots established in every states and many more local groups, groups really good at flooding Congressional offices with calls.

I hope we win this war. I hope we get a smaller government and we stumble back from the brink of economic disaster. I know this: you can't do it without the social conservatives, however much you may dislike the thought. It doesn't make a lot of sense to alienate an important ally. And that advice goes to social conservatives, too.

The new sensation (soon to be) sweeping the nation!

2010-11-14T21:59:00.002-06:00

As weird, unsocialized homeschoolers, we sometimes miss out on the cool trends. Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber, for example, are not known in this house. Neither is the word "tween" nor any product or show aimed at that particular demographic. I spend too much time with my children for them to become obsessed with pop culture that will drive me bats. Mythbusters obsession? Fine. Dangerous, but fine. Pop-star whose voice has yet to change? No thanks.

However, we have not missed the silly bands craze. It's harmless fun that reminds me a lot of the friendship pins and friendship bracelet trends of my youth. (I actually taught the girls to make friendship bracelets. Friends are friends forever!)

Anyway, silly bands are great and come in almost any shape you want. Almost. But what if you want Tux, the Linux Penguin? You're out of luck. Or are you?

Introducing The Sillybandfactory! Make your own sillyband in any shape your lil' ol' brain can conjure.

Tux, the Linux Penguin, created by MTG

It's simple and brilliant. You use pegs to outline the shape, place the band around the pegs and bake it. Like Shrinky Dinks! I love crafts you can bake! (The silly bands don't actually shrink.)

Our friend actually invented this wonderful contraption and my kids spent the afternoon creating. Each creation takes about 30 minutes start to finish, so four children had to exercise patience. Look: character training! You can also make silly bands for the holiday. (I would, of course, be speaking of the next holiday on the calendar: Thanksgiving.)

The girls did autumn and Thanksgiving designs. You may have to exercise your imagination.

Fall leaf

Turkey. No, really. It's a turkey.

So, if your looking for stocking stuffers or winter activities, this is lots of fun. You can order them from the website or hopefully find them in stores very soon. Go get creative!

*Disclosure: our friends, the creators, gave us the sillybandfactory, because they are awesome. You should buy one or more from them because they are awesome--both the people and the creation.

Feasts, Seasons, and Sales

2010-11-12T13:19:00.001-06:00

On Halloween night, stores across the country were busy putting up Christmas trees and restocking shelves with all manner of Christmas paraphernalia. On November 1, the Christmas began.

A couple of days ago, I passed a country club adorned with Christmas wreaths and a 30 foot Christmas tree on a busy street corner. Stores had up Christmas displays and played Christmas music, and--heresy of heresies--a Salvation Army Bell Ringer was ringing his bell in front of Walgreens. On November 10.

*Sigh*

Listen, I understand the need to plan ahead. For budgeting time and money, we have to stash away Christmas gifts through the year. Craft projects must be started months ahead of time. I get that. But I still don't want to hear, "Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas" on November 12.

We move from Sale-to-Sale in our culture. From Back to School on July 1, to Halloween items in August, then straight to Christmas as soon as the costumes hit the clearance rack. And yes, you'll see Valentine's Day items in early January. Poor Thanksgiving is barely given an end-cap in November. There's not enough money in sweet potatoes, stuffing, and old-fashioned family dinners.

Among the many problems with this sale-to-sale approach is that it completely ignores the current season. Autumn in North Texas is of the "blink and you'll miss it" variety. Still, it's there. The startling pure blue November sky will take your breath away. And our trees, though not bountiful, do adorn themselves in glorious yellows, reds, and oranges. It's a shame to miss their show in our mad dash to buy Rudolph wrapping paper.

The sad thing is that by December 15 many people will be tired of Christmas. It will have been done to death for 45 days. Really, who can stand all level of holiday cheer for that long? And we're still 10 days out from the first day of Christmas, and it's not even technically winter yet! Poor Epiphany--the 12th day of Christmas-- is even worse off than Thanksgiving. It's been booted out of the Christmas season and forgotten entirely.

Our family is going to try something different this year: we'll be observing the traditional Feast Days. The Christmas season will start with St. Nicholas Day on December 6. On that day, we'll pull out decorations and go chop down a tree. The only exception will be observing the first Sunday in Advent, this year on November 28. The season will end with the Feast of Epiphany on January 6. One month of Christmas festivities is sufficient. You can, after all, have too much of a good thing.

Right now, I'm enjoying my Texas autumn, thank you kindly. Happy Fall, y'all.

Veteran's Day

2010-11-11T09:16:00.000-06:00

To all the men and women who have ever stood on the wall, thank you. We do not begin to realize what we owe you . . .

or what you sacrifice to keep the nation safe.

May God bless you all, especially my big brother, Michael, the very definition of a Man of Honor.

*Military Motivators from Blackfive. Some are, um, ribald. You're warned.

Vomit is distracting

2010-11-04T10:29:00.001-06:00

Both my boys have been sick this week. They think the best way to inform me of said sickness is to come into my room and vomit on my bed. Or, as 3 year old Satchmo said, “I burped.” I have a post about social conservatives and small government banging around in my head (making such a racket!), but it will have to wait til I'm not chasing small people with buckets.

So, links? Pooh-flavored links! (What? We read when we're sick.):

In which we are reassured of the reliability of “Scientific Research.” Or not. It seems to me that we make a couple of naive mistakes about science: 1) We forget that scientists are people, and not a special breed of “better people”, just people susceptible to the same screwups, dishonesty and bad thinking that the rest of the race is. 2) We falsely think “The scientific enterprise” is completely new and wonderful and a fix for everything that ails us. (see 3^rd paragraph from the end for a taste of this.) Even before we invented terms like “scientific method” and “peer reviewed studies” humans have been discovering. You might say we're hard wired for discovery. “Science” is not new. Like every human endeavor, we can make it better and more efficient (eg: indoor plumbing!). Or, as the article shows, not. Also, what do we do with this information? Like the guy said, I'd feel better if people said, "Honestly, we don't know," rather than pretending to know and lying to us. Grrrr.

In which we learn, once again, for the billionth time, that price controls do not work. Unless, by work you mean to distort the market, reward favored groups and keep prices high. Can we stop now? Seriously, when in the history of history have price controls worked? It also reminded me of this Radio Lab on Emergence. (Substitute markets for groups and you have a good explanation for why free markets thrive and manipulated markets don't. Also, see Bill Whittle's Firewall series.)

Both of the above links come via Glenn Reynolds, the Instapundit. That site is like crack, man.

In which we mock the Rally to Mock Other Rallies. In order of awesome.

Reason's “What we saw” video.
Obama=Keynesian? (which is hilarious, but not exactly fair. I doubt many laymen recognize “Keynesian.”)
Steven Crowder faces violence and demands to see his papers for . . . respectfully asking a question. Did someone say something about civility?
The best, by far, the awesome Mary Katharine Ham. If you only watch one, watch this.

In which we enjoy Peanuts flavored election humor via the hilariously irreverent Steve Green, the Vodkapundit.

In which San Francisco celeb rates their World Series Win (*sob *) by banning Happy Meals?

Okay, off to throw the sheets in the dryer.

Not the day I expected

2010-11-02T13:05:00.000-06:00

On Election Day, I expected to be checking the news, following twitter and various political blogs-- watching and waiting for results on this Very. Important. Day. (After voting, of course.)

My three-year-old Satchmo woke up with a stomach bug. So instead of rushing off for therapy at 8, we settled in for a rare morning at home and I checked my email.

Little Hannah, the eight-year-old Girl Scout friend of the Sprite, passed away last night. Five weeks ago today, her parents took her to the emergency room and then Children's Hospital where doctors found a tumor that split her liver. Diagnosed with liver cancer, she fought hard for five weeks. She even got to go home this past weekend. Then yesterday she went home forever.

So why the world that normally fascinates me is spinning like a top, I'm home holding on tight to my children and weeping for a momma and a daddy that never get to hold their baby girl again. I'm crying with my daughter who just "wants Hannah back." I'm hurting for a little boy who lost his big sister.

Yes, Vote. It's important, and it's a precious right, not to be taken for granted. But hug your children, and snuggle and read books. Kiss your spouse and call your mom. They're precious and not to be taken for granted.

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-31T21:06:00.000-06:00

That's right: Happy Halloween. Not "Happy Reformation Day" (although that, too) and not "Happy Fall Festival"--cop out! Happy Halloween, with costumes and trick-or-treating and "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown." Oh, and Jack-O-Lanterns.

Jack-O-Lanter Silly:

And Jack-O-Lantern Scary:

The scary guy was Bulldozer's choice. It's the scariest Jack-O-Lantern we've ever made and the first one either of the boys chose. Coincidence? I think not.

I'm a Halloween traditionalist. None of this "Trunk-or-Treat" where you walk all of 100 yards and get your bucket filled. If my kids want candy, they have to earn it with blisters! We finished up the night with chili for the grumps and hot dogs and Charlie Brown for the kids. And not enough trick-or-treaters to dent our candy supply. Happy Halloween!

Where did I hear that? It's driving me crazy!

2010-10-30T21:01:00.001-05:00

I read this post from Ann Althouse where she analyzes Laurence Tribes statement, "Neither Steve Breyer nor Ruth Ginsberg has much of a purchase on Tony Kennedy's mind."

Althouse mainly focuses on the use of the word "purchase."

Now, where had I heard that word used in the same manner? It bugged me all day. But finally, it came to me:

"Her womb was a barren desert in which my seed could find no purchase." Raising Arizona

Well that puts an unwelcome Kennedy/Breyer/Ginsberg mental image in my head.

Brain cleanser:

Update: An Althouse link and headline? Awesome.

Water Is Wet, Fire Burns

2010-10-29T17:08:00.000-05:00

Bill Whittle hits another one out of the park. This is so rational, so logical, so based on common sense that I'm amazed it's needed. But obviously, it is.

If you tilt your head, stand on one leg, and squint, it kinda relates to my last post: A Nation of Criminals and Scofflaws. Really.

A Nation of Criminals and Scofflaws

2010-10-28T18:29:00.001-05:00

The numbers are staggering. In 1970 one in 400 American adults was behind bars or on parole. As of 2008, the number was one in 100. Add in probation, and it's one in 31. "More Democracy, More Incarceration" by Radley Balko

Compulsion is a curious resource. It offers diminishing returns. It is diluted by dissent and resistance when used excessively. . . Most citizens go their whole lives without being arrested or investigated by the police. A great deal of force is deployed against criminals, including lethal force, but they are a small percentage of the population.

On the other hand, the compulsory collection of taxes to fund our massive government unleashes a great deal of compulsion against the populace. Most of us will encounter the I.R.S. at some point during our lives. Americans spend billions of dollars each year complying with our elaborate tax laws. The enormous enforcement system for ObamaCare will soon become an equally integral part of our lives. "Impertinent Questions: What Are the Resources of the State?" by Doc Zero

How many laws does the average person obey in a day? In how many spheres of our lives does the hand of government reach? How many “can'ts” and “musn'ts” do we observe in a day? Or put another way, in what area of our lives is the government—through regulation, rule, subsidy or tax—not involved? Sleep, maybe? Did you remove the tag on your mattress?

When every aspect of our lives our subject to government regulation and approval, what type of citizens will we be? Under Obamacare, we must all obtain health insurance. Violators will be fined—a fine to be enforced by the IRS. If you don't want to comply, accept your punishment and pay the penalty. If you're unable to meet the high cost of government mandated plans (because it's not just any health care insurance, it's government approved insurance.), the government will subsidize you. Until the Ponzi scheme crashes under it's own weight.

But the health insurance fiasco, juggernaut of doom though it may be, is only one aspect of government nannyism.

Through tax credits and rebates (Cash for Clunkers, credits for hybrids), we're told which cars have the government seal of approval. Can't afford the expense of a new, or even newish, car? Hybrids don't fit your lifestyle? Tough. Adapt.

Consume “too much” energy? If cap and tax is passed, crippling energy taxes will help adjust your behavior.

Our food choices are fair game for government nannies, or are manipulated by subsidies that have little to do with the good of the Republic or her citizens.

Even what we can buy and sell at thrift stores and garage sales is restricted, to dubious benefit. Of course, “dubious benefit” might aptly describe the bulk of laws and regulations. (See: CPSIA)

How is it changing the relationship between citizens and their government when citizens are punished like disobedient children for making “bad choices,” i.e. those disapproved by Official Government Approvers? When we have to pay a fee, a fine or a tax to pursue our lives in the manner that we see fit, doesn't that make us all scofflaws? What will our society look like when the bulk of it's citizenry is officially Disapproved Of by it's government? More rules mean more enforcers. More bureaucrats investigating our lives to make sure we're in compliance: More “us” and more “them” as the enforcers and enforced dance a regulatory jig.

As we are compelled to obey or break more and more laws, I predict our opinions of government will sink even further. Most people don't consider themselves "bad people", even as they break the law. My ten miles over the speed limit is reasonable. (Of course, your fifteen miles over is reckless, there outta be a law!) Either the exhausting attempts to obey endless rules will drive us to dead-eyed compliance, or more realistically, we will simply conclude that some laws just aren't worth bothering about. Our opinions of the Regulators will likewise suffer. After all, it's difficult to respect those you find fundamentally unreasonable.

This quote from Terry Pratchett's Night Watch (The Watch is the police force) illustrates the inevitable result when we are all regulatory ne'erdowells:

I wasn't that the city was lawless. It had plenty of laws. It just didn't offer many opportunities not to break them. Swing didn't seem to have grasped the idea that the system was supposed to take criminals and, in some rough-and-ready fashion, force them into becoming honest men. Instead, he'd taken honest men and turned them into criminals. And the Watch, by and large, into just another gang.

On Zombies and Doubts

2010-10-24T13:57:00.002-05:00

I got this from Dan Phillips' Hither and Thither a couple of weeks ago. It makes me giggle. It's also encouraging, because like all moms everywhere, sometimes I have Doubts. Which I won't get into right now, but be assured, you have never met a mother anywhere who didn't have Doubts.

Bulldozer's speech therapist was giving us our "work on this week" stuff last Wednesday. He has auditory procession disorder, so naturally he's more visual than verbal. One of his tasks that day was to find what doesn't belong. Given picture of 4 animals--3 dogs and a cat--he chose . . . a dog. Why, Bulldozer? Because it was the only one sitting. So, he was really wasn't wrong, was he? Then the therapists verbally labels the pictures, "Dog, cat, dog, dog." "Oh, cat doesn't belong."

Part of me is in the education/planning fill in the gaps mode, "Okay, work on categories and vocabulary. Write that down!" Part of me is thinking, "How cool that he sees the world like that, not in labels but in actions?" And then there's the part who wonders where he put his shoes.

Every once in a while we'll come across one of those infamous "gaps" in the girls' education. You know what? It's not very difficult to answer that question, get caught up in a lovely little educational eddy and end up with everybody being more informed, including momma. But sometimes I hear that voice, "If you missed that, what else did you miss." Shut up, voice.

But then I get a comment, oh bliss, from another mom at co-op on what a joy Little Miss is and how truly intellectually curious she is. Or the kids have discovered something on their own and are busily filling MTG in on the details. Or just hearing my little guys HOWL over Beatrix Potter. (Who knew that The Flopsy Bunnies was so funny?)

Then I remember: we aren't trying to stuff their heads full of facts, check off a bunch of boxes on some bureaucrats list, or collect a bunch of awards to shove in a box in the attic. We're teaching them to learn and keep on learning; to pursue their dreams and to pick themselves up and start over when the get knocked down. We're raising them to take on the world. They'll fill in the gaps themselves.

And we're preparing them for the coming Zombie Apocalypse. Gotta cover the big stuff.

Yowza!

2010-10-21T20:48:00.001-05:00

Today, oh bliss, both my brain boyfriends put out new videos.

Andrew, my snark guy, is his usual brilliantly hilarious self explaining extreme moderation.

Then, Bill, my rational argument guy, puts out this beauty on wealth creation.

.

Gah. It is a thing of beauty. And he combines his beautiful logic with sweet sarcasm at the end. Sigh.

I don't even care that today was laundry day.

ht: Instapundit. Always with the good stuff.

Total Geek Date

2010-10-18T20:55:00.000-05:00

The other day, woot* had this for their shirt woot. Hmmmm.

So I ordered one for me and one for MTG and said, "Honey, when these come in, we're going to wear them out." Maybe someplace on this list of the best taprooms in Dallas.

Now, this is kind of a risky move. Sure, you have this awesome shirt I got Sprite for Christmas. But then, MTG could end up wearing the Four Little Ponies of the Apocalypse or, heaven forbid, this.

It turned out better than I hoped. Ready?

This is MTG's shirt.

This is mine.

The geeks are going out!

*For those not familiar, Woot is a site that sells one item per day until it sells out. Well, actually they sell one item in 4 different categories: regular woot, kid woot, shirt woot, and wine woot. They've got great prices and hilarious descriptions. You should totally woot.

Sunday happiness

2010-10-17T17:21:00.000-05:00

This is my dog Jack. He makes me happy with his floppy inside out ears. Happy that he has a blanky that he carries around. Happy that he loves me best. What makes you happy?

Rational, well-crafted arguments? Swoon!

2010-10-16T18:27:00.000-05:00

So, Andrew Klavan is my boyfriend, but Bill Whittle is totally giving him a run for his money. Bill (can I call him Bill? Yeah, I will.) has long impressed me with his low-key, relentless logical arguments for small government, personal liberty and American exceptionalism. He was formerly at PJTV and now has a new venture called Declaration Entertainment. I can't wait to see what happens!

Where Andy (can I call him Andy? No?) Where Andrew is great with the quick wit, sarcasm and poking holes in the arguments of his opponents, Bill not only demolishes arguments but also logically and methodically lays out the case for his beliefs. He requires more time and mental effort, but he's totally worth it. (Again, I say, "Swoon.")

In Part One of "What We Believe", Bill lays out the basic motivations of the Tea Party Movement. If you're a supporter of the Tea Party, it will probably ring true. You'll be nodding and saying "Yes, exactly, that's what it's about." If you aren't a fan or skeptical of the Tea Party Movement, watch this. It's not what you've been told.

The second part of "What We Believe" lays out why, exactly, the "elites" can't be the boss of us. Not aren't allowed (although, yes, we won't let you), but why it just won't work.

It's 20 minutes of your time and many people can't be bothered with that much investment. Sure, they'll watch a Seinfeld they've seen 5 times previously, but 20 minutes of information on the direction of our country is a no-go. You're better than that. Watch the whole thing. And then Bill can be your boyfriend, too.

State of the Fair

2010-10-15T12:55:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, the family made the great journey to the Texas State Fair. Last year, the girls and I took a quick look around before we saw "Mary Poppins" at the Music Hall. But this was the first year we truly went to the fair. It was lots of fun. And delicious.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that all foods are better fried and all fried foods are better at the State Fair. We had fried green tomatoes, fried okra, fried frito pie and funnel cake. It was slap your momma good. The Sprite got a turkey leg the size of Satchmo's head. Not fried, but still yummy!

The Stunt Dog show sent Bulldozer into raptures and we all enjoyed a nice ride on the Ferris Wheel. However, with six people and $5 to $6 per ride, that's all we did.

Two older couples stopped us to give us extra tickets. Because my kids are that cute. (Also, with four kids, I'm sure they thought we could use the help!) We turned down the second offer because we were on our way out with just enough tickets to get cotton candy.

One thing we didn't get (I'm gonna look on Amazon) was this wonderful contraption. It will make haircuts for the boys much easier:

Try squirming out of that, monkeys!

I told MTG it was a shame we didn't make it to the Minnesota State Fair so we could compare them. Of course, we both know the Texas State Fair would have won hands down. He knows. He knows that I know that he knows. It's just foolish pride that won't let him admit it.

Public crafting service announcement

2010-10-12T20:31:00.000-05:00

Crafty public service announcement?

Public Service Announcement about crafts?

Whatever. Hearts and Trees. Fall Craft kit, Charlotte Masony. Here. That is all.

(Now to update my paypal so I can get a couple.)

I'm not really opposed to spiders

2010-10-11T11:36:00.000-05:00

Friday night, the Girl Scouts (whom I fearlessly lead, leader-like) went horseback riding. We had 16 girls and they place just had 3 saddled horses. So while three girls rode, the rest cooked hot dogs over a campfire, played in the (dry) creek, and generally had a grand old time.

While we were setting up, I noticed an interesting spider on the table. He was similar to a Daddy Long-Legs, but had a larger body with orange and tan coloration. Anyway, I gently removed him from the table because, interesting or not, get away from our food.

About half an hour later, the same interesting spider was perched on my shoulder. He was less gently removed, but still lived to spin another day.

Then the little critter started climbing the bench and almost reached one of the girls were sitting on. Sorry, Mr. Spider, three strikes, you're squished.

Get your geek on

2010-10-10T11:47:00.001-05:00

Today is October 10, 2010, which is. . .

10/10/10, which is . . .

101010, which is

42, which is

The Answer.

Thanks to MTG, my own personal geek. Everyone should have one.

Real Life

2010-10-07T22:55:00.000-05:00

For a moment, I'm going to utterly, unattractively, unsparingly real. And all I ask is that you neither, "There, there, dear, God doesn't give us more than we can handle!" me; nor "What you REALLY need to do is X" me. Honestly. I'm gonna blog and then I don't want to hear about it. From anyone. Understood?

I don't blog about my kids much. Frankly, they deserve their privacy. Yes, I give them nicknames, but "real life" friends read my blog, it goes to my facebook page, it's information in the ether, whatever. I wouldn't appreciate people talking about my private life publicly, I like to return the courtesy. I'm gonna break that rule.

My boys both have sensory issues. Five year old Bulldozer has been given the "diagnosis" of Sensory Processing Disorder. (I use quotes because if you're familiar with the spectrum, there's a lot of debate and bureaucratic wrangling about definitions. Whatever, he has sensory processing disorder.) He is hypo- or under-sensitive and sensory-seeking. Although, he is also sensory-sensitive to things like sound and sometimes lights and certain textures. Generally though, Bulldozer is under-sensitive. He has low muscle tone. He fatigues easily. He is always crashing into things (and people), always touching, always grabbing. He's very loving and sweet and exhausting. He also has a very underdeveloped internal sensory system that does not indicate when he needs to go to the bathroom. Which means at five, he's not potty trained. Because his body doesn't tell him he has to go or that he has gone. (Right here? No, I don't want your advice. Thanks.)

Three year old Satchmo is at the other end. He's hyper sensitive. Not to everything, but to enough that it's an issue. He doesn't have as many issues as Bulldozer, but there are things. Like with potty training. He's so hyper sensitive, that going to the bathroom can cause him physical distress. Not always, but sometimes. He has sleep issues. Both boys have gluten sensitivities, but even a little gluten causes Satchmo physical distress. (Same disclaimer as before.)

Both of my boys have speech issues and get frustrated when they can't make themselves understood. Both have delays with both fine and gross motor skills and some cognitive delays. Small things (to me) I don't necessarily pick up on can drive them crazy. Which means if I'm not on my game, things get ugly quick (and lately I have not been anywhere close to the dang field, much less on the stupid game.)

Like lots of kids with sensory issues or on the autism spectrum, my boys look like other kids. In a group, you wouldn't necessarily pick them out as different. But I haven't been to the singing portion of worship service in months because the volume & distortion is too much for Bulldozer. I'm reluctant to leave them with anyone for long, because cleaning up after a five year old's "accident" is an unpleasant job that is generally reserved for the people who brought him into the world. The day is fast approaching that their differences are going to make friendships harder. Already, "Don't crash into your friend!" is my most uttered phrase on the playground. When I'm out with them, I'm so intensely focused on making sure they stay calm, stay close, stay "good" that I go home with knots in my shoulders the size of boulders. And honestly, I don't know if it's because I'm trying to parent my children to the best of my ability or if I'm just embarrassed.

My boys are wonderful and loving and fun and bright and I love them with all my heart. Truly, they bring me joy. But my boys are hard. Everyday.

Looking for my voice

2010-10-06T20:04:00.000-05:00

I haven't been blogging much lately, mostly because I'm wondering exactly what kind of blogger I am. My options:

Homeschool Blogger
Political Blogger
Christian Blogger
Mommy Blogger (gaahaaa!)
Eclectic, distracted blogger (Squirrel!)

I think I've been option 5. The problem is that it doesn't actually build readership or provide for purpose and motivation.   I'm not an Instanpundit or an Althouse. My squirrels aren't as interesting as their squirrels. Anyway, it's not been working for me lately. So let's go through the options.

1. Homeschool blogger. I homeschool. I blog. Ergo: Homeschool blogger! Ta-da! Alas, there are problems with that label. I don't do those "check out the cool unit study I created instead of sleeping." I don't do cute pictures of my kids (we're a little paranoid on the picture front) and I can't imagine that my homeschooling is interesting enough for anyone to read about on a regular basis. I've got a "homeschool" tag on 77 of 642 posts. Let's face it: I'm not a homeschool blogger.

2. Political blogger.   Or 2(a) pro-life blogger. I am interested in politics. I use to be quite the pro-life activist. I really dig the Tea Party people. Political pro-life blogger! With a side of Tea Party! But politics is an up-to-the minute game OR an in-depth analysis game. Dude, I have potty training and science and meals and softball and $#!%@ laundry. I have time for neither up to the minute nor in-depth. I can blog politics occasionally, but unless I sell a couple of these kids, my schedule doesn't permit me to be a political blogger.

3. Christian blogger. Option A. Earnest, open, share your faith-walk and be encouraging Christian blogger. Have you met me? Okay. So, option B. (for the "essentially reformed" girl) Pugilistic, theologically blogger willing to use sarcasm liberally and spend many hours debating the nuances of just how far off the orthodox reservation X is. Also, give it to me in chapter and verse! Or, there's a root canal I've been meaning to have.

4. Mommy blogger. I have a real problem with the term "mommy blogger." I know I became "Little Miss's Mom" 10 years ago and that's my de-facto name. (Along with Sprite's mom, Bulldozer's mom and Satchmo's mom.) I get that.   And yes, my mommy-glasses definitely color everything I see. Specifically my homeschool mommy glasses. But, just because I'm a mom, doesn't mean that everything I write is mommified. I heard Dana Loesch refer to herself as a "mommy blogger." In which case, every woman with minor children qualifies as a "mommy blogger" and this whole post is useless. The post may well be useless, but I don't think this is why. I infrequently blog about my family, because--among other things--being married to a fed and a geek (a geeky fed) makes one paranoid. As for the women who are what I consider to be true mommy bloggers, I have little to offer the very rich field. There are better frugal bloggers, better housewife bloggers, better special needs kids bloggers, better "Life is crazy, let's laugh or cry or scream together" bloggers. I glean a lot from these women, but I have neither the talent nor inclination to be one.

Do you know where this leaves me? That's right: squirrels.

**Please note: I have used the literary technique hyperbole liberally in this post. If you were offended, just assume I was exaggerating for effect. Or jump in a lake. Whichever.

Man, I love this yankee

2010-09-22T10:02:00.001-05:00

Hey buddy, about that “Truce”

2010-09-21T19:11:00.010-05:00

Before I begin the rant that has been building for a few months, I need to clarify a couple of things.

I am pro-life, a single issue voter (in that I won't vote for someone who isn't pro-life, but that doesn't mean that just being pro-life gets you my vote), an activist, a die-hard. Abortion, euthanasia, infanticide and health care rationing the most important political issues for me. They are deal breakers.
From my vantage point in the cheap seats, the Tea Parties and the energy behind them have very little, if anything at all, to do with so-called social issues. People didn't start gathering at rallies across the country because they suddenly realized that over 50 million children have been killed in America by abortion. No, they were pissed off that the government went on some sort of drunken spending spree and started treating the Constitution like some sort of Mad Libs: insert your own made up “right” in the blank and think of a really large amount of money to spend on it.
This is a rant. It is a rant about abortion and politicians, which means there will be graphic descriptions of baby-killing and blunt assessments of politicians using language not necessarily approved by my mother. It will be long and meandering. Feel free to stop reading at any time.

Let us begin.

I went to the Dallas Tea Party on April 15, 2009. It was about the fiscal madness and the take over of everything from car companies to health care. I'm not saying there weren't social conservatives in attendance or even that social issues weren't addressed, but it wasn't the focus. This was the focus. Unfortunately, things have only gotten worse.

That being said, to Mssrs. Daniels, Barbour, Ryan, and any other jackass who think pro-lifers will roll over and play dead: bite me. Calling a “truce” on abortion, doesn't mean babies stop dying. It just means nobody talks about it and those trouble-making pro-lifers are safely tucked in a back room where they can't cause problems. Not gonna happen.

I get that the financial crisis facing our country is the priority. A real priority, not like Obama's “finding matching socks is a top priority” priority. I want the spend thrift statists to be thrown out on their butts. I want responsible people to beat the government beast back into its cage and shrink that cage considerably. It is urgent. It is a crisis. It is the top priority.

Moreover, politician whom I trust as far as I can throw, I want you to act like it's the most important thing facing our country. I want you to believe that it's more important even than the Republican party gaining and keeping power. The future of our country is at stake and I don't give a rat's ass about the GOP. If the Republican party is a useful tool to save the country, great. If it's just a collection of power hungry idiots “not wasting a crisis” in order to regain the position they very recently squandered, I hope it rots.

I have a sneaking suspicion that this phony “truce” talk isn't about solving the crisis, it's about the GOP attempts to gain political power. It's an opportunity to shut pro-lifers up while keeping them safely in the fold. “We're in a crisis and everyone wants it to be solved as soon as possible, so sit down, shut up and let the grown-ups drive.” HA! Let's ignore the GOPs own culpability in the current economic conundrum. We're not going to let you use the financial crisis, the anger and frustration of the American people, and the need for quick and decisive action to save the Constitutional Republic to shove the pro-life movement and other social conservatives to the back of the bus.

I know that politicians, even pro-life politicians, aren't all that fond of right to life activist. I get that pro-lifers make you uncomfortable. We aren't stylish and glib. We talk of the deaths of over 50 million children, of gruesome things like the partial birth abortion procedure, and of women wounded and discarded. And really, all you want is our money, our votes and our membership lists. Tough.

You say “Truce.” I hear, “In the name of collegiality, we're going to confirm radically pro-abortion judges without a word.” The Supreme Court has defined the battleground for all abortion battles since 1973. With one “Listen to your Masters” decision, they can wipe out all the legislative ground we've gained. We will have no truce.

You say, “Back down on social issues.” I hear, “We're going to make a 'compromise' that lets us hide behind soothing words while giving the abortion industry free reign and tax dollars, to boot.” We won't back down.

You say, “Rally around the tallest pole in our tent.” I hear “Republican leaders will actively recruit liberal candidates in blue states, despite the existence of more conservative candidates, for the purposes of 'building the party.'” You can shove your tent pole where the sun don't shine.

By the way, how did Specter and Jeffords work out for you? How about Snowe? This is the thing that cracks me up: “We have to reach out to moderates to address this crisis, we can't let issues like abortion stand in the way.” Let's look at that, shall we? 1.) It was the “moderates” who enabled the lefties to pass their ginormous spending bills in the first place. You're working with the guilty, why don't you use their guilt to encourage their participation in the cure, rather than buying their help with our silence? 2.) If they truly realize it's a crisis and they are decent human beings, then they will do the right thing about the fiscal situation, even while disagreeing on the social issues.

Or you group of morons can keep playing beer pong with our country's future.

Frankly, “pro-life politicians,” you pansies, the Right to Life movement has made life too easy for you the past few years. We've handed you easy vote after easy vote, all the while doing the yeoman's work of moving public opinion to the pro-life position. All you had to do was stand there and look smart. Granted, that's harder for some than others. We can't do everything for you.

A rundown of a few major pro-life votes from the past few years:

The Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act. Really. You had to say it was wrong to partially deliver a baby, stick a sharp instrument in the back of the neck and suck her brains out. That was a difficult stance for you? No, it wasn't. You gladly used PBA against radical pro-abortion opponents and to burnish your bona fides among pro-lifers.
The Unborn Victims of Violence Act. If an unborn child is killed in the commission of a crime, an unborn child has been killed in the commission of a crime. Grieving mothers and families who want recognition that someone real, someone precious to them has been killed. Man, the hard positions the pro-life movement asks you to take.
The Born Alive Infants Protection Act. A baby is born. He is no longer “part of his mother.” He is a “person” who is alive. You take care of the baby! Of all the “No, duh!” bills in the world, this is seven of them. Unless of course, you're Barack Obama.

Even the “hard” issues like embryonic stem cell research funding shouldn't have been that hard for anyone with half a backbone. Many people find the creation of life for the sole purpose of experimenting and destroying that life reprehensible. At minimum, we shouldn't force people to fund life destroying research through their taxes money. Furthermore, from a fiscal responsible position, we should focus on funding research that shows the most promise, like adult stem cell research. Grow a spine, like unborn children do at 5 weeks after conception.

I realize that we through you for a loop with the whole “health care rationing is a pro-life issue.” After all, it does require a basic understanding of the effects of government regulation on economies, and our current situation clearly demonstrates this is a difficult concept for you. I'll try to dumb it way down for you. The board book version of health care rationing:

Price controls = rationing. Also known as restrictions on how much of a good or service an individual may obtain. (Gov't controlled health care sets prices & availability for health care = price controls.)
Rationing harms those who have less more than it harms those who have more. Those who have less health--the elderly, the disabled, the chronically ill—will be disproportionately hurt and killed by health care rationing.
Ergo, health care votes are legitimate concerns for pro-lifers. Shut up, we're scoring it.

Oh yes, the Right to Life movement scores legislation, sends out voters guide, organizes and educates at the local, state and federal level, and uses its considerable power to advance the pro-life agenda. We equip citizens to lobby politicians effectively, engage their neighbors, mobilize churches and the rebut the media. We educate and send youth out into high schools and colleges to be advocates for life, thereby reproducing ourselves and ensuring that the movement won't die until it's not needed. And we've been doing it for 40 years. We don't sit down and shut up, we kick ass and take names. Deal with it.

Our nation is obviously in new territory, not only with the crisis it faces, but also with the sheer number of Americans educating themselves and getting involved in the political process. This is an amazing development that I hope bears lots of juicy fruit. However, the Tea Parties are little more than a year old and filled with many rookies (Yay to rookies! Come on in the water's fine! Stay in and get pruney with the rest of us!) The Right to Life Movement has been in existence for more than 40 years. The Virginia Society for Human Life, the nation's first single issue pro-life group, was formed in 1967. That's a long time being the underdog dealing body blows to the culture of death.

Right now, the Tea Party has energy and momentum, and their opponents are disorganized and disoriented. That won't last. There will be one good election (please God), then the fight begins in earnest. The Tea Party Movement might learn a thing or two from a 40 year old movement for the long, hard fight ahead.

The Right to Life Movement has been through the excitement and energy of the “Let's organize and get this fixed with the next election!” That was almost 40 years ago.
The Right to Life Movement has been on the ropes with pro-abortion politicians and judges pushing the bounds of abortion, with the abortion rate topping out at over 1,600,000 babies killed per year in this county. That number was reached in the early 90s.
The Right to Life Movement has been the darling of every conservative group, the talk of all the pastors and the subject of many truly horrible songs, poems and "literature." That was the 80s.
The Right to Life Movement is very familiar with a hostile media and popular culture. It knows what it means to be vilified and misrepresented, and how to get its message out in that hostile environment. It understands the schizophrenia of a culture that celebrates first sonograms while simultaneously talking about “blobs of tissue” and “products of conception.”

But after 40 years, more people identify themselves as opposed to abortion than not. The abortion rate is declining. Lives are being saved. Maybe the Tea Party should listen to the group fighting the long fight against the establishment rather than the politicians seeking to consolidate power for their party.

Is the Right to Life Movement faultless? No, being composed of human beings, obviously it isn't. Have mistakes been made? Sure. But you'll be hard pressed to find a movement (not an organization or an individual) in recent years that has had the impact and staying power of pro-lifers.

One more thing. The pro-life movement is composed mostly of women. From the woman running the email list and get out the vote at the local county, to the organization behind the national conventions, the fuel of the pro-life movement is female. That isn't to say men aren't a critical and welcome part of the pro-life movement, but women are definitely more than half of the numbers and oomph. You keep talking this “truce” nonsense and you will be responsible for waking the Mother of all “Mama Grizzlies.” You alone are responsible for the ass kicking you are about to receive.

Vowel confusion

2010-09-13T19:05:00.007-05:00

To begin: I love people from the Midwest. LOVE them! I married one and am close personal friends with many others. Just jolly, marvelous people who occasionally eat food that gives me nightmares. (Two words: lutefisk hotdish.)

But, people. People, people, people. Your vowels are one of the most confused thing on this planet. Bag, flag and nag become "beg" "fleg" and "neg"? I haven't the slightest idea what a neg is and I don't think I even want to know what fleg is. It sounds positively filthy!

However, I had resigned myself to your ineptitude with the short-a vowel sound.

And then.

Then I went to the Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion.

Well.

At first I didn't know what the heck we were doing because my in-laws kept talking about the "Steam Thrashers Reunion." What are they thrashing? How does one thrash with steam? Am I expected to join in with the thrashing? Are you sure this is legal? And honestly, do I have to have that conversation with my in-laws?

My husband cleared things up by talking about old tractors. Either that or he made it a heck of a lot scarier. Thrashing tractors or being thrashed by tractors. And I thought Texans were wild.

Turns out it was just a bunch of machines run by steam. It was very cool. They even had old steam shovels and we kept yelling, "Look boys, it's Mike Mulligan and Maryann!" (And by "we," of course I mean "me." Everyone else looked away and pretended not to know me. Minnesotans aren't big on literary enthusiasm. Or any enthusiasm, actually.)

It was very cool. If you ever near Rollag, MN (don't even ask how to pronounce it) on Labor Day weekend, check it out. You can leave your thrashing equipment at home.

So, for the record: it's short-e thresh rhymes with fresh and mesh. No thrashing, no frashing, no mashing. Just good, clean fun.

Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?

2010-08-24T11:49:00.006-05:00

The boys and I are watching Pinky and the Brain, repeatedly. I tried getting them to watch Animaniacs, but Bulldozer "HATES those guys." He either loves or hates everything now, so neither Warner Brothers nor Warner Sister, Dot, shall entertain us. Only the mice. But boy, do I love those mice, they make me giggle maniacally. My favorite part, of course, is the "Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering." Here's the complete list (I think) just scroll down. And a few of my favorites:

Well, I think so, Brain, but if Jimmy cracks corn, and no one cares, why does he keep doing it?
Wuh, I think so, Brain, but burlap chafes me so.
I think so, Brain, but where are we going to get a trained octopus at this time of night?
I think so, Brain, but how will we get a pair of Abe Vigoda's pants?
I think so, Brain, but if we give peas a chance, won't the lima beans feel left out?

You know what's fun? Still being on summer vacation when everybody else is hitting the books. Poit! Narf!

They went thata way!

2010-08-20T20:21:00.004-05:00

Today my daughters left. On a jet plane. They'll be back on Sept 6. So, not so much like the song.

They're spending a week with their grandparents in Minnesota, then we'll drive up and spend another week before heading home through Mansfield, Missouri and this lovely locale. We're also going to the Minnesota State Fair (Food on a stick! And fried cheese curds!) and the Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion. What do threshers do at a reunion? Thresher bingo?

Anyway, we were supposed to wake up at 5:30 to trundle the girls off to the airport for an 8:00 flight. I say supposed to, because my cute daughters--being filled with excitable excitement--woke up at 4:27. Which is even more obscene than 5:30. And of course they woke up the dog. And the momma, who said, "Play with the dog, I'm going back to bed!"

I'm glad they were very excited and not at all nervous or apprehensive or in any way reluctant to leave their momma. Really. Thrilled. Humph.

And, of course, I appreciated just how helpful they are when I had to bundle the boys off to a meeting all by my lonesome. I try to be vocal in my appreciation of their helpfulness, but I think I shall redouble my efforts. And not ever let them leave me again. Kidding! I think.

So, my wonderful, lovely daughters are having fun at their wonderful, lovely grandparents. And I miss them terribly already. But I'm sure my wonderful, energetic boys will keep me too busy to think about it. Much.

Oh, the people you'll meet.

2010-08-15T16:26:00.004-05:00

I generally either go to the grocery store fully loaded (all four kids) or alone. All four kids tends to intimidate people and alone--well, I'm naturally drawn to solitude, so I think I put on my "don't talk to me" face. And people generally don't.

Today, I went with my two daughters: Little Miss, who has never met a stranger, and the adorable Sprite. Everyone talks to them, makes comments, or just says hi. Everyone. And in the cereal aisle, we met the most interesting man. As he passed, he spoke to us in French. "Parlez vous francais?" "Un peu," drawing on my high school and college French from way too long ago.

He switches to German, then Italian, then Spanish (which the girls smile to recognize) and finally English.

He's 83 and knows 5 languages well, four of which he learned growing up in Nebraska: Spanish (1st), English, German, Russian (maybe, I can't remember), then Italian. Which he learned "the hard way," in Italy in 1944. Notice French isn't one of the 5? Yeah, we'll he knows "a little" French. And Japanese.

He's been married to his high school sweetheart for 62 years. They went back to Nebraska two years ago to renew their vows. Oh yeah, now he's learning Texan. "Ya'll fixin' to go thata way?" He's a natural.

Best. Grocery. Store. Trip. Ever.

Why I read Althouse

2010-08-14T20:53:00.003-05:00

Obama has made his brilliant career out of saying the most crashingly banal things to people who hear what they want to hear. Could everyone please wake up? Please!

One reason among many.

Words, Words, Words!

2010-08-11T20:42:00.006-05:00

First, a public service announcement. If you do not currently listen to Radiolab, you are missing one of the best audio programs in existence. This is what they say about themselves:

Radiolab believes your ears are a portal to another world. Where sound illuminates ideas, and the boundaries blur between science, philosophy, and human experience. Big questions are investigated, tinkered with, and encouraged to grow. Bring your curiosity, and we'll feed it with possibility.

How could you not want to go listen right now? Or when your done reading my blog post. Seriously, you can't give me five minutes? Patience truly is a lost virtue.

End of public service announcement.

So, the most recent Radiolab program is on words, more specifically "A World Without Words." Yes, the radio program examined "a world without words." (And that, dear Alanis, is irony.) The format of radiolab is to examine one idea through a variety of stories or perspectives. I'm not going to go through them, because you should go listen and be awed. When you're done reading this post. However, I will transcribe a bit that then set off a train of thought and brought out the homeschooler in me. Because that's my filter through which all things flow and everything brings out the homeschooler in me.

The set-up: Rats and very young children cannot combine two cognitive processes, such as right/left with another process such as color recognition. Older children can. The hypothesis is that language is the key to combining these processes. To test this, the experimenters set up a situation with adult volunteers where they “batter the words out of the adults head.” (Not violently, just using a process of shadowing someone speaking.) Anyway, once the language is driven from their heads, these adults are unable to make these cognitive combinations of right/left and color combinations.

This conversation followed the description of that experiment. Charles Fernyhough is a developmental psychologist, Jad Abumrad is one of the hosts.

Jad: But Charles, what I'm wondering is if language allows you to construct a thought that is so basic as “the biscuit is left of the blue wall,” what is thought without language?

Charles: Well, I don't think it's very much at all.
Jad: What do you mean?
Charles: I'm going to put it in a different way, and this involves making quite a controversial statement. I don't think very young children do think.
Jad: Like, think period? Was there a period at the end of that sentence?
Charles: I don't think they think in the way I want to call thinking. Which is a bit of a cheat, but let me say what I mean by thinking.
Jad: Okay.
Charles: If you reflect on your own experience, if you think about what's going on inside your head as your just walking to work or sitting on a subway train, much of what's going on in your head at that point is actually verbal. I'm going to suggest that the central thread of all that is actually language—it's the stream of inner speech. That's what most of us think of as thinking.

Okay. Yes. Be indignant. "My baby's brilliant!" Of course she is! And the hosts and other guests talk about how music, for example, fosters thought without words. However, Elizabeth Spelke, another developmental psychologist, with the caveat that Fernyhough overstates his case, notes, “There's something that we get access to when we gain a full natural language that we can use not only to communicate with other people, but with ourselves.”

This illustrates how important language is to thinking. Which was further developed in the last story about deaf students in Nicaragua. I won't spoil it, but do go listen. You'll see what I mean.

All of which lead me to the thinking of words as tools. Tools of thought. And this is how that train of thought ran along the tracks: More and/or better tools mean you can make more/better things. Anything: machines, foods, buildings, anything really. Better tools allow us to make better things.

Words are tools for thought. Therefore more and better words allows a person to think better. Seriously, listen to the last story. It illustrates this point perfectly.

The homeschool application: when we converse with our children (converse--exchange words, not talk at), we put tools in their cognitive toolbox. When we read to them, specifically books that offer new and challenging ideas and vocabulary, we add to the toolbox. When we play with the dictionary with them, we are putting more and more tools in their tool boxes which allows them to think more and better.

We pretty much all know this. Reading increases our intelligence. People who are more verbally adept seem sharper. But maybe it's not because of what they know, but because they have the tools in their toolbox to think better, to make connections, to see nuances because they have the language to describe it. Words are powerful tools, but they are tools that are readily available to almost anyone in our culture.

And that is perhaps what is most profound, not that language is a powerful, but how this tool is readily available to almost everyone, and how it is undervalued and overlooked.

Fiddling with Frittatas

2010-08-11T20:04:00.004-05:00

Since we've gone gluten free for the boys, quiche is almost non-existent on our menu. Which is a crying shame, since it's one meal everyone will eat without (too much) grumbling. I can do special gluten free pie crust, but that takes the "fast and easy" out of the fast and easy meal. So it doesn't happen often.

Frittatas however, are an excellent substitute for quiche. I found a great basic recipe that I plan to have lots of fun with in the future. It's incredibly easy, requires very little prep time and can use whatever veggies are about to rot in your crisper. This is the variation I made tonight:

Ingredients

3 TBL olive oil
2 small summer squash, chopped
1 c. broccoli, chopped
1/2 onion, finely diced
1 c. shredded colby jack cheese
12 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 c. sour cream
1 tsp. kosher salt
3/4 tsp. freshly ground pepper
1-2 tsp. pasta sprinkle

Preparation

1. Heat oil in a 10-inch ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat; add chopped zucchini, squash, and onion, and sauté 12 to 14 minutes or until onion is tender. (I don't think I sauted that long--maybe 7 or 8 minutes tops.) Remove skillet from heat.

2. Whisk together eggs and next 3 ingredients until well blended. Sprinkle cheese over veggies then pour eggs over mixture in skillet.

3. Bake at 350° for 33 to 35 minutes or until edges are lightly browned and center is set.

I gotta say the sour cream added a certain kick to this. Very good. For finicky kids, shred the summer squash and they'll never know what hit 'em. Serve with a salad or leftover grapes from your playdate and you're all set!

This is NOT a casein free meal. However, you could substitute almond milk and ditch the cheese to make it completely GFCF. It would be sad, but it could be done.

Look at the pretty children!

2010-08-10T20:59:00.003-05:00

Renee at Life Nurturing Education has this weeks Carnival of Homeschooling. Lots of great posts, PLUS great pictures of her summer. Her kids are so dang cute! There are lots of great posts, but here are a few that struck my fancy. My fancy, being a lady, did not strike back.

The Rebellious Pastor's Wife beautifully communicates why some of homeschool because of socialization. I think I threw a couple of "Amens" and "Preach it sisters!" while I read. It scared the cats, but felt good.

Nancy at Sage Parnassus has an interesting post on Charlotte Mason and her radical notion of children being born persons. Revolutionary! The more I read of her, the more Charlotte Mason-y I get.

We are well-established lover's of Ancient Egypt, so this post at A Pilgrim's Heart about their Egyptian Day was very exciting. It's definitely an idea I'll bring out when we are studying Ancient Egypt next year.

There's tons more at the carnival, so get thee hence. And admire the cute kiddies while you're there.

Obama's Joke

2010-08-09T18:32:00.003-05:00

President Obama's latest dig at Republicans goes like this:

"You want to go forward, what do you do? You put it in 'D.' When you go backward, what do you do? You put it in 'R.'"
Then, with another chuckle, he added: "I'm just sayin' that's not a coincidence."

Well sir, if you've driven to the edge of a cliff, R is exactly the gear you want to be in. And no, it's not a coincidence and it's not funny.

Astronomical Field Trip!

2010-08-08T20:31:00.002-05:00

Thursday night is the peak night for this year's Perseid meteor shower. The good news is there's no moon, so the meteor's are more visible. The bad news is that suburbia isn't the best viewing location. So if we want a really good show, we've got to haul the kiddies out of bed at 3 in the morning and head north.

I just don't now that I'm that committed to an annual event. We'll make it a true field trip when no three year olds are involved. One fun fact about Texas summer stargazing, it's likely to be approaching 100 degrees, even at 3 am. Fun, huh.

Earth and Sky has good viewing tips, plus more meteor showers for the rest of the year.

Space.com has additional information on the peak alignment of Mars, Venus and Saturn.

ht: BasilsBlog.

Summer cooking

2010-08-05T20:02:00.004-05:00

I think I finally figured out why I haven't been blogging lately. It's just too. dang. hot. About all I can manage is trips to the pool and making sure the kids are fed and clothed. And even that's a chore.

I generally love to cook, except when the thermometer reads 100 degrees or more. Then I don't want to cook or eat or plan to cook or eat. Unfortunately, no one else in my family agrees with my summertime menu. And apparently a diet of watermelon and cantaloupe isn't sufficient for growing children. What's with that?

But this lazy chicken is the best summertime recipe ever. No planning, little prep and I don't have to be anywhere near the kitchen after the first five minutes. And it's very, very good. I think I'll go to Penzeys Spices and get this or this, and maybe this, this and this to spice (hee) up the recipe and make it even lazier.

So we'll be eating a lot of chicken until the mercury drops. Tonight we had it with corn on the cob, left over veggies and hummus from bible study snack and johnny cakes. The johnny cakes are not great summertime food because of the standing over the hot stove. So that was stupid, but loved by my kids enough to be stupid sometimes. Okay, a lot of time.

Another great summer recipes is Amish baked oatmeal with fresh fruit and cream. I double the recipe and add cinnamon. Yum. Also, it's baked nice and early before the summer heat starts to boil my brain.

Hey, maybe that's why I haven't been blogging. My brain's been boiled!

I write like who, now?

2010-08-01T20:15:00.004-05:00

Here's a nifty little gadget making the blogosphere rounds. Enter some text that you've written and *poof*, it tells you who you write like. Let's try it, shall we? *Looking for some more commented on post. Looking, looking.* Okay, ready? Here we go:

When I rant about the census, ask questions about the trajectory of my life, embrace liberty, I write like Cory Doctorow. So mostly, I write like Cory Doctorow.

Mostly. But. . .

When I complain about high school, I write like Stephenie Meyer. (Wait, what?)

When I write about the fallibility of politicians, I write like Kurt Vonnegut. (Awesome.)

When I tackle the complexities of describing just what we home educators do, I write like P.G. Wodehouse? (Really? Okay, then.)

And when I write about the ought that kills, I write like Gertrude Stein. (Hmmm.)

I have to admit, I have not read Doctorow, Meyer or (much) Stein. I love Vonnegut and am flattered to think there is even passing similarities. And the Wodehouse thing makes me giggle.

(This post? Also like Doctorow. Guess I'd better read some Cory Doctorow.)

Complexeties

2010-07-05T21:00:00.000-05:00

Have I abandoned the blog? Hmmmmm . . .

I don't think so.

Have I given up commentary on life, the universe and everything? Well . . .

Probably not.

Is everything okay?

Yeah, sure.

This is what I'm thinking. World events? Complex and nuanced. Politics? Frustrating theater and self-protecting power grabbing while the world gets more dangerous and more people are struggling and hurting. It seems things are far more weighty than is appropriate for my usual flippant snark. But there have been things I've wanted to blog about, with caveats to the complexities, with or without snark.

Complexities in life, in my head, in my heart. I got questions, alright. But I'm gonna blog again and start working through some of my questions.

There is this one questions that has been bumping around in my noggin for quite some time:

Why do so many people seem unconcerned (or, at most, only mildly troubled) about surrendering control over so many areas of their lives to perfect strangers?

And not just any strangers, but strangers wrapped in bureaucracy. Strangers wrapped in bureaucracy, hundreds of miles removed. Strangers wrapped in bureaucracy, hundreds of miles away, who know little about the people they regulate and care less. Strangers wrapped in bureaucracy, hundreds of miles away, who know little about the people they regulate and care less--who are unelected, unaccountable and pretty much unfire-able. Why is that?

In fact, that one question could keep me occupied for quite some time.

Happy 234th, America

2010-07-04T10:27:00.003-05:00

The Unanimous Declaration
of the Thirteen United States of America

When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. --Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of representation in the legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the legislative powers, incapable of annihilation, have returned to the people at large for their exercise; the state remaining in the meantime exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavored to prevent the population of these states; for that purpose obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, and raising the conditions of new appropriations of lands.

He has obstructed the administration of justice, by refusing his assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers.

He has made judges dependent on his will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies without the consent of our legislature.

He has affected to render the military independent of and superior to civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his assent to their acts of pretended legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by mock trial, from punishment for any murders which they should commit on the inhabitants of these states:

For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing taxes on us without our consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of trial by jury:

For transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pretended offenses:

For abolishing the free system of English laws in a neighboring province, establishing therein an arbitrary government, and enlarging its boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule in these colonies:

For taking away our charters, abolishing our most valuable laws, and altering fundamentally the forms of our governments:

For suspending our own legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated government here, by declaring us out of his protection and waging war against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burned our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow citizens taken captive on the high seas to bear arms against their country, to become the executioners of their friends and brethren, or to fall themselves by their hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare, is undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms: our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends.

We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by the authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be free and independent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as free and independent states, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do. And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.

Text Taken from Archiving Early America

Firstfruits

2010-04-04T15:42:00.003-05:00

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
1 Corinthians 15:20-26

Resurrection Sunday is a day of triumph and joy for Christians. Christ is risen, He is risen indeed! The great sacrifice of the cross, where he bestowed love and mercy on those who were His enemies. Today I've been thinking particularly about 1 Corinthians 15, that Christ is the firstfruits in resurrection. That the last enemy to be destroyed is death. I've been thinking about my grandfather who died two years ago, just before Easter. I think of my friends and family who suffer from illness and disease; of those who carry heavy burdens not likely to be lifted in this lifetime; of my own light momentary afflictions.

But today these thoughts do not wear on my soul. Because Resurrection Sunday means "What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. " (I Cor. 15:42-43) Because of that Sunday, the ultimate Sunday is coming.

When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”

Good Friday

2010-04-02T08:47:00.000-06:00

My beef with the census push

2010-03-30T12:25:00.003-06:00

First, let me say that everybody should fill out the census. The census is very important. The census is fundamental to our representative democracy. Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution says, "[An] Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct."

Complete and return your census.

Having said all that: every stinking story I hear or ad I see on the census emphasizes the "federal dollars and services" your community gets. Gimme, gimme, gimme.

Listen, the census is critical because of our bicameral legislative branch. Because representation the "lower" (so very, very low) house is distributed by population. It supports the idea of "one man, one vote." It's important because it's how our "for the people, by the people, of the people" government works.

This emphasis from the government and the media that the census is important so that you can "get your fair share" from the government is disturbing. First, it's not "free money" that the benevolent government overlords get from their magic money tree. It's citizen's money, taken by taxes, filtered through the oh-so-efficient government bureaucracy and returned with a messy regulatory bow.

Second, the primary purpose of the census--to correctly apportion representation, is completely discounted. Never once, in the countless ads and relentless media push, have I heard the democratic and constitutional purpose mentioned.

It's like the government wants us to forget that they work for us.

I know I haven't blogged in a while

2010-03-26T14:17:00.001-06:00

And I'm not blogging now. Not really. I just want to point you to this post and encourage you to read it. Really.

HT: Challies

About that hen

2010-03-11T10:39:00.002-06:00

Somedays I feel as though I were going gently at the pace of a hen. Other days I feel like I'm running from an axe-wielding farmwife. Somedays I feel like the hen after the farmwife has won.

Talk about your aptonym

2010-03-10T15:58:00.001-06:00

Fortune smiles on the brave.

ht: Top Headlines @ Ace of Spades

What kind of beastie is this, exactly

2010-03-09T21:47:00.006-06:00

We have adopted a puppy. A . . . Bagle Hound? A Bassador? Who knows. Do you know?

He's definitely Basset Hound in the body, the ears are Beagle-like and the face and tail are reminiscent of a Lab. Aren't mutts fun?

My grandmother rescued him a couple of months ago. He had an infected wound in his throat and was emaciated. She nursed him back to health and then needed a new home for him. For while she was more than happy to nurse him back to health, clean his stinking wound and shlep him back and forth to the vet, the running, jumping puppy dogness needed to be outsourced.

We had intended to get a puppy eventually. So why not now?

Heh.

He's actually a great dog. Puppy, actually. Whatever he is. My grandmother named him Freckles, but I'm calling him Jack.

He looks like a Jack, doesn't he?

It couldn't possibly get any better. . . or could it?

2010-02-23T21:58:00.004-06:00

Have you seen the Best. Commercial. Ever.?

Here, watch.

Hilarious, I know! It cracked me up. Beautiful. Perfection. There's no way you could possibly improve on it.

Or can you? Put down all beverages and push play

You're welcome.

Now I remember!

2010-02-18T13:27:00.002-06:00

February is when the homeschool stalls and needs a good jolt to get going. Anybody have any jumper cables?

Which of these is your favorite C.S. Lewis quote?
	"Reason is the natural order of truth; but imagination is the organ of meaning."
	"We are what we believe we are."
	"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream."
	"Nothing is yet in its true form."

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