The Obama Administration is at it again.  I don't know about the rest of you, but I've had about as much as I can take.  Now, they are calling the Tea Partiers... racists?  Good grief.  There is no proof, just accusations but of course the media is all over it.  It seems we've switched from a trial by jury to trial by administration/media.  If someone can get the media to report it then it becomes "true" (although not actually so).  Wouldn't it seem that there are far more important issues to address than an unsubstantiated rumor?  This is being thrown around to anger and distract people from what is really going on with this administration.  They want us to waste investigative reporting on side stories that, although will likely exhonorate the group, will taint their reputation because the media will never truly exhonorate them (think about what they did to Palen and others like her).  The tea partiers don't opose the administration because of Obama's skin color.  That is absurd!

The truth is, we are being force fed this bologna to keep the attention off what this grassroots movement is really saying.  They are trying to bully the people who are standing up for their beliefs into shutting their mouths for fear of being branded with the stigma of being a racist (which is highly insulting to a group of people who, for the most part, have zero tolerance for racism).  Shame on those in our Oval office supporting this.  Shame on those in our Media spreading the insanity. Of course, this isn't anything new for the Obama administration.  The distraction dance was key to getting him into office in the first place (thanks to the liberal, mainstream media).  Don't even get me started on Obama's personal "race, social, economic, patriotic views".  Seems to me like the latest sacrifice of Shirley Sharrod is a ploy to somehow "cover the sins" of a corrupt administration.  Why can't we all just admit that, yes, every race has racists among them.  No race is exempt from this.  We need to stop playing the race card and take the attention off of race altogether.  We're Americans for crying out loud.  We are a beautiful blend of colors and cultures.  We should be banding together not allowing the political tactics of a corrupt administration to keep everyone up in arms over our God given differences.  None of us had any control over the color of our skin so it is absolutely pointless to judge someone by it.

This is not a race thing.  It has everything to do with "We the People" exercising their rights, as citizens of this country, to have their voice heard.  Don't focus on the distractions, get down to the truth of the matter.

Here's a great article on the topic worth reading: Race Roils Tea Party Movement

On the eve of what many believe to be the most important election in our nation’s history, I am writing to every soul out there who longs for something more.  There must be a great many because “change” seems to be the only common thread between the parties.

You can believe “change is coming” because change is an inevitable part of life.  Change is all around us, especially now with leaves littering our lawns and the resetting of our clocks.  Change can be physical, fiscal, moral, emotional, psychological…  The only thing consistent about change is that it is always happening.  Even still, as much as we can appreciate positive change, we usually don’t have a love for change in general.  The words “I wish things didn’t have to change” have been muttered (or thought) by almost everyone on the planet at one time or another… A failed relationship, the death of a child, a diagnosis, stock market crash, war…

Since change is inevitable anyway, wouldn’t it be monumental for a candidate to promote consistency rather than change?  Can you even imagine a politician who was consistent in speech, action and beliefs?  Since most of our politicians claim to believe in God and the Bible, I thought that it might be fitting to point out His consistent record on two moral issues that are receiving plenty of press lately. 

God values life, even the unborn:

“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.” Jeremiah 1:5a (NLT)

“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!   Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.  You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.  You saw me before I was born.  Every day of my life was recorded in your book.  Every moment was laid out  before a single day had passed.”  Psalm 139:13-16 (NLT)

“Now suppose two men are fighting, and in the process they accidentally strike a pregnant woman so she gives birth prematurely. If no further injury results, the man who struck the woman must pay the amount of compensation the woman’s husband demands and the judges approve. But if there is further injury, the punishment must match the injury: a life for a life,  an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot,  a burn for a burn, a wound for a wound, a bruise for a bruise.”  Exodus 21:22-25 (NLT)

“If anyone takes a human life, that person’s life will also be taken by human hands. For God made human beings in his own image.”  Genesis 9:6 (NLT)

I am not listing these passages to condemn those who have had an abortion or who perform them.  That is not my place.  I am posting them in the hopes of clearing up the false words spoken by some that the unborn should not have the right to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness".  God is quite clear on how He values human life, and He values the unborn no differently than the full grown man.  To say otherwise of God is not consistent with who He is.  To say you believe Him but to accept abortion as a choice is not consistent either.

God is clear on Homosexuality:

Besides being all over the media around here, I am including this because I heard a priest on the news the other day say that God was not clear in His Word about homosexuality.

“Do not practice homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman. It is a detestable sin.”  Leviticus 18:22

If this isn’t clear enough for you, please feel free to check out these other verses: 

Lev. 20:13;  1 Cor. 6:9-10;  Rom. 1:26-28

God is pro-marriage and He clearly had a particular plan in mind:

“God said, "It's not good for the Man to be alone; I'll make him a helper, a companion." So God formed from the dirt of the ground all the animals of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the Man to see what he would name them. Whatever the Man called each living creature, that was its name. The Man named the cattle, named the birds of the air, named the wild animals; but he didn't find a suitable companion. God put the Man into a deep sleep. As he slept he removed one of his ribs and replaced it with flesh. God then used the rib that he had taken from the Man to make Woman and presented her to the Man. The Man said, "Finally! Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh! Name her Woman for she was made from Man." Therefore a man leaves his father and mother and embraces his wife. They become one flesh. The two of them, the Man and his Wife, were naked, but they felt no shame. Genesis 2:20-25 (The Message)

You will find plenty of websites out there justifying sin with a twisting of God’s Words.  It is the nature of mankind to justify sin.  We all do it, yes, I’m talking about myself too.  If you are shaking your head, believing you never have – consider for a moment where God stands on other issues such as: pre-marital sex, lying, stealing, cheating, overeating, self-righteousness, jealousy, greed, pride, hatefulness, unforgiveness, selfishness, anger… and the list could go on.  Most of this list isn’t even about what goes on in our thoughts or the shows we watch or the books we read.  God has weighed in on all of that as well.  You cannot know God and find Him inconsistent.  He is consistent on all of these topics.  He calls them sin, every time.

Fortunately, God isn’t just consistent about His judgment between right and wrong – He’s consistent with His love for you.  Those verses above about the unborn, those are about you too.  You are important to Him.  His Word tells us that “while we were still sinners” He sent His Son to die for our sin.  He is truly able to love the sinner and still hate the sin.  We are valuable in His eyes.  Isn’t that Someone you can believe in.  Someone who loves you no matter how badly you mess up.  Someone who loves us enough to tell us when we’re doing something we shouldn’t be.  He’s not about making us feel good in our sin because He wants something better for all of us.  If we rely on His consistency, we will see consistent change in our lives that would make the “change” offered by this world look like cheap thrills and temporary highs.

If you really just want some politician’s view of change, it’s coming no matter how you vote.  But, if you want some consistency you can believe in, rely on, and trust, you can’t find that anywhere but with God and His Word.

Beads that Lead

Good grief, what year is this?  Apparently this is or was true in some state or states.  Which is just another reason for me to ask “why are you voting 'straight ticket' in the first place?”  I realize it's supposed to make it easier or something like that.  Maybe you are someone who researched the candidates and every one of your choices is of a particilar party - ok, then what I have to say doesn't apply to you.  I'd be willing to bet though that most of the people (note: I'm not saying ALL) who use the “straight ticket” option haven't researched EVERY candidate on the ballot.  Just because someone claims they are part of a particular party doesn't mean their values(or lack thereof) match up with said party - in which case, you probably shouldn't be voting for them “just because” they are listed as said party.  I have never voted “straight ticket” and never plan to.  You can avoid any confusion (and apparently the possibility of negating your presidential choice) on your ballot by selecting each individual person you are voting for.

Don't know who is on the ballot?  Well, go to your county's election website and print off a sample ballot today.  More than likely there will be far more on it than the presidential race anyway.  As a responsible citizen you should be voting on those things too.  Print the ballot, read over it, mark your choices on it and take it with you to the booth as a reference.  I would also suggest that you take it one step further and read up on what you're voting for or against - some quick google searches will give you plenty of “pros/cons” sites to glean information from.

Don't vote straight ticket just because your great grand pappy did - know the issues, know the candidates and make an individual, informed decision.

Oh, and another tip - VOTE EARLY!  You never know what may happen on the 4th that might keep you from making it to the polls...

I am so ready for this election to be over - it brings out the ugliness (and ignorance) of Americans.

We stood in line for early voting on Monday.  We even took all four kids with us.  Our ballot was long - filled with amendments and judge retentions.  We were up late the night before researching every item on the ballot that we hadn't looked up yet.  We printed off sample ballots and marked them the way we planned to vote the next day.  This little cheat sheet proved to be a big help.  Once we got to the booths we were in and out in a matter of minutes.  This wasn't my first year to use a sample ballot cheat sheet but this was definitely the longest ballot I've ever seen :) 

I voted!  Have you?

With the hubbub around here about the upcoming political convention (we’re not far from Denver), I couldn’t help but reflect on how I might cast my vote in the upcoming election.  This, of course, is not the first time I’ve pondered it.  I’m not registered under either party.  However, if you had access to the personal voting records, and I suspect that is probably more people than we’d like to believe, you would see that I vote on the conservative side of things. 

I don’t vote that way because my “momma does” or because my “husband does” or because a long time ago somebody told me “the liberals were evil”.  I vote conservatively because my beliefs, my convictions and my mindset are that of a conservative nature.  It irritates me when people just vote a particular party or moral line and don’t really know why.  Equally frustrating is when people vote (conservative or liberal) simply because “so and so” (usually a parent) does/did or “that’s just how I was raised”.  These people don’t know why they vote the way they do.  Or maybe, they think they know why but it’s all based on something someone told them and not their own personal research into the matter. 

Unfortunately, some people just vote based on hate for the other party.  If they were honest, they don’t know that the party they vote with is better, they just hate the other side for whatever reason.  We can’t forget the group who will vote for whichever party is not currently in office.  Why?  Oh because they want a change.  Huh?  Yeah, it sounds rather flippant to me too.  Who cares if the candidate can do the job, they’re “different” so that’s good enough…right?  Hmm, I’m not convinced either.

Even though I don’t agree with people who vote in any of these ways, I do respect them a tad more than those who vote based on things the candidate has no control over… like skin color or gender for instance.  I mean, I’m a woman but I certainly wouldn’t sacrifice my belief system just to get a woman into the oval office any more than I would to get a fellow “brunette” into office.  I see skin color the same way. I think it’s ignorant to vote for someone because they are or aren’t a particular color.  Color and gender are things that the candidate doesn’t have any control over.  So, why on earth would I cast my vote for or against them based on those things?  If you are thinking only one race or gender is guilty of this!  There are individuals who vote like this in all categories!

Shouldn’t it be about the issues?  Shouldn’t it be about which candidate has the right experience, is most in line with my personal beliefs and who has an agenda that I can support morally and ethically?  Of course it should, but that would mean that we can’t take “Aunt Gertrude’s” or our “BFF’s” word on it.  We have to do our homework.  We have to find out what the candidates really do stand for – not just what the media wants (or doesn’t want) us to see, and certainly not based on appearances.  We also can’t go solely on what the candidates say they believe – do their actions match up?  And what about their friends – those people do matter in the equation.  They influence them more than anyone else.  I mean, maybe you can’t choose your family but you can certainly choose your friends and mentors.  Who you choose speaks volumes about you so why wouldn’t it speak volumes about your candidate?

You may be wondering how I will cast my vote.  To be quite honest, I don’t know yet.  I don’t take this lightly and I still have some homework yet to do.  So why did I write this post?  To get you to think a bit more about how you’ll use your voice in the next election.  Why are you voting?  Who or what is influencing your vote?  Are you educated enough about the candidates to make a solid personal choice or are you just following the crowds around you?  If you were put on trial for your vote, could you clearly, articulately and morally defend your choice?

Some of you may be scoffing, “seriously, you’re out there lady, it doesn’t matter that much”..

…but what if it does?

I grew up shopping at Wal-Mart.  Their “made in the USA” and family friendly ideals were very appealing to this very patriotic, Bible-believin' family.  I'd say that we've spent tens of thousands of dollars at their stores over the years.

In the past several years, I've been pulling away from Wal-mart a bit more each year.  I have family employed by them and I've been informed about how they treat their employees.  Yes, this bothered me and so I distanced a bit.  Then my husband and I watched a documentary on how Wal-mart is affecting the US economy, how the company creates it's own customers by putting smaller businesses out of business and how they are moving more and more jobs overseas to make their profit margins even larger.  After seeing that documentary we distanced ourselves even more from them.

And now, in recent months we've pulled our support entirely, content to drive out of our way to their competitors and pay higher prices to keep from handing our hard earned money over to that chain.  I do not agree with their recent move to not remain nuetral on the “marriage” issue.  Yes, Wal-mart has every right to support homosexual marriage with their monetary donations.  However, I am not in favor of legalizing homosexual marriage and like my stance with Ford and Starbucks, Wal-mart will not recieve financial support from me.  I did the math and not including Christmas shopping, Wal-mart was getting over $10K a year from my family alone just for grocery-type purchases.  I don't know what my parents' annual average spending at Wal-mart was but they've stopped shopping there as well.  It was the last straw for us.

Yes, I still have family working for them.  Maybe I should send them the employment listing for Target and/or Costco?

Wal-Mart Watch, AFA, Wal-Mart Movie, PBS Documentary

I've received word of a “fly the flag” campaign in memory of 9/11.  We left our flag in storage (which we displayed the day after the 9/11 tragedy and then for months to follow.  We typically put it up every memorial day through the 4th.

Anyway, we're going to look into getting a flag to display here.  If you're planning to participate in this (which I hope all Americans will), please be sure to read up on flag etiquette.  It really does bug service people to see the flag displayed incorrectly....in some cases it can even be dishonoring without you even realizing it.

 In May, I posted about Starbucks' removal from my coffee list and directed those in the DFW area to a place called America's Best Coffee.

Well, I have a new place to send you to if you are ever in the Kansas City area.  It's called Homer's Coffee House and you must pay it a visit!  Can you believe a coffee house with the motto:

"Saving the world...one latte at a time"

When Erik found this place we knew that's where we'd get our coffee during our stay here.  As of June, they even have a Blog!  So, if you like good coffee, good company, good music and free wireless internet - you should check it out.

I don't know if I was feeling overly sentimental or what just before we left Texas, but whatever the cause, I  purchased two Texas Flag folding chairs for our balcony (ours look slightly different than the one pictured right).  The moment those chairs came out of the truck, our son ran up the 1.5 flights of stairs to the condo and placed them on the balcony.

Well, as we all know, Tuesday was Independence Day.   A guy Erik works with told him about a great spot from which to catch the fireworks display.  So, we loaded up our chairs (six of them total), some dinner, drinks and blankets.  I didn't feel we needed blankets but the kids suggested that we might get cold.  I laughed thinking, "um, it's like July - we'll likely be sweating", but I said they could take their blankets nonetheless.  We arrived on the grassy hill just before dark.  A pleasant breeze caught our hair and waved it about.  The freshly mowed lawn brought back memories from childhood of those summer evenings playing with the neighborhood kids.  Our kids ran around playing with some other children (apparently this was a well-known spot lol).  We proudly set up our Texas Chairs and got a few looks.

Once it was as dark as it would likely get, Erik had the kids come take a seat.  By this time, the nice breeze actually had a bit of a nip to it and I began to think blankets weren't such a crazy notion after all.  All bundled, the kids waited patiently.  Just as we were beginning to think we were in the wrong spot, the first rocket flew into the air and with a loud bang, the show began.  The crowed cheered!  "I see one, I see one," Jewel (2) shouted with each burst of color.  The children oo'ed and ah'ed.  "That's my favorite," chimed Kate (6).  "Oh did you see that one - it was huge," exclaimed Lee (8).  "Are they on fire Daddy," asked Ann (almost 4).  Behind us I heard a child ask when the "grand finale" was, I smiled remembering asking the same thing as a kid.

Then, with a rapid series of pops, bangs, bursts and smoke, the show ended.  The crowd cheered again, a few yelled "Happy Birthday America" and we began to disperse.  The walk back to the van was pleasant.  "This was a good idea," I smiled to my husband (who beamed at the praise).  In the end, it mattered not whether we were Texans or Kansans or whatever, we were Americans sharing a glorious moment in time with other Americans.

My parents instilled in me a great many things during my growing up years.  Aside from showing me the way to salvation, one of the greatest values was a love for my country.  They taught me to care for The Star Spangled Banner, our flag which stands for freedom.  They showed me America, The Beautiful land of infinite opportunity.  They instructed me to pray that God Bless America.  They taught me that This Land is Your Land and my land and we'd best defend her at all cost.  America, that is my country, my home!  I learned to Pledge Allegiance and place my hand over my heart.  John Wayne put it in a way that only he could, "Sure I wave the American flag. Do you know a better flag to wave? Sure I love my country with all her faults. I'm not ashamed of that, never have been, never will be."

"Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace--but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" - Patrick Henry

You can't grow up in a family with military background like mine and not love your country.  My grandfather served in the Korean War and was one of The Chosin Few, a survivor of one of the greatest military battles of all time.  My father (as well as his twin brother) served during Vietnam (AirForce & Marines).  My husband and I met while serving in the United States Air Force (yes, I too took an oath to serve and defend).  My cousin recently returned from Iraq.  I could name many others, family and friends alike, who have taken that oath and followed through...even to the death.  We often hear the phrase, "Freedom isn't Free" but do we really take a moment and reflect on what that means?  Do we truly grasp the countless lives lost so that we might have Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness?  So many sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and friends who will never return.  It is because of each of them that we enjoy the land we have today. 

I could not close out this bit on our military without adding this next quote.  "The liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil Constitution, are worth defending at all hazards; and it is our duty to defend them against all attacks. We have received them as a fair inheritance from our worthy ancestors: they purchased them for us with toil and danger and expense of treasure and blood, and transmitted them to us with care and diligence. It will bring an everlasting mark of infamy on the present generation, enlightened as it is, if we should suffer them to be wrested from us by violence without a struggle, or to be cheated out of them by the artifices of false and designing men." (Samuel Adams)  No doubt many will be called to defend us in the future still, but praise God for those who step up to the plate and take it on.

"I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." - Nathan Hale

"I shall know but one country. The ends I aim at shall be my country’s, my God’s and Truth’s. I was born an American; I live an American; I shall die an American." - Daniel Webster

America, she truly is a grand country.  My heart soars at the sight of a bald eagle and warms when our national anthem is played.  Red, White and Blue shall always signify honor, freedom and bravery to me.  I've seen a great deal of this magnificent nation.  The beauty of the land alone could take ones breath away.  The Canyons, the rivers, the mountains, the prairies, the valleys, the blue skies, the sparkling seas...she is gorgeous.  God created such a masterpiece in her.

"America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves." - Abraham Lincoln

"I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives.  I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him." - Abraham Lincoln

 What makes this country so great isn't just it's geography filled with fertile soil and natural resources.  The worth of our land comes from those who inhabit it.  The people, they are the true asset.  I believe that most Americans are proud to be Americans.  To quote Thomas Paine, "Our great title is AMERICANS…"   I also believe most would gladly lock hands with their fellow countrymen in the name of their America.  We are the great melting pot of the west, the land of many faces but with one common goal...freedom. However, as important as American's are to the equation of a prosperous nation, we must remember Who truly rose us up as a force to be reckoned with.  Who blessed our crops, Who protected us, Who multiplied us?  God.  I realize the faith history of our country offends a few, but we should not discount that God's hand is on us because our fore Fathers were faithful to him.  Dare we cause Him to remove His hand by blotting Him out with legislation and judiciary process?  We were founded on a faith in God.  I pray that America will remember Who made her a great nation.

"if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
2 Chronicles 7:14

"Love your country.  Your country is the land where your parents sleep, where is spoken that language in which the chosen of your heart, blushing, whispered the first word of love; it is the home that God has given you that by striving to perfect yourselves therein you may prepare to ascend to him."  - Giuseppe Mazzini