Beyond Thankful

Today is Thanksgiving Day.

I hope you all had as wonderful a day as we did.
Our day stopped being wonderful about 8 PM.
Our son Justin headed out, with instructions (as usual) to call when he got back to his apartment in Roseburg; about 75 minutes away. Fifteen minutes later he came back in, disheveled and wet. Turns out, he wrecked his car on a tight curve near our home. Not only did he wreck the car, but he ended up UPSIDE DOWN in the CREEK. We are bowing our heads in gratitude this evening for the safety of a child. Of all the children. Justin could have been knocked unconscious and drowned in the blink of an eye. I can't seem to say "Thank You" enough tonight.

You know, it was nothing to have him leave; to go back to his own home and call me when he got there. It is nothing to send the girls to the store, or to let them come home late-like last night-after a late movie with their friends. Do we hug them hard enough when they leave? Do we say "I Love You" enough, just in case? Do we hug them upon returning, happy they are back?
I've also reflected on a habit that we adopted several years ago.
Before we leave the driveway we have a "traveling Prayer". Every time we get in the car.
I have witnessed a couple of occasions when I KNOW--beyond doubt--that the Lord's hand protected us. I know again, after tonight, that He was once again on the road with a member of my family. How humbly grateful I am for the tender mercies of the Lord.

The Right to Win??

First, I would ask you to go and read Thomas Sowell's editorial today:
The Right to Win

OK, now I have a few things to say :D (Are you surprised??)

He asks "How did we get here." For me this answer is fairly easy. We arrived at this awful state because of :

#1 Affirmative Action. It's not right to put someone ahead of someone else because of race or gender. The best man or woman for the job should get it. Period.

#2 Minority Rules. We have, for too long allowed minority groups-be they race, gender, religion, whatever to have a stronger voice than those in the majority; whatever happened to "Majority Rules"?

#3 Self Esteem. The "Establishment", coupled with the Psycho babblers have told us we can't let children lose; they can't get an "F." It's either pass or fail and even then, they are telling us that "fail" brings bad feelings!
We had a couple move into our Ward in OH who were both Child Psychology majors; we were all excited when they offered a parenting fireside.
The wife started by telling us the best way is to let the child decide, whatever the case may be.
If you want something done, you tell the child over and over ad nauseum until the child "decides" it's his idea.
She told a story of an antique quilt on her bed, and the children knew it was off limits. While she was nursing the baby the little boy about 3 or 4 was jumping on the bed, on the quilt. She calmly told him over and over to stop. By the time he "decided" it was "his idea" to leave the quilt alone, he was on the floor rolled up in it. It was at this point I stopped listening to whatever they had to say. Common sense told me this was not how a child should be taught.
*They*(as in the "establishment") have made it so that no one understands what it means to be on the losing team. No one knows the meaning of "No".

#4 and most importantly, we have left God on the sidelines. Something our Founders would be appalled at.

How do we fix this mess??
Well, first of all, speak up! Don't just stand aside when someone wants to tell you that what you want doesn't matter. Don't let *them* walk on you. Be respectful always, but stand up for what is right. There IS a right and there IS a wrong.
Write letters, lots of them. To your Representatives in the Senate and in Congress. Write letters to the editor of your local paper. Be the voice that has been missing for too long.

Secondly, if you lose, try again. Try HARDER next time. Work for what you want. Work to earn the distinction of "winner".

Thirdly, welcome God into the dialogue. He has given us everything we have. Everything. Nothing was made but by Him. Acknowledge Him and let go. See what He has done for us. See what He has provided.

Lastly, Learn. Learn your Constitution. Yes, it is YOUR Constitution. Learn it. Learn the Bill of Rights. Learn what was Divinely inspired for YOUR safety and protection. Read the Founding Documents. Know your rights. Understand what is going on.

New Beginnings

Well, the election is over and I am completely and unequivocally sick!
I am in shock that the voters of this country elected a Socialist/Marxist for their next president.
I suppose I really shouldn't be shocked, FDR started our country on the path toward socialism. They have been clamoring for more ever since.
I also don't understand how anyone who claims to be a Christian could vote for someone who has no respect for life. Obama said that a young girl who get's pregnant shouldn't be "Punished" with a baby. He is for infanticide! WHY doesn't this matter???
That said, John McCain wasn't my guy either. Senator McCain isn't conservative enough. I think the reason Obama was chosen was because if you looked at the candidates side by side, there really wasn't much difference.
SO, the "let's take part in a historic election. Let's vote for the first black candidate." crowd won. I can see that from one side. I am really proud I live in a country that has overcome such racial divisions as have previously divided us. I briefly hoped that we could stop being "African-Americans", "Asian-Americans" and whatever else hyphen you want to name, but honestly, THIS black man will divide us further.
He wants to spread the wealth of the common man and make sure that there is "equality". In reality, there is only one kind of equality and it lies in our creation, nothing else. The Scriptures even tell us that talents are not given equally. Equality is God given at birth; what we do with our lives makes us more or less. Some will be more motivated, and others less. Equality most certainly does NOT come from the government.
Over the course of the next few weeks and months, I will be blogging on the founding documents that make this country great. I can't claim to be a scholar, but I would appreciate an honest dialogue as we learn together about the things that make the United States of America the greatest country under God.
God Bless America!

Thankful

Taking a cue from my friend Audra--http://joshaudramackenzie.blogspot.com/2008/11/i-am-thankful.html , I thought I should list a few of the things I am thankful for also.

Here Goes:

My Heavenly Father

His Son Jesus Christ

Joseph Smith

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

My Testimony of Jesus Christ

Living Prophets and Apostles

Temple Endowments

My husband

My children

My grandchildren

Dear friends

The Constitution of the United States

Our Founding Fathers

Free elections

Now on to the less important ones:

Trees

Grass

Creeks

Modern technology

Indoor plumbing--well aren't YOU??

Great books and their authors

Electricty

Firewood

Woodstoves

Autumn

Snow

Rain

Apples

Homemade bread

Homeschooling

Knitting

Wool socks

Airplanes

Garlic--I know, but I LOVE garlic :D

Farmland

Words--yes, I read the dictionary :P

Language--goes along with words don't you think?

Photography

Tootsie Rolls

Tin roofs

Canning

Vacuum cleaners

Ordinary lightbulbs

I suppose the list could go on. I have such gratitude in my heart for the things large and small that make up my life. I try to be continually thanking my Heavenly Father, but I fear I fall short.

I'll work on that.

Colorado

Well, I went to Colorado to see the new baby, and to get aquainted with her big sister. What a fun time I had! Little Iszabelle is a hoot, and is full of personality--read here, she is also full of vinegar as my Mom used to say. She is going to take some time to get used to her little sister, and not having her mommy to herself anymore. I took Sarah and the children pumpkin shopping--we just went to Safeway, but this little one was so very excited!

She is barely 3, but already quite a firecracker!

It was also a bit sad for me, as she had no reason to trust me, no reason to let me in. By Friday, the day before I left, we had become freinds at least, and I've decided to send her a card once a week, to hopefully help her remember. We are looking forward to to them maybe coming here in January, and I'm really excited.

Addisen is growing fast too. She is so beautiful. Shelooks like an almost identical twin to her big sister at 1 month of age.

Here is the latest photo I have of her:

There is other news. Our second daughter Aubrey is expecting in May. She told us over the phone before I went to Colorado. It's also a bittersweet thing. She also is not married. She and her boyfriend Russ are happy, and I've expressed how happy it would be for me if they married.

It's all in the hands of the Lord.