Monday, October 27, 2008

Excitement - and not necessarily the fun kind . . .

This weekend was pretty exhausting . . .

My dear 8-year old daughter who was just a little bit sleepy on Thursday night, woke up with a fever, coughing, and wheezing so much I could hear her from across the room on Friday morning. SCARY.

I went to work while hubby took her to the ER - he later called me to tell me they were keeping her overnight for observation because she had pneumonia.

It was so scary to see my beautiful daughter looking so little in that big hospital bed, but she took it all in stride. All 3 of her nurses commented on what a polite and sweet girl she was. Mommy got to spend the night in the room on a very (NOT) comfortable cot. Neither of us slept much - but it was a bonding experience. She apologized for keeping me awake with her coughing and I apologized for keeping her awake with my snoring.

Sunday I declared it stay at home in our pajamas day and we vegged out and watched movies all day long. It was nice. And we all had naps. I love naps.

She is doing better - but I'm still being overprotective and not sure I'm ready for her to have outside recess at school. Luckily - her fall break is this weekend, so she only has 2 more days of school. I'm taking Thursday and Friday off as well so we can all have family time.

All the kids are looking forward to Trick or Treating, they've had their costumes for almost a month. Me . . . I love this time of year - and even though my aunt would be upset with me for jumping the gun . . . I started listening to Christmas music today . . . I can't help it!!!

Well - this post jumped around quite a bit - but I wanted to catch up . . . AGAIN. I'll be back soon to post pictures of the kids in their costumes.

Have a great week!!

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Something to think about

Today Mark Salinas posted this about how we should not let things like politics ruin friendships.

I agree wholeheartedly with what he had to say in his very timely post. As I read through the comments though, someone else had something very profound to say.

Audra Krell from Krellfish said, "One other point is for people to look inward. As we get closer to the election, people become desperate and do and say things that they normally wouldn’t. We should all do an emotional check and see if possibly, our fears and other emotions are coloring our words and actions a little too much."

So far, in most of our conversations - those on the opposite side of the political fence have been able to have civil conversations with me, even when we disagree. And then there have been those times where I just wanted to enjoy being with my friend and I've said, "let's not talk politics today, okay?"

This election seems to be more charged than any other that I remember, and I hope that some people are not forgetting that we are all Americans and in the end - we have to all figure out how to work together whether we are liberal, conservative, democrat, republican or some combination of all of these things.

So in these last 2 weeks before the election I urge you to:
  • be informed and research everything - if a story seems biased, it probably is - so check the facts yourself
  • feel free to be passionate without being nasty
  • don't steal signs out of people's yards (I'd like mine back please!)
  • respect the opinions of others, whether you agree or not
  • Pray for our nation, its leaders - and whoever is destined to be our next President - we all have an uphill climb ahead of us.
Okay - political discussion done. For real this time. Maybe.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Would the Last Honest Reporter Please Turn On the Lights?

If you have a moment - please read this article - and spread the word . . .

This article was written by Orson Scott Card, a democrat and newspaper columnist - and I agree with what he has to say . . . (I'll say no more, because he says it all.)

http://www.ldsmag.com/ideas/081017light.html

Monday, October 20, 2008

Tag, I'm it! (And you might be too . . .)


My good buddy Rett tagged me - so I HAVE to do this for her (which yes, this means if I tag you then you have to do it too!)

The objective? List 7 random/weird facts about myself, then tag 7 others to do the same. I am really not sure I want to do this . . . but I will . . . for Rett.

1. I used to be able to write with my toes. I'm not sure I can do it anymore - and I'm afraid to try.

2. I don't mind some smells that others usually hate - like diesel fuel and . . . dare I say it? . . . skunks.

3. I am addicted to the crook in my husband's neck.

4. I am terrified that when some people look at me, they only see my mother.

5. I'm actually pretty shy sometimes and don't like being in social situations where I know very few people.

6. I dream of someday writing a best-selling novel, but fear that my procrastination and self-doubt about my abilities will keep me from doing it.

7. I have this reoccurring feeling that none of us actually exist and we are really just an overly elaborate dream that someone somewhere is having - even though I KNOW this is not true.

Yeah - that got a little deeper and weirder than I had planned . . . but oh well! Those were the first 7 things I thought of!!!

Now let's see - who do I want to know weird things about????

1. Barry @ Pike Speak
2. Kristen @ Shoutin from the Rooftops
3. Don Crane
4. Jaya & Arya
5. Beth @ The Funny Farm
6. Memaw @ Memaw Bake's Memories
7. Mizfit

I can't wait to hear how weird the rest of you are!!!

Thursday, October 16, 2008

A lesson for those who didn't pay attention in high school . . .

I am trying to stay away from politics in my blog - but I had to post this because it is informative and may help people to understand some of the things they keep hearing about in the media.

Recently, Senator Obama spoke to Joe the Plumber who had asked him why he would get more taxes for a small business that just happens to make more than $250,000.

This was Senator Obama's response:

“It’s not that I want to punish your success, I just want to make sure that everybody who is behind you, that they’ve got a chance at success, too. I think when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody.”

Those words "spread the wealth around" have said to confirm some people's feelings that Senator Obama has more socialist policies than democratic.

What I've realized in my conversations with people my own age is this: no one paid attention in high school civics or government class and they don't have any idea what socialism is. And they really don't care! So I ran across this blog this morning which had a great excerpt from Mike Huckabee's book.

I wanted to share this lesson with you here:

“I once heard the various forms of government described this way:

Communism - you have two cows and the government takes both cows and gives you part of the milk.

Socialism - you have two cows and the government takes one of the cows and gives it to your neighbor.

Fascism - you have two cows and the government takes both cows and sells you the milk.

Nazism - you have two cows and the government takes both cows and shoots you.

Bureaucracy - you have two cows, the government takes both cows, shoots one, milks the other, and pours the milk down the drain.

Capitalism - you have two cows, you sell one and you buy a bull!

Our system, based on the capitalist idea, is intended to create incentives so there is a return on one’s endeavors. It has it’s flaws, but ours is still better than any other system on earth.”

I am hoping that this short lesson has helped some people understand these things they keep hearing on the TV but don't take the time to learn about.

I will leave you with a quote from Former President Ronald Reagan (which reminds me of a time when people had a respect for the one holding the office of the President of the United States . . .)

“All systems are capitalist. It's just a matter of who owns and controls the capital -- ancient king, dictator, or private individual. We should properly be looking at the contrast between a free market system where individuals have the right to live like kings if they have the ability to earn that right and government control of the market system such as we find today in socialist nations.”

Main thing: God is still God.

Be informed.
Vote on November 4th (or you do not have a right to complain).

(I am now finished with my political comments . . . until the next election.)

Monday, October 13, 2008

More Fall Photos

Rearview (by IzzyBeth)

(Photo by Hunkahubby)

(Photo by IzzyBeth)



Oh - and this is me attempting to get organized,
but Gracie wouldn't let me because she liked my new organizer too much. Bummer. LOL

Have I mentioned how much I love the fall?

Saturday, October 11, 2008

The leaves are changing and I'm so excited



More pictures to come in the next few days!

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

No dropped calls!

My cousin Laurie sent this to me and it really made me go OUCH. So I thought I would share my "pain" with you. In these kind of frightening and unsure times - this is something I needed to read . . .

Ever wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone?

What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?

What if we flipped through it several time a day?

What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?

What if we used it to receive messages from the text?

What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?

What if we gave it to kids as gifts?

What if we used it when we traveled?

What if we used it in case of emergency?

This is something to make you go....hmm...where is my Bible?

Oh, and one more thing. Unlike our cell phone, we don't have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill.

Makes you stop and think 'where are my priorities?

And no dropped calls!