lambofHisflock

Deficit Record... a Comparison

2011-03-07T16:24:00.002-06:00

From the Wall Street Journal this excerpt from 2007:

"The Congressional Budget Office estimated Friday that the U.S. federal budget deficit for fiscal year 2007, which ended Sunday, was about $161 billion, or 1.2% of gross domestic product. That’s down from the $248 billion shortfall recorded in fiscal 2006, which translated into 1.9% of GDP. The Treasury Department will report the official tally later this month."

Hmmmmm Bush had HORRIBLE DEFICITS. Oh.. I know they got worse during the financial problems of the last years... BUT... wait...

Now today's headline... wait for it... from the Washington Times TODAY

Government posts biggest monthly deficit ever

(nice headline.... just how big is this month's deficit???)

"The federal government posted its largest monthly deficit in history in February at $223 billion, according to preliminary numbers the Congressional Budget Office released Monday morning.
That figure tops last February’s record of $220.9 billion, and marks the 29th straight month the government has run in the red — a modern record. The last time the federal government posted even a monthly surplus was September 2008, just before the financial collapse."

Hmmm wait.. does that say that the deficit for the MONTH is 223 billion??? And that there was a monthly surplus in sept 2008... and wait.. the YEARLY deficit for 2007 was... wait.. hm.. how much? Oh yeah 161 billion.

To recap: Obama's deficit THIS MONTH is the highest on record.. higher in THIS ONE MONTH than many of Bush's annual deficits.

But let's cut Obama some slack.. Bush did have a bigger deficit his last year in office after the collapse. An annual deficit of 808 billion.. 200 of that was TARP.. most of which has been REPAID. That WAS an awful year.. but when you consider 808 billion for a YEAR to 223 billion for a MONTH.. DURING the "RECOVERY" one has to wonder.... just when will Obama and the nation really face the music.

The Value of Innocence

2010-04-05T13:31:00.004-05:00

Innocence is such a rarity these days. I consider it a blessing that my children are, for the most part, innocent. They live in the world but as a homeschooling mom I have been able to prevent some of the worst parts of it from being a part of their world. And I am glad of this.

Still I hear from many who disagree. I have been told that letting my children live in innocence longer is keeping them in a bubble. That they need to "experience" life or bullies or hear vulgar language or watch a wider range of shows so that they can be ready for life. I do not understand this mentality.

Today, I shared in the sadness that came with an unplanned loss of innocence for a friend's children. They were spending the night with friends... and there were exposed to a pornographic movie. These children were 10. And my heart was breaking right along with their mother's.

Innocence lost can never really be returned. Those images stick. They can not see what should be the loving and wonderful gift of marriage in quite the same way... their understanding is tainted. What is lost can not be found again... except by God's grace. Now, I will not be so melodramatic as to say that these children are doomed. Of course not. God is merciful. They are being raised with Biblical values. They will come to a new understanding. But right now.. I am sad for this family.. and for all the other children who have been effected by our overly violent and sexual and immoral society.

Children are being forced to fit somehow what they know from God with what they see on tv or hear in the schoolyard. This is a difficult balance for most adults I know. How much more so for children. And how unfair!

My prayer for my children is that they would be firmly rooted in their faith before facing such challenges... that they would have a long time of innocence before it is forever taken away. There is much time ahead to realize fully that the world is a yucky place... let them live in the warmth and joy of home and church and friendships so that they know what CAN be! God does not want us to roll around in that muck.. and we do not have to. The quiet joys and pleasures of life bring much more than the dark pleasures of the world. (And as a former unbeliever I am very aware of both... much to my regret.)

Innocence is all too rare... but I believe it is worth fighting for.

Like it or Not

2010-02-14T09:16:00.002-06:00

The past week or President said, "Like it or not, we have to have a financial system that is healthy and functioning."

So.. who do you suppose does NOT like to have a healthy and functioning financial system? Hm?

Obama Promised Repeatedly to Televise Health Care Process

2010-01-06T13:06:00.003-06:00

Finally something I agree with him on. Too bad he is not following through on this policy.

Pelosi commented on his lack of followthrough on his campaign promises too. Doubt she is thinking of the same one. LOL

How the Grinch Stole Google News -- DailyFinance

2009-11-29T07:43:00.003-06:00

Just a sample... go read the rest.. such fun.
How the Grinch Stole Google News -- DailyFinance(With our sincere
apologies to Dr. Seuss)

Every Who down in Whoville liked Google a lot,
But the Grinch, who lived up
in a penthouse, did not.
The Grinch hated Google, didn't find
Google pleasin' --
Now, please don't ask why. No one quite knows the reason.
It could be his head wasn't screwed on just right.
It could be, perhaps, that his views were too tight.
But I think that the most likely reason of all,
May have been that his heart was two sizes too small.

President Obama's Thanksgiving Day Proclamation.. and Links to the Past

2009-11-26T09:43:00.004-06:00

Well... I am posting the President's Thanksgiving Day Proclamation... but as I do so.. I am reminded of past proclamations that were very different. Last year, I spent a several posts on the Thanksgiving Day Proclamations of past presidents... take a moment and read then also. In those past posts we see a true sense of giving thanks to our Creator.. from whom all our individual and national blessings flow. I have posted them below.

President Barack Obama's Thanksgiving Day proclamation, as released by the White House:

What began as a harvest celebration between European settlers and indigenous communities nearly four centuries ago has become our cherished tradition of Thanksgiving. This day's roots are intertwined with those of our nation, and its history traces the American narrative.

Today, we recall President George Washington, who proclaimed our first national day of public thanksgiving to be observed "by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God," and President Abraham Lincoln, who established our annual Thanksgiving Day to help mend a fractured nation in the midst of civil war. We also recognize the contributions of Native Americans, who helped the early colonists survive their first harsh winter and continue to strengthen our nation. From our earliest days of independence, and in times of tragedy and triumph, Americans have come together to celebrate Thanksgiving.

As Americans, we hail from every part of the world. While we observe traditions from every culture, Thanksgiving Day is a unique national tradition we all share. Its spirit binds us together as one people, each of us thankful for our common blessings.

As we gather once again among loved ones, let us also reach out to our neighbors and fellow citizens in need of a helping hand. This is a time for us to renew our bonds with one another, and we can fulfill that commitment by serving our communities and our nation throughout the year. In doing so, we pay tribute to our country's men and women in uniform who set an example of service that inspires us all. Let us be guided by the legacy of those who have fought for the freedoms for which we give thanks, and be worthy heirs to the noble tradition of goodwill shown on this day.

Now, therefore, I, Barack Obama, president of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009, as a National Day of Thanksgiving. I encourage all the people of the United States to come together, whether in our homes, places of worship, community centers, or any place where family, friends and neighbors may gather, with gratitude for all we have received in the past year, to express appreciation to those whose lives enrich our own and to share our bounty with others.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of November, in the year of our Lord 2009, and of the independence of the United States of America the 234th (year).

_ Barack Obama

Pres. Bush's Thanksgiving Day Proclamation

President Ronald Reagan's Thanksgiving Day Proclamation

Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt's Thanksgiving Day Proclamation

Pres. Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving Day Proclamation

James Madison's Thanksgiving Day Proclamation

George Washington's Thanksgiving Day Proclamation

May God bless you and keep you on this Thanksgiving Day! Praise and Thanks to the Almighty for all our blessings!

Lest We Forget

2009-11-11T09:54:00.001-06:00

I posted this last year.. and love this video and the sentiment so much.. I am reposting it for this Veteran's Day/Remembrance Day. Thank you, to all who have served. May we never forget.

Modern Little Red Hen Story by Howard Morrison

2009-11-09T10:37:00.003-06:00

MODERN LITTLE RED HEN STORY
11/9/09 | Howard Morrison

MODERN LITTLE RED HEN

Once upon a time, there was a little red hen who scratched about the barnyard until she uncovered some grains of wheat. She called her neighbors and said, “If we plant this wheat, we shall have bread to eat. Who will help me plant it?”

“Not I,” said Rahm Emanuel the cow. “Not I,” said Nancy Pelosi the pig. “Not I,” said Harry Reid the goat.

“Then I will,” said the little red hen, and she did. The wheat grew tall and ripened into golden grain. “Who will help me reap my wheat?” said the little red hen.

“Not I,” said Rahm Emanuel the cow. “Out of my classification.” “Not I,” said Nancy Pelosi the pig, “I’d lose my seniority.” “Not I,” said Harry Reid the goat, “I’d lose my unemployment compensation.”

“Then I will,” said the little red hen, and she did.

At last, it came time to bake the bread. “Who will help me bake the bread?” asked the little red hen.

“That would be overtime for me,” said Rahm Emanuel the cow. “Don’t want to work that hard.” “I’m a drop out and never learned how,” said Nancy Pelosi the pig. “If I’m the only helper, that’s discrimination,” said Harry Reid the goat.

“Then I will,” said the little red hen. She baked five loaves and held them up for her neighbors to see. They all wanted some – in fact, they demanded a share! But the little red hen said, “No, these loaves are for me and my chicks!”

“Excess profit!” yelled Rahm Emanuel the cow. “Capitalist leech!” yelled Nancy Pelosi the pig. “I demand equal treatment!” yelled Harry Reid the goat.

Nancy Pelosi, the pig, grunted and they hurriedly painted “unfair – equal treatment under the law” signs and began to picket the barnyard and shout obscenities at the little red hen.

Then Obama, the donkey, came into the barnyard and said to the little red hen, “you must not be greedy. You must spread the loaves around!”

“But I was an entrepreneur, I worked hard and I earned this bread,” said the little red hen.

“Exactly,” said Obama the donkey. “That is the wonderful free-enterprise system…anyone in the barnyard can earn as much as he wants. However, under my imposed barnyard regulations, the productive workers must divide their product with the idle.”

The little red hen’s neighbors wondered why she never again baked bread!

BARNYARD ANIMALS – LIBERALS – SOCIALISTS – MARXIST ALL SEEM TO BE TIED TOGETHER SOME HOW!

Steve Harvey Introduces Jesus.. Inspires Awe in Me for My Lord

2009-10-08T10:56:00.001-05:00

On 70th Anniversary of Soviet Union Attack on Poland, President Obama Cancels Missile Shield Plans

2009-09-17T21:38:00.008-05:00

Dismay in Europe as Obama Ditches Missile Defence

President Obama dismayed America's allies in Europe and angered his political opponents at home today when he formally ditched plans to set up a missile defence shield in Poland and the Czech Republic.

My mom is from Latvia.. so this is a topic that has much passion in my family. I knew that Pres. Obama was not going to continue with the missile defense system. That had been floating for a while.. but the fact that he announced it TODAY on the anniversary of the Soviet attack of Poland makes it feel as though Poland should feel even more vulnerable. He had to know the date... what possible good purpose was the choice of announcing it on this day?

I Remember

2009-09-11T16:56:00.003-05:00

On this day, I have spent time looking back and remembering. They say there are a few events in history that if you lived through them you will always remember where you were... for me.. this is it. I remember the day so very clearly. The shock. The tears. The uncertainty. The anger. The sorrow.

I remember praying. Being so sad.. but so proud of all those heroes who worked so hard to save so many. So many heroes laying down their lives. I remember in the days and weeks to come workers flooding from around the US to help.. sending in money.. praying. Flags flying everyone. National prayers. Hearts broken.

I remember the unity of our nation against this evil. I remember the plans for a memorial and for rebuilding. Here 8 years later it has finally begun. A small skeleton beginning to rise. I do not understand how so many seem to have forgotten. I do not understand why this is not built. And I am FURIOUS that the name has now been changed.. from the Freedom Tower.. as the building was to be called.. to the One World Trade Center!?!?

This year... according to wikipedia the name was changed. It must have been done quietly for I never heard tell of it.. and I consider myself a bit of a news junky. According to wikipedia: On March 26, 2009, the Port Authority said that the building will be known as 'One World Trade Center', replacing its former name 'Freedom Tower'.

HOW DID THIS HAPPEN????

I find myself AGAIN angry.. and sad.. and hurt. I feel as though in a way our nation is AGAIN being attacked.. but this time without war.. without a terrorist attack... but we are being eaten away.

Now to be fair.. this is the address. But who names their building after the street address? And why in the world would you consider dumping a fabulous name like Freedom Tower??

We are NOT a ONE WORLD GOV'T... we are AMERICA! It was not the World that was attacked it was America. And it should have stayed the Freedom Tower.. a name that shows that spirit that our nation has... the love of liberty... the pride of our nation.. our willingness to fight for freedom. That love that was seen in millions of flags across this nation in the days and weeks following Sept 11. Yes, the world cared and mourned with us.. but this was an attack on FREEDOM and it is FREEDOM that overcomes. It was an attack on America.. and it shall be America that overcomes. The name One World Trade Tower flies in the face of that truth. And I do not believe that the name should be allowed to stand while the towers do not.

Friday Funny

2009-09-11T00:01:00.001-05:00

God's Beautiful Handiwork ~ Space Butterfly

2009-09-09T21:02:00.005-05:00

Hubble Telescope sends back a gorgeous photo of streams of gas from a dying star. Lovely!

Psalm 19:1-2
The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.

Raising the Debt Ceiling : Obama's Changing Perspective

2009-09-08T11:32:00.003-05:00

Senate must raise debt ceiling above $12T

The Senate must move legislation to raise the federal debt limit beyond $12.1 trillion by mid-October, a move viewed as necessary despite protests about the record levels of red ink.

The move will highlight the nation’s record debt, which has been central to Republican attacks against Democratic congressional leaders and President Barack Obama. The year’s deficit is expected to hit a record $1.6 trillion.

Democrats in control of Congress, including then-Sen. Obama (Ill.), blasted President George W. Bush for failing to contain spending when he oversaw increased deficits and raised the debt ceiling.

“Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren,” Obama said in a 2006 floor speech that preceded a Senate vote to extend the debt limit. “America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership.”

Obama later joined his Democratic colleagues in voting en bloc against raising the debt increase.

Well, isn't that interesting... when it was Pres. Bush and the debt ceiling needed to be raised... Obama fought against it. He said it was a failure of leadership. It was shifting the burden of bad choices onto the backs of our children and grandchildren.. but now??? Now we have to do it again.. and in fact, still pass even more spending bills, such as health care bills.

And for the record.. I was opposed to Pres. Bush's wild spending and expanding of entitlements.. although I was not opposed to military spending. Military spending is one of the only things provided for in the Constitution... the federal government is to provide for our defense. I realize thinking individuals can disagree on the war in Iraq but military spending is at least in the Constitutional role of the federal government. This ongoing spending and growing of federal government is AGAINST the Constitution and must be stopped.

It is interesting how one's perspective changes once one is in power. Isn't it?

Presidential Halo Photo

2009-09-08T08:47:00.003-05:00

Well... hm. Once again, it seems there are those in his administration who have illusions of grandeur or even a messiah complex about our president. His original study guides for the school video were self-aggrandizing. And we know he has made statements implying that with his presidency would be the moment the world heals.. the seas stop rising.. etc. But this one.. is a new level of funny. I have copied this picture from the White House official blog. The caption underneath was simply: (President Barack Obama addresses a town hall meeting on health insurance reform inside a hangar at Gallatin Field in Belgrade, Mont., on Aug. 14, 2009.
Official White House photo by Pete Souza)

But it is clearly an altered photo... to give him a halo... YES on his own official blog. Sigh.

YouTube Video: Jack Webb Explains How Things Are to Pres. Obama

2009-09-05T22:11:00.000-05:00

The Government Can ~ Tim Hawkins

2009-08-26T06:43:00.000-05:00

President Obama~ His NEW Way to Reach Across the Aisle

2009-08-07T15:25:00.006-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jifjRVLVjzA

Do you remember how Obama campaigned.. that he would work with people on both sides of the aisle? I remember... I am not sure he does.

Oohhhhhhhh..... this other video shows him saying BOTH things... that he will do things differently.. listen to the opposition.... before the tells them that he does not want the opposition to do much talking and to just get out of the way. All in the same speech. Here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dyY3Y9vxR0

Universal Health Care ~ The Truth

2009-08-04T05:55:00.001-05:00

Universal Health Care ~ The Lie

2009-07-25T06:43:00.003-05:00

I have been meaning to post on this for a while. The great lie.

If you have been watching the news or Obama lately... you must have heard our President repeatedly say that under his plan you will have the choice to keep your own plan, if you like it. He says this every opportunity he can.

And its a lie.

According to the bill, there will be many new requirements for health insurance plans. It will mean that your plan will be required, most likely, to change. It will become much more expensive for the insurance company.. and so more so for either you or your boss.

But to me the bigger lie is the lie of omission. You see.... IF this plan passes the ability to get private insurance IMMEDIATELY freezes. So.. that means, if you like the plan you have RIGHT NOW... and the plan continues, you can keep it. BUT... if you change jobs... or the plan cancels... or you want to shop for a different plan.. YOU ARE OUT OF LUCK. The only option will be to go to the government plan. You can't get a different private plan. It is forbidden.

So, when Obama says you can keep your plan he is telling you half the story.

And then there is the care under the plan... our government workers have no plans to take the plan.. nor Congress... any idea why not? lol. They like their private plan. Its better. You may be forced to be on a public plan, but they won't. Too bad, so sad.

For an often times funny.. but very informative piece on universal health care... watch steven crowder's video.

I know I say this a lot.. but get involved. Write or call your Congressman or woman.

Prairie Sunset ~ A new "artwork" I did using gimp

2009-07-12T17:07:00.002-05:00

This is a piece I "painted" using the free computer graphics program called gimp. Someday I hope to get a draw pad for my computer to make it easier.... right now I am just using a mouse or more often the mouse touchpad on my laptop.. and zooming in a lot to do any detailing. Even so, I am getting better at having it do what I want it to.

And I am enjoying it. I have not done much art since having kids.. the mess and the time are limiters. The advantage to this is I can save whenever I need to.. and there is no mess at all.

The Debt Careening Out of Control

2009-07-07T15:33:00.001-05:00

Thanks to Mommy Life for putting up this YouTube video. This is an amazing representation of the national debt.. and worth watching and passing on.

Happy Fourth of July ~ The Declaration of Independence

2009-07-04T15:53:00.006-05:00

The Declaration of Independence

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

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 of 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 shewn, 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 mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations 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 harrass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the 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 a 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 offences

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring 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 into 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, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & 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 endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an 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 attentions 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 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.

John Hancock
Button Gwinnett
William Hooper
Samuel Chase
Robert Morris
William Floyd
Josiah Bartlett
Lyman Hall
Joseph Hewes
William Paca
Benjamin Rush
Philip Livingston
William Whipple
George Walton
John Penn
Thomas Stone
Benjamin Franklin
Francis Lewis
Samuel Adams
Edward Rutledge
Charles Carroll of Carrollton
John Morton
Lewis Morris
John Adams
Thomas Heyward, Jr.
George Wythe
George Clymer
Richard Stockton
Robert Treat Paine
Thomas Lynch, Jr.
Richard Henry Lee
James Smith
John Witherspoon
Elbridge Gerry
Arthur Middleton
Thomas Jefferson
George Taylor
Francis Hopkinson
Stephen Hopkins
Benjamin Harrison
James Wilson
John Hart
William Ellery
Thomas Nelson, Jr.
George Ross
Abraham Clark
Roger Sherman
Francis Lightfoot Lee
Caesar Rodney
Samuel Huntington
Carter Braxton
George Read
William Williams
Thomas McKean
Oliver Wolcott
Matthew Thornton

Stop Cap and Tax... Obama said under his plan energy prices will skyrocket.

2009-06-25T20:32:00.007-05:00

Update.. the House may have passed this.. but we still have the Senate battle to come.. and it will likely be tougher for the Democrats to pass there as they will need 60 votes to overcome the inevitable filibuster. If only one or two Democratic Senators from coal states or manufacturing states stand for what is right it will not pass.

This is something about to be passed. NOW. Call your Congressmen right away. Even they admit that it will cost a LOT.... the first year of actual increased restrictions,.. with the easiest restrictions, you will only pay an estimated $175 more... but they leave out lots of important details. Add to that that companies will pay MUCH higher energy bills.. and we will see increased prices on products.. and even worse, companies moving overseas to avoid the cost. That is what happened in much of Europe when they tried cap and trade. It is a bad idea... and an expensive one.

To get a more realistic view of the cost I think it is fair to assume it will be like Britain.. where the estimated costs is $1300 per family over a year just a few years into the program. The Heritage Foundation's estimates are worse, saying that in 2020, when the restrictions hit... it will cost $1800 per family per year.. and going up, up, up and the restrictions get tougher and tougher... eventually costing over $6,000 per year.

The goal is to force us to change to more eco-friendly energy.. but the reality will be that for the most part factories and businesses will flee to Asia, just as they have in Europe.. so the net on the environment will not be better. In fact, Europe has found that companies do NOT reduce carbon use... they just raise prices. We have many failed examples of this program... I do not want us to be yet another.

Here are a few videos on the matter.. the first is a democratic Congressman sharing the facts on Cap and Trade.. and the other is a Republican ad that includes Obama's quote on skyrocketing energy prices.

This is a matter of HUGE URGENCY. They are likely to vote TOMORROW. Call first thing. Don't let this be an issue you stay on the sidelines for. You can get contact info in my sidebar for your Congressmen and women. ACT NOW.

An article worth reading: The Cap and Tax Fiction, of the Wall Street Journal.

Looking Past the Rhetoric: The Real Unemployment Numbers

2009-06-15T15:42:00.006-05:00

I found this chart found at an excellent article at Innocent Bystanders . I hear over and over again about how this is all Bush's legacy. I don't buy it. Those red dots? The actual numbers climbing up, up, up.. those are Obama's failed policies and the results. Obama promised us such a rosy result if we just spent the billions in the recovery plan. He promised such dire results if we did not pass it. Hmmmmmm.

Clearly his policies are not doing as promised. Now he says they need more stimulus money. More. More. More. That will bring the jobs he promised the first time. If you go back and do the numbers... even being generous to Obama... the per job cost is hundreds of thousands of dollars.

But do we hear about the wastes of government now? About Obama's wasteful spending on a trip to the theater? No... but during Bush's presidency we heard about how children were starving while he played golf... and the unemployment numbers were nothing compared to now. Media bias? uh. yeah.

Pres. Obama, This is NOT a Muslim nation.. it IS a Christian Nation!

2009-06-15T12:38:00.004-05:00

When in Turkey, our President, Obama, announced that this nation is no longer a Christian nation. This saddened me greatly. And I posted at the time on this matter. Then... on his most recent trip in the Middle East, he said something that when juxtaposed with his earlier statement made me shiver. He said that the United States was one of the world's largest Muslim nations. Put aside that this is NOT even true.. we are way down the list of Muslim population... it was only a month before that our president said we are NO LONGER A CHRISTIAN NATION.. and now he says we are a MUSLIM NATION???

I can not begin to express my anger over that terminology. I can not understand the media silence on this and so many other issues. How is it that this country with only a few percent of our population is Muslim is a Muslim nation but with an overwhelming majority of Christians here, we are no longer a Christian nation.

Recently I was shown this youtube video where Congressman Forbes lays out the facts about our Judeo-Christian heritage. I wanted to share it with you all.

Get active everyone.. in politics.. locally.. and write and call your Congressmen. Watch our leadership carefully. Changes are so quickly coming. They undermine our nation. They undermine our faith. We can no longer sit idly by.

And pray. " If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

Menu Plan Monday

2009-06-14T19:38:00.004-05:00

Monday ~ Pork Chops with BBQ sauce, Baked Beans, Ranch Mashed Potatoes

Tuesday ~ Porcupine Meatballs, Fresh baked bread

Wednesday ~ Ravioli with Toasted Garlic Bread

Thursday ~ Buffalo Chicken Wraps

Friday ~ Pizza Night

Saturday ~ Easy Crustless Quiche, Salad

Sunday ~ Pork Burritos, Unfried Refried Beans, Mexican Rice

Obama's Plan for a Single Payer Health Care System Revealed

2009-06-12T21:51:00.002-05:00

Thanks nicedeb.. once again.. for finding an awesome video that clearly spells out the goal of Obama's health care plan.. in his own words over time. What amazes me is not that he wants single payer.. he clearly is a socialist and his decisions in a wide range of areas makes this abundantly clear.. but that the media is so thoroughly avoiding doing any journalistic work to reveal his agenda. Sigh.

This means it falls to US. We must get the word out. We must call and write our Congressmen and women. Spread the word. Don't go down without a fight for what we believe in.

Not so Funny Friday Funny

2009-06-12T20:20:00.000-05:00

Sad Day for the United States of America ~ Israel in Danger

2009-06-02T06:16:00.003-05:00

Please watch this video of Dick Morris talking about the US and Israel and then read more about it at Nice Deb and another piece by Dick Morris.

Menu Plan Monday

2009-05-31T18:56:00.003-05:00

Monday ~ Spaghetti served with baby italian zucchini
Tuesday ~ Bratwurst with sauerkraut
Wednesday ~ Pork Chops with gravy, garlic mashed potatoes, corn on the cob
Thursday ~ Rice Meatballs made with ground turkey
Friday ~ Mexican Pork Burritos, non-fried refried beans, guacamole
Saturday ~ Mexican Rice made with leftover pork
Sunday ~ Buffalo Chicken Wraps

Freedom of Religion Under Direct Attack ~ Is This Still America?

2009-05-31T15:38:00.004-05:00

I had heard of this story a while back.. but the full details were not out.. and I had hoped against hope that there was more to the story. Perhaps this was about streets being blocked.. or loud praise music and singing.. or SOMETHING, ANYTHING.. that would explain this away. No. This is pure and simple an attack of freedom of religion. And this is by far the most dangerous thing I have heard in a long time. I will be in prayer over this. Please join me. And as I get updates, I will post them here. This is vitally important. We live in America.. not China. I hope.

Couple Ordered to Stop Holding Bible Study at Home Without Permit
Thursday, May 28, 2009

Pastor David Jones and his wife Mary have been told that they cannot invite friends to their San Diego, Calif. home for a Bible study — unless they are willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars to San Diego County.

"On Good Friday we had an employee from San Diego County come to our house, and inform us that the Bible study that we were having was a religious assembly, and in violation of the code in the county." David Jones told FOX News.

"We told them this is not really a religious assembly — this is just a Bible study with friends. We have a meal, we pray, that was all," Jones said.

A few days later, the couple received a written warning that cited "unlawful use of land," ordering them to either "stop religious assembly or apply for a major use permit," the couple's attorney Dean Broyles told San Diego news station 10News.

But the major use permit could cost the Jones' thousands of dollars just to have a few friends over.

For David and Mary Jones, it's about more than a question of money.

"The government may not prohibit the free exercise of religion," Broyles told FOX News. "I believe that our Founding Fathers would roll over in their grave if they saw that here in the year 2009, a pastor and his wife are being told that they cannot hold a simple Bible study in their own home."

"The implications are great because it’s not only us that’s involved," Mary Jones said. "There are thousands and thousands of Bible studies that are held all across the country. What we’re interested in is setting a precedent here — before it goes any further — and that we have it settled for the future."

The couple is planning to dispute the county's order this week.

If San Diego County refuses to allow the pastor and his wife to continue gathering without acquiring a permit, they will consider a lawsuit in federal court.

Did you know your household owes $546668?

2009-05-31T08:31:00.002-05:00

According to USA Today, if we divide the national debt up.. it is a burden of $546,668 per household. Can you wrap your mind around that???

When we hear numbers in the trillions, it almost doesn't mean anything. But.. this?? This is something we can understand... how much does your family owe for your mortgage? plus car and other debt? I am fairly sure it is significantly less than your share of the national debt. And for that you have a house and car and all the things you own. And we work hard to pay that debt off. No one will let you off on that debt. You can't just say your kids will pay the debt in 50 years. But our government is doing that. They are spending without any sign of taking responsibility for the debt. And I don't know about YOU but I do not feel as though our family is getting anywhere near the value of this debt from the government. This year the new spending will add another $55,000 to our share of the debt. I know I am not getting that out of our government. Sigh.

Will you stand up? Be heard? Write or call your Congressman and demand that they be responsible with the budget.

The Government Takeover and the Demise of Capitalism

2009-05-31T06:15:00.004-05:00

“The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism. But, under the name of ‘liberalism’, they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program, until one day America will be a socialist nation, without knowing how it happened.” - Norman Thomas, U.S. Socialist Party presidential candidate 1940, 1944 and 1948

Over the last week, I have read the news, but I have been too angry and too sad to know where to begin in my post. I still don't know where to begin, but I will anyway.

I could talk about many things this week. This week we have Sotomayor being nominated despite her dismal record of being overturned the majority of the time in higher courts including the Supreme Court, despite her racist and sexist statement, and despite her open statement appearing to support policy-making from the bench. This week we have North Korea testing our president just as Biden said he would be tested during the election and our enemy is within reach of having a nuclear missile capable of reaching our soil. And this week we have Obama's administration once again offending the British and upsetting Israel even while he seems to apologize to and court our enemies.

But what has inspired me to write this post is none of the above issues, even though I could write volumes on them. What inspired me was the whole GM/Chrysler debacle. I am sick over this. Our government is all too tied up into this mess. First, the government is going to own much of the company. This is disgusting in my opinion.... but lets put that aside and look at how else this mess is being handled. Second the controlling interest, thanks to the government, is being given to the UAW... and NOT to the creditors and investors that put the money into the company over all these years. OH NO... lets not give ownership to those who pored money into the company... who bought ownership... lets give it to those who destroyed this company. Why? Well, because, they are the backers of Obama. Oh yes... that will inspire people to invest in the company.. NOT. Dealerships are being closed although logic seems to say more people selling your goods is always a good thing... and not surpisingly it seems those with Republican ties are being most effected by the closings. You can read more whole situation and about dealergate at Nice Deb.

Mark Levin has said this is dictatorship in action... others have called it being a bully or ganster mentality. All that may be true, but I see socialism. Socialism in almost every aspect of Obama's decisionmaking. And socialism in this government and union takeover of a private company.

The government size, scope, and control has grown dramatically since our new President came into power. Undoing this mess may prove impossible. Our debt continues to grow, larger than predicted because we have to sell bonds at a higher level than anticipated. Funny how that works. We have so much debt that we can not find enough buyers eager to buy into our failing economic system. We are printing money. I do not believe that we are going to see the end of this any time soon. And the next generation will have to pay for this... so they surely will not see the end of it... ever. They will have to live with this mess forever... heavily burdened by the debt we have piled on thier backs. Meanwhile, the march towards socialism goes forward in every way.

In Quiet Remembrance~Taps

2009-05-25T07:09:00.002-05:00

Taps

Day is done,
gone the sun,
From the hills,
from the lake,
From the skies.
All is well,
safely rest,
God is nigh.

Go to sleep,
peaceful sleep,
May the soldier
or sailor,
God keep.
On the land
or the deep,
Safe in sleep.

Love, good night,
Must thou go,
When the day,
And the night
Need thee so?
All is well.
Speedeth all
To their rest.

Fades the light;
And afar
Goeth day,
And the stars
Shineth bright,
Fare thee well;
Day has gone,
Night is on.

Thanks and praise,
For our days,
‘Neath the sun,
Neath the stars,
‘Neath the sky,
As we go,
This we know,
God is nigh.

Thanking God for all who served

2009-05-23T19:13:00.004-05:00

"It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived." -- General George Patton

This weekend I am once again reminded of the sacrifices made so that men could live free! This weekend join me in praising God for the men who He raised up to serve. This weekend take the time to thank a veteran or a serviceman or woman. This weekend be in prayer for the safety of those who are in harm's way and for their families on the homefront.

Most especially this Memorial Day remember those who have fallen in service to our country. It is what the day is for. Yes... we have picnics and bbqs and a day off... but this day off is so that we could remember and honor those who paid the ultimate price. So take a moment or two to do so.

In Salute to those Who Served ~ Memorial Day

2009-05-23T07:04:00.003-05:00

To all those who serve and who have served, THANK YOU. To the families of those who have served, THANK YOU. So many have given their all in service to our nation, and there are no words adequate to thank them. May God bless all our soldiers.

This Lamb Would Like to Thank ALL you Sheepdogs!!

2009-05-19T06:33:00.006-05:00

Glitter Graphics & Comments

I have no words adequate for the gratitude I feel for those who protect me, my family, and my country... this is reality. I am not a sheep in denial.. but I am a sheep. And I am aware I am a sheep. And as such I am aware how blessed I am to have sheepdogs to protect me. May God protect them and guide them and bless them.

For those of you who have not read "On Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs" I wanted to share it with you. And so ... here it is.

On Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs - Dave Grossman

By LTC (RET) Dave Grossman, author of "On Killing."

Honor never grows old, and honor rejoices the heart of age. It does so because honor is, finally, about defending those noble and worthy things that deserve defending, even if it comes at a high cost. In our time, that may mean social disapproval, public scorn, hardship, persecution, or as always,even death itself. The question remains: What is worth defending? What is worth dying for? What is worth living for? - William J. Bennett - in a lecture to the United States Naval Academy November 24, 1997

One Vietnam veteran, an old retired colonel, once said this to me:

"Most of the people in our society are sheep. They are kind, gentle, productive creatures who can only hurt one another by accident." This is true. Remember, the murder rate is six per 100,000 per year, and the aggravated assault rate is four per 1,000 per year. What this means is that the vast majority of Americans are not inclined to hurt one another. Some estimates say that two million Americans are victims of violent crimes every year, a tragic, staggering number, perhaps an all-time record rate of violent crime. But there are almost 300 million Americans, which means that the odds of being a victim of violent crime is considerably less than one in a hundred on any given year. Furthermore, since many violent crimes are committed by repeat offenders, the actual number of violent citizens is considerably less than two million.

Thus there is a paradox, and we must grasp both ends of the situation: We may well be in the most violent times in history, but violence is still remarkably rare. This is because most citizens are kind, decent people who are not capable of hurting each other, except by accident or under extreme provocation. They are sheep.

I mean nothing negative by calling them sheep. To me it is like the pretty, blue robin's egg. Inside it is soft and gooey but someday it will grow into something wonderful. But the egg cannot survive without its hard blue shell. Police officers, soldiers, and other warriors are like that shell, and someday the civilization they protect will grow into something wonderful.? For now, though, they need warriors to protect them from the predators.

"Then there are the wolves," the old war veteran said, "and the wolves feed on the sheep without mercy." Do you believe there are wolves out there who will feed on the flock without mercy? You better believe it. There are evil men in this world and they are capable of evil deeds. The moment you forget that or pretend it is not so, you become a sheep. There is no safety in denial.

"Then there are sheepdogs," he went on, "and I'm a sheepdog. I live to protect the flock and confront the wolf."

If you have no capacity for violence then you are a healthy productive citizen, a sheep. If you have a capacity for violence and no empathy for your fellow citizens, then you have defined an aggressive sociopath, a wolf. But what if you have a capacity for violence, and a deep love for your fellow citizens? What do you have then? A sheepdog, a warrior, someone who is walking the hero's path. Someone who can walk into the heart of darkness, into the universal human phobia, and walk out unscathed

Let me expand on this old soldier's excellent model of the sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs. We know that the sheep live in denial, that is what makes them sheep. They do not want to believe that there is evil in the world. They can accept the fact that fires can happen, which is why they want fire extinguishers, fire sprinklers, fire alarms and fire exits throughout their kids' schools.

But many of them are outraged at the idea of putting an armed police officer in their kid's school. Our children are thousands of times more likely to be killed or seriously injured by school violence than fire, but the sheep's only response to the possibility of violence is denial. The idea of someone coming to kill or harm their child is just too hard, and so they chose the path of denial.

The sheep generally do not like the sheepdog. He looks a lot like the wolf. He has fangs and the capacity for violence. The difference, though, is that the sheepdog must not, can not and will not ever harm the sheep. Any sheep dog who intentionally harms the lowliest little lamb will be punished and removed. The world cannot work any other way, at least not in a representative democracy or a republic such as ours.

Still, the sheepdog disturbs the sheep. He is a constant reminder that there are wolves in the land. They would prefer that he didn't tell them where to go, or give them traffic tickets, or stand at the ready in our airports in camouflage fatigues holding an M-16. The sheep would much rather have the sheepdog cash in his fangs, spray paint himself white, and go, "Baa."

Until the wolf shows up. Then the entire flock tries desperately to hide behind one lonely sheepdog.

The students, the victims, at Columbine High School were big, tough high school students, and under ordinary circumstances they would not have had the time of day for a police officer. They were not bad kids; they just had nothing to say to a cop. When the school was under attack, however, and SWAT teams were clearing the rooms and hallways, the officers had to physically peel those clinging, sobbing kids off of them. This is how the little lambs feel about their sheepdog when the wolf is at the door.

Look at what happened after September 11, 2001 when the wolf pounded hard on the door. Remember how America, more than ever before, felt differently about their law enforcement officers and military personnel? Remember how many times you heard the word hero?

Understand that there is nothing morally superior about being a sheepdog; it is just what you choose to be. Also understand that a sheepdog is a funny critter: He is always sniffing around out on the perimeter, checking the breeze, barking at things that go bump in the night, and yearning for a righteous battle. That is, the young sheepdogs yearn for a righteous battle. The old sheepdogs are a little older and wiser, but they move to the sound of the guns when needed right along with the young ones.

Here is how the sheep and the sheepdog think differently. The sheep pretend the wolf will never come, but the sheepdog lives for that day. After the attacks on September 11, 2001, most of the sheep, that is, most citizens in America said, "Thank God I wasn't on one of those planes." The sheepdogs, the warriors, said, "Dear God, I wish I could have been on one of those planes. Maybe I could have made a difference." When you are truly transformed into a warrior and have truly invested yourself into warriorhood, you want to be there. You want to be able to make a difference.

There is nothing morally superior about the sheepdog, the warrior, but he does have one real advantage. Only one. And that is that he is able to survive and thrive in an environment that destroys 98 percent of the population. There was research conducted a few years ago with individuals convicted of violent crimes. These cons were in prison for serious, predatory crimes of violence: assaults, murders and killing law enforcement officers. The vast majority said that they specifically targeted victims by body language: slumped walk, passive behavior and lack of awareness. They chose their victims like big cats do in Africa, when they select one out of the herd that is least able to protect itself.

Some people may be destined to be sheep and others might be genetically primed to be wolves or sheepdogs. But I believe that most people can choose which one they want to be, and I'm proud to say that more and more Americans are choosing to become sheepdogs.

Seven months after the attack on September 11, 2001, Todd Beamer was honored in his hometown of Cranbury, New Jersey. Todd, as you recall, was the man on Flight 93 over Pennsylvania who called on his cell phone to alert an operator from United Airlines about the hijacking. When he learned of the other three passenger planes that had been used as weapons, Todd dropped his phone and uttered the words, "Let's roll," which authorities believe was a signal to the other passengers to confront the terrorist hijackers. In one hour, a transformation occurred among the passengers - athletes, business people and parents. -- from sheep to sheepdogs and together they fought the wolves, ultimately saving an unknown number of lives on the ground.

There is no safety for honest men except by believing all possible evil of evil men. - Edmund Burke

....

This business of being a sheep or a sheep dog is not a yes-no dichotomy. It is not an all-or-nothing, either-or choice. It is a matter of degrees, a continuum. On one end is an abject, head-in-the-sand-sheep and on the other end is the ultimate warrior. Few people exist completely on one end or the other. Most of us live somewhere in between. Since 9-11 almost everyone in America took a step up that continuum, away from denial. The sheep took a few steps toward accepting and appreciating their warriors, and the warriors started taking their job more seriously. The degree to which you move up that continuum, away from sheephood and denial, is the degree to which you and your loved ones will survive, physically and psychologically at your moment of truth.

The Decline of a Nation

2009-05-18T19:45:00.004-05:00

This week I chose a quote by John Adams as the quote of the week.

"Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."

This relates to a topic that has been on my mind for a while. Obama has said this is no longer a Christian nation. This is debatable. Even so it is not disputable that this is not a MORAL nation. If you spend much time looking at the morality of just 50 years ago and now you will see an incredible decline. There has always been sin. We are human and fallen. But our modern culture revels in its immorality. It is not only done, or accepted, but called good and fine.

Recent numbers reveal that 40% of births are now out of wedlock in this nation. 40%!!! Teen pregnancy and single motherhood is accepted and even glorified. Movie stars and musicians choose this life and the world applauds. The reality that this is both immoral because God says so.. but also is proven to be detrimental to the children is totally ignored.

Homosexuality was called an abomination in the Bible, a mental disorder by psychologists until the 1990s even by the WHO, and now is both normal and acceptable.. but is almost a protected minority.

When I was growing up the family hour was squeaky clean and the family really could sit down and watch tv together safely without worrying about what they might see. When Threes Company came on it was a scandal even though it was shown after the family hour ended. Now, television glorifies all sorts of immorality, violence and sexuality are promoted, and swearing is now the common language. America seems to just accept it. We see some hope in the movie industry that has had a revival of sorts in the G rated category because it is consistently a money maker... but even in children's programming we see broken families and bratty behavior as the expected norm.

Let's go back to Adam's quote. "Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." Can our nation survive? Our Constitution has been twisted and the government has grown and our nation is nothing like what the founders intended. The Constitution does not protect us any more.. it has been warped by the immoral and unfaithful who sought governmental power and who lived by greed. And I do believe Adams was right. It could not hold up under such an attack. We are witnessing the results now.

May God turn our hearts back before it is too late.. if it is not already.

Making My Home a Haven

2009-05-18T15:41:00.004-05:00

I am going to try and join this meme (found at Tammy's Recipes).. and give me something new to help focus me on homemaking.. and an area to hopefully inspire me to blog a bit more. Since this meme's name is my goal.. to make my home a haven for me and my family... I thought it might be just the ticket.

Today's challenge:
Find a pile somewhere in your home and tackle it! :) This could be a pile of papers, laundry, trash, shoes, dishes, whatever! :)

Hooo boy!!! I only have a few of these.. lol. Or a LOT of these. So this is a good goal for me.

Today I have chosen to tackle two piles.

The first is the sprawling pile on top of my entertainment center. On it I found... 3 books, two DVDs, some misc. paperwork, allergy medicine, a bag of treats from a party, and a pile of change. It did not take long to work through this pile at all. And when I was done, and it was dusted I felt GREAT about it. And it made me want to tackle another pile.

I chose a smaller pile location.. my sidetable by this chair. It had 2 cards, a measuring cup (from my snack yesterday) a bottle of nail polish, and a bunch of pens and pencils. It was quick to do.. and now I have a nice clear surface!! Room for the PHONE... what a novel idea. (The phone had had to move to the FLOOR next to the small table. Sheesh. In part because I currently have a vase on the table.. but there was plenty of room for that and my coaster with the phone when the other stuff that did not belong there was moved.

Unbelievable~ Obama Says U.S. Long-Term Debt Load ‘Unsustainable’

2009-05-14T21:14:00.004-05:00

Ok, this is RICH... Obama.. our president who has spent and spent more than any other president and seems intent on continuing to spend is now saying we can't have this debt because it is mortgaging our children's futures and will hurt our economy!!! Wait... this is what the Tea Party movement has been saying!! This is what CONSERVATIVES are saying!! They are saying it because they look at Obama's out of control spending and the massive debt he is wracking up and they can clearly see the BIG PROBLEMS on the horizon caused by this debt. Sooo now, Obama says it is unsustainable and a problem... but he keeps on spending. Does he want to destroy our nation???

Obama Says US Long-Term Debt Load 'Unsustainable'
By Roger Runningen and Hans Nichols

May 14 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama calling current deficit spending “unsustainable,” warned of skyrocketing interest rates for consumers if the U.S. continues to finance government by borrowing from other countries.

“We can’t keep on just borrowing from China,” Obama said at a town-hall meeting in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, outside Albuquerque. “We have to pay interest on that debt, and that means we are mortgaging our children’s future with more and more debt.”

Holders of U.S. debt will eventually “get tired” of buying it, causing interest rates on everything from auto loans to home mortgages to increase, Obama said. “It will have a dampening effect on our economy.”

Earlier this week, the Obama administration revised its own budget estimates and raised the projected deficit for this year to a record $1.84 trillion, up 5 percent from the February estimate. The revision for the 2010 fiscal year estimated the deficit at $1.26 trillion, up 7.4 percent from the February figure. The White House Office of Management and Budget also projected next year’s budget will end up at $3.59 trillion, compared with the $3.55 trillion it estimated previously.

Two weeks ago, the president proposed $17 billion in budget cuts, with plans to eliminate or reduce 121 federal programs. Republicans ridiculed the amount, saying that it represented one-half of 1 percent of the entire budget. They noted that Obama is seeking an $81 billion increase in other spending.

God's Chisel

2009-05-14T07:55:00.001-05:00

Be blessed as I was blessed by this video. Know who you are in Christ!!! You are so special to Him!!

Thanks Maryellen!

Aborting Babies to Choose Gender Legal in Sweden

2009-05-13T06:02:00.004-05:00

What a sad, sad world we live in. And once again, Sweden has chosen to walk the path of the godless. Sweden is often the model country for those seeking socialism in our nation or "progressive" ideas. But this is the way of the progressive movement. My heart cries as yet another nation takes yet another step down the road of death.

We must be vigilant.. praying.. speaking out.. standing with God and the unborn and our Constitution... we must not allow this "progression" to continue in our nation. We need to continually stand to stop the march of godless ideology in our nation.

Sweden Rules "Gender-based" Abortions Legal
http://www.thelocal.se/19392/20090512/
The Local reported in February that a woman from Eskilstuna in southern Sweden had twice had abortions after finding out the gender of the child.

The woman, who already had two daughters, requested an amniocentesis in order to allay concerns about possible chromosome abnormalities. At the same time, she also asked to know the foetus's gender.

Doctors at Mälaren Hospital expressed concern and asked Sweden’s National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen) to draw up guidelines on how to handle requests in the future in which they "feel pressured to examine the foetus’s gender" without having a medically compelling reason to do so.

The board has now responded that such requests and thus abortions can not be refused and that it is not possible to deny a woman an abortion up to the 18th week of pregnancy, even if the foetus's gender is the basis for the request.

Here's To You, Mr Jefferson

2009-05-11T10:48:00.000-05:00

Life~ Imagine the Potential... New Ad for American Idol Finale

2009-05-09T09:09:00.004-05:00

Hat tip: Jill Stanek

This ad is fabulous!!! I loved their other ad.. and I did not think they could match it... but they did! I love it! LOVE IT! (By the way if you want to see the first ad, that was rejected for playing during the Superbowl, you can find it in my sidebar.)

What a beautiful message! Just imagine... who have we in our massive termination of life.. just imagine who we were deprived of. What genius? What talent? What love? My heart breaks... but this ad gives hope. May it touch those who watch it. May hearts be turned... and lives saved.

Then Sings My Soul Saturday ~ There will be a Day

2009-05-09T09:04:00.001-05:00

Ah... I heard this song again recently.. and I felt my soul rejoicing and in full agreement. Today, I will live for my Lord.. though life is often difficult there is more for us. We can rejoice in God's love and grace in the now.. but also for what is to come!! There will be a time when we see our Lord face to face! Rejoice!

To hear other songs that speak to the the soul visit Then Sings My Soul Saturday.

We Must Take America Back, music video by Steve Vaus

2009-05-08T10:31:00.000-05:00

Too Funny ~ Stephen Crowley Video Skit for National Day of Prayer

2009-05-07T19:54:00.001-05:00

Hat tip Nice Deb

President Obama's Lukewarm Proclamation of a National Day of Prayer

2009-05-07T19:43:00.002-05:00

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER, 2009
- - - - - - -
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION

Throughout our Nation's history, Americans have come together in moments of great challenge and uncertainty to humble themselves in prayer. In 1775, as the Continental Congress began the task of forging a new Nation, colonists were asked to observe a day of quiet humiliation and prayer. Almost a century later, as the flames of the Civil War burned from north to south, President Lincoln and the Congress once again asked the American people to pray as the fate of their Nation hung in the balance.

It is in that spirit of unity and reflection that we once again designate the first Thursday in May as the National Day of Prayer. Let us remember those who came before us, and let us each give thanks for the courage and compassion shown by so many in this country and around the world.

On this day of unity and prayer, let us also honor the service and sacrifice of the men and women of the United States Armed Forces. We celebrate their commitment to uphold our highest ideals, and we recognize that it is because of them that we continue to live in a Nation where people of all faiths can worship or not worship according to the dictates of their conscience.

Let us also use this day to come together in a moment of peace and goodwill. Our world grows smaller by the day, and our varied beliefs can bring us together to feed the hungry and comfort the afflicted; to make peace where there is strife; and to lift up those who have fallen on hard times. As we observe this day of prayer, we remember the one law that binds all great religions together: the Golden Rule, and its call to love one another; to understand one another; and to treat with dignity and respect those with whom we share a brief moment on this Earth.

The Congress, by Public Law 100-307, as amended, has called on the President to issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a "National Day of Prayer."

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 7, 2009, as a National Day of Prayer. I call upon Americans to pray in thanksgiving for our freedoms and blessings and to ask for God's continued guidance, grace, and protection for this land that we love.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.

BARACK OBAMA

Please read in contrast other proclamations from past years.. I have posted one here. How very sad... When I read this it almost sounds as though he is only doing it because he was forced... He certainly does not passionately ask for prayer to our awesome God for all the blessings bestowed.. nor recognize how our nation so desperately needs God. We as a people must pray... perhaps now, more than ever.

Irony ~ "We can no longer afford to spend as if deficits don't matter and waste is not our problem.."

2009-05-07T12:56:00.002-05:00

Oh the grand irony of government!!

President Obama revealed his budget... a massive 3.4 trillion dollar budget. Meanwhile, because he made 19 billion in cuts he found himself defending himself with statements that are shocking.. and almost laughable:

"We can no longer afford to spend as if deficits don't matter and waste is not our problem," he said. "We can no longer afford to leave the hard choices for the next budget, the next administration -- or the next generation."

Ironic, yes? A president who is spending at record levels with record levels of debt says that we can NO LONGER afford to spend as if deficits don't matter???? President Obama, YOU are the one who is spending as though it doesn't matter. And.... I urge you.. follow your advice... make the hard choices.. cut the budget.. and don't pass on YOUR mistakes to the next generation. Please.

Just for those of you whose eyes glaze over with such large numbers.. this year's budget spends over $11,000 for each man, woman, and child in this nation. That is more than my family earns in a year. That is certainly more than we can afford to pay in taxes. And I don't know about you... but I do NOT get $11,000 worth of stuff from our government, do you????

National Day of Prayer ~ Still Vital to Our Nation

2009-05-07T09:54:00.003-05:00

Today is the National Day of Prayer. How fortunate we are to live in a nation that realizes that we are dependent on the Almighty for all our blessings and for our freedom.

This year the celebrations in the White House are notably absent. Now, to be fair, President Bush was the first to make it a true annual priority.. but, this year Pres. Obama has chosen not to have any event.

Despite that... and perhaps because of that... it is so important that we spend our day in prayer for our nation. Please, consider taking time to pray for our nation.... that we may cling to the Lord God Almighty. That as a nation we would turn away from our sins and turn toward the Lord. "..if my people, who are called by my name, shall 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." Pray for our leaders that they seek Your Will for this nation, that godly counsel be given and heard. Pray for the safety of our troops. Pray for covering for this nation. Pray. Pray. Pray. It has never been more important.

Here is the prayer, issued by Beth Moore, honorary chair for this year's day of prayer:

We lift our eyes toward Your Throne, where You reign in righteousness.
Your Word assures us that when Your people cry out in sincerity and humility, You will never turn a deaf ear to us.
We call upon You now, seeking Your forgiveness and favor.
Look over this fevered landscape and heal us, Lord.
Drop knees to the floor and raise eyes to the sky, for we know where our help comes from.
Unite these States again in devotion to You, and blur every dividing line.
Do not give us over to our sins. Give us, instead, over to passionate prayer that moves Your heart.
“May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in You.”
In the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ
Amen

As of yet, there is no proclamation on the White House site, although as it is required by law, I am sure it will be here sometime today, somewhere. As I do not have that, I have instead chosen to post a past proclamation of the national day of prayer, from 2002. May you be blessed by it.

National Day of Prayer Proclamation
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation

Since our Nation's founding, Americans have turned to prayer for inspiration, strength, and guidance. In times of trial, we ask God for wisdom, courage, direction, and comfort. We offer thanks for the countless blessings God has provided. And we thank God for sanctifying every human life by creating each of us in His image. As we observe this National Day of Prayer, we call upon the Almighty to continue to bless America and her people.

Especially since September 11, millions of Americans have been led to prayer. They have prayed for comfort in a time of grief, for understanding in a time of anger, and for protection in a time of uncertainty. We have all seen God's great faithfulness to our country. America's enemies sought to weaken and destroy us through acts of terror. None of us would ever wish on anyone what happened on September 11th. Yet tragedy and sorrow none of us would choose have brought forth wisdom, courage, and generosity. In the face of terrorist attacks, prayer provided Americans with hope and strength for the journey ahead.

God has blessed our Nation beyond measure. We give thanks for our families and loved ones, for the abundance of our land and the fruits of labor, for our inalienable rights and liberties, and for a great Nation that leads the world in efforts to preserve those rights and liberties. We give thanks for all those across the world who have joined with America in the fight against terrorism. We give thanks for the men and women of our military, who are fighting to defend our Nation and the future of civilization.

We continue to remember those who are suffering and face hardships. We pray for peace throughout the world.

On this National Day of Prayer, I encourage Americans to remember the words of St. Paul: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." The Congress, by Public Law 100-307, as amended, has called on our citizens to reaffirm the role of prayer in our society and to honor the religious diversity our freedom permits by recognizing annually a "National Day of Prayer."

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2, 2002, as a National Day of Prayer. I ask Americans to pray for God's protection, to express gratitude for our blessings, and to seek moral and spiritual renewal. I urge all our citizens to join in observing this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-sixth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand two, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-sixth.

GEORGE W. BUSH

The Destruction of Choice in DC... Thanks to Obama

2009-05-05T11:46:00.003-05:00

As a homeschooler, you may think this is not a topic of interest to me.. but far from it. I am a passionate supporter of choice. I used to be a public school teacher.. and my husband is one now... and I believe that our future in large part depends on the education of our youth. Not everyone can choose homeschooling. Not everyone can afford a good private school. Private schools in general cost far less per pupil than our failing public schools. Vouchers WORK.

So, WHY does Obama and democrats fight it? I believe this is because of the Teachers unions, in large part. What is the priority of Obama in education? If it is education... and offering opportunity for a future and success then the vouchers should be continued. If the goal is to keep inner city kids uneducated to perpetuate poverty and dependence on the government.. then their choice to end vouchers makes sense.

Then Sings My Soul Saturday ~ I Can Only Imagine

2009-05-02T00:01:00.001-05:00

I never hear this song without being stirred again. This song can cause me to fall to my knees.. or stand to my feet and raise my hands in prayer.. or lead me into quiet deep prayerful worship.. but it ALWAYS effects me if I listen.

I hope that it blesses you today as it brings you to the sapphire pavement, at base of the throne of our Lord and King!!

To hear other songs that speak to the the soul visit Then Sings My Soul Saturday.

Save Me, Obama (Funny Parody Video)

2009-05-01T22:28:00.002-05:00

Not So Funny Friday Funnies

2009-05-01T00:01:00.000-05:00

100 Days of Change I DON'T WANT!!!

2009-04-30T13:22:00.002-05:00

Hat tip, Amy, of Redeemed Sheep...from An Infant in a Cradle Blog. This video is POWERFUL. PLEASE WATCH IT.

Video ~ First 100 Days ~ No Accountability

2009-04-30T10:26:00.000-05:00

But I Don't Want Him to Remake America, Thank you!

2009-04-30T07:14:00.003-05:00

President Obama held a town hall meeting last night to mark his first 100 days in office. One line has haunted me through the night, “we’ve begun the work of remaking America.”

If I thought he meant returning to what America was meant to be.. I would rejoice. That is NOT what he meant. He has a very different view of our nation than our founding fathers. They wanted limited government ~ he wants massive government. They believed in opportunity for individuals to make their own way... Obama believes in a nanny state government that takes care of people so that they do not need to take care of themselves. He is a SOCIALIST, plain and simple. I do NOT want the US made in the image of the European Socialist nations. No thank you. I want our nation to be AMERICA.... with all that the blessings the Constitution can provide.

I am growing increasingly concerned as more Americans are on the dole, and few pay taxes, that the movement towards socialism will be unstoppable. I hope I am wrong. This nation was never intended to be a democracy.. for this very reason. The founders knew that a pure democracy would eventually lead to the majority abusing the minority.. and we see it quickly coming. The majority is going to force the few to pay for the many. The future generations will be paying for the greed of the current one. This is the potential for evil in a pure democracy.. and why America was never intended to be a pure democracy, but a Republic. Obama loves this though.. promising it all to his followers.. he remains the shining star to so many.

Obama is remaking America.. when he is done.. will it still be America???

First 100 Days ~ Obama and the Spending of our Future

2009-04-29T21:47:00.004-05:00

This graph is from the Washington Post.

Over and over again, Obama promised to reduce the deficit and cut out of control government spending. That is .. until he became president. Now he says he will cut the deficit in half by 2013. That is a nice number trick. By his own numbers, he is telling the truth.. but the irony is.. that if you look at the graph.. the number he is cutting in half is HIS deficit spending of this year..which is 4 TIMES the amount of Bush's deficit. hmmmm Nice trick with numbers. With his more than cutting the deficit in half.. he will have increased the deficit. If you look at the Congressional Budget Office numbers, which have always been considered the gold standard, the deficit is even higher.

This spending is out of control.. and the lovely thing is, he is not done spending. We can look forward to more liberal spending and the expansion of government in the months and years to come. After all.. why not spend today what you can never pay for.. but bill the grandkids for? Right.

I look at the history of the deficit.. and I sigh. We are out of control. Whether Democrat or Republican we keep piling on new entitlements and new spending. Bush added several.. but when I look to the whole history of the deficit, and then to Obama's projected numbers.. I am worried. War spending ends. Military build up spending can end. Government entitlements rarely ever do.. they just keep piling up the bills higher and higher. Some of Obama's spending will end.. but the majority will be the gift that keeps on giving.. and giving.. and giving .. giving away our nation's future.

100 Days... Sigh

2009-04-29T11:28:00.001-05:00

Well, with President Obama now having been president for 100 days... the media is spending much time looking back over this historic presidency. Most of it, fairly glowing. Thankfully not everyone is so blinded... I don't agree with every complain in the following article but... it is a good summary of the 100 days/100 mistakes of the President's first days in office.

Word Filled Wednesday

2009-04-29T09:03:00.000-05:00

Find others who are celebrating God's Word at Word-filled Wednesdays.

Menu Plan Monday

2009-04-26T09:24:00.005-05:00

Menu Plan Monday ~
Monday~ Tilapia (tilapia made with half the recommended butter and double the tomatoes and basil), cous cous, tomatoes with dill

Tuesday~ Honey mustard chicken, baked potatoes, caesar salad

Wednesday~ Chicken and broccoli alfredo pasta I used this basic recipe but add broccoli for added veggies

Thursday~ Breakfast for dinner: Breakfast Burritos Note changes: I use 6 eggs, 8 egg whites, low fat cheese, and whole wheat wraps. Half will be frozen and ready for future easy breakfasts.

Friday~ Pizza Night

Saturday~ BBQ Night with baked beans and corn on the cob

Sunday~ Quiche (type undetermined at this time.... will see what we have in the house), salad

2009-04-24T14:50:00.000-05:00

"I am for a government rigorously frugal and simple. Were we directed from Washington when to sow, when to reap, we should soon want bread."

-Thomas Jefferson

Identity Crisis of a Nation

2009-04-19T20:01:00.004-05:00

The reality is that most Americans do not understand our government or even the different kinds of government. The schools and media do not teach it accurately. And this is leading to the destruction of our Constitution and the downfall of our nation. We are in a nation-wide identity crisis... and we need to learn quick...

I have included below a fabulous video that clearly explains this... but first a favorite quote of mine:

"A wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government, and this is necessary to close the circle of our felicity." Thomas Jefferson, First Inaugural Address.

17 Qualifications to be a Good Liberal

2009-04-18T09:08:00.002-05:00

Hat tip Ruth of the SWAP. I found myself laughing, sighing, and finding this all too true.

17 QUALIFICATIONS TO BE A GOOD LIBERAL
1. You have to be against capital punishment, but support abortion on demand.
2. You have to believe that businesses create oppression and governments create prosperity.
3. You have to believe that guns in the hands of law-abiding citizens are more of a threat than nuclear weapons technology in the hands of Iran or Chinese and North Korean communists.
4. You have to believe that there was no art before federal funding.
5. You have to believe that global temperatures are less affected by cyclical changes in the earth's climate and more affected by soccer moms driving SUVs.
6. You have to believe that gender roles are artificial, but being homosexual is natural.
7. You have to believe that the AIDS virus is spread by a lack of federal funding.
8. You have to believe that the same teacher who can't teach 4th-graders how to read is somehow qualified to teach those same kids about *****.
9. You have to believe that hunters don't care about nature, but PETA activists do.
10. You have to believe that self-esteem is more important than actually doing something to earn it.
11. You have to believe the NRA is bad because it supports certain parts of the Constitution, while the ACLU is good because it supports certain parts of the Constitution.
12. You have to believe that taxes are too low, but ATM fees are too high.
13. You have to believe that Margaret Sanger and Gloria Steinem are more important to American history than Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, or Abraham Lincoln.
14. You have to believe that standardized tests are racist, but racial quotas and set-asides are not.
15. You have to believe that the only reason socialism hasn't worked anywhere it's been tried is because the right people haven't been in charge.
16. You have to believe that homosexual parades displaying drag queens and transvestites should be constitutionally protected, and manger scenes at Christmas should be illegal.

17. You have to believe that this message is a part of a vast, right-wing conspiracy.

Word Filled Wednesday

2009-04-15T07:28:00.006-05:00

This verse, found in Job, Chapter 14, verse 7, speaks of God's glorious hope. The hope that God gives us in our lives over and over again. The hope that seems so evident in the world around us in spring. The things of nature often die over winter... and yet each spring, new life springs up. It is so joyous to watch new life and color spring into a world that seems almost colorless in winter.

There are many such images in Scripture, in different variations, of the theme of beauty from ashes. As Christians, we have the blessed promise of new life. Scripture tells us that from death comes new life. When we die to self, we are alive in Christ!

I offer my praises to God who offers us new life, renewal, and new starts each morning.

Find others who are celebrating God's Word at Word-filled Wednesdays.

Pope Warns of a Desert of Godlessness

2009-04-11T15:53:00.002-05:00

In Pope Benedict's Good Friday sermon he gave an important message for our age. While so much of the world seeks to create a secular world that abandons God, while world leaders including our own president seek to reduce the role of Christianity and Christ in the world, there are yet voices calling out for the Lord in this world. Although I am not Catholic, nor agree with all their doctrines, I am so thankful for the strength of the Catholic leadership as they stand for Christ and for life in a world of encroaching darkness. Enough of my babbling... here is the article covering his sermon.

Pope warns of 'a desert of godlessness in good Friday address"

Pope Benedict XVI last night attacked the rise of aggressive secularism in Western societies, warning them that they risked drifting into a 'desert of godlessness'.

He used his Good Friday meditations to compare deliberate attempts to remove religion from public life to the mockery of Jesus Christ by the mob as he was led out to be crucified.

'Religious sentiments' were increasingly ranked among the 'unwelcome leftovers of antiquity' and 'held up to scorn and ridicule', he added.

'We are shocked to see to what levels of brutality human beings can sink,' said the Pope at an evening ceremony at the Coliseum in Rome.

'Jesus is humiliated in new ways even today when things that are most holy and profound in the faith are being trivialised, the sense of the sacred is allowed to erode.

'Values and norms that held societies together and drew people to higher ideals are laughed at and thrown overboard. Jesus continues to be ridiculed.'

The German-born Pope, who turns 82 later this month, prayed Christians would respond by growing in faith.

'May we never question or mock serious things in life like a cynic,' he added. He also condemned the oppression of women, saying there were 'many societies in the world where women fail to receive a fair deal.'

'Christ must be weeping for them,' he said.

The Decline and Fall of Christian America???

2009-04-11T09:46:00.007-05:00

It seems our President and Newsweek share the same view on this matter. I found it insulting that Newsweek, which has been showing its ideology so clearly this year, chose this week to put out this headline and to do it in the shape of the Cross, but Newsweek is just a liberal magazine that masquerades as a news magazine, (evidenced by many of its covers such as one saying we are all socialists now.)

When our President takes the same position, I am struck deeply.

It is my opinion that this nation IS still a christian nation. And I am disgusted by the ideology of our President when he made that statement. He is our President.. our leader.. He pledged to uphold the Constitution and it is my opinion that in this statement he shows that he is undermining it at its very foundation.

Even so, I disagree with their entire premise. America is not and never has been a theocracy... so that in some ways we have never been a Christian Nation... BUT... at the same time.. we have been and still most certainly are a nation founded on Christianity and Judeo-Christian values and ideals. Our founding fathers knew this. Our Constitution and Declaration of Independence were written with that in mind. So I contend that we were founded as a Christian nation and continue to be one today. Despite their opinions. It just so happens the majority of America agrees with me.

Let us look at some quotes...

At a press conference in Turkey, President Obama casually stated: "One of the great strengths of the United States," the President said, "is ... we have a very large Christian population -- we do not consider ourselves a Christian nation or a Jewish nation or a Muslim nation. We consider ourselves a nation of citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values." (I can not help but contrast to the middle east. Can you imagine the Saudi King coming to the US and stating that his nation is not a muslim nation? Hardly!)

For a contrasting view, we need only look to our founding documents. I have also find worth noting the quotes of our Founders:

John Adams and John Hancock: "We Recognize No Sovereign but God, and no King but Jesus!" [April 18, 1775]

Patrick Henry:“It cannot be emphasized too clearly and too often that this nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason, peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here.” [May 1765 Speech to the House of Burgesses]

John Quincy Adams:“Is it not that, in the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior? That it forms a leading event in the progress of the Gospel dispensation? Is it not that the Declaration of Independence first organized the social compact on the foundation of the Redeemer's mission upon earth? That it laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity?"
--1837, at the age of 69, when he delivered a Fourth of July speech at Newburyport, Massachusetts.

Benjamin Franklin: “God governs in the affairs of man. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this. I also believe that, without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel” –Constitutional Convention of 1787 | original manuscript of this speech

“In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for Divine protection. Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered… do we imagine we no longer need His assistance?” [Constitutional Convention, Thursday June 28, 1787]

Thomas Jefferson: "God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are a gift from God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, and that His justice cannot sleep forever.”

James Madison: “We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of government, far from it. We’ve staked the future of all our political institutions upon our capacity…to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God.” [1778 to the General Assembly of the State of Virginia]

George Washington: “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and Bible.”

As for a decline and fall? As I have laid out I think it is indisputable that our founders intended that this be a christian nation.. and our Constitution and Declaration of Independence are still our nations ruling documents. To evaluate the idea that it is no longer a christian nation... well let us look at trends. On one hand we see a total moral decay and the collapse of the family unit, but on the other hand... we see a growth in other areas. 43 states have passed laws to protect marriage. The christian music and literature markets have exploded in the last 2 decades. There are movements throughout this nation to take back this nation and to halt moral decline. And conservative and evangelical and pentacostal church attendance is on the rise.

The very poll that Newsweek used to make this declaration is amusing. Yes, since George Bush's presidency the number of people in the poll who said America is a christian nation is down a bit... though still a majority... but the numbers are in fact up from the first time they took the poll, in 1996. Perhaps, Newsweek is not about writing the news, but instead writing their ideology. Sadly I believe that President Obama is doing the same thing... revealing his own ideology and intent.

Then Sings My Soul Saturday

2009-04-11T07:42:00.004-05:00

(Note: the videos have some graphic pictures of Christ's suffering.)

I could not pick just one... this first is a song that is so simple but gets me every time I hear it.

When I think of the sacrifice my Lord made for me... I agree with the song.. it does cause me to tremble.

And this one ... well ... I just love Keith Green. This video starts with scenes from the movie.. and tells the story of Easter before the song begins.

May God bless each of you, as you celebrate this season... May you be blessed as you remember all the Lord has done for you.

To hear other songs that speak to the the soul visit Then Sings My Soul Saturday.

Word-filled Wednesday

2009-04-07T21:41:00.003-05:00

Find others who are celebrating God's Word at Word-filled Wednesdays.

Then Sings My Soul Saturday ~ Watch the Lamb

2009-04-03T22:10:00.002-05:00

(Note: watch the video here.. there are many inappropriate statements in the comments section on YouTube. Also.. the crucifixion seen is quite graphic.)

This song has deep meaning to me. A friend played this song for me while I called myself a christian but had no personal relationship with Christ. It touched me so very deeply. My friend, seeing this, gave me his CD. I played it many many times in the months to come. About 2 years later, I gave my life to the Lord. This song so powerfully lays out what Christ has done. As Passover approaches.. and Resurrection Sunday also, this song came to mind. I pray you are blessed by it also.

To hear other songs that speak to the the soul visit Then Sings My Soul Saturday.

Gordon Brown Outlines the Emergence of the New World Order

2009-04-02T21:22:00.001-05:00

If you don't want to listen to the whole thing you simply must listen to it from the 1:00 mark on.

Word-Filled Wednesday

2009-04-01T07:53:00.003-05:00

Find others who are celebrating God's Word at Word-filled Wednesdays.

The Amazing US Army Drill Team

2009-03-31T06:56:00.001-05:00

I have been so bad about posting military tributes lately.. sooo this is long overdue. Our military is awesome and among the best in the world- well-trained, disciplined, honorable, dedicated, powerful, patriotic, and all around awesome! I hope you enjoy.

US Army Drill Team - watch more videos

Obama ~ Global Hope???

2009-03-30T07:25:00.003-05:00

Well, as Pres. Obama prepares to fly to the G20 summit with his 500 staffers including secret service, secretaries, advisors, doctors, and even his white house chefs, we look to the global economy and especially to the "great one" to fix this massive international mess. Right? RIGHT?

Well, Tim Geithner certainly believes in a global solution. Seeing as how Geithner is Pres. Obama's main man when it comes to the economy this quote is scary.

"Our hope, is that we can work with Europe on a global framework, a global infrastructure which has appropriate global oversight . . . "

Match this with his other statements on regulation and the picture comes into focus. “Our system failed in fundamental ways,” Tim Geithner told the House Financial Services Committee “To address this will require comprehensive reform. Not modest repairs at the margin, but new rules of the game.” Geithner went on to call for “better, smarter tougher regulation.”

What regulations is he talking about? Hmmmm... how about allowing for the government takeover of any company in trouble that is "too big to fail?" Yup. He is calling for regulation of private investments, hedge funds, 401 Ks, money market funds, loans, and well every part of the financial sector.

But let us not jump to conclusions... surely Obama does not want this mess. He said in his state of the union address just a little bit ago that he did not want big government. Right? What is Pres. Obama saying?

Well in the Chicago Tribune just last week President Barack Obama said, "But I also know, that we need not choose between a chaotic and unforgiving capitalism and an oppressive government-run economy. That is a false choice that will not serve our people or any people." Seems that he is paving the way for more regulation... doesn't it?

Menu Plan Monday

2009-03-30T06:29:00.003-05:00

Here is my menu for this week.... on most nights I will be simply having the meat and veggies... sans sauces and starches. The rest of my skinny family will be eating these higher calorie meals with great gusto.

Monday ~ Easy Italian Chicken (super easy 2 ingredient recipe), couscous, steamed broccoli

Tuesday ~ Golden Pork Chops, mashed potatoes, raw veggies (sugar snaps and carrots)

Wednesday ~ Spaghetti, cheesy garlic bread using this bread, salad

Thursday ~ Easy Enchiladas, refried beans without the refry, corn

Friday ~ Angel Chicken Pasta, caesar salad

Saturday ~ Leftover Day

Sunday ~ Crockpot Roast, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Onion Strings, Salad

Bubble Blowing Dolphins

2009-03-26T19:43:00.000-05:00

OK... not my usual type of post.. but I found this at a homeschool board I frequent, the swap, and it was soooo cool that I needed to share. Enjoy.

Parents are in Town... The Good, the Bad, and the Funny

2009-03-25T10:19:00.002-05:00

Hey all. I know that I have not been posting much lately. I have been in the prepare for my parents visiting from out of town mode.. and now the visiting with my parents mode. And unlike Pioneer Woman who seems to be able to manage to blog during every part of her life.. I just fall off the cyberplanet.

Anyway, my parents flew in from halfway across the nation. In preparation I cleaned like I only clean before they come. I am an art person. Chaos and creativity rule. (Read: SLOB) My parents are accountants, although now retired. In their house, everything has a place, and stays there. Dust does not belong. Everything is neat and pretty at all times. I have no idea where I came from. lol.

So, once a year when they visit I find myself in a couple of weeks of major decluttering and cleaning. It is so good for my house... not so good for my mood sometimes. Until it is done. And now in the quiet I sit and look over my clean and pretty house and sigh with deep contentment.

Each time I decide that I will do better and maintain it. Inevitably this lasts only a few weeks and then chaos and disorder creep back in. Again I will try. And we shall see.

We had a delightful visit yesterday afternoon, and in a bit we will be visiting again. Such a short time together. I get the joyous privilege of going over their wills with dad, and his estate planning. lol. I know it is a necessity and certainly one that an accountant would not want put off. I, on the other hand, would rather wait... and then panic when I needed to know this all. Thankfully they are seeing to it that I will not have to do that. (My children on the other hand...)

OK... so reviewing this post... My parents= the good.... at least in reading this post.. and does that make me the bad or the funny? Hmmmm Not much funny in this post other than my pathetic recurring trend that I shared with you. Will have to try harder next post. Or not.

12 year old Gives Powerful Speech on Abortion

2009-03-21T11:40:00.002-05:00

This speech was given in Toronto and won the competition despite opposition. I won't say more. Just listen.

Word Filled Wednesday ~ Rejoice!

2009-03-18T08:18:00.004-05:00

Yesterday was a glorious spring day, holding all the promise of the days to come. It was easy to rejoice in the Lord in the sunshine and in the warm spring breezes. But JOY is available every day.

We just watched Pollyanna together in homeschool, as we are studying the 1910's and the movie is set in 1912. The sweet movie as with the book it is based upon teaches much about joy and gladness. It points out that there are over 800 "glad verses" in the Bible.... revealing God's Will for us. Pollyanna finds a way to be glad through all circumstances, teaching us all a bit about living a life of joy. If you have not seen this movie you simply must.. or read the book... and spend some time in God's Word noticing all the verses about joy and gladness.

No matter the world's circumstances and difficulties, look to the skies and to God's creation, to your loved ones, and to God Himself... and REJOICE!

Find others who are celebrating God's Word at Word-filled Wednesdays.

2009-03-14T07:46:00.000-05:00

“Oh, eternal and everlasting God, direct my thoughts, words and work. Wash away my sins in the immaculate blood of the Lamb and purge my heart by thy Holy Spirit. Daily, frame me more and more in the likeness of thy son, Jesus Christ, that living in thy fear, and dying in thy favor, I may in thy appointed time obtain the resurrection of the justified unto eternal life. Bless, O Lord, the whole race of mankind and let the world be filled with the knowledge of thee and thy son, Jesus Christ.”
~George Washington~

Then Sings My Soul Saturday~ My Shepherd

2009-03-14T00:01:00.000-05:00

I have always loved Michael Card. His music is inspired by God's Holy Word, and this piece is by the 23rd Psalm... one of my favorites. I love the images chosen here by the video's creator as they so perfectly reflect the quiet peace I feel as I listen.

This song is a balm to the weary and troubled soul. The music and the words. I hope you find peace and comfort as you listen and snuggle in close to the Good Shepherd.

To hear other songs that speak to the the soul visit Then Sings My Soul Saturday.

Friday Not-So-Funny Funnies

2009-03-13T08:49:00.003-05:00

Word-filled Wednesday

2009-03-11T08:03:00.003-05:00

Find others who are celebrating God's Word at Word-filled Wednesdays.

Menu Plan Monday

2009-03-08T18:12:00.009-05:00

This week, I am buying very few groceries and working my way through some of my freezer stock. The menu reflects that. The only groceries I am buying is some fresh produce and a gallon of milk. (And a few sale items to keep my pantry stock increasing as is my desire but with loss leaders only.)

Monday
Breakfast Cereal with strawberries
Lunch Chicken tortilla wraps
Dinner Bangers and mash

Tuesday
Breakfast Apple muffins
Lunch Grilled Cheese and cantaloupe
Dinner Chicken enchiladas with mexican rice

Wednesday
Breakfast Whole Grain Waffles with fruit salad
Lunch Mac n Cheese
Dinner Pot Roast with mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli

Thursday
Breakfast Oatmeal
Lunch Hot dog casserole
Dinner Tilapia with dill sauce, baked potatoes, corn

Friday
Breakfast Cinnamon toast
Lunch Chicken nuggets
Dinner Hot Open face sandwiches with pot roast leftovers, salad

Saturday
Breakfast Super Easy Jelly Donuts
Lunch Broccoli Soup and fresh bread
Dinner Sweet and Sour chicken stir fry

Sunday
Breakfast Cinnamon Rolls
Lunch Tacos
Dinner Smothered Pork Chops with Mashed Potatoes and steamed mixed veggies

The Lopsided Gift Exchange

2009-03-07T09:01:00.003-06:00

I am sure by now all of you have heard of the perceived snub on Gordon Brown and Great Britain by Pres. Obama. No State dinner. Problems with the press conference. A cool reception. The return of the Winston Churchill bust which was offered to Pres. Obama.

I had heard about the gifts that Pres and Michelle Obama had presented to the Prime Minister and their family.... and I will repeat that in a minute. What I had not heard was what Gordon Brown gave to Pres. Obama. Wow.

This is from Mark Steyn:
The British Prime Minister Gordon Brown thought long and hard about what gift to bring on his visit to the White House last week. Barack Obama is the first African American president, so the prime minister gave him an ornamental desk-pen holder hewn from the timbers of one of the Royal Navy's anti-slaving ships of the 19th century, HMS Gannet. Even more appropriate, in 1909 the Gannet was renamed HMS President.

The president's guest also presented him with the framed commission for HMS Resolute, the lost British ship retrieved from the Arctic and returned by America to London, and whose timbers were used for a thank-you gift Queen Victoria sent to Rutherford Hayes: the handsome desk that now sits in the Oval Office.

And, just to round things out, as a little stocking stuffer, Gordon Brown gave President Obama a first edition of Sir Martin Gilbert's seven-volume biography of Winston Churchill.
In return, America's head of state gave the prime minister 25 DVDs of "classic American movies."

Wow... what meaningful gifts from the Prime minister of Britain!! Contrast that with a set of common movie DVDs that likely have been seen many times before and that may not even be in the right format... and I feel embarrassed.

As to the gifts for the children? For Sasha and Malia, Sarah Brown, the Prime Minister's wife, gave each an outfit from Topshop, a British chain of clothing stores, and selected six children's books by British authors which have yet to be published in the U.S.

In return, First Lady Michelle Obama presented the prime minister's two boys with toy helicopters modeled after Marine One. (Like the ones available at the gift shop?)

To me this highlights how unprepared the Chicago senator was for the presidency. He simply does not understand state functions. He gives parties for his cronies and supporters each Wednesday with musical guests, but does not throw a state dinner for Gordon Brown.

Also, his priorities with nations seems to be accentuated. He made efforts to call the Palestinian leader right away and to appear on Arabiya tv as his first tv interview... but he gives no priority to our greatest ally. He has some on-the-job learning to do. I hope that he gets his act together soon. So much for our international relations and repairing the world's opinion of us.

Finally, for years I have heard of the "dumb cowboy" who was our President. President Bush was often viewed as less than brilliant, but he never snubbed world's leaders in this way. He understood state functions. And, it turns out maybe he wasn't so dumb... Pres. Obama is the first president ever to use a teleprompter for almost every speaking engagement even those only a few minutes long. Pres. Bush only used them for grand speeches like the State of the Union address. Maybe if he had read every word he spoke he would have seemed more intelligent, but he worked from notes and memory, something we have yet to see from Pres. Obama after he flubbed his two events where the teleprompter malfunctioned.

Personally, I miss my cowboy president more and more every day. God bless you, Pres. Bush.

Government Approved Prayers????

2009-03-06T07:41:00.005-06:00

(I meant to post this earlier this week... but my illness delayed it. Sorry.)

Well, well, well. It seems that Pres. Obama has another distinction: Pres. Obama is the first president to check prayers before they are spoken at his events. Now, even those who believe there should be no prayers at state functions because of separation of church and state recognnize that this is MUCH worse. If the president's office is reviewing prayers for suitability, that essentially means that he is deciding what is an acceptable prayer.... this is dangerous. We can not have a government approved religion or prayer.

Here are selections from a blog entry by Dr. R. Albert Mohler that eloquently discusses this:

This Prayer Approved by the White House

Posted: Friday, February 27, 2009 at 4:38 am ET

Is the Obama White House vetting prayers? Dan Gilgoff of U.S. News and World Report reports that this represents a "new tradition" established by the administration of President Barack Obama. As Gilgoff revealed, "In a departure from previous presidents, his public rallies are opening with invocations that have been commissioned and vetted by the White House."

The issue of public prayer is increasingly controversial in an age of religious diversity and increasing secularization. Yet, prayers at government ceremonies and events have been common since the nation's founding and, until recently, few prayers related to White House events have been controversial. Radical church/state separationists consider these prayers to be improper and perhaps unconstitutional, but this is a hard case to make given the nation's historic practice.

On the other hand, sign me up as an opponent of any prayer that is vetted by any government official or agency. For reasons having less to do with the Constitution and more to do with the nature of prayer, I cannot imagine that a Christian minister could in good conscience allow the government to edit or approve a prayer.

Gilgoff's report contains some shocking details:

During Obama's recent visit to Fort Myers, Fla., to promote his economic stimulus plan, a black Baptist preacher delivered a prayer that carefully avoided mentioning Jesus, lest he offend anyone in the audience. And at Obama's appearance last week near Phoenix to unveil his mortgage bailout plan, an administrator for the Tohono O'odham Nation delivered the prayer, taking the unusual step of writing it down so he could E-mail it to the White House for vetting. American Indian prayers are typically improvised.

Though invocations have long been commonplace at presidential inaugurations and certain events like graduations or religious services at which presidents are guests, the practice of commissioning and vetting prayers for presidential rallies is unprecedented in modern history, according to religion and politics experts.

Consider what is at stake here. When the White House requires a prayer to be submitted in advance, it takes on an editorial role. This editorial role means that the White House is explicitly approving certain prayers for delivery. The prayer delivered in this context should bear a label that clearly identifies it as approved by the White House -- government-approved prayer.

Gilgoff relates the experience of Ryan Culp in Elkhart, Indiana:

The day before the president arrived in Elkhart, Culp spent an hour and a half crafting his prayer, roughly a minute and 20 seconds long, before calling an aide from the White House Office of Public Liaison to recite it for vetting, as the administration requested. "She said that it was beautiful and that there shouldn't be a problem with it but that she would call in the morning if there was," Culp recalls.

The White House had no revisions for the prayer, which opened with the line: "Dear Heavenly Father, we come to you this day thanking you for who you are—a God that cares about each of our needs, our desires, and our fears." Culp delivered it the following day at Obama's town hall meeting, landing a handshake from the president and mentions in several local papers.

There is much here that can only be characterized as ominous and troubling. The White House official reported back to Mr. Culp that it "had no revisions for the prayer" after reviewing its content for several hours. But there is no rationale for this process unless the White House would, if dissatisfied with the proposed prayer, order some revision.

Interestingly, White House spokesperson Jen Psaki commented that the practice of vetting prayers had "been standard since the campaign." This revelation raises a host of other questions. What about the prayers offered at President Obama's inauguration? Did the administration approve or edit the prayers offered by pastors Rick Warren and Joseph Lowery?

Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, offered a most interesting response to the revelation that the Obama White House is vetting prayers: "The only thing worse than having these prayers in the first place is to have them vetted, because it entangles the White House in core theological matters."

Tellingly, the administration is also timing the prayers so that they are heard by those present at the events, but not by the far larger audience watching via the media. As Gilgoff explains, "The Obama administration may have skirted controversy by scheduling the invocations to be delivered before the president arrives at the events—and before national cable network cameras start rolling."

All this points to something the Obama administration -- and anyone asked by the administration to offer a prayer -- had better learn fast. The government has no authority and no proper role in the vetting of prayer. No Christian should allow any prayer to bear the label, "This prayer approved by the White House."

Back from the Flu

2009-03-05T09:57:00.002-06:00

I can't believe I have not posted since Saturday. I have not missed more than one day at a time since November... it is not as though I have not had anything I wanted to say. I ALWAYS seem to have something to say. (My family probably wishes I had said it to all of you on the blog instead of to them.lol)

I am trying to catch up on housework and laundry and spending time with the kids.. so I will post tomorrow a few articles that I feel worthwhile... and since we will be out enjoying the 60 degree weather and sunshine today... maybe some photos too.

Then Sings My Soul Saturday ~ God Bless the USA

2009-02-28T07:34:00.005-06:00

Yesterday, my children utilized our right to freedom of speech and right to assemble to stand in protest at the National Tea Party yesterday in St Louis. Throughout the protest there was a trumpet player who led us in various traditional songs of patriotism... My Country Tis of Thee, America the Beautiful, God bless America, etc. And as each played the 1000 plus attendees sang out. My heart was moved deeply. One that was not played was this newer classic... one that I love so much it just so happens that I posted it on Tuesday, on my military salute post.

Today my heart is filled with love of freedom and our nation. I know it is not the traditional type of Then Sings My Soul Saturday song, but it stirs my heart... so here it is.

To hear other songs that speak to the the soul visit Then Sings My Soul Saturday.

The St. Louis Tea Party ~ A Way for over 1000 to Say ENOUGH!

2009-02-27T19:10:00.006-06:00

Today, my kids and I drove to St Louis to participate in the National Tea Party. It was a cold, windy, cloudy day... and sooooooooo awesome!! The tea party was only planned a few days ago. Media predicted a turn-out of 50-100. But, despite it being a work day, and super short notice, and almost no media coverage... approximately 1500 people from the area had a tea party on the steps of the Arch.
I took a lot of photos... but they can not begin to capture what the day was like. After a big turnout, holding signs along the road, signing a petition, listening to some speakers, we finished the event by dumping some tea into the Mississippi River. Not surprisingly, this was my kids favorite part. Anyway... I may talk more about my experience later but for now..
how about some photos?
(No this cutey is not mine... there were so many children of all ages at the protest... as well as college students, working men and women taking time off, and retired individuals. All concerned with our nation's future.)

In case you haven't figured it out.. these two are mine!!! And here they are carefully dumping tea into the Mississippi.

Want to read about tea parties from around this great nation, and see photos from those events? Go to Michelle Malkin's blog and enjoy!

Friday Funnies

2009-02-27T12:51:00.000-06:00

Well, there have been some great political cartoons this week. So I am going to share a few. I hope you enjoy.

This Year's Deficit is a Cost of $5,833 for each man, woman, and child in America

2009-02-26T10:19:00.005-06:00

New numbers say that the projected deficit for THIS YEAR ALONE is $1.75 trillion dollars. That is $5833 per each person in the US to pay it off. The burden for our family is over $23,000!!!! Wow. I know we are not getting $23,000 worth of benefits from the government this year. Are you? We certainly could not hope to pay our share of the taxes. And frankly if Obama is only going to have businesses and the rich pay... and 95% NOT pay.. their share will kill the economy too. The truth is he won't have them pay either.. not all of it. It will just go onto the tab for our children.

The total cost for this year's budget is even higher of course.. that is just the deficit. The cost of this year's budget is $11,833 per person in the US... and for our family of $47,332. That is more than we earn!!!!!

There is only one sensible way to handle this. STOP THE SPENDING!!!!!

Tomorrow I will go to a Tea Party Protest in St. Louis. I believe that the out of control spending is selling our children's future.

Some in the conservative media have named the stimulus package the "generational theft act of 2009" and I am finding myself agreeing. It is the ultimate in taxation without representation because our children did not choose this spending that they will have to pay for. And I am outraged.

Thankful Thursday

2009-02-25T22:19:00.004-06:00

I am so thankful today for our God who is our Provider. What a wonderful God we have... who cares for lilies of the field and the birds of the air.. and so much more for His children... us. Economic troubles may come and go, but we have our security in Him, not in this world.

I am so thankful for our God who is my Savior. What a wonderful God we have... who gave His all, even until His life... for His bride. We are ransomed, dressed in His white robes, and loved beyond measure. I fail all too often... and by my own worth am in filthy rags. But my Savior redeemed me.

I am so thankful for our God who is my Abba Father. He is loves me, guides me, disciplines me, and teaches me how to love my children and those around me because of His great love. He is my Abba Father who I can run to when I need Him. He has told me that I can come boldly before His throne of grace, approaching Him with all my needs, wants, fears, and feelings. He is always there for me.

I am so thankful for our God the Creator. I look around God's beautiful world and can not help to praise my God. I am in awe of the diversity and beauty and power of His work. And I am so thankful for the Creator God who knit together my children... such wonderful wonderful blessings to me.

I am so thankful for my God, my King. As I look to the flawed and human leaders of this world, it brings me great comfort to know who is the King of Kings. He rules over all. He is on the eternal Heavenly throne.

I am so thankful for my God, my Shepherd. I am His willing lamb. He gives me quiet green pastures to lie down in. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He comforts me with His staff and protects me. He guides me into His perfect ways, into righteousness. He knows me and I know His voice. And I will follow Him all the days of my life. His goodness and mercy will be mine all the days of my life.

Join in at Thankful Thursday.

My Take on Obama's Speech Last Night

2009-02-25T20:08:00.005-06:00

I am not going to post the entire transcript... instead I am going to post quotes, plus my commentary.

When describing the problems that brought on this economic downturn, he listed a variety of factors including health care, energy, and debt.

"And though all these challenges went unsolved, we still managed to spend more money and pile up more debt, both as individuals and through our government, than ever before."

I found this striking because the majority of the rest of the speech proceeded to outline all the ways to fix the economy... by freeing money so people could borrow more... and by the government spending more money, going further into debt. Want to see? Here is his solution only a few lines later...

"Now is the time to act boldly and wisely – to not only revive this economy, but to build a new foundation for lasting prosperity. Now is the time to jumpstart job creation, re-start lending, and invest in areas like energy, health care, and education that will grow our economy, even as we make hard choices to bring our deficit down."

And here:

"The concern is that if we do not re-start lending in this country, our recovery will be choked off before it even begins."

Another striking quote was this:

"Not because I believe in bigger government – I don’t."

Let us see how he doesn't not believe in bigger government.. okay?

"We have also made the largest investment in basic research funding in American history – an investment that will spur not only new discoveries in energy, but breakthroughs in medicine, science, and technology."

"Our recovery plan will invest in electronic health records and new technology that will reduce errors, bring down costs, ensure privacy, and save lives. It will launch a new effort to conquer a disease that has touched the life of nearly every American by seeking a cure for cancer in our time. And it makes the largest investment ever in preventive care, because that is one of the best ways to keep our people healthy and our costs under control."

"Already, we have made an historic investment in education through the economic recovery plan. We have dramatically expanded early childhood education and will continue to improve its quality, because we know that the most formative learning comes in those first years of life. We have made college affordable for nearly seven million more students."

"That is why it will be the goal of this administration to ensure that every child has access to a complete and competitive education – from the day they are born to the day they begin a career."

Well... I don't know about you but to me all that sounds like a major expansion of government... you might even say a historic expansion... the largest expansion ever... to care for people from birth.

His energy program does not seem good for our economy either:

"So I ask this Congress to send me legislation that places a market-based cap on carbon pollution and drives the production of more renewable energy in America."

A cap on carbon pollution that drives the production of renewable energy??? Ah, I see.. a cap on affordable energy, that forces more expensive energy to be our option? That will be good for our ailing economy... not.

Now, he did say he would continue with tax cuts for 95% of Americans while cutting the deficit by half... and interesting trick when you have the biggest spending plans in history one after another. On the other hand... while he cuts taxes, taxes will be passed onto those 95% of Americans when the US taxes companies they will pass taxes on. And the energy cost increases from his new rules will eat up any tax cut.

But to pay for the huge government and yet cut the deficit he will have to do something... what? Of course, he will raise taxes on the wealthy and businesses. How that will be encourage the jobs in this nation that he expects not to flee the nation, I do not know.

Let us contrast Obama's opinion on the matter and Pres. Kennedy when he faced recession.

What Obama supported last night was exactly what he said he would support... bigger government, and penalizing the wealthy. Redistribution of wealth. Socialism... but don't worry... with Obama in charge this will surely be the time socialism works.

Word Filled Wednesday

2009-02-24T22:58:00.005-06:00

(Psalm 4:8)

Thank you Lord, that you keep us safe. We need not worry about the difficulties of this world... though the weight of the world seems to close in on us, we can give it all to You. And in You, Lord, we can rest in peace. For You alone make us dwell in safety.

Find others who are celebrating God's Word at Word-filled Wednesdays.

Let the Tea Parties Begin... You are Invited!

2009-02-24T17:04:00.005-06:00

As many of you have likely heard, there was talk of a Tea Party in Chicago on CNBC. Well... that was for July. And the words by Rick Santelli struck a nerve with the American public. Now there are tea parties planned for throughout the United States. I will be attending one this Friday either in Chicago or St Louis. Find out if there is one near you at http://www.pjtv.com/?cmd=page&page-id=68 UPDATE... there are more being added all the time... this site has a new list: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2192974/posts

The internet is abuzz with it... I find out about this first at Michelle Malkin's site. She posted a bunch of songs and parodies also... this one is one you will all know and remember.

I will take tons of pictures and post about our tea party experience. I hope the weather cooperates... but we plan on going anyway.

Socialism vs Capitalism ~ Milton Friedman ~ A Blast from the Past that is as True Today

2009-02-24T10:04:00.003-06:00

I found this gem of a video on Mommy Life blog this morning and simply had to share it with you. It speaks to the lies of the liberals in power more clearly than I ever could.

The Spending Never Stops ~ Democratic Congress Propose Spending another $410B, While Obama Promises Tax Increases and Deficit Reduction

2009-02-24T08:09:00.004-06:00

Well, well, well. It just gets better and better. As if the largest spending bill in history was not enough, Democrats have rushed to spend more money they don't have. First, the mortgage bailout plan and now another pork-laden spending bill. All the while, Obama promises to halve the deficit he inherited from Bush. His cuts include the military and a vague re-organizing of programs. The main source of fixing the deficit is increasing taxes, and rolling back Bush's tax cuts. So much for his repeated promise of tax cuts for 95% of Americans. Instead it is tax increases for all, and extra for businesses and the successful. Will the joy never end?

House Democrats propose $410B spending bill
House bill to keep govt. running totals $410 billion, features thousands of pet projects

WASHINGTON (AP) -- House Democrats unveiled a $410 billion spending bill on Monday to keep the government running through the end of the fiscal year, setting up the second political struggle over federal funds in less than a month with Republicans.

The measure includes thousands of earmarks, the pet projects favored by lawmakers but often criticized by the public in opinion polls. There was no official total of the bill's earmarks, which accounted for at least $3.8 billion.

The legislation, which includes an increase of roughly 8 percent over spending in the last fiscal year, is expected to clear the House later in the week.

EDIT TO ADD.... I just read on Jill Stanek's blog that in this spending bill is an increase in "family planning" by 95.5 million to a total of $852million.

God Bless the U.S.A.

2009-02-24T00:01:00.000-06:00

I had meant to post each week a salute to our troops and our veterans.. and I did and then after the election, my heart went out of it. I was disappointed in the results of the election, in part because I believe that our new President does not love America the way I do, or President Bush did. In part because I believe that President Obama does not love the Constitution the way I do, or the freedoms promised within. But, I came to realize that I still do love our nation, and the freedoms she gives. And I definitely still appreciate the sacrifices our troops are making and the ones that sacrificed so much for our nation. It is not time to stop thanking our troops... it is time to shout it from the rooftops. America is still protected by the world's finest. America is still the land of freedom and opportunity given us by our soldiers. May she always be so.

Menu Plan Monday

2009-02-22T17:37:00.004-06:00

Monday - Spaghetti, salad, chocolate cake

Tuesday - Smothered Chicken (but made with turkey bacon and low fat cheese), Mashed Potatoes, Steamed broccoli

Wednesday - Crockpot Pork Roast Burritos, Tortilla Chips with salsa, sliced tomatoes

Thursday - Turkey Chili over Baked Potatoes

Friday - Mexican rice topped with leftover Pork Roast

Saturday - Leftover Night

Sunday - Barbeque Pork Chops, Country Fried Potatoes, Corn