Sunday, September 28, 2008

My Religous/Political Confusion...

Mark and I went with the kids (along with Mack & Dorothy) to Mark's Aunt Jean's church this morning to participate in their "Old Timey Day". The preacher was a young man who really was giving it his all about Hell and how we need to do everything that we can to make sure that we're not on the path to go there. He talked about the End Times and about how things in this world and country are getting worse and worse and how we need to make sure that we keep God in mind when making all of our decisions.

During his sermon, he made a comment that we as Christians needed to make sure that during this presidental election, that we don't elect the man who "wants to kill the babies". He then made a connection to the fact that if the wrong man gets elected, that it would be a pretty sure thing that the Mark of the Beast wouldn't be too far off in our futures to help "correct" the current financial mess that our nation is in.

This makes my brain so tired.....I am a registered Democrat. I am a free-thinking 31-year-old female who has the sense to realize that in the 8 years that our Republican President has been in office, abortions have yet to be banned or deemed illegal. I also know that our financial mess is due to some of the decisions that have been made during the overseeing of our Republican President. Many will claim that "The Democrats keep the president from making Abortions illegal and the Democrats are who have created the bills that have led to our financial ruin", but isn't it true that if the president WANTED to make an issue out of something like Abortion and Finances, couldn't he do it in such a way as to force the country to take a stand and make the Politicians listen to the people and have them vote the way that the people wanted? I'm not good at politics, but isn't that the way it is supposed to go? I mean, if it's so important to elect a REPUBLICAN this next go-round to "fix" all the moral downfalls that we're in right now, then why didn't the current Republican fix those things while he was in office? Either way, whatever wrongs befall the country after the election, the Republicans will blame the Democrats and the Democrats will blame the Republicans. No one ever has anything nice to say about the other. Neither really ever offer to try to work together for the better good of the country. It's always about blaming someone else. That goes for BOTH sides.

Now...like I said, I'm not so great at politics, but I do know that there are many people in this world who will choose to greatly dislike me purely because I am a registered Democrat. What is even sadder is that there are many who claim to be Christians who will verbally abuse me because of my party affiliation.

You say Democrat, and people have visions of Poor, Atheist, Abortion loving, Gay Rights Upholding people. When you hear the word Republican, you think RICH, Christian, Pro-Choice, Anti-Gay people.

Now...I don't know about the rest of you, but I know plenty of poor Rebublicans and RICH Democrats. I know many Democrats who are as anti-abortion as you can get and on the flip-side, I know many Republicans who are pro-choice. I also know people on the republican side who are pro-gay rights and on the Democratic side who are against gay-rights.

Then you get to the Christian thing........as Christians, we are bound to love others as God loves us. We are bound first and foremost to uphold God's teachings about how to treat others with love and respect and to not judge others for what they have done or for what they believe, but to make sure that WE ourselves are right with God. We are supposed to pray for each other. Not in judgement, but in support that we and everyone around us will make good decisions on a daily basis. We don't have to agree with the choices that others make, but God does want us to love each other unconditionally as he loves us. As Christians, those are our orders. Plain and Simple!

Being a Republican or a Democrat should not evoke feelings of hatred amongst the Christian people. (In all honesty, I wish the parties would be done away with because there are so many left or right "winged" people on all political levels that it's all just a blur anymore (to me at least)).

The fact is, is that in this political race, I'm not going to vote for my Democratic candidate just because I'm a democrat. I'm still extreemly undecided...........That may not make sense to many of you, but to me, I am going to vote for the person I feel will be the best person to take our country out of all of the mess that it is in. If that is Obama or McCain, I have no clue as of yet. They say and do things daily that affect how I feel about them. It will be that way until election day. BUT...............please know......that I will NOT make my decision lightly.

I want to leave you with this thought...If you are a Christian (or not), keep in mind that your actions and words are your best tools to win someone over to your way of thinking, or to push someone away. I would much rather listen to someone who is willing to ask my opinion and offer theirs in a non-threatening way rather than to listen to someone who is verbally bashing my thoughts and beliefs before they know anything about how I feel. (this relates to salvation AND politics!!)

Hope you've all enjoyed my little rant.......I'm sure there will be more to come in the future!!

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Megan & Tim

I would like to announce that my niece Megan was officially engaged to her boyfriend Tim this past Friday night. The two are planning to get married this November 7, 2008. More details will follow soon! (I've requested a beautiful picture!) When I get the information, I will post it here for all to see!

This picture was taken back in February of this year. From left to right is Melissa & Megan's brother Joey, Tim, Megan, Creston, and (my) Mark.

CONGRATULATIONS you two!!!

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

New Lyrics for an old standard...

My dear little Creston was just singing "She'll be coming 'round the mountain...". He was doing really well with it and was getting into it moving and a groovin' to the tune......I thought..."How cute! I didn't teach him this song. Wonder where he got it from?".

THEN.....he started the second verse and started singing "She'll be riding big fat horses when she comes...toot toot!"

:o)

That's my kid...........oh me.......

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

A day in the life of two boys...

I just wanted to share this little interaction with all of you.....just so those of you with no kids, or 1 kid, or older kids can see or reminisce about how it is/was with 2... :o) Enjoy!


First of all...this all revolves around this sippy cup. As you see here, Mackie has the sippy cup. It is Creston's cup and will soon be back in its owners possession...(please note how HAPPY Mackie is to have this cup! So proud! So excited!!)

Ok.....at some point, the cup made its way back to Creston...Below you see Mackie trying to snatch it away from evil older brother yet again...
It almost works, but Creston intercepts the cup and proceeds to "shoot" Mackie with an accompanying "Bang Bang BANG!!!". (the shooting occurs when he is mad at one of us...we have all died multiple times over the last many months...I think we're looking pretty good to be dead!)

Now......(wish I had a full-on shot of Mackie), this is Mackie SCREAMING at the top of his lungs at Creston. Note the extended arms and squatting position...Now imagine the loudest possible squeal that you can and multiply it by 100 and you've got the picture! (Also note that Creston doesn't seemed fazed by this outcry of emotion from his baby brother).

Just for kicks, Mackie attempts it again...No good this time either, little fella...

Thus...the heartbreak...

Please note the tiny person behind the rocking chair....this is Mackie leaving the room because I said "Do you want your bath now?". He stopped crying, and RAN towards the hallway. I said "Mackie? Where are you going?" and took this shot.

He wants what Creston has and Creston wants what he has.......never ends!!!! :o)

Monday, September 22, 2008

Mackie drinks a little...on the side...

Milk, that is...
This isn't the best picture of him drinking "crooked", but I thought that it was funny! He has his front 4 teeth on the top and bottom, so no matter what he is drinking out of, bottle or cup, he does it off to the side!!!!!

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Celebrating Mark's B-Day on Sunday!

Since Mark worked on his actual Birthday - Day, SUNDAY
was our day to celebrate Mark's 33rd birthday!
Creston was so proud of making Daddy's wrapping paper!
Creston, Mark, & Mackie! (My three fella's)


I got a bit exited and baked a German Chocolate Cake AND made a Butterscotch pie (from scratch!!! ~ the pie, that is!!) Well.....I didn't make the crust.......but I thought that the filling AND the meringue turned out pretty well!I didn't have 33 candles, so I just did what you see above!!!


Somebody call the Fire Department!! There's SMOKE EVERYWHERE!!!!!

Nana & Pa-Paw came up to eat cake and pizza with us!

After the eating and presents, Nana and Pa-paw watched the boys for us while we went to eat at OUTBACK!! (our FAVORITE) and then we went to see a movie!!! We hadn't been out like that together alone in a VERY long time! It was nice! It was a good day.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Birthdays!

Today is a special day for two very important people in my life! My husband, Mark, and my niece, Melissa! As luck (and fate) would have it, they share the same birthday!!!

Since I can't ever remember to get a current picture with Melissa, I will

post the last one of us (girls and Creston & Mack) from this past Christmas!!!Creston, Melissa, Mom, Megan, Grandma, Me & Mackie-Moo!

Melissa is 20 today! Boy!!!!! That really doesn't seem possible. When she was little-bitty she always knew when her birthday was and she would volunteer the information to anyone who came near........she had a little bit of a lisp...so it sounded something like this....."MY BIRFSDAY IS SEPTEMBR TWENTYIFSH!!!!!" She would proclaim this like it was the most important news in the whole world! It was really cute!!

Melissa, sweetie, you've come a long way so far........and you've got so MANY more years to go! Live each day to the fullest and never let anyone tell you that you can't do something! There are always doors that will open.....have faith and you can accomplish ANYTHING!!! I believe in you and so does the rest of our family!!! We're so very proud of you and the young woman that you have become! HAPPY 20th BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now.......for the other birthday person.............

Markie-Poo!!!! HAPPY 33rd BIRTHDAY TO YOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday Dear Ma-ark (Daa-dy),
Happy Birthday to you!!!!

Now.......just so everyone knows, I'm all about Birthdays......love them!!! Big Birthday person!

Now....just so everyone knows, Mark is NOT all about Birthdays! He's not all "Look at me!! I'm 33!" He's more like......."let's just forget it this year...."

Now.....last year, for Mark's 32nd birthday, he had to work at the Fire Department. He hadn't been working there long, so I thought that the boys and I would take him some brownies and balloons to brighten his day!!!!!!!!!! Heeee Heeeee Heeee! Thought that he would fall over dead when we showed up with the balloons! He said "Don't get those out of the car, Martha!" They came out of the car and went inside the building where he was promptly made fun of. He HATES to be picked on!!!! :o)

So................this year, my dear sweetie, we were going to surprise you again and come to be with you this evening, but because we love you dearly, (and because you've been running calls left and right all day), the boys and I won't be coming to see you at work today.....

We won't bring you this cake...
or let you wear this cute little party fire hat...


You won't have to drink from this CUTE little cup....
or squirt all your friends with this extinguisher.


I won't bring this Pinata filled with yummy candy for you to bust open.

I won't even bring these favors for everyone to take home after all the fun is over.

It would have been lots of fun! You could have had the BEST birthday ever!!!!!!!! Now.....you'll just have to sit there in your Birthday-Deprived Fire Department and merely think about what might have been.............so sad.........no cake....no balloons.....no party fire hat.......sniff...sniff....

Your co-workers would have liked it! Now they have been deprived of the fun of making horrible fun of you! Oh well......maybe next year I'll send you a dancing Smokey-the-Bear Birthday Gram!

All fun aside...I love you, Mark, and I hope that this Birthday is the best one yet!

We'll eat cake and ice cream on Sunday!!!!!!!!!!! Stay safe, o.k.?

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