The Truth About The State of Our Country

I have been stewing.  Stewing and pondering and desperately wanting to write down my thoughts, but I've been so frustrated and angry and sad that I've been careful to choose my words wisely (and until now, that has been to hold them).

But, the silence has to be broken - I can no longer hold my tongue against the atrocities that have been committed against the US people as a result of the recent passage of the "health care insurance reform" bill by congress under the cloak of night late Sunday when the rest of us (who will be shouldering the heavy bill of this legislation) were resting before starting our workweeks on Monday morning.  My conscience demands that I say my peace.

Because I am so concerned about choosing my words wisely, though, other than voice my utter disagreement with this legislation, I have been stumped at what, exactly, to write.  Until this morning, when I read a blog post by Del Tackett of Focus On the Family's The Truth Project on his blog, The Truth Observed.  I wanted to share an excerpt of Dr. Tackett's words with you because they express my sentiments more eloquently than I am able to right now.

Dr. Tackett writes:

"The world says it is all about you…God says it isn’t. And the wondrous thing is that when we “take up our cross and follow Him”, He gives us not only life…but life abundantly!

The world says this is foolishness.

Now, if one is caught up in a desperate frenzy of chasing the world’s standards and trying to make yourself into something that you simply aren’t and will never be, then there is wisdom in being content with who you are in those areas that are unchangeable.

 But these words go beyond that…way beyond.

“When I accepted me…I started listening to and following my inner voice…”

I know people who have accepted themselves and their inner voice says ‘I don’t want to get a job’; or their inner voice says ‘I want to sleep in this morning rather than go to class’; or their inner voice says ‘I don’t want to throw anything away’ and they end up with a house so packed with junk that it takes a HazMat team to clean it out.

The point is that we have an inner nature that wants to get its own way. That has been true from the bad choice in the garden and it hasn’t changed. The heart of man is “desperately wicked” and somewhere, sometime, we need to say “no” to the inner voice. That flies in the face of Maslow and New Age and our “it’s all about me” world, but it’s the bold-faced truth.

We are fast descending into the tar pit of self-centeredness from which little escapes.

If it is all about me and my inner voice says that I want your stuff, then I expect to get your stuff.

Most of our modern day politicians, like marketing gurus, know the heart of man better than most and they can play your “inner voice” like a concert violinist. All they have to do is promise that they can get you want you want. And if I haven’t learned to say “no” to my inner voice then I will actually applaud them and cheer them on.

What they conveniently fail to tell you is that the cost is very, very high.

Marketing gurus simply make you a slave to consumer debt; the neo-politician simply makes you a slave.

God warned the children of Israel about setting up a king who did not live under God’s restraining Hand. The new king, God told them, would take 10% of their stuff and give it to those who support him and they would become his slaves. What is interesting is that they chose slavery…clamored for it.

Yesterday, this nation took a huge leap in paying dearly for another piece of gruel in the feed trough.

The high cost is not simply adding to a debt that is already insane, but it is the cost of becoming more and more the slave of the state. Don’t be fooled into thinking that there is something virtuous in stealing from the wealthy to line our own pocketbooks or pay our bills.

There is no virtue in making someone else a slave.

And there is no wisdom in continuing to pull spark plugs out of the economic engine.

Whatever a man sows, that will he also reap.

You cannot drain the profit of the wealthy and not expect to see the loss of jobs.

Pick the pocket of the wealthy and you will soon find that it is none but your own.

But, the political rhetoric is thick and will soon get thicker. Yesterday, one of our leaders said this: “Today, we have the opportunity to complete the great unfinished business of our society and pass health care reform for all Americans that is a right and not a privilege.”

I have unfortunate news for all of us.

This is NOT the “great unfinished business of our society” and if the king can make you believe that it is your right to take from others and give to you, then there will be no end to what you consider to be your “rights”.

                             

        Next on the list:

–car insurance for all;

–life insurance for all;

–internet access for all;
–cell phones for all;
–homes for all;
–food for all;
–clothes for all…

‘Free for all’ will soon become a ‘free for all’.

This is not a political problem.

This is a worldview problem.

“He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.” 1 Samuel 8:18"

Well said, Dr. Tackett.  And my sentiments, exactly.  I, for one, do not want my freedom to be translated into slavery, nor do I want that for this country that I love and call home.  As I've said before, trouble is, it's hard to stop a runaway train...

Welcome to March, National Caffeine Awareness Month

So, I'm not really trying to say that addiction is a laughing matter - it is not.  Anyone who's ever struggled to overcome any addiction knows just how hard it is to kick the habit, whether it be to food, smoking, alcohol, drugs, television, exercise, pedicures...  (well, you get my point).

But, apropos of one of my friend's very recent texts about how Starbucks should deliver, and since I did run through the drive-through this very morning to get my favorite highly caffeinated drink (venti non-fat cappuccino, in case you'd ever like to surprise me one morning...), I thought it was really humorous when I learned that March is National Caffeine Awareness Month.   And, because today is the first day of the month, I thought I should blog on the topic, in honor.

(If I could insert right here an audible snippet of my laughing out loud, and it wouldn't be more annoying or disturbing than not, I so would.)

I mean, seriously??

There is an entire association dedicated to the education of the public about caffeine and its ill-effects on people, society, and the economy.  HUH?

I know, I know.  Addiction to anything is indicative of a life out of balance.  Addiction to caffeine can cause serious health effects, and I hear it's not too good for your nerves or the whiteness of your teeth.  I do know that an abrupt halt in caffeine usage can cause some serious headaches and general angst in my own life, but I think that might just be proving the Caffeine Awareness Association's point, and that isn't helping my cause.  I like, no LOVE my coffee every single morning, and find that my day goes so much worse when I don't get it (on the very rare occasions that actually happens).  My day is made happier with that early morning kick of caffeine, and, if drinking it is wrong, I don't wanna be right.

Oh, and the other thing that I found funny about the Caffeine Awareness Association is that it is based out of Seattle, the birthplace of all great coffee.  Come to think of it, if not for the rainy, dreary weather, I could totally consider living in Seattle JUST for the coffee.  I'm just sayin'...

Children, Don't Exasperate Your Parents

So, our 8 year old lately has been repeatedly asking the same question of every member of our family.  She's obviously very interested in the answers we all give, but apparently, we're not giving her the answer she's looking for, so she just keeps asking.  For her, hope springs eternal.  For us, exasperation is setting in.

Maybe it's the way we think as adults, or maybe it is truly a question with such an obvious answer that it needs not be asked (as I have often thought to myself).

See if you can figure out if there's more than one way to answer this question, because, so far, neither the four year old nor the mom nor dad can seem to get it right.  She asks, "What is your favorite part of going to sleep?"

To this random question (part of a series of "What is your favorite...?" from B lately), we have all independently (and more than once) answered, "the sleep part."  Seriously, is there any other possible answer?

Finally, this weekend, Kyle had the inspiration and genius to turn the question back on her (we have neglected to try that route, thus far).  As he asked her what her favorite part of falling asleep was, I thought, "That's perfect!  Finally, we'll get the long-awaited correct answer to the question that won't die!"

As I sat on the edge of my seat, and Kyle and D listened intently for her response, she says simply, "I dunno."

sigh

TGIF-F!!

So, yesterday, I spent all day thinking it was Friday.  I was planning a nice dinner (not that it has to be Friday for that), with a nice bottle of wine for my husband and I to share (after all, we'd be able to sleep in a bit later tomorrow).  I was thinking about the weekend, and happily looking forward to some time off from the work of the weekdays.

Maybe it was the fact that I was ready for Friday (quite likely).  Or maybe it was that my oldest daughter would not have school the next day because of an inservice day for the teachers (conveniently scheduled on a Friday AND the Friday before a holiday on Monday, but I digress...).  Who knows what I was thinking, but I was totally convinced it was Friday all day long yesterday.

It wasn't.

It was only Thursday, and the realization hit me around 6 pm - HARD.  You know the feeling - like when you suddenly remember an appointment you made at the very last minute, or when it occurs to you that you forgot your best friend's birthday, or when you realize your child is still at home when you ran out to the store in a rush, or something similar - not that I've ever done either of those things...  I'm just saying.

Anyway, Thank God it's Friday - Finally!  When I really think about it, whatever I didn't like about yesterday's Friday is gone, and today is like a do over Friday.  I guess a week with two Friday's isn't a bad week at all...

Enjoy your weekend!  :)

To Busy To Fill the Gas Tank

Have you ever had so much on your plate that you had a hard time prioritizing and instead decided to mindlessly surf the internet (or post on Facebook, or watch a movie, or...) and get NOTHING done you needed to??

I have all kinds of hopes for these extra 2.5 hours I've gained every day sans children.  The first week went pretty well, I was able to prioritize all my daily tasks and stuff many of them into that itty bitty tiny eensy little window that preschool has afforded me five days a week.  (Did I mention that timeframe is ridiculously small?!?)

This week, it's Monday, and time management = not so much.  I considered going to spin class, but chose to stay home to get some work done (cue the guilt).  Now I'm posting on my blog and researching random things I really don't need to be wasting time on at the moment.  All the while, the clock is ticking, ticking, ticking...

sigh

All of it reminds me of one of Stephen Covey's "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" (one of which I'm obviously not right now) - Sharpen the saw.

In his book, he gives this example of the person who is so busy driving that they don't take time to fill the gas tank.  I feel like that person right now.

Now, where is the nearest gas station??  Or maybe I'll just drive a little while longer.

Seriously?? The Things Parents Say... Part 2

So, I might have spoken too soon with the submission of my last post.  Believe it or not, I have been collecting these parental comments for some time now, waiting until I had most of them before writing my dissertation rant to the blogosphere.  Silly me, thinking I had said them all.

Alas, literally moments after posting part one, I emerged from my office to find that my youngest had some artistic inspiration of her own that she couldn't contain in her imagination alone.

Done in blue ink, here are Denali's artistic additions to our couch, bathroom sink, and ottoman. These are the three largest, thus they would show up best in a photo for the blog, but rest assured that there were other spots where our budding illustrator chose to leave her mark (my comforter, her walls, some random boxes that are still sitting around the house unpacked).

So, I add to my collection of parental comments one never thought they'd have to say outloud: "There is no drawing on the furniture!"  Which reminds me, I forgot to add "It's not OK to flush mommy's wedding ring down the toilet."

Seriously?? The Things Parents Say...

This is a shout out to the parents who read my blog (and an attempt to make myself feel better for the experiences I go through daily).  I just have one question for all of us.  What is up with the things we have to say to our kids that A) we never thought we'd hear coming out of our mouths until it flies out of our lips, and B) we never thought would be necessary to actually have to say???

You know how some things sound so ridiculous, like they should be common sense and no one should ever have to be told?  We have some laws like that, there are policies in every organization like that, and I'm beginning to think that the complete disregard for common sense must stem from when we're children.

Obviously, rules have to be made because somewhere, at some point in time, someone actually committed an act so shockingly ridiculous that the rest of us needed to be told it isn't allowed.  

Here's a sampling of "parental comments" that I've said at one time or another over the past 8 years (and counting...):

• Don't lick the table!
• Why is there poop on the wall?
• Don't chew your shirt.
  
• We are not taking a worm home for a pet.
• Leave the cat alone - it's not ok to pull her tail.
• There's no dancing in the wine dept. at the grocery store.
• Leave the cat alone - she does not like baths in the sink.
• It's not ok to suck water out of a wet towel because you're thirsty.
• Don't chew the pencil eraser, or the metal that connects it to the pencil, or the pencil, or the pen.
• Put the dishes in the dishwasher (no, that's not my job).
• Leave the cat alone - it's not ok to shut her in your room all day long.
• Take your hair out of your mouth.
• The couch is for sitting, not jumping.
• This is a restaurant, not a jungle gym.
• Don't chew on your toenails.
• Please shut the door when you use the bathroom (regardless of where we are).
• If it's not food, drink, or a toothbrush, it doesn't belong in your mouth.
• LEAVE THE CAT ALONE!!!!

Whew.  I know it must sound like I spend all day correcting my kids from their feral behaviors, and that's because I do.  It just seems like sometimes some of these things should go without saying.  Doesn't it??  I guess, I'll just keep saying them...

Freak of Nature

Why does my body have to fight me so?  I've started going to the gym regularly (I've written about this before), I'm working with a trainer at the gym who's having me lift weights (which I HATE to do), and I've been careful about not adding calories to my days even though my increased activity screams for them.

All of that effort, and it never fails that once a week or two go by with regular exercise, I GAIN WEIGHT!!  huh?  Isn't it supposed to work the other way around? 

Throughout my adult life, whenever I go through an activity lull, I ALWAYS lose weight.  When I was training for triathlons, working out like two hours every day, I kept waiting for the weight to melt off.  But, no - I actually maintained or even gained a few pounds during that year of intensity.  This last summer, with all of the craziness of moving, the intensity of the heat, and my two month long headache, I was not exercising much at all.  Yep, I lost about five pounds.  ??

I mean, where's my built in incentive to keep trudging away on the treadmill and meeting that lady who makes me try out all the stupid nautilus machines at the gym??  I've lost my CO running buddies, so now I don't even have their great conversation to prompt me to keep moving. 

All I have now is a higher number on the scale.  Yipee.  Oh, and I suppose the knowledge that I'm taking good care of my health...

(And, if you're tempted to comment about how muscle weighs more than fat, or anything about how it's not the scale that is the measure of good health - tell that to the trainer who, after weighing me, told me that I'm "overfat".  I'm only slightly bitter about that still.)

sigh