Life on the Road

This is NOT a political blog, but I just can’t get over Hillary Clinton…

First, there are the things that seem fairly straightforward about her that I dislike.

In order to avoid rehashing things that have already been well-stated, let me first direct you to Crystal’s great posts over at Biblical Womanhood about Hillary’s un-Christmas Ad, and a follow-up about family finances versus government interference.

But my biggest problem with Bill’s better half is that I don’t believe anone really knows what she believes, or who she is.  She’s made a career out of remaking her image to take her where she wants to go.

During the Billary presidency, she was seen as harsh, and un-feminine.  Heck, at one point she alienated every homemaker in the country with her derrogatory comment about not wasting her life “staying home and baking cookies.” 

She decided this was bad, so she got a cat to soften up her image.  There are a lot of photos of Hillary with Socks at the White House, and they look quite chummy.

But when they left the White House, did Socks come along to the luxurious new digs in New York?  Why - when nobody was there to photograph it?  Nope, Socks got dumped on Bettie Curie, the longsuffering Clinton aide who had a pivotal (if embarrassing) role in cleaning up some of Mr. Clinton’s “little messes” at the White House, as well.

I enjoyed the take on it in this article from Fox News.

Clinton’s treatment of Socks cuts to the heart of the questions about her candidacy. Is she too cold and calculating to win the presidency? Or does it signify political invincibility by showing she is willing to deploy every weapon to get what she wants?

“In the annals of human evil, off-loading a pet is nowhere near the top of the list,” writes Caitlin Flanagan in the current issue of The Atlantic magazine. “But neither is it dead last, and it is especially galling when said pet has been deployed for years as an all-purpose character reference.”

Flanagan’s article, titled “No Girlfriend of Mine,” points out that Clinton wrote a crowd-pleasing book “Dear Socks, Dear Buddy: Kids’ Letters to the First Pets,” in which she claimed that only with the arrival of Socks and his “toy mouse” did the White House “become a home.”

Being Clinton, she also lectured readers that pets are an “adoption instead of an acquisition” and warned them to look out for their safety. (Buddy, the chocolate labrador in the Reagan White House, bounded into a road soon after leaving the White House and was promptly run over.)

That’s it in a nutshell, for me.  Not that she ditched a cat, which is a cruddy thing but not the end of the world, but that she’s so false and manipulative about everything. 

Needless to say, I’m neither surprised nor disappointed that Hillary did poorly in the Iowa caucuses…  Although having her on the Democratic ticket might have been the best thing that could happen to the scattered Republicans.

We made it official two Sundays ago, and asked to move our membership to the church we’ve been attending, First Baptist Church of Homestead.

Last week a sweet older gentleman came by with a stack of information for us, to help us get “settled in.”  It was such a neat gesture, and we are already enjoying reading through the various things.

I was pleased that they had brought a separate set of Offering envelopes for Nick, since he is responsible for budgeting his own money, and does his tithe as an individual.  This church has already shown that they recognize youth as persons in their own right, and I appreciated this proof of that.

(For those of you not familiar with the envelope system…  You may have noticed envelopes stuck in the pews at churches, which is one way to go if you don’t just want to drop your offering in the plate.  In many churches, once you become a member, they give you a box of envelopes all stamped with a certain number.  There is one for each week, plus a few for various special projects throughout the year.  You get a new box annually, so when you join mid-year you may or may not have one until a new year rolls around, depending on the church’s stock.  This way you can prepare your Tithe/Offering at home, and even if you don’t put your name on it they will know it’s yours.  This is nice for the tracking for tax purposes, if nothing else).

I was a little less pleased, and somehow vaguely offended, that they had brought separate boxes of envelopes for Wolf and I.

That’s not to say offended like, “How DARE you!”  Just a kind of nose-wrinkling, “that’s weird…” 

Are we as a married couple so little “one flesh” that not only do we maintain totally separate finances, but can’t even put our two checks (were that the case) into one envelope?  Do we file taxes separately?  Or do we want recognition from man for our individual contribution, knowing that someone in the church office is keeping track? 

And furthermore, even if all that were true, should the church be condoning - perhaps even encouraging it?

Then again, maybe it’s all just my pregnant hormones… 

But I am enclosing a note with this week’s offering letting them know that I don’t need my own set of envelopes for 2008.  It should at least save the church a few dollars that could be put to better use, plus saving a tree, right?

Black Friday sales started at 4 am on the day after Thanksgiving – and the “holiday” decorations had already been up in the stores since right after Halloween.  As a family, we wondered how we could keep this materialistic holiday from taking over the celebration of our Savior’s birth.

For us, the answer came from Dutch traditions that Tiffany (Mama) discovered what seems like a lifetime ago as a foreign-exchange student to the Netherlands.  Like many countries in Europe and around the world, they celebrate the Feast of Saint Nicholas on December 6^th. 

Yes, St. Nicholas was a real guy – and a downright amazing champion of the faith.  A good starting place for reading about his story, as well as the various traditions of celebration that he has inspired (including Santa Claus!), is online at http://www.stnicholascenter.org.

We follow the Dutch custom of making a special “Sinterklaas” gift for one person (we rotate), which is wrapped or packaged in a clever way.  We’ve had wooden puzzle boxes, giant chess pieces, scavenger hunts, and mock eBay auctions – the presentation is more important than the gift! 

Then the kids leave out oats for St. Nicholas’ horse, and he fills their stockings with goodies…  Sounds familiar, right?

From the St. Nicholas Center website (there is a lot more to this comparison, and it’s worth a read):

Santa Claus encourages consumption;
St. Nicholas encourages compassion.

Santa Claus isn’t bad;
St. Nicholas is just better.

Now, on Christmas, we can have a birthday cake for Baby Jesus, and tell the nativity story, and sing the Christmas songs that don’t talk about the mall.

Of course we still do some celebration and gift-exchange on Christmas with our friends and extended families. We still do live in the world, after all. But for our family this has been a great way to shift the main focus of the holidays, without feeling like we were cutting out something fun that we grew up with (and “everyone else does”).

However you choose to celebrate the season, may the Lord keep clear in your heart the greatest gift of all…

(Yeah, it’s only Day 2 for me, but I thought it would make more sense to use the same numbers Crystal has going over on Biblical Womanhood, where she’s hosting this!) 

1. Refresh Your Spirit

I am SO thankful!  This one was easy today:

• My darling husband… up before the roosters and off walking to work in the pitch dark.  The Lord has truly blessed my kids and I in him.
• Baby Blessing.  As I feel her(?) moving more and more, I’m just feeling all over again the warm feelings of gratitude I felt with Jewel.  For 10 years after Nick, I was trying to adapt to the idea that the Lord might not give me any more children.  Now here I am with a whole new “brood” later in life…  His time.
• Technology!  The German Baptist family that runs Knaus Berry Farm doesn’t believe in the Internet… but we decided that didn’t have to stop us from giving them a hand!  We’re posting the daily offerings at the bakery on the Knaus Berry Farm Menu Blog!

Busted!  I actually got dressed first thing, but didn’t finish getting ready, or get Jewel dressed, before I sat down here.  Time out!

2. Take Time to Plan

I already had today’s “to do” list made up, as we have to drive up to the Miami area for some errands, which will take most of the day.  A couple of phone calls to straighten out the many inevitable messes of life, a bank deposit, and I’m done!

Luckily, dinner is easy.  On Wednesdays before the evening activities begin, our church does a pot luck.  Wolf’s bringing some cinnamon rolls home from the bakery for our offering, so all I have to do is show up!  Woohoo!

3. Do Something!

Laundry is trickier…  I’m trying to use the dryer less, after discovering the outrageous cost of not having gas applicances (and no option to do so, short of installing a big propane tank outside!).  The laundry is never totally “done,” since there is limited drying space.  I will, however, make my goal today to get “caught up” and back on track!

Happy Homemaking!

This is a terrific idea!  Many thanks to Crystal over at Biblical Womanhood for this encouragement.

I’m sorry I missed the first day - I already have some catching up to do!  I really relate to Crystal’s explanation:

I hope some of you will join me in this challenge, but more importantly, I know that I need the challenge. Things have been a little out of order here the last few months with travels, sickness, and my husband starting his own law firm… and our home has reflected this. So I’m hopeful that the next two weeks I can focus on getting things back into order here so that our home can become more of a haven of refreshment to my family and all those who would enter its doors.

Not that my husband started his own law firm…  But we did just move across country, pull all our stuff out of storage, he started a new job, and I’m getting more and more pregnant-looking and -feeling all the time!

* * * *

So, here’s my plan for Making My Home a Haven Today:

1. Refresh Your Spirit

Since it’s uncomfortably hot and humid here already, I’m going to pass on the cup of tea.  I think I’ll go for a nice, tall glass of cold water with my Bible reading.  I’m not in the process of reading through anything in particular, so today I’ll pick a spot to start my mornings with for the next little while.

2. Planning

I’m going to do yesterday’s assignment and solidify a morning routine.  I have a tendency to stay in my p.j.’s until necessity forces me to get dressed.  I can cook and clean and take care of the kiddos just fine in p.j.’s, and it’s more comfy, right?  I have really been letting the heat control me, and I need to break out of that habit.  I think I will be more energetic and motivated if I shower and dress first thing, although I may not follow the FlyLady ideal of putting shoes on - the heat still controls some things! 

3. Do Something

Luckily for me, yesterday’s “entryway” and today’s “living room” are really the same, as our tiny house dumps you right into the middle of things.  I intend to get out the Christmas music to play while I’m doing this…  We’ve all felt a little “holiday spirit” challenged around here because of the weather, and I want to start actively combating that.

 * * * *

There’s my commitment for today.  Now I’d better get off the computer and get to it! 

Care to join me?

Imagine every stereotype of a dweeby little guy who sells mobile phones for a living.  Blue color family, bad teeth, overweight, the whole nine yards.

I bet most people write him off on sight.  As a Christian, I know I shouldn’t, but it’s a very human habit that’s hard to overcome.

Hopefully we will all think a little harder about making those kind of judgements after we see this video.

Wow!

Great reminder, eh?

The Bible tells us that Paul was a pretty homely little man, and not a great speaker, even - and look what he accomplished…  Beauty in God’s eyes really, truly comes from within.

You know, Thanksgiving has come and gone… and I never did stop for Thanks Giving.

Getting up at 4 am to drive Nick to the airport, then spending the holiday with just an exhausted hubby and a cranky two year old just someone didn’t resonate the same way things have in years past.

I did cook a turkey breast, and did candied yams with marshmallows, and Wolf brought home some of the delicious pies and dinner rools from the BerryFarm - so it isn’t that we didn’t do ANYTHING.  I just don’t know that we FELT anything.  Pretty weird…

But I truly am thankful.  God has blessed us so very much - and this aside from the “big picture” gifts, like Jesus! 

• The incredible leading that started with selling our home in Arizona, through 8 months in an RV, through meeting friends in Ohio who led us to this opportunity in Florida…  Wow!
• My husband, my hero always!
• My handsome son, my baby who is becoming a man.  That little shadow of moustache, his voice…  Yikes!  And tomorrow he starts playing his clarinet with the “Cross Winds” group at the main service at our new church home (First Baptist Church of Homestead).  Wow!
• My beautiful Jewel.  She talks so much, and has such a personality!  I treasure the gift that God has given us in having her.
• Baby Blessing.  I thought Nick would be an only child, now he’s going to have TWO siblings!
• Our four rescued kittens, even though they drive me nuts.
• The longevity of our two old lady cats.  I’m just not up to grieving right now, so I am very grateful that they are staying healthy.
• Family and friends, even though most of them are distant.  I’m so happy Wolf’s brother is coming for a short visit in two weeks, and my mom and sister are coming for Christmas!
• A loving midwife practice to help us bring Baby Blessing into the world joyfully.
• The delicious goodies from Knaus Berry Farm! 
• The entire extended Knaus family, and the warm heart of Mr. Herb, in particular, who Jewel adores, and has done so much to help us feel welcome and at home here.

I really could go on, but I think those are the “biggest” ones on my heart right now. 

Any day is a good day for an Attitude of Gratitude!

This was sent to me as an email attachment, and I was delighted to be able to find it on YouTube and share it with you.

The original email said:

Pump up the volume!!!

The song you are about to listen to is from a Las Vegas Diamond Rio concert. They received an immediate resounding standing ovation, and continue to do so every time they perform it! Everyone who loves America should be thrilled to hear this song!

Although Diamond Rio has never before done a statement song, they felt compelled to record ‘In God We Still Trust.’ But guess what?

Sadly, major radio stations wouldn’t play it because it was considered ‘politically incorrect’. Consequently, the song was never released to the public.

So America , see what you think. If this offering speaks to your heart and you feel to share it with friends and loved ones, please do..

I can’t seem to get the video to show up in the post.  Grrr…  So here’s the links.  There are actually two different slide shows that I’ve found, set to the same song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiYgpPB1kwU

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

Here’s another goody that I can across in my recent web surfing: K-12 Free Homeschool.

They offer

The same core curriculum courses that are offered elsewhere at $250 - $500 per school year are tuition-free. Optional electives are offered at 25%-50% of standard tuition.  Here’s how it can be tuition-free … They call it a “community-sponsored online home school academy.”  Essentially, it is paid for by corporate and non-profit sponsors as well as donations by parents who use the services - a concept the creators say has never been tried before.

Like any good online program, this is very flexible, and can be adapted for home school students with a variety of learning styles. You can mix and match grade levels, adjust your schedule to fit your life, allow your student to work ahead or take extra time to focus on specific subject matter, etc.

Crucial to me:  Their courses reflect Biblical truth because they have been written by curriculum developers from a Biblical world-view.

They’ve also got some great extra features (free) like an online grade book, transcripts, and parent/teacher Message Boards (get suggestions and support from other home school parents as well as their academic advisors).

Enrollments are limited right now because it is still in beta-testing.  Applicants may be placed on a “Waiting List,” but they say they will usually only have to wait 2-5 days for a space to open. (Open spaces are dependent on donations and sponsorships received.)

Here’s where to find the K-12FreeHomeschool.org Course Catalog.

Who says modest clothes can’t be fun?

I was delighted to discover a new place to get things made for Jewel and I (and her baby doll!): Holy Hillbilly Creations. 

The first things we got were some sample products, which we’ve been having a blast with: cloth diapers (with Velcro) for baby dolls, and cloth baby wipes / washcloths.  They were SO nicely made that I figured I needed to go look at her site more carefully!

Rachel custom makes everything to order, and was patient with my long list of special requests.  She even designed pockets for Jewel to keep her pennies in (which are now a permanent option on her skirts).

Here’s Jewel in the adorable camo skirt we designed to match her cool new camo sneakers.  I love that the pockets are opposite colors, and the lace is such a cute “girl-izing” touch.

And here are Jewel and her baby in their matching Red, White and Blue skirts (aren’t those heart pockets great?).  So much fun it makes you jump for joy!

Did I mention how inexpensive this was?  I don’t see how she can do it for those prices…

And a special thank you to Rachel for her thoughtfulness.  She included a penny for each pocket, since in all our conversations she learned that was why we needed the paockets added!  How sweet!