Sick.....

So J has been sick all week and has so kindoly shared it with me! Sinus stuff, coughing, post nasal drip. No fever yet for me and hopefully won't get any.

Elderberry, zinc, xylitol & collodial silver, echinacea tea are what I see in my future today!

ugh...

America...

Interesting quote for you regarding what it means to be an American/live in this country...... can anyone tell me who said it? Anyone? Got a gold star for you if you can...... :)

"There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag...We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language, for we intend to see that the crucible turns our people out as Americans, of American nationality, and not as dwellers in a polyglot boarding house;and we have room for but one sole loyalty, and that is loyalty to the American people. ....We should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace or origin. But this is predicated upon the man's becoming in very fact an American, and nothing but an American. If he tries to keep segregated with men of his own origin and separated from the rest of America, then he isn't doing his part as an American..."

(quotes taken from two different speeches)

Any takers?

He is Risen!

He is risen indeed!!

Happy Easter everyone.....

"For God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life".... John 3:16

My new favorite Magazine.... Life: Beautiful

Check out Life:Beautiful at http://www.lifebeautifulmagazine.com/ it is a beautifully done magazine with articles on all different subjects relating to Christian women! I picked it up just by chance at Barnes & Noble the other day and immediately fell in love! Yummy recipes, crafts, inspirational articles what's not to love? Considering seeing if I can submit an article on being a Christain Army/Military wife in todays world.

You HAVE to visit it at least once...

Anyone wishing to give me a gift.... a subscription would be awesome! ;)

A call to arms....

Have you seen this? Interesting isn't it how it made it all the way to the Supreme Court already? I hadn't heard of it at least til now.

We need to pray people that the right to bear arms will not be taken away by a bunch of liberals who would rather see a govt or criminals as the only ones with guns. Whether you have guns at home or not the issue isn't really guns it's our freedom! The potential ramifications are huge and far reaching should the court decide that one can only own guns if you are part of an organized milita!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20080318/ts_csm/aguns

Our graduate girl...


Here's our eldest dd who will be graduating next month! I had to go through pictures last night and choose 7 for a slideshow! Talk about hard....


But we are so proud of the accomplished young woman she's become! With a heart for the Lord and serving others, a gift for children, a great sense of humor and common sense!

Around our house today...

We have a 4-H basketball tourney to attend, our eldest dd is off to San Antonio on a mission trip (with DOOR - a mennonite based group that does work in and around the city), we are going to HIllsboro to pick up some goat milk (YUMMMY!), and need to just do some general work on things around the house and with our financial class.

The Iditarod

Lance Mackey wins again. We have been following this every year or so for a few years -- it's a fun thing to do! (http://www.iditarod.com is loaded with info and links on the Greatest Race) Our friends even took pictures for the kiddos of "their" mushers for them while stationed in AK last year. I was really hoping it would be DeeDee Jonrowe's year, especially when she made it to Cripple first ! (This year's 1/2 way point) but it was not to be....

Strong Bonds...

strong families. Hubby and I are off to Topeka tomorrow for a marriage retreat through the unit. Hoping it will be good!

More later.

To call a Spade a Spade --- clarification for those who may need it.

To "call a spade a spade" is to speak honestly and directly about a topic, specifically topics that others may avoid speaking about due to their sensitivity or embarrassing nature.

The phrase was introduced to English in 1542 in
Nicolas Udall's translation of Erasmus, Apophthegmes.
The phrase predates the use of the word "spade" as an ethnic slur, which was not recorded in usage until 1928.
(Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_call_a_spade_a_spade")


It does not mean anything derogatory to a particular person but rather to speak honestly and forthrightly about something with no beating about the bush. Nor was I referring to anyone in a derogatory way on my previous post and those who assume so are only showing their own ignorance or want to put words in my mouth which simply weren't there! When I used the term in reference to gossip that's exactly what I meant let's be honest and call backbiting and being two faced gossip because that's what it is.

Sensibility

"If there were any true impropriety in my actions, I should be sensible of it Elinor..."

Miss Marianne Dashwood to her sister Miss Elinor Dashwood, Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen.

Homeschooling Hostility

The latest in misguided attempts to outlaw homeschooling:

http://www.hslda.org/hs/state/ca/200803030.asp a judge in CA is trying to say that you can not homeschool in CA without being a "credentialed" teacher. There's lots of info on the site pertaining to the case/ruling and a petition to sign urging the ruling be depublished. Gov. Schwarzenegger has said he disagrees with the ruling as well. I find it interesting that one of our most "liberal" states is so terribly narrowminded on the subject of homeschooling! (Did when we lived there too). Seems it's fine to be liberal so long as you agree with the liberals.... and this just in on yahoo: http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20080308/us_time/criminalizinghomeschoolers

Also the NEA's own resolutions state (2008 handbook - resolutions):

B-75. Home Schooling
The National Education Association
believes that home schooling programs
based on parental choice cannot provide
the student with a comprehensive education
experience. When home schooling
occurs, students enrolled must meet all
state curricular requirements, including
the taking and passing of assessments
to ensure adequate academic progress.
Home schooling should be limited to the
children of the immediate family, with
all expenses being borne by the parents/
guardians. Instruction should be by persons
who are licensed by the appropriate
state education licensure agency, and a
curriculum approved by the state department
of education should be used.
The Association also believes that
home-schooled students should not participate
in any extracurricular activities in
the public schools.
The Association further believes that
local public school systems should have
the authority to determine grade placement
and/or credits earned toward graduation
for students entering or re-entering
the public school setting from a home
school setting. (1988, 2006)

While I realize the group doesn't speak for every teacher they are nevertheless viewed as doing so by many. Many teachers express concern over the ability of parents to adequately teach their own children, while it is a valid concern and most who vocalize it are only doing so out of true caring for children it is nevertheless being disproved on a wide scale every year. There are of course idiots in every profession - both on the ps side and the homeschool side of teaching -- but should those who homeschool dismally make it illegal for the rest of us? Should those who teach dismally in ps make it illegal for those who do it well? Should one person with an agenda be able to speak for all? I think not nor should a special interest group (as I said they don't speak for all teachers) who act in many cases as a "union" (loosely used) be allowed to speak openly for all teachers many of whom see homeschooling as a valid option.

Interesting isn't it that those who are the most liberal and holler the most about free speech and such are often the very ones adamantly denying it to others.....? Wish to take away parental rights from those who don't conform?

Food for thought.

Going behind someone's back

So what are your thoughts on this?

I personally can't stand it! It hurts and it's unnecessary. Have experienced this in many areas, most recently on a public forum. If I have a problem with someone I try to talk to them about it first before going to others -- if I post something you disagree with then talk to me! I love a good debate --- but these days to many people can't seem to debate without taking things personally or getting their panties in a wad! I actually was called insensitive (hello -- people assume a lot on email/internet as there is no inflection) and a possible racist (in reference to my opinions on illegal immigration --- so now because I beleive people should come here legally that makes me a racist?!) me, who has friends of all different backgrounds? A military wife who has truly enjoyed traveling and meeting others, learning new languages, experiencing different cultures, yet the truth of the matter is that I am not pc enough for most people. And because I am not afraid to stand up for what I beleive in or say what I think now I'm looking at possible banishment from a forum I enjoyed.....

The loss of absoloute truth in society doesn't help either of course. Nevertheless I feel attacked when others choose to gossip (lets call a spade a spade here) and go on assumptions rather then clarifying a post or talking directly to me first, it's childish and uncalled for.

Hurt deeply and misunderstood.

Graduation

My eldest dd is graduating this year (Yikes where did the time go?!). So now we are in the throes of preparing for that --- ordering a cap and tassel (borrowed gown), diploma, pictures, announcements, class t-shirts,etc....

She is graduating with the local home school group in April although she won't techinically be done until June 6th that's when the ceremony is.

I don't remember it being so involved when I graduated from High School but perhaps that was just oblivion on my part.

Sigh.