The Faces of Water Play

Beth allowed Caleb to play at the kitchen sink to keep him busy while she cooked. He got carried away and pretty much gave himself a bath there in the kitchen.   Beth got some really cute pictures of his expressions...all the way from a big smile to an ...I wouldn't know what to call that last one.

Pray for our nation and prepare yourself to vote in your primary if you haven't already.

The Perfect Nominee

I am grateful that April has started taking more pictures. I don't know whether she is using her iPhone of iPad, but it doesn't really matter.  The fact is, I'm getting more pictures.

This one was taken recently when they went to WV to celebrate Tim's birthday. Everyone is there in the picture, but Lauren.  I'm sure they had some nice steaks to celebrate the big day.

Ohio's big day is coming up on Tuesday.  We get to vote for the Republican presidential candidate that we want.  I will vote for my favorite of those running, but I'm still looking for the perfect man or woman. But then, who isn't?  He or she just doesn't exist.

Christ  Jesus was the only perfect one and he won't be running. However, I'm praying that his father directs the election, so that  this nation will once again be known the world over for its freedom of religion. But whatever He does, I am willing to abide by that decision. After all, He is God.

Keep Your Eyes Open

We girls don't get together as often as we'd like anymore. Too many of us are out of state much of the time.  So when we can get even five of us together, we miss the others, but we  do it. 

This trip was to Hartville , the flea market, the Hartville Kitchen for lunch and then to Victorian Rose for the shopping finale.  All was quite fun on a day that started out fair and ended with a terrible wind that brought in  much colder temperatures and sleet. We were not outdoors much at all; so the weather change didn't affect us much.

As always, it was a pleasure to have a lady volunteer to snap our picture.  She or he (I can't remember if she volunteered herself or her husband0 took only one picture of us here on the steps to the second floor of the market. So luckily we all had our eyes open. And our eyes opened even wider when we entered the clothing shop in the middle of the floor. things were very interesting up there!  Unique is the word.

Keep your eyes open, if you can. Watch out for google who is showing some prejudice against at least one of the candidates on the Republican side.  It just happens to be the man I prefer at the moment.

There are some very vulgar things said near the top of all the entries and, unlike other candidates, his official site is hidden way after many derogatory entries.  Evidently they fear him.  As far as I'm concerned that is a good sign that he is definitely the right candidate. He is a very good, moral man...and in some circles these days, that is a no no.

Cute Smile

Often the pictures I receive of Caleb and blurred. If you know a two year old  boy, you can probably guess the best reason for that. He moves so fast, he often looks like a blur, even to the naked eye. And of course an iPhone was not designed to grab a still in the midst of fast motion.

Often, Beth takes videos to show that motion well.  Then when I want to do a layout, I need to capture a still from a video. This  time, even though the  picture is a little fuzzy, I got the biggest, sweetest smile ever.

It is a fact, not just an opinion that I overate at dinner this evening.  We ate at Husdon's in Hudson and had one of my very favorite meals. It is called Smothered Barbecue Chicken. It is wonderful. It was the first real meal I've eaten since the first week in January and I made the mistake of overeating.

Now it is only 10:00 and I am very tired. So tired in fact that I will be going to bed SOON.

But first I have to mention the unfortunate apology to barbarians for destroying books which held secret messages from terrorists to other terrorists who think nothing of killing anyone who doesn't worship as they do.  Freedom of religion...NO, not in their countries.  That is an American concept they despise. 

"For me and my house, we will serve the Lord." NIV Bible  Joshua 24:15

Kabuki

Again, I wish I had seen Greg's play, Pacific Overtures. We need to live closer. I understand it was a big success and Greg was so pleased to be able to produce this great Sondheim show.  The kids got an opportunity one night to pass out the programs and naturally with all this show business in their genes, they wanted to dress for it.  And with the talent that runs through Chelle's veins, she wants to come up with costumes. Ashley's was made from two pillowcases she found at Good Will.  

Mason was dressed like a Samurai Warrior, as was Aussie  before he let his hair down.

And now for my opinion on Washington.   Quit reading now if you think our economy is great and getting better. Or if you think things are better now than they were 4 years ago.

I don't know which is worse, the fact that our president is even thinking about cutting 80% from our nuclear arsenal.  Or that he thinks we should all pay a 'world tax'.   But then maybe you would go along with that, since we just can't pay enough taxes...   Or perhaps it could be a new dividend tax that would devastate those who are retired. Wait. Surely this is the worst in the last couple of days:  Valerie Jarrett, one of the many, many, superfluous overpaid people at the White House said  that...now brace yourself...she said that 'unemployment stimulates the economy'. Now if you believe that, I'd like to offer you a chance to go back through grade school.  You could use some basic reasoning skills. Sadly, you are not the only one working with this handicap. It has thoroughly entrenched itself in the White House.

Newt Has a Plan

I just discovered something this week. I can use the shortcut Command Shift 4 and capture a desired portion of the screen while we are on  FaceTime.  Here are three of the ones I caught: Beth and Caleb, John and Caleb. If you know little ones, you will probably understand the slight blur of the last shot.

He moves very fast.  

On a second topic, Newt has made a good move, in my opinion.  He has come up with a great plan to quickly bring our nation out of the hole into which it has  sunk, put people back to work and put the word  prosperity back in out vocabulary.  Check out this plan that will give us $2.50 a gallon gasoline here.

If you read this late and can no longer find this site... google Newt's plan for $2.50 gas.  If that fails, you'll know it is so good, those in control don't want you to see it.  Vote for Newt.

Food or Gas

There are more important pictures of the triplets I'm wanting to put in layouts, but these three just lent themselves to an idea I came across this week. Although I didn't end up blending the pictures into the cardboard, I really liked this look and it just took me a few minutes to do it.

On Tuesday nights in many Chick -fil -As across the country (if not all) kids meals are free when the family comes to eat. That is a popular outing for lots of families and the triplets look forward to it each week.  Even though they go once a week, when their paternal grandparents were in town to see their dad's play, the triplets were happy to go once again to this chicken place.  I'm glad I have these pictures of them there. I made a layout so that we can remember those many nights of yummy chicken nuggets, even when the triplets are married and have kids of their own.

With these prices and good meals, who can refuse?  Unless our gas continues to rise to a point where people have to choose between it and food,  I imagine they'll continue this Tuesday night tradition.

Those who want to bankrupt our nation and bleed out all our resources are winning. We must reverse this trend before it is too late.  Check out the Tea Party in your area and begin to do your part to save our nation from the 'progressives' who are tightening their grips  and strangling us.

Young Adults

I loved the rhyme of plaid, which is now back in style, with the words rad or bad; but being an old Grandmother, I wasn't sure if those two words were still up to date.  Word fads seem to go in and out so quickly anymore. So I emailed (I know texting is the thing now.) Lauren to ask if one of those words would work.  She told me to use either one, 'cause I am the Gramma.  So I have a blank ticket.  Watch out...I might get real grandmotherly and tell them about walking to school in snow drifts up to my bottom. I'm sure they would never believe a person would walk to school. Certainly not both of our cars were in the repair shop.

Some day I will have  to show and tell about my childhood, which is so foreign to those of kids today.  We love our kids so much that we do everything we can to make them happy.  Sometimes it might be too much. Adversity builds a strong character.

This is not our Lauren. But many young people today think they deserve everything they want and if for some reason they can not get a high level job straight out of school, they blame others...society for example.  Look at those protesting in the city parks these days. They need to get entry level jobs and prove they are worth a salary instead of holding out for that golden opportunity.  The generations that preceded them, often did moonlighting...they worked more than one job to make a living until they developed the skills needed to make a decent wage in one shift. Or they started businesses and lived on a shoestring, bread and water until they turned a meager profit. Year after year they did without, until they made it big...if they ever did.  This is the first generation that has felt they must have it all from the very beginning.

 And that dear citizens is why so many of them voted for Obama. He promised everything. I am hoping they are discovering that instead he gave them an economy that will crash unless he gets out of the way. He's given us gas prices that will continue to rise because his bunch will not allow us to drill our own plentiful oil...making more jobs and keeping money in the country instead of it gushing out to import oil.  The millions of jobs he promised turned out to be a loss of over 400,000. The unemployment rate, which doesn't even count all those who quit looking for work, is very high.

I pray, that our young people will choose freedom and not the crap they've been fed. Neither Socialism or Communisn has ever worked anywhere it has been tried.  But they keep thinking they'll get it right next time.

I choose Freedom and hope and pray all of you do as well.

Valentine Girl

Not sure why I missed getting these on the blog for a whole week.  Here they are now, Ashley. What a sweet girl you are.  You surely do love those 'Builda Bear' pets.  And you look darling in the shirt your mom made for you.   I'm now working on layouts of you and your brothers in your eastern outfits at your daddy's play.   Love you. Gramma.

Being a grandmother is one of the true joys of life.

Last night we had Caleb here, tonight Ashley and tomorrow night will bring Lauren. Then you'll see Aussie and Mason.  Wish I  would get more pictures of Brandon, Brittanie and Leah. It's been a while since I've seen a new one.

I've been spending a lot of time at Curves recently, since I'm trying to shed pounds. Today a friend there told me that her sister said that now she is  over 60,  if she wakes up in the morning and nothing hurts, she is dead. You might as well laugh.  We need something to smile about these days.

Today I'm happy to be a part of the Tea Party.  And thankful that God is in control of the weather and not man. He is quite a bit more experienced and way brighter.  Today He surprised all of us with a cold day and snow. It was 'supposed' to be 46. HA

Last evening our cat was minding her own business on our porch, when I feral neighborhood cat attacked her as he has done a few times before. He scares her to death when he does his Peeping Tom act and she is  in the house.

Well this was the last time. We decided to protect her. Ron set a trap and got him. This morning he made a trip to the humane society. So if there is anyone who wants a wild cat...he's a beautiful black and white cat, you'll know where to get him.  Just don't bring him back to this neighborhood.  Our little one is still recuperating.

She doesn't feel well at all... Probably the way we feel when we hear of the latest shenanigans in Washington.

Panda Bikes/Urban Velo

That's our boy! Naturally he would find the Panda hats and want one. And then he also found the Urban Velo magazine with his dad's Panda bikes in it.  He looks pleased, doesn't he?  But then everyone is pleased by  Panda. They are really special.  Check them out .here .

Big Bad Hair Day

A serious subject for a change...Big Hair.  I need a haircut badly. I've been letting it grow out, and it does quickly, so that I could get it shaped the way I want it.  It is really wild in the back.  This was taken on the 10th and it was much worse today. I just had to give up trying to tame it this morning. Too much hair and too much wave together make it a big, bad hair day.

I'm trying to think of a way to tie this into my favorite subject: Politics; but the  closest thing I can think of is Washington shenanigans make my hair stand on end. That might explain why I'm looking so wild.
Or perhaps: my hair is out of control like government spending.

Muddy Shoes

At this time, I still don't know if Caleb's shoes were muddy before or after the puddle. I can always change the journaling if necessary.  Whatever way it was, I would guess he has never had muddy shoes before...at least not that muddy!  But then of course, does anyone know a two year old boy who would avoid the mud?  This is other than his father, who was not the typical bug and dirt loving kid.

Looks like several have gotten their feet muddy during this election process so far.  None seem to be just the perfect conservative candidate and therefore none has gotten a lead that  would make people think that one or the other will come far enough to the top to actually be the nominee this August. There is talk of a brokered convention.

As much as I like Rick Santorum, a wonderful,  Christian man, he  doesn't seem to be the fiscal conservative  I'd prefer. I tend to compare him with Huckabee.  I would hope they can come up with a  man who is both a godly man and is constantly  a fiscal  conservative.

There are some names popping up, but it is nothing but speculation presently, with most who've been named having already said they would not run for president.

It's our job right now to continue praying that God will work this out to the advantage of our 'Christian  nation'.

The Perfect Gift

Greg surely hit it right when he brought home gourmet cupcakes for the whole family. What a treat! With delight on their faces, each triplet got to choose.

Come November we get to choose as well.  Make it the perfect choice. It may be the last time we have, to get it right.

Valentine Magic

The reason for the 'Magic' in the title is this:  Even though a couple of pictures were taken of Ron and me on Valentine's day, the sweet little old photographer couldn't keep the camera still and they were very blurry, one cut off the  top of Ron't head...so I photoshopped a group picture. It worked and I was able to make the layout I'd been planning for weeks.

Planning in usually a good thing, but when we see a plan in the making that threatens our safety, it can be quite unsettling. It seems Iran and Al Qaida has joined together in planning an attack against the west.

We have been warned. This is an opportunity for us to pray that God will spoil their plans and protect us from them.

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 18:2

Valentine...Make Your Own

I got my Valentine from Caleb yesterday. Today I took the time to made layouts with those great pictures of him in the kitchen making his own salt 'play doh'.  It was tinted pink and he stirred it well, patted it down and rolled it out for the cut. I dearly love this last picture with the heart shaped cookie cutter.  At the end, I will put the same picture on which his mom used an app with her iPhone. I love the feel, but it didn't  fit as well with the others here.

If you have heard of the man who shot up his daughter's computer and wondered what it was all about, you can watch it on YouTube. Or, you can click here and see it on Blaze. 

I'm not sure I would do the same thing, but he has an interesting point to make and he made it well...to other parents around the nation.

He has my heart................................

A Special Day

Several weeks ago, Ron had told me that we were going to lunch today, I knew some of the others going, but didn't know why.  This morning he reminded me and I had forgotten because I hadn't put it on my calendar. To me if it isn't written on the calendar, I'll never remember.

Well I  dressed  in a hurry because I had planned this to be a work day. We had a men's meeting at the house tonight. I was in scrubbing clothes.  

I made it and we headed off to a church I had not attended before, but knew a couple who go there.  They are some of Ron's friends from the Y, whom I've seen a few times. Their church had prepared a really nice Valentine's Day luncheon for us. Others from the Y were invited as well.

  There was a guest speaker. He was a man I had met once. He came to visit Ron in the hospital when he had a TIA a couple of years ago.  I had heard a lot about him and was glad to have the opportunity to hear him speak. He  spoke on the love chapter, I Corinthians 13. As many times as I've heard lessons from those verses, it was still fresh and quite good. It was really nice meeting with him again.

I enjoyed being with a lot of people. I worked at learning  the ladies names and was  proud  of myself, since I still had that teacher gift of remembering. 

Something very unusual happened today...I didn't make a single political comment the whole time we were there.  Thinking back on it though, maybe I should have.  These were good Christian people.  I'm sure they will vote with God's will in mind.

By the way some polls are saying Santorum is now tied with Romney. Others say, he has taken the lead.

BFGoodrich Koroseal Play Ponds (1950's)

In the forties and fifties a lot of women who had never worked outside the home, took jobs.   With so many men leaving their work and going to war, there were jobs for women to step into... in factories as well as other places.

My mother went to work for BFGoodrich.  My dad was a chemist there. I suppose that is how she heard of the need for workers. She helped make what they called Play Ponds out of a new material,  Koroseal. 

Of course, she wanted one for me. and had money to spend for a few "luxuries'. I probably enjoyed that 'pond' as much as kids do a real swimming pool today.  It was a simple life...with simple pleasures.

Nothing seemed as complicated and twisted as things do today.

First our president ordered religious organizations to supply contraceptives for their workers. Then when he realized the Catholics were not going to take this, but rose up mightily in an election year, he asked them to compromise their beliefs. Brilliant.

Even though it was delivered in careful words, it did not fly.  They were not stupid enough  to fall for it. Obviously the leaders had gone to school back when people were taught the use their own minds and not swallow everything they heard, unlike the 'team players' we are raising today.

The bishops issued this statement last Friday:  the proposal "continues to involve needless government intrusion in the internal governance of religious institutions, and to threaten government coercion of religious people and groups to violate their most deeply held convictions."

There are many more of us upset. We don't have to be Catholics to believe  government has no right dictating to us how to  live our private lives. Neither do they have the right to make us pay for other people to do what we know is against God's law.  God's law should be the only thing that limits our freedom.

Birthday Party 1950

I have email addresses for two of the girls  here and had fun sharing these 'lost' pictures from over 60 years ago. The one who was only 1 at the time didn't recognize anyone, including herself. But she did pick out her brother from one of the other pictures after I said he was there.

 I know where most of these people are.  We were  close neighbors.  We got started together without TVs. But I believe by this time there were a couple in the neighborhood. I remember several families at a time gathering to watch any given show.   For those of you who don't go back that far, you are really missing out.  Yes you may have 65 inch screens in 3D now, but you do not have the camaraderie we enjoyed with our neighbors.

It was a perfect place  to grow up because we couldn't get away with anything. If I did something that would not be approved by my parents, they soon found out, because one of the neighbors would tell them and I would get spanked...Yes, and I lived through it. I didn't get punished often though, because I knew what was expected of me and the what the consequences were as well.

I'm sorry to say that has changed.  Most don't want to get involved.  Teachers get blamed if I child misbehaves in school. No one wants to say that he/she was wrong. It is always someone else's fault. No one wants to take responsibility for his/her own actions. It is a sad state of affairs.

Even our president wants to blame the last one for the mess he himself has made of our economy.

My LIfe Project Again

As many of you know, I published a book on the first six years of my life last year.  Well, I've finally found some time to work on that project. This page shows my seventh birthday in 1950. I'll finish the facing page soon. It shows all the children listed in the journaling here.

The two with me on this layout are my cousins, Jo Ann who was adopted by my Aunt Arlie and Uncle Jess and the little boy is my  cousin once removed, my cousin's son.  His name was Walter, but we called him Butch.

This was back when abortion was not an accepted thing, when morality was an important part of life...at least it was in our area.

Today, much of society has not only adopted it, but are trying to ram it down everyone else's throats, and making us pay for theirs as well.

The president has gotten himself in hot water over this...even though he is trying to back peddle on his demand that Christian organizations pay for contraceptives, etc. for their employees.  His solution was to make insurance companies, some of which are Christian as well, pay.

As the Catholic League's chief Bill Donohue said, "Quite frankly, he's adding insult to injury. He must think the Catholics are stupid."

So people are seeing through his chicanery.  I sure hope they don't forget before the election.

Although the government is fighting Catholics because they are the ones who rose up in strength against his craziness, there are many other Christians in this land who believe just as the Catholics do that these things are morally wrong and we should not have to pay for others'  sin.

So Funny

Wish I knew what Caleb found so funny.  But even without knowing, I get a big kick out of his great big laugh.

He has a lot to laugh about.  So far he doesn't know how much debt our government has run up in this last three years... money that he will have to help pay back, making his lifestyle much less cushy than we've had since the Carter  administration was over and Reagan brought out country back to prosperity.

Perhaps now that our president and his bunch has attacked religious freedom so flagrantly, we will be able to vote him out of the office.

It's a Zoo Out There

Nashville gave them a very nice day and Chelle took the triplets to the city zoo. It's one of their favorite places to go.  This time Mason joined in to help with the photography.

Each one chose his/her favorite animal. Once they got home, they were to write a report on that animal. Aussie was so 'anxious' that he started writing his during his visit.

Have been reading about all that is going on in the states relating to the upcoming election and Obama's blunders over birth control, abortion and the church.  It is a real Zoo.

As far as the news reporters are concerned, this issue is only one for  Catholics.  They would be far from right  with that supposition. Christians in all fundamental churches feel the same way.  It is a basic teaching of the Bible!

I am thinking that God is working to deliver this country back into the hands of its citizens and Christians in particular.   Obama has been making big  blunders. And it seems that God  is raising up a Republican nominee who is a Godly man...one that He can use to reChristianize this land.

It's a Party

We  finally got together...at least 6 of us, to celebrate Phyllis' birthday. As you can tell she is 39 and still going strong. Actually, I believe we are all 39... and have been for years.

For this special day we went for Mexican food. And Sali baked us a special delight...cupcakes.  They are a rage right now and her baked goods are always super delicious.

Something I enjoy as much as cake, and it is not as fattening...is keeping abreast of the political scene. I was pleased to see Santorum take three state primaries. He is not only a Godly man but also a TRUE conservative.  Can't beat that combination. I pray that God is working through this election to help us bring morality and thus prosperity back to the states.  We have seen where the opposite leads and it is not pretty.  Socialism kills initiative and freedom.

Skylander's Tournament

Lots of kids are playing computer games and one of the really popular ones right now is Skylander. I've read an explanation of it and still don't get it, but I'll not be playing.  Of course at this age, I probably don't have the reflexes required anyway.  I guess we could have a granny's tournament if anyone cared.

Parents must be into this as well, because some of Greg's workmates got their children together for a tournament.  The triplets ended up being the oldest ones there, so they had an edge...and they did win...all three prizes.  That made mother a little uneasy. It just didn't seem fair.  But anyway, I'm supposing everyone had fun and they are all practicing for their next chance to be champion.

The Catholic Church is a champion in my book at present.  The Obama administration with their ominous health care bill had issued an order that the church must comply with their (UnChristian) requirement that religious-affiliated schools and organizations must cover contraceptives and abortion-inducing drugs. The church is responding  with  bold proclamations  and fighting back.

The libs want their (made up) separation of church and state, until it runs counter to their own desires to suppress the church.

This goes for all Christians who take a fundamental view of the scripture. It is not the Lord's will to desanctify life.  We must all rebel against such a requirement.

I see that Obama himself is backing down on this one, but mind you...it is only until he gets himself reelected.  Once he is in the office for four more oppressive years, he will do as he pleases.  And he definitely wants to destroy Christianity in this nation that he loathes.

And why would I dare say such a thing?  Because he might  as well  have said it himself in some of his published work. And his actions speak.

Please pray for him that he sees the light and turns his life around.

Bath Time

I did try to post last night, but our internet was down. It could have had something to do with the huge upload I was attempting to MyPublisher.com.   Anyway, that got me to bed a bit earlier. but without posting to this blog.

This morning,  I was able to get the book uploaded  after fooling with the box...technical term for black thing that controls our access to the net. 

Then after conquering a few more computer related problems, with Ron's help, I realized I had not yet posted...so there will be two today.  Look for another one tonight, if you can take two in one day.

Love this still picture on the left and the three I captured from a video of Caleb Beth sent this morning. 

It involved using Quicktime and a desktop capture. Seems to have worked just fine.

It is a shame they cannot get the federal government to work right and the people 'to work', with jobs.  The phony numbers we are hearing about job growth are fallacious to say the least.  Manufactured might be a good term.   There are fewer people looking for jobs., since there are none to find. Many have found their opportunity for unemployment compensation has run out and they are no longer counted as unemployed.  (What sense does that make?) 

I think perhaps I've mentioned this on the blog before.  If I haven't, I should have.  The feds say that unemployment is down over the last couple of months...however, over that same period of time, over 2 million jobs have been LOST.

If you look at the plain facts instead of trying to figure out how they came up with their goofy figures, it is easy to see that with fewer jobs, there have to be more unemployed. Or should I go back to second grade?

He's Two

How many times a day do I say, I can't believe it has been that long? It gets more frequent as the weeks go by.  And I can't believe Caleb is two already.  He is a special little boy and I wish that we lived close enough to see him a couple times a week...at least.

Well I can believe I have another book deadline tomorrow night.  So I'll be working hard to 'get r done', as  some of my southern friends say.

God is in Control

The real reason I made this layout today... it was a challenge. "What are you looking at now?" I  wasn't exactly looking at that when I sat at the computer.  Even though I see the lake from here. I'm looking south.  When I got up to look out the living room window to the northwest, this is the view I had. I liked it better with no driveway or other less than beauty between me and the lake.  

We were surprised to see it snowing when we got up this morning. Yet when God wants snow, it snows!  It covered the ground, but melted fairly quickly. It is just too warm for that white blanket.

Speaking of warm...or more descriptive, hot.  Iran is getting even hotter now. With her nuclear capabilities, she seems to be anxious to start a skirmish in the guise of protecting herself from the evil west for wanting to diminish her war capabilities and stop her nuclear program. 

I understand that while targeting 'soft sites' in the US, such as Jewish synagogues and schools, her Revolutionary Guard began naval manoeuvres today in the Strait of Hormuz. She has threatened to close it down in retaliation against tough western sanctions.  

What a wonderful time to reduce our military and defund it substantially! May the living God in heaven be our shield and strength when our federal government fails us.

Living Life's Moments

The Catholic church in the US sent out a letter to be read before every congregation in the nation. Each Bishop gave it his own personal touches, but as an example of the letters, I'm  entering the text from the Bishop of Marquette (Michigan).

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

I write to you concerning an alarming and serious matter that negatively impacts the Church in the United States directly, and that strikes at the fundamental right to religious liberty for all citizens of any faith. The federal government, which claims to be “of, by, and for the people,” has just been dealt a heavy blow to almost a quarter of those people — the Catholic population — and to the millions more who are served by the Catholic faithful.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced last week that almost all employers, including Catholic employers, will be forced to offer their employees’ health coverage that includes sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs, and contraception. Almost all health insurers will be forced to include those “services” in the health policies they write. And almost all individuals will be forced to buy that coverage as a part of their policies.

In so ruling, the Obama Administration has cast aside the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, denying to Catholics our Nation’s first and most fundamental freedom, that of religious liberty. And as a result, unless the rule is overturned, we Catholics will be compelled to either violate our consciences, or to drop health coverage for our employees (and suffer the penalties for doing so). The Obama Administration’s sole concession was to give our institutions one year to comply.

We cannot—we will not—comply with this unjust law. People of faith cannot be made second class citizens. We are already joined by our brothers and sisters of all faiths and many others of good will in this important effort to regain our religious freedom. Our parents and grandparents did not come to these shores to help build America’s cities and towns, its infrastructure and institutions, its enterprise and culture, only to have their posterity stripped of their God given rights. In generations past, the Church has always been able to count on the faithful to stand up and protect her sacred rights and duties. I hope and trust she can count on this generation of Catholics to do the same. Our children and grandchildren deserve nothing less.

And therefore, I would ask of you two things. First, as a community of faith we must commit ourselves to prayer and fasting that wisdom and justice may prevail, and religious liberty may be restored. Without God, we can do nothing; with God, nothing is impossible. Second, I would also recommend visiting www.usccb.org/conscience,to learn more about this severe assault on religious liberty, and how to contact Congress in support of legislation that would reverse the Obama Administration’s decision.

Sincerely yours in Christ,
+Alexander K. Sample
Most Reverend Alexander K. Sample
Bishop of Marquette

I suggest that all Christians join in this effort to perpetuate religious freedom here in the United States.

To demand or deliver...

Generally, I do not like to do layouts over because I can't keep up with all the pictures and I really want to make some layouts from pictures taken years ago. But because I have been making my pictures an exact size to fit more easily into My Publisher.com books, layouts that I'd already completed for the next book had to be reworked.  This one of Caleb was one I had never really liked. The color combination just didn't go well with the brown background I used; so when I redid it, I changed the background to chocolate chips. I'm happier with it now.

This project has been time consuming, since I had about 60 pages that had to be redone.  It was very difficult and time consuming at first, but now I have it down to a science and it goes quickly.   Now instead of having a book with 12x12 layouts, my pages are 3324 pixels x 2575 pixels.  I didn't like the look of them at first, but I'm adjusting fairly well...and the books are much easier to make online.

Adjusting is not easy, especially for  us "old timers", but I vowed when I was younger to keep up with the times.  My mother was my example and it was a very attractive quality to me.  I will listen to those with differing opinions and weigh them with the facts. Most of the time, I stick with what I've always believed, but not always. Facts are facts.

And one fact I know is that hiking the minimum wage is disastrous, especially in hard times when there are so many out of work.  When it becomes too expensive for a small business to hire unskilled labor, they don't. So jobs are lost.  When unskilled labor costs more than it is worth to a company, and they have to hire workers, they have to also raise prices for their goods or services so they can  pay the bills. The people who lose the most are those with minimum wage jobs.  They can't afford to pay higher prices.  This is a historical fact.  Many do not understand anything except that they want more money and many people think they are worth more than they are.  Most people do not work at minimum wages for ever.  Those are entry level jobs. If that worker shows he or she will work hard and can be trusted then he/she will work him/herself up the ladder to better and better jobs...with higher wages and benefits.

Instead of demanding, try delivering. It will bring you great rewards in time.

Determination

It will take a LOT of determination, but I'm going to try really hard to get rid of my extra weight. I don't need to be hauling it around.  So I've made goals and will be working towards them.  

I've lost the first 10 pounds so that gives me the desire to continue on the way to a healthier life.  

Making this public is one of my plans for keeping myself accountable. It should help give me the will power I need  to abstain from eating things I shouldn't have and to eat way less of what is good for me.

Angie at Scrapgirls.com has inspired me. It she can do it, I figure I can as well.

I have  made realistic goals  that should be within my ability to accomplish.

Now, I need to make myself believe that hunger is good.