Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Lesson for today.....
I HATE baby-sitting ill-disciplined children! Especially when it's kids that I can't discipline as I would my own. UGH!!! I am currently remembering why I never done this for profit! Lesson learned! Only keep kids I can discipline accordingly, because one of these kids needs more than a time out!
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Personal Responsibility and the Government
"In the end, there is no program or policy that can substitute for a mother or father who will attend those parent/teacher conferences, or help with homework after dinner, or turn off the TV, put away the video games and read to their child. I speak to you not just as a president, but as a father when I say that responsibility for our children's education must begin at home." —President Barack Obama, during his national address on Feb. 24 [2/24/09]
Rarely, if ever, has Barack Obama said much of anything that I agree with at all, much less something that I agree with as much as I do with that statement above. The whole statement boils down to personal responsibility.
I am absolutely furious at our government and the people of this country as a whole right now. We have lived our lives for many, many years now extremely irresponsibly. We've not lived, spent or saved within our personal means. Our government has taken their cue from us. They, too, have failed to live, spend or save with what they have been given authority over. I am of the firm opinion that neither my generation, nor the generation before me, has ever been forced to take responsibility for the choices that we make. And THAT has dug our nation into a VERY deep whole.
As a result of this, many of us now are looking for good ole' Uncle Sam to bail us out of trouble. We're holding out our hands saying, "Gimme more, gimme more!!" What we are failing to realize though, is that the money that the government is giving us now will be repaid by our children and grandchildren for many years from now. When are we, as a people, going to wake up and realize that we, individually, are the ones to look to for a bailout?! I realize that that will most likely never happen because it would honestly be too hard for most of us. It would mean things like eating at home, cutting out the extras like cable, cell phones or internet, or maybe even having to, heaven forbid, work HARDER for a season, to get out of debt. It would mean that we would have to learn to be personally responsible for our choices, living out the natural consequences of our actions. Because just it is our personal responsibility to see to the education and teaching of our children, it also falls to us to choose to make the right personal financial choices.
"Christmas is the time when kids tell Santa what they want and adults pay for it. Deficits are when adults tell government what they want and their kids pay for it." ~Richard Lamm
"Blessed are the young, for they shall inherit the national debt." ~Herbert Hoover, attributed
"When government accepts responsibility for people, then people no longer take responsibility for themselves." ~George Pataki
"You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot help small men by tearing down big men. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot lift the wage-earner by pulling down the wage-payer. You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich. You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. You cannot establish security on borrowed money. You cannot build character and courage by taking away men's initiative and independence. You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves." ~William Boetcker
DISCLAIMER: President Obama WAS NOT my first choice for presidemt of this great nation that we live in. He wasn't even second or third choice, for that matter. More like not even on the list. No matter my personal views of him, he is my president now and as a Christian and follower of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, it is MY personal responsibility to lift Mr. Obama up daily in prayer. He has been given charge of our nation for the next four years. I pray fervently that my president would look to my LORD for guidance.
"I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever." ~ Thomas Jefferson
Rarely, if ever, has Barack Obama said much of anything that I agree with at all, much less something that I agree with as much as I do with that statement above. The whole statement boils down to personal responsibility.
I am absolutely furious at our government and the people of this country as a whole right now. We have lived our lives for many, many years now extremely irresponsibly. We've not lived, spent or saved within our personal means. Our government has taken their cue from us. They, too, have failed to live, spend or save with what they have been given authority over. I am of the firm opinion that neither my generation, nor the generation before me, has ever been forced to take responsibility for the choices that we make. And THAT has dug our nation into a VERY deep whole.
As a result of this, many of us now are looking for good ole' Uncle Sam to bail us out of trouble. We're holding out our hands saying, "Gimme more, gimme more!!" What we are failing to realize though, is that the money that the government is giving us now will be repaid by our children and grandchildren for many years from now. When are we, as a people, going to wake up and realize that we, individually, are the ones to look to for a bailout?! I realize that that will most likely never happen because it would honestly be too hard for most of us. It would mean things like eating at home, cutting out the extras like cable, cell phones or internet, or maybe even having to, heaven forbid, work HARDER for a season, to get out of debt. It would mean that we would have to learn to be personally responsible for our choices, living out the natural consequences of our actions. Because just it is our personal responsibility to see to the education and teaching of our children, it also falls to us to choose to make the right personal financial choices.
"Christmas is the time when kids tell Santa what they want and adults pay for it. Deficits are when adults tell government what they want and their kids pay for it." ~Richard Lamm
"Blessed are the young, for they shall inherit the national debt." ~Herbert Hoover, attributed
"When government accepts responsibility for people, then people no longer take responsibility for themselves." ~George Pataki
"You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot help small men by tearing down big men. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot lift the wage-earner by pulling down the wage-payer. You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich. You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. You cannot establish security on borrowed money. You cannot build character and courage by taking away men's initiative and independence. You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves." ~William Boetcker
DISCLAIMER: President Obama WAS NOT my first choice for presidemt of this great nation that we live in. He wasn't even second or third choice, for that matter. More like not even on the list. No matter my personal views of him, he is my president now and as a Christian and follower of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, it is MY personal responsibility to lift Mr. Obama up daily in prayer. He has been given charge of our nation for the next four years. I pray fervently that my president would look to my LORD for guidance.
"I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever." ~ Thomas Jefferson
Saturday, March 14, 2009
PHENOMONAL, AMAZING, FABULOUS!!!!!
Okay, so maybe not that phenomonal, amazing or fabulous to anyone but me (and Ed, possibly, too). But I am absolutely ecstatic!!! I bought new clothes today! Smaller clothes!!! Not plus-sized clothes!!!!! I haven't been in "regular-sized" clothes since before my 6-year-old was born!!!!!!
Last fall (or maybe closer to Thanksgiving, truth be told) I decided that I was finally tired of being overweight and decided to do something about it. I've struggled with my weight off and on since I was 13 or 14. But then again, all teenage girls think they're fat, so maybe I really wasn't.... Anyway, I wasn't REALLY overweight until after my various pregnancies. I've let it slide and been okay with it, somewhat.
I decided before Ed left on this deployment that I was going to lose a significant amount of weight while he was gone. And I have!!! Since he left at the begining of December, I've managed to lose 35 pounds!!! I'd lost ten before he left, so that brings my total to 45 pounds!!!
Not by starving myself or doing any weird diet that would have me eat strange foods. I've just been learning to make better food choices and getting lots (and lots) of exercise. I've even been running. (Sorry Lu, I still think that people that LIKE running are sick in the head. Nothing personal.) BTW, if you're curious, The Biggest Loser Workouts will totally kick your butt! Unless you happen to be one of "those" perfectly in shape people with like, zero body fat. Which, even after this quest is over and I've lost all that I want to, I am sure I will never be. I like food too much.
And so my quest to be a hot wife and momma continues. Wish me luck. And if you happen to think about me, eat some ice cream in my honor. I haven't had any in three or four months!
Last fall (or maybe closer to Thanksgiving, truth be told) I decided that I was finally tired of being overweight and decided to do something about it. I've struggled with my weight off and on since I was 13 or 14. But then again, all teenage girls think they're fat, so maybe I really wasn't.... Anyway, I wasn't REALLY overweight until after my various pregnancies. I've let it slide and been okay with it, somewhat.
I decided before Ed left on this deployment that I was going to lose a significant amount of weight while he was gone. And I have!!! Since he left at the begining of December, I've managed to lose 35 pounds!!! I'd lost ten before he left, so that brings my total to 45 pounds!!!
Not by starving myself or doing any weird diet that would have me eat strange foods. I've just been learning to make better food choices and getting lots (and lots) of exercise. I've even been running. (Sorry Lu, I still think that people that LIKE running are sick in the head. Nothing personal.) BTW, if you're curious, The Biggest Loser Workouts will totally kick your butt! Unless you happen to be one of "those" perfectly in shape people with like, zero body fat. Which, even after this quest is over and I've lost all that I want to, I am sure I will never be. I like food too much.
And so my quest to be a hot wife and momma continues. Wish me luck. And if you happen to think about me, eat some ice cream in my honor. I haven't had any in three or four months!
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Friends....
To a Friend
by Grace Stricker Dawson
You entered my life in a casual way,
And saw at a glance what I needed;
There were others who passed me or met me each day,
But never a one of them heeded.
Perhaps you were thinking of other folks more,
Or chance simply seemed to decree it;
I know there were many such chances before,
But the others—well, they didn’t see it.
You said just the thing that I wished you would say,
And you made me believe that you meant it;
I held up my head in the gallant old way,
And resolved you should never repent it.
There are times when encouragement means such a lot,
And a word is enough to convey it;
There were others who could have, as easy as not—
But, just the same, they didn’t say it.
There may have been someone who could have done more
To help me along, though I doubt it;
What I needed was cheering, and always before
They had let me plod onward without it.
You helped to refashion the dream of my heart,
And made me turn eagerly to it;
There were others who might have (I question that part)—
But, after all, they didn’t do it!
by Grace Stricker Dawson
You entered my life in a casual way,
And saw at a glance what I needed;
There were others who passed me or met me each day,
But never a one of them heeded.
Perhaps you were thinking of other folks more,
Or chance simply seemed to decree it;
I know there were many such chances before,
But the others—well, they didn’t see it.
You said just the thing that I wished you would say,
And you made me believe that you meant it;
I held up my head in the gallant old way,
And resolved you should never repent it.
There are times when encouragement means such a lot,
And a word is enough to convey it;
There were others who could have, as easy as not—
But, just the same, they didn’t say it.
There may have been someone who could have done more
To help me along, though I doubt it;
What I needed was cheering, and always before
They had let me plod onward without it.
You helped to refashion the dream of my heart,
And made me turn eagerly to it;
There were others who might have (I question that part)—
But, after all, they didn’t do it!
Friday, December 19, 2008
Business in the front.....
So what do you do when your six-year-old asks for a mullet? I have visions of parenting Billy Ray Cyrus in my head. Not a pretty picture.....
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Black Friday
Yes, I'm one of those stupid people that's gets up before good sense says that you should the day after Thankgiving to go shopping. I don't know why, but I just really think it's fun! And anyone that knows me also knows that very few things excite me more than getting a really good deal on anything! As fun as it is to me, though, some people take it way too seriously! I actually watched as someone was arrested for fighting over one of the early bird specials at Wal-Mart! And did you hear about the Wal-Mart employee that was killed in New York?! That's just too much!!! On a side note, you would think that Wal-Mart would have more lines available for checkout on Black Friday. I mean, come on, they know what kind of crowds to evpect at this point!
All that aside, Christmas ain't about the stuff, folks. As you are preparing for this most wonderful time of the year, remember the reason. It's all about Jesus. His birth, and eventully His death. Oh what a wonderful Savior! Merry Christmas!
All that aside, Christmas ain't about the stuff, folks. As you are preparing for this most wonderful time of the year, remember the reason. It's all about Jesus. His birth, and eventully His death. Oh what a wonderful Savior! Merry Christmas!
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Thanksgiving!
Lydia's "thankful" blog has inspired me to do one of my own! I am blessed in so many different ways, but rarely do I take the time to think about it all. So, here I go, in no particular order after the first four or five!!
1. Jesus, my Lord and Savior
2. grace, God's grace
3. my husband, I will miss him terribly when he's gone in these coming months
4. my children, hairy little monsters that they are
5. our health, which is something you don't miss until it's gone!
6. hot running water!
7. brothers (and husbands and sons) that kill roaches (I concur!)
8. orange juice in the morning and hot chocolate at night
9. enough....food to eat, clothes to wear, money to pay the bills
10. accountability
11. friends, quality not quantity
12. memories, and the love they bring to mind
13. quiet evenings alone
14. loud days with my family
15. good parking spots
16. little pink toe nails and big brown eyes
17. unanswered prayers
18. Black Friday shopping (stupid, I know, but I love it!)
19. people that ask 'How are you?' and really want to know
20. good books
I could go on and on and on. There are more things for me to be thankful for than I could possibly list. I probably left lots of really important things off, but it happens, I guess.
I have to finish making my shopping list. I love all the cooking and baking that I get to do this time of the year. We're doing some different family things this year, though, so I've been relegated to desserts. I'm working to come up with some really fabulously delicious fare! Do more than eat this Thanksgiving! Remember what you're thankful for and who you love!
1. Jesus, my Lord and Savior
2. grace, God's grace
3. my husband, I will miss him terribly when he's gone in these coming months
4. my children, hairy little monsters that they are
5. our health, which is something you don't miss until it's gone!
6. hot running water!
7. brothers (and husbands and sons) that kill roaches (I concur!)
8. orange juice in the morning and hot chocolate at night
9. enough....food to eat, clothes to wear, money to pay the bills
10. accountability
11. friends, quality not quantity
12. memories, and the love they bring to mind
13. quiet evenings alone
14. loud days with my family
15. good parking spots
16. little pink toe nails and big brown eyes
17. unanswered prayers
18. Black Friday shopping (stupid, I know, but I love it!)
19. people that ask 'How are you?' and really want to know
20. good books
I could go on and on and on. There are more things for me to be thankful for than I could possibly list. I probably left lots of really important things off, but it happens, I guess.
I have to finish making my shopping list. I love all the cooking and baking that I get to do this time of the year. We're doing some different family things this year, though, so I've been relegated to desserts. I'm working to come up with some really fabulously delicious fare! Do more than eat this Thanksgiving! Remember what you're thankful for and who you love!
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