Time is a flying and here we go again with the past week of some things that added a bit of extra joy to my day!
1. A big baby clothes garage sale type thing put on by a local MOPS every year. I spent $40 and got 3 pairs of maternity pants, a maternity jogging suit and several shirts plus a whole bunch of winter clothes for the peanut next fall and winter. Good deal!!
2. My herbs are popping up! Yeah! I was so concerned as it has been chilly willy here lately but I went to check them today and they are itty bitty but so there! I can't wait to start picking from my herb garden, love it!
3. Two of my nephews had first communion this weekend so my husband's whole family was there for the after party and it was crazy loud! So much fun though to see that they enjoy each other so much and want to be together. Can't beat that!
4. My sister was in the hospital unexpectedly this week so my niece stayed with us for a few days and she and the peanut had some fun together. After she left, whew, we had a HUGE nap as the peanut was one tired girl!
5. New lawnmower. My brother in law brought us the riding lawnmowever from KY that he sold us for $300. It is only two years old and has all these fancy attachments. We just can't believe he sold it to us for that, it was such a blessing. We would easily have paid $3000 for it had we bought it anywhere else. You gotta love family! It has made mowing the lawn a snap and kind of fun too!
6. Pregnancy news. It has been so fun telling people about the pea in my pod. Everyone is so positive about it and shared in our joy. It's been wonderful and we are thankful!
7. Flowers. My trees are all blooming and the one in the front yard is full of all these bright pink flowers. I don't know anything about trees but this one is fabulous!
8. Leviticus. I know this is not a normal smile but I've been reading it lately and praying God would help not to make it so dry. I really have been getting more out of it than I thought and enjoying the fact that we don't have to live by so many little laws like that anymore!
9. Cracker Barrel pancakes. After the shopping on Saturday my sister and I went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast, and let me tell you, they have THE best pancakes there. I had no idea as I never order pancakes out as they are so easy to make at home I hate to pay so much for them. I was missing out though, yummo!!
10. Having breakfast with my sister. No kids, no spouses, just us. That NEVER happens so it was just really fun. We sat and talked, yes, quite a bit about our kids, but we never had to wipe mouths, help reach for a drink or deal with bathroom breaks. We just talked. It was great!
What are you all smiling about today?
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Oh What a Night, Late December back in 2008, what a baby, what a night!
So yeppers, I'm preggo! Our due date is December 28th.
I know that most people wait until they are 12 weeks to announce it, but please, I've never been good at keeping secrets and this is so huge for us! I feel like I share so much of my life with all of you in my bloggy world, why not this too? I wanted to say thank you to you all too, as I know so many of you prayed for me when I shared with you back in March what a hard time I had turning 33 as I hadn't gotten pregnant again, that I only felt it fitting to say thank you and allow you to celebrate and share in our great joy!
Psalm 127:3 says, "Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward." As I saw so many people around me getting pregnant I kept asking, "God, why don't you want me to have this blessing again?" I felt hurt and disappointed for so long. I mean, I want you all to know, I am so very thankful for my daughter, so please don't think otherwise. I am more than in love with that child. However, I longed to carry another child and experience the blessing again. I wanted to have a baby at my breast again, I wanted to feel the movement of a little someone in my belly and I desired for the peanut to have a sibling to share her life with. So, to see so many others being able to have children and it just not happening for us, I was jealous. I would be smiling on the outside but getting in my car and crying out to God on my way home. I was covetous and wanted what they had!!!
I didn't want to celebrate with them, I wanted them to hurt with me. Then, I began praying to God to give me joy for these women around me who wanted babies too and to celebrate with them instead of crying inside. I prayed for my heart to change, and it did. My jealousy did turn into joy. I was able to be honestly happy for them and want the best for them and their children. Then, funny thing, God opened up my womb again.
Coincidence? I honestly don't believe it is. In Romans 8:28, it says, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." and I believe that. I believe I needed to get through my own issues with jealousy an unkindness in my heart before God could move me forward.
I'm not saying this is why any woman who is struggling with infertility, this is the reasoning, but I can't help but believe that God has a plan and purpose for me, for my family and for this child for which we have prayed. And, I will never be the same again!
I know that most people wait until they are 12 weeks to announce it, but please, I've never been good at keeping secrets and this is so huge for us! I feel like I share so much of my life with all of you in my bloggy world, why not this too? I wanted to say thank you to you all too, as I know so many of you prayed for me when I shared with you back in March what a hard time I had turning 33 as I hadn't gotten pregnant again, that I only felt it fitting to say thank you and allow you to celebrate and share in our great joy!
Psalm 127:3 says, "Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward." As I saw so many people around me getting pregnant I kept asking, "God, why don't you want me to have this blessing again?" I felt hurt and disappointed for so long. I mean, I want you all to know, I am so very thankful for my daughter, so please don't think otherwise. I am more than in love with that child. However, I longed to carry another child and experience the blessing again. I wanted to have a baby at my breast again, I wanted to feel the movement of a little someone in my belly and I desired for the peanut to have a sibling to share her life with. So, to see so many others being able to have children and it just not happening for us, I was jealous. I would be smiling on the outside but getting in my car and crying out to God on my way home. I was covetous and wanted what they had!!!
I didn't want to celebrate with them, I wanted them to hurt with me. Then, I began praying to God to give me joy for these women around me who wanted babies too and to celebrate with them instead of crying inside. I prayed for my heart to change, and it did. My jealousy did turn into joy. I was able to be honestly happy for them and want the best for them and their children. Then, funny thing, God opened up my womb again.
Coincidence? I honestly don't believe it is. In Romans 8:28, it says, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." and I believe that. I believe I needed to get through my own issues with jealousy an unkindness in my heart before God could move me forward.
I'm not saying this is why any woman who is struggling with infertility, this is the reasoning, but I can't help but believe that God has a plan and purpose for me, for my family and for this child for which we have prayed. And, I will never be the same again!
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
10 Smile Tuesday
Sorry, I meant to have this post yesterday but blogspot wouldn't download my pictures so I had to wait today. I hope you all had a lot of smiles yesterdy too!!
Ah, is it Tuesday already again? Time sure has been flying by lately. I think being outside and enjoying life just makes it go so quick!
3. The bed was free! Yeah! We were just about to buy a bed when a friend from MOPS asked me if I wanted her daughter's bed, that she had never used. Of course I was not going to say no, free is my favorite price after all!!
7. My herb garden is complete. Although it is not as big as I originally planned, as I didn't realize how much work it would be, I still have a variety of 6 herbs (oregano, basil, rosemary, dill, parsley and one other??) plus the chives and mint that grow by the house, so it will be great. I'm excited to watch them grow!
Ah, is it Tuesday already again? Time sure has been flying by lately. I think being outside and enjoying life just makes it go so quick!
Anyway, without further ado, here are my 10 smiles for the week...
1. The baseball game we went to last week. We have a minor league team here with a great field and it was just the perfect day to be out. The peanut loved it and, altogether, it was a fabulous day!!
2. The peanut is in a big girl bed now. We've been talking about it for awhile, and my next smile will tell you why we finally made the switch. It is kind of sad but happy too, she's just a growing too fast on me!
3. The bed was free! Yeah! We were just about to buy a bed when a friend from MOPS asked me if I wanted her daughter's bed, that she had never used. Of course I was not going to say no, free is my favorite price after all!!4. Along with the free bed my friend also gave me a 4 foot tall bookcase that looks like a dollhouse. It is adorable and the peanut loves it! I was using her changing table for a bookcase so this is much better. LOL!
5. Last week Michael took two extra days off so we had a 5 day weekend to spend together. The peanut loved having him there as they worked in the yard together. So sweet!
6. We finally got the hammock up and can I tell you how much I love it! It is so fun to sit outside and swing in the warm weather. I can't wait to have leaves on the tree to really enjoy it!
7. My herb garden is complete. Although it is not as big as I originally planned, as I didn't realize how much work it would be, I still have a variety of 6 herbs (oregano, basil, rosemary, dill, parsley and one other??) plus the chives and mint that grow by the house, so it will be great. I'm excited to watch them grow!8. The peanut handed out tracts for the first time this week. You want to talk about melting my heart? After seeing Michael and I do it for so long I asked her if she wanted to do it too. She said, "Yes." And then took one of the million dollar tracts up to a woman in Wal-Mart, handed it to her and said, "Million bucks". I had to explain to the woman, who thought it completely adorable, that she was trying to say, "You look like a million bucks." After that, she wanted to hand them out everywhere. I felt like Mary, Jesus mother, who hid all of the wonderful things Jesus did in his childhood in her heart.
9. A day of scrapbooking with my best friend Carrie. We spent the entire day at this meetup thing and it was so fun. Of course we talked a lot more than we scrapped, but I still got 7 pages done, which is way more than I'd done in months and months. Too fun!!
10. A new camera. I actually still have my old camera, which I love, but it's a professional grade camera with attachments and so on so it's not practical to just take everywhere. So, with some birthday money I got, I bought a Kodak Easyshare that I can keep in my purse and just take anywhere. Good stuff!
Monday, April 21, 2008
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Take me out to the ballgame...
Look who went to the first game of the season!! My husband took his team from work, and their families, to the game yesterday and we had an absolute blast. Such a good time and the peanut absolutely loved it! She got to meet the mascot, who was just loving all over her, be on the Jumbotron twice and play on the lawn with other kids. It was a 72 degree day, sunny and the park was slow since it was at 2pm on a Wednesday. The peanut loved it!! We can't wait to take her to the next one!!
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
10 Smile Tuesday
OK, so before the day gets away from me again, I want to post my 10 smiles for the week. The peanut is still sleeping so I'm going to try to make it quick before she wakes up and the world bursts open!!
1. Painting. I gave the peanut watercolors and a paintbrush for the first time yesterday and it was love at first sight! She just kept painting and painting and painting. She probably spent a good hour and a half doing. It was lots of fun!
2. Family. My stepfather's family came to visit my parent's the weekend and it was so fun to see them again. We always have a good laugh and it was just a fun time.
3. Play kitchen. I found a Little Tikes play kitchen for the peanut on Craigslist and she is loving it! She loves the idea of cooking and baking and it has been fun!
4. Cookie making. The peanut and I made cookies for the first time last week. I usually don't make them here as I can't control myself to not eat all of them so this was a special treat. She had so much fun doing it you can't help but want to do it again!
5. Sermons. I've spent a lot of time in my car lately and so I've had an opportunity to listen to some of the sermon podcasts that have been sitting there forever. I really enjoy verse by verse (expository) preaching and I've downloaded some good ones so they've been eductional and thought provoking. And that is super good when you are a stay at home mom and your day can consist of wether to watch Dora or Diego!
6. Money Saving Mom. Thank to my friend Amanda, at Blessings all Mine, I was introduced to this website Money Saving Mom. She has got some great advice for saving money, getting things for free and coupons. Love, love, love it! I put her link in my sidebar if you want to go save money too!
7. Puddles. The peanut has discovered the joy of puddles. She loves to jump and splash in them and will just giggle and call out "Puddle!!" Seriously adorable!
8. Potty training. We've been kind of laxed lately as we've been so busy but yesterday she did go poopy for the first time on the chair. Holy cow, I almost cried!! Good stuff! OK, except for the fact that I had to clean that out, that's just not cool. Ewwww... Unfortunately, due to her very small size, the big toilet scares her so she won't go on it. Oh well, one step closer is a smile for me!
9. Deals. Kohl's (my favorite store besides the GAP) was having a super great sale this weekend, my in-laws gave us their 30% off your entire order coupon. We got the husband a bunch of new polos for work and I got my new summer t's and we saved a bundle. Good times!!
10. Buds. My trees are really finally budding. Two of the trees have got little bitty leaves on them. Summer is coming!! I think that is my biggest smile of all!!
What are you smiling about today??
1. Painting. I gave the peanut watercolors and a paintbrush for the first time yesterday and it was love at first sight! She just kept painting and painting and painting. She probably spent a good hour and a half doing. It was lots of fun!
2. Family. My stepfather's family came to visit my parent's the weekend and it was so fun to see them again. We always have a good laugh and it was just a fun time.
3. Play kitchen. I found a Little Tikes play kitchen for the peanut on Craigslist and she is loving it! She loves the idea of cooking and baking and it has been fun!
4. Cookie making. The peanut and I made cookies for the first time last week. I usually don't make them here as I can't control myself to not eat all of them so this was a special treat. She had so much fun doing it you can't help but want to do it again!
5. Sermons. I've spent a lot of time in my car lately and so I've had an opportunity to listen to some of the sermon podcasts that have been sitting there forever. I really enjoy verse by verse (expository) preaching and I've downloaded some good ones so they've been eductional and thought provoking. And that is super good when you are a stay at home mom and your day can consist of wether to watch Dora or Diego!
6. Money Saving Mom. Thank to my friend Amanda, at Blessings all Mine, I was introduced to this website Money Saving Mom. She has got some great advice for saving money, getting things for free and coupons. Love, love, love it! I put her link in my sidebar if you want to go save money too!
7. Puddles. The peanut has discovered the joy of puddles. She loves to jump and splash in them and will just giggle and call out "Puddle!!" Seriously adorable!
8. Potty training. We've been kind of laxed lately as we've been so busy but yesterday she did go poopy for the first time on the chair. Holy cow, I almost cried!! Good stuff! OK, except for the fact that I had to clean that out, that's just not cool. Ewwww... Unfortunately, due to her very small size, the big toilet scares her so she won't go on it. Oh well, one step closer is a smile for me!
9. Deals. Kohl's (my favorite store besides the GAP) was having a super great sale this weekend, my in-laws gave us their 30% off your entire order coupon. We got the husband a bunch of new polos for work and I got my new summer t's and we saved a bundle. Good times!!
10. Buds. My trees are really finally budding. Two of the trees have got little bitty leaves on them. Summer is coming!! I think that is my biggest smile of all!!
What are you smiling about today??
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Under a Shady Tree
So I know I've posted little of substance lately, it's just been so lovely outside that I can hardly think of sitting in my house while the beauty of spring pops all around me. I've been pulling weeds, arranging my flowerbeds (no flowers yet as our town still has the possibility of a late frost!), picking out seeds for my garden, enjoying the peanut's new swing set and sandbox, putting up a hammock in the yard and just enjoying the beauty of God's creation.
It has mostly been in the 60's here so it has finally provided me an opportunity to wear my flip flops again. Oh, how I've missed my flip flops. I have a pair of croc ones that I wear that are the most comfortable ones I've ever worn. And, let me tell you, I've worn a lot in my day. I like to be bare foot and that is the closest way I can do it and still keep my feet relatively safe.
Today it's back into the 40's with a chance of snow...brrrr...old man winter hasn't let go of that grip yet...darn it!! So, today I will stay inside and hibernate for a bit while it warms up. Actually, I've got a lot of work planned today, a birthday party for the peanut to attend and a steering committee meeting. It's probably a good thing it's cold so I won't be drawn to go sit under my tree on my new hammock, which I love by the way! I can't wait until the leaves are out and it really is a Shady Tree, good times!!
Oops, the peanut is up, gotta go! Hope you all have a great weekend too!
It has mostly been in the 60's here so it has finally provided me an opportunity to wear my flip flops again. Oh, how I've missed my flip flops. I have a pair of croc ones that I wear that are the most comfortable ones I've ever worn. And, let me tell you, I've worn a lot in my day. I like to be bare foot and that is the closest way I can do it and still keep my feet relatively safe.
Today it's back into the 40's with a chance of snow...brrrr...old man winter hasn't let go of that grip yet...darn it!! So, today I will stay inside and hibernate for a bit while it warms up. Actually, I've got a lot of work planned today, a birthday party for the peanut to attend and a steering committee meeting. It's probably a good thing it's cold so I won't be drawn to go sit under my tree on my new hammock, which I love by the way! I can't wait until the leaves are out and it really is a Shady Tree, good times!!
Oops, the peanut is up, gotta go! Hope you all have a great weekend too!
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Friday's Feast
Appetizer
What is your favorite vacation spot in the United States?
San Diego, CA
Soup
If someone else (friend, co-worker, family) brings up a religious or political topic, how likely are you to join the conversation, on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 = not likely, 10=very likely).
1, because being a conservative, I usually have the unpopular view and get harassed for it. It's funny how small minded people can be (who particularly believe they are the most open minded) when you tell them you have a different opinion then them. I'm just sayin'...
Salad
What song do you listen to when you feel very sad?
I'll listen to a lot of Carole King, Nat King Cole or James Taylor. They just make me happy.
Main Course
Someone you really admire is coming over for a home-cooked dinner. What do you serve him/her?
Something out of my Tyler's Ultimate book I'm sure!
Dessert
If the only form of transportation left in the world is by animal (horse, mule, camel), where would you live?
Same place. We have lots of roads and you could seriously get anywhere by animal.
What is your favorite vacation spot in the United States?
San Diego, CA
Soup
If someone else (friend, co-worker, family) brings up a religious or political topic, how likely are you to join the conversation, on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 = not likely, 10=very likely).
1, because being a conservative, I usually have the unpopular view and get harassed for it. It's funny how small minded people can be (who particularly believe they are the most open minded) when you tell them you have a different opinion then them. I'm just sayin'...
Salad
What song do you listen to when you feel very sad?
I'll listen to a lot of Carole King, Nat King Cole or James Taylor. They just make me happy.
Main Course
Someone you really admire is coming over for a home-cooked dinner. What do you serve him/her?
Something out of my Tyler's Ultimate book I'm sure!
Dessert
If the only form of transportation left in the world is by animal (horse, mule, camel), where would you live?
Same place. We have lots of roads and you could seriously get anywhere by animal.
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Mother of the year?!?!
OK, it's actually a post of why I will probably not be nominated mother of the year...take a look, what do you think?
Evidence #1: Running around with no pants on
Evidence #2: Teaching her to be a tree hugger
Evidence #3: Popcorn for lunch
Evidence #4: Letting her play in the mucky creek with sticks
Evidence #5: Letting her hug and kiss a wormWhat's your verdict?
Let the peace of God Reign
In my last post I blogged about the Smith family who were facing the loss of their unborn child, Audrey. Yesterday she was born by c-section and they were able to spend two lovely hours with their daughter before she passed away. I am thankful for that this morning but my heart hurts for them, as it does with so many other blogger friends that I have met that have lost children. I honestly can not think of one thing more difficult in this life.
Through it all though they are trusting in God and in his blessed hope. Please join me in praying that the peace of God will continue to reign in their lives as the days ahead (burial, memorial service, recovery of body and soul) will surely prove to be challenging.
Let the peace of God reign,
Amy
Through it all though they are trusting in God and in his blessed hope. Please join me in praying that the peace of God will continue to reign in their lives as the days ahead (burial, memorial service, recovery of body and soul) will surely prove to be challenging.
Let the peace of God reign,
Amy
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Please pray
I just discovered this blog today and I hope you will join me in praying for Audrey's family this weekend and especially on Monday when she will be delivered. Please stop by Audrey's mom's blog and leave her some encouragement, she is about to go through a time in her life no mommy should have to go through.
She needs our love and prayers right now.
Thank you blog friends!
She needs our love and prayers right now.
Thank you blog friends!
Thursday, April 03, 2008
All the small things
So this post is just one for me to have later to remember the adorable things the peanut is doing right now.
Last Wednesday she held a worm for the first time. I was digging up weeds and found one so I called her over. She thought it was interesting as she watched it wriggle and move in my hand. And yes, it's kind of creepy to me to hold worms but I want her to experience life so I do it anyway. She touched it and giggled and then pulled her hand away because of that smoothly wet weird feeling a worm has. I then encouraged her to hold it so she did and just thought it was so neat. How fun is it to experience life like that for the first time?
Then later in the day I found a ladybug and I showed her that too. She was enamored by the ladybug and insisted on holding her, talking to her, walking around with her for the longest time. I'm sure the poor bug was absolutely terrified at this giant walking around cuddling it like a teddy bear. It was pretty adorable I have to say. I wish I had my camera at that point but some moments just can't be caught.
I have no idea where she picked up this next thing, but we've noticed lately she's says, "Go away" as she points at you. At first we were totally insulted as it seemed pretty rude she's telling someone to go away. Apparently she has misunderstood the phrase though and actually means, "Don't sit there, sit here instead." She is too, too much!
One of the best parts of my day lately though has been watching the peanut chase her daddy around yelling, "Roar!!" at the top of her lungs and with her hands up in claw postition. Seriously, that should be caught on camera. It's hilarious! Particularly if you could see how small she is compared to my 6 foot 2 husband!
She has also discovered the fun of jumping on beds. Although she doesn't exactly jump yet, she kind of squats a bit and bounces back up. It's truely hilarious. So the last two days I've caught her doing this faux jumping on my bed while staring at herself in the vanity mirror. The first time she was watching herself singing, very loudly mind you, "Ma-ter...Sav-or...Je-Us" Oh my gosh how cute was that? Then yesterday it was, "Je-Us Love Me...Know...Bible...So". I mean really, did I ever REALLY laugh before I had her?
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
10 Smile Tuesday (er...Wednesday)
1. Potty Training. The peanut has gone on the potty more times in the past week than ever before. At least once a day, sometimes 3 times a day. This is movement, which in anyway is great this time! Go girl!
2. Banana Chocolate Chip Bread. The peanut and I made a loaf today just because. She loves cooking, seriously, she LOVES it. It makes a total mess which drives me insane, but hey, she'll only be this age for such a short moment...make the mess!
3. My garden. We tilled this past week...yeah! Not too much longer until we are planting!
4. The turtle. My parent's got the peanut a sandbox this past week. One of those big green turtles. She loves it! She played in it forever while we tilled. I can't wait until it's warm again so she can play in it again!
5. Riding lawn mower. Our yard is over an acre and when we bought the house last year we just couldn't afford a riding mower so my husband was spending hours every week mowing the lawn. We were going to have to break the bank this year and buy one (and I mean break the bank people!) when my husband's brother said he would sell us his year old one for VERY cheap because he wants a ZTR instead!! I'm still in shock over the water softner from last week so this is just beyond fabulous!
6. Michael's family. Since Michael's brother was in town this weekend from TN we spent a lot of time with them while they were here. He is 14 years older than Michael so my husband never felt like he knew him growing up. It's just great seeing them becoming friends as adults!
7. Mommy Rock You. The peanut has just been saying the cutest thing before bed every night. Although my husband doesn't particularly care for it, understandably. He will start to rock her and she gets fussy because she wants to do it so he'll ask her, "Do you want Mommy to rock you?" So, she has started crying out from the beginning, "Mommy Rock You, Mommy Rock You!!" I just think it is precious how she has picked that up from him.
8. Feel like a million, ain't got a dime. So Michael and I have been handing out these tracts recently that look like a million dollar bill (if there was such a thing). You can check them out at www.onemilliontracts.com. Anyway, on Saturday while at the optometrist after much prodding by the Holy Spirit, I handed them out to everyone in the waiting room. One guy spent the next 20 minutes totally engrossed in this tract and sharing it with his wife. What a gift and encouragement to me!
9. Outlet shopping. On Saturday I got to go to the outlet mall myself. I know this seem silly but I really like shopping alone where I can just wander. Well, I did and it was fabulous. I bought a couple of new things but my favorite part is going in the gourmet store to try out all their yummy foods. Love, love, love it! Good times were definitely had there!
10. Suprising my friend for her 30th birthday. I love suprise parties, particularly when the person is genuinely suprised. She was and it was fun!!
What are you smiling about today?
2. Banana Chocolate Chip Bread. The peanut and I made a loaf today just because. She loves cooking, seriously, she LOVES it. It makes a total mess which drives me insane, but hey, she'll only be this age for such a short moment...make the mess!
3. My garden. We tilled this past week...yeah! Not too much longer until we are planting!
4. The turtle. My parent's got the peanut a sandbox this past week. One of those big green turtles. She loves it! She played in it forever while we tilled. I can't wait until it's warm again so she can play in it again!
5. Riding lawn mower. Our yard is over an acre and when we bought the house last year we just couldn't afford a riding mower so my husband was spending hours every week mowing the lawn. We were going to have to break the bank this year and buy one (and I mean break the bank people!) when my husband's brother said he would sell us his year old one for VERY cheap because he wants a ZTR instead!! I'm still in shock over the water softner from last week so this is just beyond fabulous!
6. Michael's family. Since Michael's brother was in town this weekend from TN we spent a lot of time with them while they were here. He is 14 years older than Michael so my husband never felt like he knew him growing up. It's just great seeing them becoming friends as adults!
7. Mommy Rock You. The peanut has just been saying the cutest thing before bed every night. Although my husband doesn't particularly care for it, understandably. He will start to rock her and she gets fussy because she wants to do it so he'll ask her, "Do you want Mommy to rock you?" So, she has started crying out from the beginning, "Mommy Rock You, Mommy Rock You!!" I just think it is precious how she has picked that up from him.
8. Feel like a million, ain't got a dime. So Michael and I have been handing out these tracts recently that look like a million dollar bill (if there was such a thing). You can check them out at www.onemilliontracts.com. Anyway, on Saturday while at the optometrist after much prodding by the Holy Spirit, I handed them out to everyone in the waiting room. One guy spent the next 20 minutes totally engrossed in this tract and sharing it with his wife. What a gift and encouragement to me!
9. Outlet shopping. On Saturday I got to go to the outlet mall myself. I know this seem silly but I really like shopping alone where I can just wander. Well, I did and it was fabulous. I bought a couple of new things but my favorite part is going in the gourmet store to try out all their yummy foods. Love, love, love it! Good times were definitely had there!
10. Suprising my friend for her 30th birthday. I love suprise parties, particularly when the person is genuinely suprised. She was and it was fun!!
What are you smiling about today?
Just another reason I will not be voting for Barack Obama
This is a reprint from an article posted in the Illinois Review. The parts in Red are my own editorial opinion. In the past I've not made this blog too political or controversial. I know this opinion may not be popular with everyone, but sometimes you just feel so strongly about something you just have to get it out there. This is one of those.
(BAIPA the Born Alive Infant Protection Act which stated all live born babies were guaranteed the same constitutional right to equal protection whether or not they were wanted.Obama voted against it twice. He supports partial birth abortions. )
Top 10 reasons Obama voted against the Illinois Born Alive Infant Protection Act
by Jill Stanek
Here are the top 10 reasons Barack Obama has variously stated why he voted against Illinois' Born Alive Infant Protection Act when state senator.
10. Babies who survive their abortions are not protected by the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution. Speaking against the Born Alive Infant Protection Act on the IL Senate floor on March 30, 2001, Obama, the sole verbal opponent to the bill stated:
... I just want to suggest... that this is probably not going to survive constitutional scrutiny.
Number one, whenever we define a previable fetus as a person that is protected by the equal protection clause or the other elements in the Constitution, what we're really saying is, in fact, that they are persons that are entitled to the kinds of protections that would be provided to a - child, a nine-month-old - child that was delivered to term. That determination then, essentially, if it was accepted by a court, would forbid abortions to take place. I mean, it - it would essentially bar abortions, because the equal protection clause does not allow somebody to kill a child, and if this is a child, then this would be an antiabortion statute. For that purpose, I think it would probably be found unconstitutional.
9. A ban to stop aborted babies from being shelved to die would be burdensome to their mothers. She alone should decide whether her baby lives or dies. There is such thing as adoption dontcha know? Before voting "no" for a 2nd time in the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 5, 2002, Obama stated:
What we are doing here is to create one more burden on women, and I can't support that.
During a speech at Benedictine University in October 2004, Obama said, according to the Illinois Leader, that "the decision concerning a baby should be left to a woman, but that he does not see himself as supportive of abortion."
8. Wanting to stop live aborted babies from being shelved to die was all about politics. Politics? I find that hard to believe. Perhaps it's about human life. During that same speech at Benedictine University, Obama said, according to the Illinois Leader, "the bill was unnecessary in Illinois and was introduced for political reasons."
7. There was no proof. OK. Clearly he wasn't listening to testimony. Also during the Benedictine University speech, Obama said, according to the Illinois Leader, that "there was no documentation that hospitals were actually doing what was alleged in testimony presented before him in committee."
6. Aborting babies alive and letting them die is a doctor's prerogative. Are you freaking kidding me??? An Obama spokesman told the Chicago Tribune in August 2004 that Obama voted against Born Alive because it included provisions that "would have taken away from doctors their professional judgment when a fetus is viable."
5. Anyway, doctors don't do that. Obama told the Chicago Sun-Times in October 2004 he opposed Born Alive because "physicians are already required to use life-saving measures when fetuses are born alive during abortions." So that makes it reasonable then. Alrighty.
4. Aborting babies alive and letting them die is a religious issue. I don't think it's religious, I think it is a matter of just plain ethics. This is remarkably unethical if you ask me!! During their U.S. Senate competition Alan Keyes famously said:
Christ would not stand idly by while an infant child in that situation died.... Christ would not vote for Barack Obama, because Barack Obama has voted to behave in a way that it is inconceivable for Christ to have behaved.
Obama has always mischaracterized Keyes' rationale for condemning Obama by implying Keyes was simply making a statement against Obama's pro-abortion position, which is untrue. Keyes pointedly stated he was condemning Obama for his support of infanticide.
Nevertheless, live birth abortion must be included in the list of procedures Obama condones. Obama responded first to Keyes by saying, as quoted in his July 10, 2006, USA Today op ed:
... [W]e live in a pluralistic society, and that I can't impose my religious views on another.
3. Aborting babies alive and letting them die violates no universal principle. Does this guy ever think before he speaks? In the same USA Today piece, Obama said he reflected on that first answer, decided it was a "typically liberal response," and revised it:
... But my opponent's accusations nagged at me.... If I am opposed to abortion for religious reasons but seek to pass a law banning the practice, I cannot simply point to the teachings of my church. I have to explain why abortion violates some principle that is accessible to people of all faiths, including those with no faith at all.
2. Sinking Born Alive was simply about political oneupsmanship. Here we go with the using the political thing again. He seems to like that excuse quite a bit. Obama has this quote on his website:
Pam Sutherland, the president and CEO of the Illinois Planned Parenthood Council, told ABC News. "We worked with him specifically on his strategy. The Republicans were in control of the Illinois Senate at the time. They loved to hold votes on 'partial birth' and 'born alive'. They put these bills out all the time... because they wanted to pigeonhole Democrats...."
And the #1 reason Obama voted against the Born Alive Infant Protection Act was:
1. The IL Born Alive Infant Protection Act was a ploy to undercut Roe v. Wade. He really does like making excuses. I don't find this true at all, even if I would love to see Roe v. Wade just go away! During a debate against Keyes in October 2004, Obama stated:
Now, the bill that was put forward was essentially a way of getting around Roe vs. Wade.... At the federal level, there was a similar bill that passed because it had an amendment saying this does not encroach on Roe vs. Wade. I would have voted for that bill.
This was an out-and-out lie. The definition of "born alive" in the federal and Illinois versions were identical. The only difference came in paragraph (c), which was originally identical in both versions but changed on the federal level.
Illinois' paragraph (c): A live child born as a result of an abortion shall be fully recognized as a human person and accorded immediate protection under the law.
Federal paragraph (c): Nothing in this section shall be construed to affirm, deny, expand, or contract any legal status or legal right applicable to any member of the species homo sapiens at any point prior to being "born alive" as defined in this section.
When the senator sponsoring the IL bill tried to amend IL's paragraph (c), Amendment 1 below, to be the same as the federal paragraph (c), Barack Obama himself, as chairman of the committee hearing the bill, refused, and he then also killed the bill.
(BAIPA the Born Alive Infant Protection Act which stated all live born babies were guaranteed the same constitutional right to equal protection whether or not they were wanted.Obama voted against it twice. He supports partial birth abortions. )
Top 10 reasons Obama voted against the Illinois Born Alive Infant Protection Act
by Jill Stanek
Here are the top 10 reasons Barack Obama has variously stated why he voted against Illinois' Born Alive Infant Protection Act when state senator.
10. Babies who survive their abortions are not protected by the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution. Speaking against the Born Alive Infant Protection Act on the IL Senate floor on March 30, 2001, Obama, the sole verbal opponent to the bill stated:
... I just want to suggest... that this is probably not going to survive constitutional scrutiny.
Number one, whenever we define a previable fetus as a person that is protected by the equal protection clause or the other elements in the Constitution, what we're really saying is, in fact, that they are persons that are entitled to the kinds of protections that would be provided to a - child, a nine-month-old - child that was delivered to term. That determination then, essentially, if it was accepted by a court, would forbid abortions to take place. I mean, it - it would essentially bar abortions, because the equal protection clause does not allow somebody to kill a child, and if this is a child, then this would be an antiabortion statute. For that purpose, I think it would probably be found unconstitutional.
9. A ban to stop aborted babies from being shelved to die would be burdensome to their mothers. She alone should decide whether her baby lives or dies. There is such thing as adoption dontcha know? Before voting "no" for a 2nd time in the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 5, 2002, Obama stated:
What we are doing here is to create one more burden on women, and I can't support that.
During a speech at Benedictine University in October 2004, Obama said, according to the Illinois Leader, that "the decision concerning a baby should be left to a woman, but that he does not see himself as supportive of abortion."
8. Wanting to stop live aborted babies from being shelved to die was all about politics. Politics? I find that hard to believe. Perhaps it's about human life. During that same speech at Benedictine University, Obama said, according to the Illinois Leader, "the bill was unnecessary in Illinois and was introduced for political reasons."
7. There was no proof. OK. Clearly he wasn't listening to testimony. Also during the Benedictine University speech, Obama said, according to the Illinois Leader, that "there was no documentation that hospitals were actually doing what was alleged in testimony presented before him in committee."
6. Aborting babies alive and letting them die is a doctor's prerogative. Are you freaking kidding me??? An Obama spokesman told the Chicago Tribune in August 2004 that Obama voted against Born Alive because it included provisions that "would have taken away from doctors their professional judgment when a fetus is viable."
5. Anyway, doctors don't do that. Obama told the Chicago Sun-Times in October 2004 he opposed Born Alive because "physicians are already required to use life-saving measures when fetuses are born alive during abortions." So that makes it reasonable then. Alrighty.
4. Aborting babies alive and letting them die is a religious issue. I don't think it's religious, I think it is a matter of just plain ethics. This is remarkably unethical if you ask me!! During their U.S. Senate competition Alan Keyes famously said:
Christ would not stand idly by while an infant child in that situation died.... Christ would not vote for Barack Obama, because Barack Obama has voted to behave in a way that it is inconceivable for Christ to have behaved.
Obama has always mischaracterized Keyes' rationale for condemning Obama by implying Keyes was simply making a statement against Obama's pro-abortion position, which is untrue. Keyes pointedly stated he was condemning Obama for his support of infanticide.
Nevertheless, live birth abortion must be included in the list of procedures Obama condones. Obama responded first to Keyes by saying, as quoted in his July 10, 2006, USA Today op ed:
... [W]e live in a pluralistic society, and that I can't impose my religious views on another.
3. Aborting babies alive and letting them die violates no universal principle. Does this guy ever think before he speaks? In the same USA Today piece, Obama said he reflected on that first answer, decided it was a "typically liberal response," and revised it:
... But my opponent's accusations nagged at me.... If I am opposed to abortion for religious reasons but seek to pass a law banning the practice, I cannot simply point to the teachings of my church. I have to explain why abortion violates some principle that is accessible to people of all faiths, including those with no faith at all.
2. Sinking Born Alive was simply about political oneupsmanship. Here we go with the using the political thing again. He seems to like that excuse quite a bit. Obama has this quote on his website:
Pam Sutherland, the president and CEO of the Illinois Planned Parenthood Council, told ABC News. "We worked with him specifically on his strategy. The Republicans were in control of the Illinois Senate at the time. They loved to hold votes on 'partial birth' and 'born alive'. They put these bills out all the time... because they wanted to pigeonhole Democrats...."
And the #1 reason Obama voted against the Born Alive Infant Protection Act was:
1. The IL Born Alive Infant Protection Act was a ploy to undercut Roe v. Wade. He really does like making excuses. I don't find this true at all, even if I would love to see Roe v. Wade just go away! During a debate against Keyes in October 2004, Obama stated:
Now, the bill that was put forward was essentially a way of getting around Roe vs. Wade.... At the federal level, there was a similar bill that passed because it had an amendment saying this does not encroach on Roe vs. Wade. I would have voted for that bill.
This was an out-and-out lie. The definition of "born alive" in the federal and Illinois versions were identical. The only difference came in paragraph (c), which was originally identical in both versions but changed on the federal level.
Illinois' paragraph (c): A live child born as a result of an abortion shall be fully recognized as a human person and accorded immediate protection under the law.
Federal paragraph (c): Nothing in this section shall be construed to affirm, deny, expand, or contract any legal status or legal right applicable to any member of the species homo sapiens at any point prior to being "born alive" as defined in this section.
When the senator sponsoring the IL bill tried to amend IL's paragraph (c), Amendment 1 below, to be the same as the federal paragraph (c), Barack Obama himself, as chairman of the committee hearing the bill, refused, and he then also killed the bill.
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