An Exciting Election

I cannot tell you how excited I am that Sarah Palin is John McCain's running-mate. This will be such an historic election, either we will have a African-American man as President or we will have a woman as Vice-President. As I was listening to Gov. Palin's speech yesterday, I started to get teary-eyed. I am not for sure why exactly, but I think that she made me hopeful about the future. I am not trusting of politicians these days, but she gave me the hope that I could trust her. I also must interject a thought here, my feeling about politicians has nothing to do with the current administration - I am not a Bush Hater. I have not always agreed with the way that Bush has handled certain situations, but I am glad he was in office instead of those "other guys." He is human, therefor and not perfect. I am not an Obama supporter. I can understand why people are mesmerized by him, but I don't believe in his changes. When he speaks I just hear empty promises.

As I was driving yesterday, my husband left the radio turned to his station. I am not for sure what the station number was, but it runs conservative talk shows. When I started driving, the program was Michael Savage's. He was on and being very negative about Palin being McCain's choice. He extremely irritated me. He was making fun of her being a hockey-mom and some of the other things that she did before she became Governor of Alaska. He is not the only one who is critical, but I guess that is their job. I will not be swayed by their criticisms. I do not care if she is a "no-name," are we back in highschool again? I like that she wasn't known, and wasn't considered by political analyists as McCain's VP choice. I like that she knows about being a "hockey mom" - that shows her realness. Many of today's politicians don't have that realness about them, they have lived in a glass fish bowl way too long.

I believe that God uses the weak and makes them strong. I believe that God uses the "no-names" to do mighty things. I like what Palin stands for and I am excited that she is John McCain's running-mate.

Weekly Bible Reading Update

I am still staying caught up, which means no guilty feelings about that lately! Although I am caught up, I am taking my selected scripture passage from the reading on August 20th. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NLT

"If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn't love others, I would be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God's secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn't love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it, but if I didn't love others, I would have gained nothing."

This passage always touches my heart every time I read it. Loving is something that can be argued about. How one shows love maybe different than how someone else might. When it comes down to it, everyone needs to evaluate why they do something, is it out of love - true unconditional love taught to us by our Heavenly Father, or is it selfish love (doing something when we only think of what we will get out of it)?

Another life change that I am making in my life is that I am making myself have a daily prayer time. I have gotten out of that habit and I see how my life has changed because of it. Of course I pray before meals and at bedtime with my kids. I also pray sporadically during the day if I need extra help. I am talking about taking time and praying every day on the behalf of others and thanking God and praising Him. I am continuing in my running and making good cleaning habits with flylady.com. I hope and pray that I just CONTINUE with these disciplines. I ask that you keep me in your prayers. Starting so many life changes at one time can get overwhelming. Baby steps! I pray that your actions are motivated by love! Love to you all from me!

Happy Anniversary

Thirty-eight years ago, today, my parents got married. Were you there? Thankfully, I wasn't! It has been years since I looked at that wedding picture. What a handsome couple my parents are. I love Mom's glasses and her hair. I thought about cropping the picture, so it just had my parents in it. How could I? What wonderful people stand around them! I have to say that when I saw my Grandpa Silas, I started to get teary eyes. I remember that face and it brings good memories. I am so grateful for all my grandparents! Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad! Congratulations! Thank you for your good example in marriage. Thank you for letting us share our anniversary with you.
Ten years ago today, Kirk and I got married. Were you there? I just wanted you to look closely at the wedding dress. It is the same! I had it altered some to make it my own, but what a special way to share a day, by sharing the dress. In some ways 10 years seems like a long time, in other ways I know that it is just a short time. We have changed so much - our personalities, our family, we added new friends, and we have moved. It makes me wonder what is to come. If 10 years is all we have together, I am so glad that I got to spend them with Kirk! I love you Kirky-Poo!

First Day of School

A week ago this past Monday, my oldest started school - the first grade. (I keep wanting to say Kindergarten.) She was a little apprehensive, but it was so much better than last year. Last year I had to leave her with tears in her eyes.

We went early. They don't say the Pledge of Allegiance in the classroom. It is optional. If you want your students to do it they need to be there 15 minutes early and the whole school gathers around the flagpole to say the Pledge.
At this school, they are to wear uniforms, but they promote college. Therefore it is okay to wear a college t-shirt, as you can see in the picture. Each class has a college name. Our daughter's class' name is the Berkeley Bears.
Why couldn't she have stayed in the Kindergarten forever? She is growing up so fast. Tonight she got so upset with me. I couldn't find her after looking all over the house. I open up the front door and there she is holding a small bag with a few toys inside. She was going to run away. I asked where would she go and she said down the street. I asked her where would she sleep and she said she would come back and sleep on the grass. I was about that age when I was going to run away, but my goodness, was it really so bad? I told her I loved her and that she shouldn't run away because I would miss her. I think she is better now, but maybe she needs a call from her Grandma and Grandpa. That might help.

Weekly Bible Reading Update

I am caught up!I just started Esther this morning, which is another favorite. The older I get, the more I wonder about the arrangements of Esther's marriage. When I was younger I thought very innocently about it all. How much more the story of Esther means to me.

Esther 2:12-20 NLT
12 Before each young woman was taken to the king’s bed, she was given the prescribed twelve months of beauty treatments—six months with oil of myrrh, followed by six months with special perfumes and ointments. 13 When it was time for her to go to the king’s palace, she was given her choice of whatever clothing or jewelry she wanted to take from the harem. 14 That evening she was taken to the king’s private rooms, and the next morning she was brought to the second harem,^[c] where the king’s wives lived. There she would be under the care of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch in charge of the concubines. She would never go to the king again unless he had especially enjoyed her and requested her by name.

15 Esther was the daughter of Abihail, who was Mordecai’s uncle. (Mordecai had adopted his younger cousin Esther.) When it was Esther’s turn to go to the king, she accepted the advice of Hegai, the eunuch in charge of the harem. She asked for nothing except what he suggested, and she was admired by everyone who saw her.

16 Esther was taken to King Xerxes at the royal palace in early winter^[d] of the seventh year of his reign. 17 And the king loved Esther more than any of the other young women. He was so delighted with her that he set the royal crown on her head and declared her queen instead of Vashti. 18 To celebrate the occasion, he gave a great banquet in Esther’s honor for all his nobles and officials, declaring a public holiday for the provinces and giving generous gifts to everyone.

19 Even after all the young women had been transferred to the second harem^[e] and Mordecai had become a palace official,^[f] 20 Esther continued to keep her family background and nationality a secret. She was still following Mordecai’s directions, just as she did when she lived in his home.

I have started some new life changes. Last week I wrote about running, which I did 3 times last week and continued today. One more life change is the way I clean my house. I have been inspired and motivated by flylady.com. Baby-steps!

Have a great week! If you need to make a life change, do it in baby-steps. God Bless You!

The Newest Marshall

He is here, Kim and Lance's little one! He is 2 weeks old now. I met him the day he was born, but my camera wasn't working, so no pictures. My family went down to see him on Friday night. What a sweetie. He seems to be a very content baby and Kim seems like a pro and Lance is a proud poppa. As you can see, my kids seem to like the little baby. Congratulations Kim and Lance. Have fun! What a new adventure you have started.

When I die, I want this song played at my funeral. It is a morbid thought to some, but since we all will have to pass away, it is realistic. I think that this song is beautiful and the lyrics are fitting. So now you know.

My husband and I watched the whole Lord of the Rings Trilogy a couple weeks ago. This clip is ONE of my favorite parts. Unlike the latest Batman movie, there is enough romance, good vs. evil, and humor to endear these movies to me. I hope the next Batman movie will live up to my expectations.

Weekly Bible Reading Update

I finished reading August 9th today. Since my daughter started 1st grade today, I am starting new routines. I have a feeling that I will be caught up before I know it. A new routine I started today is running. I got up and ran a mile early this morning with my new running partner Biscuit. I hope that I can continue in this new routine. The noted scripture passage for today comes from the August 7th reading out of the 1 Corinthians passage. (Yeah! I like 1 Corinthians, I took a class on it at Bible College). 1 Corinthians 3:7-8 " It's not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What's important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their hard work."

I may take a different spin on this verse for my encouragement today. Sometimes we get so content about planting seeds that we don't always work at watering. Maybe the watering isn't getting done. What I mean to say is that it doesn't matter who does it and don't get caught up in that, but there is work to be done. I want to encourage you to keep planting and watering. God will grow the seeds, but keep up the Good work. Have a blessed week.

Rapha House

When our highschool youth group went to CIY, they came back on fire about an organization that they learned about called Rapha House. I don't know all the paticulars, from what I can tell, Rapha House builds safe houses for girls who have been involved in sex trafficking. Ever since I watched some news programs about sex trafficking a few years ago, I have been interested in the story. I have found a blog written by the Foundation Director, Kerry Decker. I have this blog listed on my sidebar under "Rapha House". Please take a moment to check it out. It is heart wrenching what these girls have to go through, but just maybe you will be touched and be able to help this ministry.

You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more. (Psalm 10:17,18)

Weekly Bible Reading Update

I am so embarrassed, I am still behind and I am getting worse, AND I have no excuse. Even when I have a good excuse, there are NO excuses for not reading the Bible. I hope those out there that are trying to read scripture are doing a better job than I am and I want to encourage you to keep at it. I am always more blessed after I have read Scripture. I can't give up. This is the furthest I have ever gotten in the year trying to read the One Year Bible. I just have to keep trucking and making this a Spiritual Discipline. It is important.

I got up early this morning and I read 4 days worth of scripture and I finished August 1st. (I wanted to try to get caught up, but my family started getting up and when that happens, all hope is lost.) I think Romans, the way it is written, can be a hard read. I am still interested in doing a study on Romans. There are parts of Romans that are real encouraging and simple for this simple mind. For instance, Romans 15:5-6 NLT says, "May God, who gives patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for the followers of Christ Jesus. Then all you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

I hope and pray that you will live in harmony with other Believers, God will give you the patience and encouragement to do that. We know that some take more patience than others, but just the same, it is important. Have a great week!

The Dark Knight

Kirk took me to see the new Batman movie last night. I didn't love it, like I was hoping to. I was disappointed in the story line. (I don't want to spoil the movie for those who haven't seen it, so I won't go into it.) I especially don't like where the story line went with Rachel - Bruce Wayne's childhood love/friend. If you know me at all you would understand that it was lacking in the romance department and a happily ever after ending. It was a little too dark and towards the end of the film I remember thinking how I really could care less if I ever saw this movie again. What I did like about the movie, was the fact that Batman had faith in the good of people and he was willing to do whatever Gotham needed. At the end, you just got this sense of wanting to do the right thing. After the movie ended I was walking through the aisle and I noticed that a young couple just got up and left all their trash for us to walk through. I just shook my head at them. I wanted to say, "Hey didn't you just see that movie about doing the right thing? Just leaving your trash for others to pick up is not the right thing. It is just the start of evil thinking, that you are too good to pick up your own garbage." I didn't, I am a wimp and maybe a little too dramatic. BUT, really, what are we going to do with kids these days?