Some Thoughts

I really don't have time for this because I need to finish getting ready to go to church, but I am going to make time this morning. Writing is healing to me. I have been beating myself up this weekend - I don't know if you do it to yourself, but I can't stop beating myself up over my failures and inadequacies. All it does is leave me sad and feeling in the dumps.

So as I am getting ready to go to church, I remember the lesson I did last week for a ladies Bible study. The study is in James. The version of the Bible the study uses is the New Century Version. James 1: 2-4, "My brothers and sisters, when you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy, because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience. Let your patience show perfectly in what you do. Then you will be perfect and complete and will have everything you need."

Though my troubles are small compared to many, I can't be weighed down anymore by feeling inadequate. I realized that in my lesson, I need to be full of joy. Today I am going to work on that. In having joy, patience will come.

I must go now. I may go to church not quite so perfect on the outside, but at least I am striving for joy on the inside. If I continue to do that, perfection will come.

And The Answer Is...

Now if I was a good granddaughter, I would have already seen this riddle before it was in my local newspaper, because my Grandpa and Grandpa Huff sent me this riddle in an email. Many of you probably already know the answer, but for those who don't I will repeat the whole riddle with the answer here.

Who am I?

I am under 45 years old,

I love the outdoors,

I hunt,

I am a Republican reformer,

I have taken on the Republican Party establishment,

I have many children,

I have a spot on the national ticket as vice

president with less than two years in the

governor's office.

Did you guess?

I am Teddy Roosevelt in 1900

History repeating itself?

Can You Guess Who?

My local paper printed this in the opinion section.

"I am under 45 years old. I love the outdoors, I hunt, I am a Republican reformer, I have taken on the Republican Party establishment, I have many children, I have a spot on the national ticket as Vice-President with less than two years in the governor's office. Have you heard of me before now?"

Can you guess who? I will tell you what the answer is tomorrow.

Dear Anonymous

I have had someone anonymous comment on my post about Sarah Palin. They gave a link to an article about comments that she made about the pipeline in Alaska. I cannot tell you enough how tired I am with the Presidential election. I am tired of trying to figure out if what the media and opposing campaigns are digging up about a candidate is true or not. I saw an interview with McCain on The View and I thought immediately that they were being extra hard on him, asking him tough questions. Not that I am opposed to tough questions, but I have seen them also interview Obama and that was not the case. I think that it should be fair and that there is too much of a bias on that show. Then I saw the interview with Palin and Charlie Gibson. Here is a man who is suppose to be without bias, and yet his questions seemed to be. AGAIN, I don't care about tough questions, but I would prefer both sides to be hit with tough questions, and AGAIN that doesn't seem to be the case.

The fact of the matter is that both campaigns are mud slinging, both sides are twisting what the other side is saying, and both sides cannot do all that they say they are going to do. I have to admit, following Ron Paul's suggestion and voting 3rd Party sounds like an interesting proposal. If many people do that, it could shake things up a bit. Most likely, I will not do that. I will tell you what I am going to do.

I am Pro-Life. I believe that life begins at conception. There are scientific studies that prove that. Any other studies that prove otherwise are not in agreement when life begins. I am sorry if you have an unexpected pregnancy, I am sorry if it came through unpleasant means. When we live in a world like this, we have to go through hard times. But just because it is in a woman's body, doesn't give her the right to get rid of the life growing inside of her. You cannot convince me otherwise.

I read an article written by a Pro-Choicer. She ended her article saying that life is a crap shoot. You are a crap-shoot. It is luck that we are here in the first place. I feel sorry for her. If you believe that, I feel sorry for you. I see what she is saying, but it is not the case. How can you live your life if it is just a crap-shoot? It is not giving any worth to life. You cannot be a Christian and believe that. God has a plan for us.

I am going to be writing more about my views on abortion. The Constitution class that I am taking is really opening my eyes up to it again. I may fail the class, but I am gaining some new insights.

Dear Anonymous, I probably cannot convince you to vote McCain/Palin for my reason, just like you cannot convince me to vote for Obama/Binden for your reasons. I will not vote for them because of the fact that they are pro-choice. In fact, it seems that Obama opposed the Born Alive Infants Bill. In opposing the bill, he is saying he supports not saving the aborted baby who is born alive. If a man can do that, what kind of a man is he?

I am obviously voting for McCain/Palin. I need a person as President who recognizes the humanity of an unborn baby. We cannot ignore this issue, we cannot avoid this issue, we cannot sweep it under the carpet. It can't be a woman's rights issue, it needs to be a human's rights issue.

Weekly Bible Reading Update

I read September 10th's portion of scripture today. Isaiah 6: 1-9a is a favorite passage of mine. In fact, I used this passage during my Senior sermon at college.

1 It was in the year King Uzziah died^[a] that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple. 2 Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. 3 They were calling out to each other,

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies!
The whole earth is filled with his glory!”

4 Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke.

5 Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”

6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. 7 He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.”

8 Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?”

I said, “Here I am. Send me.”

9 And he said, “Yes, go


How blessed you are when your sins are forgiven and your guilt is removed. God bless you today, now GO!

Weekly Bible Reading Update

I have been sick. I don't know when I have had a cold as bad as this one. It developed into a sinus infection and I have to tell you that I felt pretty miserable. It doesn't really surprise me though, starting all these life changes and babysitting 2 other children besides my own, I had to come down with something. Needless to say, EVERYTHING, was put on hold. I was just trying to survive the last 2 weeks. I am happy to say that I am feeling much better. I am still suffering from a cough. My kids, as well, are still suffering from cold symptoms. I feel like a bear digging out after hibernation - I look around my house and I think, "what a mess!"

My Bible reading was also put on hold. This morning I opened my One Year Bible to see where I am in my reading - September 2nd! What words greet me at the start of the reading? " 'Everything is meaningless,' says the Teacher, 'completely meaningless.' " Is that a sign? Should I just go back to bed? Thankfully, I know how the book of Ecclesiastes ends. September 2nd's reading ends with this, a reminder of what I do need this day, Proverbs 22:15, "A youngster's heart is filled with foolishness, but physical discipline will drive it far away."

I hope and pray that you are striving for discipline in your life. The more disciplined we are in the way we live, the less foolish mistakes we have to make. I think that is very practical advice.

Another life change that I haven't mentioned is the fact that I am taking a college course. I have decided that I am going to pursue getting my teaching credential. Before I can get into the program, I needed to take a government class. Jumping in with both feet, I got into a Constitution class at the local junior college. As interesting and stretching as it is, I am wondering that it may be too much for me and my stay-at-home mommy brain. (I am not putting down stay-at-home mothers here, I just feel like part of my brain is a little dusty and cob-webby). Depending on how I do on the paper that is due tonight, I may drop the class. I am sure I will update you on what I decide, when I decide.

God bless you this week in staying disciplined in your life!

The Question is, "Do I have your vote?"

Click on the link below and have yourself a good laugh.

http://www.inews3.com/topstory.php?id=526562656363617c4576616e73

Sleeping

I have had issues with getting all 3 of my children to sleep in their own bed at least once in each of their lives. I developed strategies for the first 2 and after a time of planning, executing, following through and being consistent, I had those 2 sleeping in their beds. I can say now that they are good sleepers. In fact my middle child is pretty great at sleeping. Thank goodness. I thought that I could probably write a book about sleeping.

With all 3 children, when they were first born, I brought them to my own bed and they stayed with me. About 9-10 months into this situation, my husband would have had about enough of the situation and start complaining about it. I started weaning the baby, around 1 year, although it got a few months later with each baby. At that time I would start working on the technique to get the child to sleep in his/her crib.

Enter my youngest. He has been something. I will struggle with my method and it will take months and suddenly he will sleep in his own bed. Just when I start patting myself on the back for a job well-done, he starts his problems all over again. Ever since my family was here visitingthis summer, my youngest has been giving me problems about sleeping. Some days I just want to scream. As I was sitting at the door, waiting for him to go to sleep (that is how the Super-Nanny does it), I was watching him mess around, willing me to look at him - he was acting out. He reminded me of a little monkey. (I am sure some of are saying just spank the child. Oh believe me I have.) So as I was sitting there seeing all of this in my peripheral vision, trying not to laugh and trying not to go crazy mad, I wondered, "Is it child abuse if I duct taped him to the bed?"

Don't worry I didn't. But I did think it. Now he is sleeping peacefully in his bed. He will wake up soon in about an hour and I will just pull him into bed with me because I don't want to go through it again. What am I going to do? Just when you think you have the answers, you get smacked up against the head to be reminded that you don't.

I didn't forget my Weekly Bible Reading, but I will explain that the next time. Happy Sleeping everyone!

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!