Officer, I Can Explain

Last week I dished out close to 300 plates of spaghetti, actually it was probably a few more because several people came back for seconds.  It was the 2nd annual People First of Henry County spaghetti dinner and it was such a blessing to be able to play a small part in the event.  This year participation was better than last and in addition to the food, there was a silent auction and several raffles so even more money was raised for the group to provide activities and events for special needs families in the area.

My mother-in-law organized the dinner. She has worked tirelessly for several months garnering donations and gathering people willing to make a crockpot of spaghetti sauce.  There was a brief fear that the 30 crockpots would not be enough, but in the end there were two pots left over and I got to take one home with me, well almost home.  The crockpot made it but we lost about half the sauce when a deer leaped in front of us on the way home.  You know the old junk in the trunk saying, yeah well, now it's spaghetti sauce coated junk.

Lulu, our dog, knew she was in for a treat as soon as the trunk lid popped open.  Her tail  and tongue both started wagging and I hoped the clean-up would not be the problem I had anticipated.  She was a great help but didn't quite get the job done.   I, in my one of my ever so brilliant ideas, decided to hose the thing out to finish it. Well, I thought it was a brilliant idea until the next day when the delicious aroma of spaghetti sauce had been replaced by an odor like no other I've ever known. ICK! There were quite a few adjectives bandied about in the describing of it: rotten, gross, disgusting, rancid, putrid, nasty, etc., (FYI...trunks have no drainage system). I hope we never get pulled over  and searched while driving the car, the tomato sauce staining might cause some serious problems.  It looks like a scene straight out of CSI in there.

On the plus side it did effectively deter the 16 year old driver from borrowing my car for several days. After a can of Lysol, some special odor neutralizer, carpet refresher, and bathroom cleaner with bleach, the smell is not so bad although there is still some kind of indescribably weird, funky odor that hits you smack in the face when the door is opened.  Okay, so maybe it is still a little bad, hopefully, time will cure that too.

A Ministry Pool

It's been said, "you've got to know your audience".  My husband is a godly man who given the opportunity will do and give anything to evangelize. After many years of pleading for a swimming pool with a laundry list of reasons why we should have one, I finally hit my husband with the one that persuaded him to come to the wet side.  It will be a MINISTRY TOOL!! I told him.  Think of the youth and children's gatherings we could host, I said, and he agreed. That was five years ago. The first three years we held several with the youth group but only a couple with the children's. The last one being a children's group party. One of the guests apparently did not want to leave when it was time and to show his dissatisfaction with the idea proceeded to use one of our bathrooms to display this. Number 2 was his tool and the damage was, while not permanent, disgusting. I have been leery of pool parties since that time two years ago.  Especially ones where there's an element of unknown about the attendees.

With 20 years of parenting under my belt I have also just become tired of dealing with kids en masse, especially poorly behaved whiny ones.  Not a very Christ like attitude, believe me I'm aware and convicted of it. We haven't offered to host anything since "the incident" and up until now haven't been asked....Friday night the kids are supposed to come.  When Sparta told me we'd been asked, I hemmed and hawed and caved to the request (albeit begrudgingly). I know, I know it's a very petty not pretty picture.

So, y'all say a prayer for me to have a positive attitude, for the safety of these kids as they come to swim, and that I can fully forgive the one who redecorated the bathroom last time. The Good Lord knows I've smeared enough poop in my own life and been forgiven.

Why Vote for Mitt Romney

When Barack Obama was elected president, it wasn't with a a vote from me.  It's not the first time my choice didn't win and I'm sure it won't be the last. Did I wish for him to be the dismal failure he has been? No.  I was as filled with hope as the next person. Transparency and a spirit of cooperation were promised and not delivered. The economy stinks and he OWNS it now.   Mitt wasn't my choice in the primary but like mold on cheese, he's growing on me.  Here's what I know about him....not from his own fictional account of life but public record.  Yes, I watch Fox sometimes and I read the New York Times too.
Oh, and I really like his wife Ann.

About Mitt:


His full Name is: Willard Mitt Romney   He was Born: March 12, 1947 and is 65 years old. 
His Father: George W. Romney, former Governor of the State of Michigan 
He was raised in Bloomfield Hills , Michigan 
He is Married to Ann Romney since 1969; they five children. 
Education: B.A. from Brigham Young University , 
J.D. and M.B.A. from Harvard University 
Religion: Mormon - The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints 
Working Background: 
After high school, he spent 30 months in France as a Mormon missionary. 
After going to both Harvard Business School and Harvard Law School simultaneously, he passed the Michigan bar exam, but never worked as an attorney. 
In 1984, he co-founded Bain Capital a private equity investment firm, one of the largest such firms in the United States . 
In 1994, he ran for Senator of Massachusetts and lost to Ted Kennedy. 
He was President and CEO of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. 
In 2002, he was elected Governor of the State of Massachusetts where he eliminated a 1.5 billion  deficit. 
Some Interesting Facts about Romney: 
Bain Capital, starting with one small office supply store in Massachusetts , turned it into Staples; now over 2,000 stores employing 90,000 people. 
Bain Capital also worked to perform the same kinds of business miracles again and again, with companies like Domino's, Sealy, Brookstone, Weather Channel, Burger King, Warner Music Group, Dollarama, Home Depot Supply, and many others. 
He was an unpaid volunteer campaign worker for his dad's gubernatorial campaign 1 year. 
He was an unpaid intern in his dad's governor's office for eight  years. 
He was an unpaid bishop and state president of his church for ten years. 
He was an unpaid President of the Salt Lake Olympic Committee for three years. 
He took no salary and was the unpaid Governor of Massachusetts for four years. 
He gave his entire inheritance from his father to charity. 
Mitt Romney is one of the wealthiest self-made men in our country but has given more back to its citizens in terms of money, service and time than most men. 
And in 2011 Mitt Romney gave over $4 million to charity, almost 19% of his income.... Just for comparison purposes, Obama gave 1% and Joe Biden gave $300 or .0013%. 
Mitt Romney is Trustworthy: 
He will show us his birth certificate 
He will show us his high school and college transcripts. 
He will show us his social security card. 
He will show us his law degree. 
He will show us his draft notice. 
He will show us his  medical records. 
He will show us his income tax records. 
He will show us he has nothing to hide. 
Mitt Romney's background, experience and trustworthiness show him to be a great leader and an excellent citizen for President of the United States . 
You may think that Romney may not be the best representative the Republicans could have selected. At least I know what religion he is, and that he won't desecrate the flag, bow down to foreign powers, or practice fiscal irresponsibility. I know he has the ability to turn this financial debacle that the current regime has gotten us into. We won't like all the things necessary to recover from this debt, but someone with Romney's background can do it. But, on the minus side, He never was a "Community Organizer", never took drugs or smoked pot, never got drunk, did not associate with communists or terrorists, nor did he attend a church whose pastor called for God to damn the  US.



*****The healthcare thing in Massachusetts doesn't really bother me anymore because it's what the people of the state wanted.  As their governor he listened to the will of the people. It was a state's right issue and I say more power to them.*******  ( an afterthought)

"Da Da Da Da Da Da Da Da BATMAN!"

Usually the sound of feet shuffling into my bedroom in the middle of the night means, "Mom I just threw up". Last night's shuffling brought the 16 year old with an anxious "there's a bat flying around my room", Why she woke me is confusing. I'm not the go to person for critters, car troubles or cash. Those all fall under dadly duties.  Got a fever, perhaps a difficult stain, need a cupcake,  or a button sewn? I'm your gal. Bats are critters of the most yucky variety, not my thing. Of course I told her "you must wake your dad" ,(who for such a light sleeper is incredibly difficult to wake) he groggily told us he would look into in the morning.

So here's Allison's story. She was awakened by a sound which turned out to be the  bat hitting walls as it circled her room. When she saw the terrifying sight she immediately ducked under the covers and after regaining her composure she dared to peek out, about that same time the bat swooped down  barely missing her head. Back under the covers she went. She waited until she heard it reach the farthest corner from her,  then rolled off the bed, crawled out of the room belly to the floor under the cover of her comforter and shut the door. Absolutely nothing would make her go back in there, except her phone charger. A dead cell phone spells catastrophe to a teen, definitely worth risking life, limb and vampire bat bites to prevent. She opened the door, flipped the light switch and yanked the cord from the wall in one quick move, only pausing long enough to see the bat heading swiftly in her direction. Out she went once again, to sleep on the sofa for the remainder of the night secure in the knowledge she would be able to talk/text.

Before work,with the pool net and 20ft pole in hand up, up, up, the stairs Sparta the brave (aka Batman) went but there was no bat to be found.  He told me he will look again this evening.  For now Allison's room remains closed off and entry is forbidden (not really but none of us are going in there).

The First Step

Since the first step towards success in so many problems is in admitting there is a problem, here goes. True confession, I am a shopaholic. I don't seek out designer labels or lavish home decor just the average and ordinary; groceries, clothing and stuff.  I guess if it weren't for the plastic I use it would be okay but I've dug a really big money pit and although  reasons excuses abound, the reality of it is I just like to shop.

I had a conversation with a friend recently where I disclosed the ugly truth of my habit. The talk made me ponder the "whys" of my spending.  I have shopped to fill voids and to some degree for the attention I garner from store clerks as they ring up the purchases. Really sad, huh? Worse still, I have tried to keep said ugly truth from my husband.  It's embarrassing at least and will affect family finances for years at worst.

He found out recently (because I told him) and although very angry initially at the amount of debt and even more so at my lack of self- control, he showed mercy and forgave me.  I must admit the guilt of my debt burden was overwhelming me.  I went to bed thinking about it and woke up thinking about it, not the amount so much as the deception involved.  Feelings of guilt made me sick.  I am thankful that the truth is now out and I have a plan to pay off the debt, one balance at a time.  Prayers for strength of resolve and self-discipline would be appreciated greatly. Also, if you feel inclined to send a few dollars my way to help with the paying down feel free to do so (just kidding, kind of ☺).

So, what have I learned?  Credit can be a dangerous thing. Guilt has great weight. My husband is a man who practices forgiveness and mercy.  I have a long road to zero balances. God still loves me and so does Sparta.

Rotel Salsa

Here's a link to the recipe for one of my family's favorite snacks.  Tortillas and salsa, who doesn't love them?




http://mentoringmoments.org/ro-tel-salsa/

Here's an "I" Word For You

Did you know there is campaign currently underway to stop the use of the word "illegal" in conjunction with the words alien and immigrant?  You can watch the YouTube video, Stop the "I" Word by clicking the link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ebs6SCPf_dU

  

 If a person enters the country without going through proper channels, he is here illegally. Calling something what it is, is not hate. It's not racist, it's not a prejudice, it's not intolerant, it's fact.  Good grief.  If any "i" word should be stopped it's "intolerant".  

We've been conditioned to believe tolerance is always a good thing. You don't agree with someones lifestyle, with some choices that are being made, well bully for you. You are intolerant. Guess what? I am tired of being tolerant. I am tired of being politically correct. I am tired of kowtowing to those who would have us believe that to lack acceptance of immoral choices is narrow-minded. The "progressive minded" folks who berate us for believing in Jesus as THE ONLY way to God think we are bigoted. I am tired of being made to feel racist because I disagree with the policies of the first black president. I am tired of being thought of as uncharitable because I think Welfare recipients should pass a drug test or because I would prefer to choose my own worthy causes. Does this sound like an angry rant?  It is.  

 Sometimes intolerance is a good thing. I can walk with a thorn in my foot and tolerate the pain, if I take it out do I become intolerant or wise for realizing that it was possible to change the situation? Tolerating stupidity does no one any good. Tolerating overspending leads to daunting debt (5 trillion anyone). Tolerating vulgarity, profanity and sexualization at every turn of the page or flip of the channel has lessened civility and created a slew of problems. Allowing an opportunity to share the gospel pass due to a fear of seeming "intolerant"  might condemn someone to hell.   I'd much rather seem intolerant than face judgment day and find out I could have made a difference.

Seek the truth and speak the truth(lovingly, of course), whether it seems tolerant or not.

14 Then we will no longer be little children, tossed and carried about by all kinds of teachings that change like the wind. We will no longer be influenced by people who use cunning and clever strategies to lead us astray. 15 Instead, as we lovingly speak the truth, we will grow up completely in our relationship to Christ, who is the head. 16 He makes the whole body fit together and unites it through the support of every joint. As each and every part does its job, he makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:1)