My oasis

Apparently, when one reaches a certain age, one loses the luxury of "sleeping in."  My body has reached that age, apparently, and insistently awakens me every morning at 6:00.  Oh, the joy. Not.

However, early weekend mornings in my back yard are very restful and relaxing.  Few people in my neighborhood are awake before 9:00, and those who are show consideration by not firing up their power tools until at least 9:30.  Hence, aside from the occasional semi tractor-trailer that I can hear from the highway a mile away, my back yard resembles a quiet country estate.

The crickets are chirping - and this year there are so many crickets! - and even Nemo, our cat, seems reluctant to disturb the quiet.  I can choose to sit outside at our picnic table in the cool grass and enjoy my coffee.  This morning I am not, because it is raining gently, but the windows on the back of the house have been thrown wide open and it's just me, my coffee and my oatmeal with cranberries and brown sugar.

Thank you, Lord, for this quiet oasis in a suburban beehive that seems to be constantly buzzing with activity most of the time.  The quietness will soon be interrupted by birds, cars, and trucks as the world begins a new day going about its business.  But for a few sweet moments, it's just me, my breakfast, my yard, and my God, enjoying each others' company.

Remembering is a Moral Imperative

It's been a really busy year for me - obviously, given that I haven't written since January - full of school, college preparation, graduation, swimming, working, traveling, and just plain living this typical suburbanite life that we love so much.

A few days ago, after exhausting myself by first ripping up an old ruined floor and then starting to lay down porcelain tile in our kitchen, I sat down with my tablet and began looking for something interesting to watch that wouldn't require much concentration or energy.  I landed on the Smithsonian Channel app, and chose "9/11: Day That Changed the World".  It described the events of the day in the words of the participants themselves.

I think my husband has decided I like depressing myself.  He walked in the room as I was watching the program and gave me a puzzled expression. I'm sure I had a pained look on my face, and tears welled up in my eyes on more than one occasion.  It's the kind of thing you don't want to see, but need to see.  I place documentaries on the September 11 attacks in the same category as Schindler's List and The Passion of the Christ.  They're painful to watch, difficult to see, yet important to remember.

My children are too young to really remember 9/11.  My older daughter, now a freshman in college, has vague memories of what we did that day.  She was 7 years old, in second grade.  I chose to pick her up from school early, as did so many parents that day.  We got in the car and she asked me why all the adults were so sad.  I told her what had happened in simple terms, and she asked, "Why would anyone want to do that?"  Why indeed, sweetie.

We picked up my younger daughter, who was a couple weeks shy of her third birthday, and we went home.  The neighborhood we lived in was a tight-knit community of friends, and we all gathered out in the street to talk as we trickled home.  I had left the television on to ABC and at one point Peter Jennings announced to those of us in the Indianapolis area that we would soon be hearing fighter jets from Grissom Air Base that were being sent to accompany Air Force One back to Washington.  My older daughter heard it and thought it meant a jet was headed to downtown Indianapolis, and her daddy worked downtown!  The panic she felt made me realize that while the youngest of children were largely unaware of what was going on, they weren't completely isolated from it.

Today my girls have little to no recollection of that day.  An entire generation of young people, now emerging into adulthood, does not have the first-hand experience of shock, horror, pain, agony, and anger we experienced.  When I went home to Michigan for a visit with my family shortly after 9/11, I chatted about it with my grandmother.  We compared this attack to the Pearl Harbor attack, and she very wisely pointed out that the big difference was in 1941 we knew whom to blame, and against whom to defend ourselves.  With 9/11, we just didn't know.  There wasn't a single country to point to.  There wasn't an evil, seeking-to-rule-the-world dictator wanting to spread his brand of oppression across the land.  The participants were nameless, faceless, unknown, and for all practical intents and purposes, homeless.  We couldn't point to one single country and say "They are to blame!"  It was several countries, some of whom knowingly and willingly harbored these animals, and even trained them.

We stand at the brink of another war, with the Iraq and Afghanistan wars winding down.  Do we want to get involved in Syria?  Is it our responsibility? Do we have the moral imperative to intervene?  These are questions to be answered by people smarter than me.

What we must do, what we absolutely cannot fail to do, is remember.  Remember how we felt that day.  Remember our resolve.  Remember how unified behind a common purpose we became.  We are AMERICANS.  We FIGHT to defend ourselves and our ideals.  We are like an overly indulged family of Waltons on this Walton Mountain we call the United States.  We bicker amongst ourselves, and do things to each other we shouldn't.  But like a family, in times of crisis we pull together, unify, and strengthen our resolve to continue our way of life and the deeply rooted conviction that all men are created equal, and are endowed by their Creator certain inalienable rights.

We cannot fail to remember.  We do ourselves and those innocent victims a great disservice if we do.  Remembering is a Moral Imperative.

Recipe for a True American

Many of you know that I've been researching my family tree with earnest over the last couple of years.  That project has been temporarily been put on hold until I can get more information, but I have learned a lot.  I discovered the identity of my great-great-grandfather's father, and his service to our country in the Civil War.  I learned that many of my mom's great- and great-great-grand parents immigrated to the United States through Canada in the late 1860s, and her great-grandfather as recently as the end of the 19th century.  I don't have any evidence of this, but I don't think any of my family members are Native American or African American.

That means, without exception, my family is entirely descended from
IMMIGRANTS!!
*dun dun DDUUUUNNNNNN!!!!*

Holy crap on a cracker, Batman!  Everyone knows that true Americans are opposed to immigration!  Why, allowing an immigrant into the country is putting our livelihood in danger!

Actually, that is exactly what "true Americans" said about my own ancestors in the 1800s.  In fact, take a look at this cartoon:  http://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large/anti-immigration-cartoon-granger.jpg  I don't know if any of you caught it, but many of my German immigrant ancestors came to Michigan through Canada.  Why would they do this, you might wonder?  Well, the hysteria that was spreading across the U.S. in the 19th century had caused Congress to put limits on the number of people from each country that were allowed into the U.S. each year.  Thus, my family members, seeking a better life, crossed into the country in Michigan, where records weren't kept until 1894.  Yes, you read that right, my family consists largely of farmers who were likely undereducated, poor, and entered the country illegally.

Guess me and my family should pack up and leave, eh?  Did you know, my 3x great-grandfather fought in the NY 54th, and didn't have American Citizenship?  Should I still leave?

Let's set that aside for a minute.  The title of this blog, is, after all, "Recipe for a True American," and the origins of one's family are just part of the formula.

Many people say this country is a Christian country.  I'm a Christian.  So are most of my friends and family members.  So were most of the Founding Fathers; at least in name, they were.  You see, in Colonial America and at the time of the Revolution, to not attend church was socially unacceptable.  Benjamin Franklin attended services regularly early in his adult life, but given his point-of-view on many things, I seriously doubt he was a true Christian.  I could be wrong, and I won't know for certain until I get to Heaven, but I feel confident in saying this.

The reality is that this country is not a Christian country.  Christians were just the first people who got here.  And when they got here, Christians were a minority.  Native Americans' religious persuasions are decidedly not Christian.  They're not immoral, just not Christian.  This country is, after all, a place where one can practice his or her faith, or not, without fear of persecution by the government.  There are quite a few countries that allow that now, but in the 16th century that wasn't the case.

Before my friends and family members start jumping down my throat, I want you all to know, I am entirely in favor of living my faith among those around me, in hopes that they, too, will want to know Jesus.  But it is not the job of me or anyone else to make sure certain religious principles are adhered to by the government.  Actually, it is our responsibility to make sure that does not happen.  All of the rights we hold most dear exist because we are guaranteed the government won't impose someone else's faith on us.

Our government does not exist to legislate morality.  Whose morality should be legislated?  There are some brothers and sisters in Christ who believe that women should not work out of the home, should not wear pants, and should not wear makeup or jewelry.  I don't agree with them, and that's my right to do so. There are some people of faith who believe it's ok to have multiple wives.  I don't agree with that either.  I don't need to continue this.  You get my point.

Our government exists to ensure the safety and well-being of the people whom it serves.  How that should be accomplished is fodder for many political debates.  Whether it should be done is not.  So the recipe for a real American does not include any faith at all.  It's a non-factor.

I'm only 45 years old (hah, only...) but I don't remember people ever being so sharply divided.  My good friend, who is a history teacher, tells me that political conflict has existed pretty much since our country began.  But I don't remember so many people being so, well, unAmerican in their comments about our leaders.

I have news for you:  No President is ever going to please you 100% of the time.  The President is human.  The President has his own ideas about how things should be done.  The President might even change his mind from time-to-time.  I would rather have a leader who is open to being wrong than one who narrow-mindedly refuses to admit when he is.

We need to realize something as a nation, liberal, conservative, and moderate alike:  Our country kicks ass.  It's the best one there is!  I like other countries, too.  Canada is awesome.  Most of Europe is beautiful, and they know how to take care of their citizens really well.  China has put a high priority on economic development.  (Ok I don't really LIKE China, but I like that they've started to allow their people more latitude in what they do.)  But our country is the BEST.  If I didn't think so, I would leave.

I don't know how I feel about the ownership of firearms.  I don't want to limit the rights of law-abiding citizens but I do think this gun ownership thing has gotten a little out of hand.  The right to bear arms is something that is so ingrained it's a part of our national DNA, but a mutation now and then has proven to be beneficial.

National health care isn't a bad idea for those who are working but unable to get insurance for whatever reason.  We provide health care for those who are not working, why on earth should we not provide it for those who are working?  Seriously, folks, where is the logic?  I don't want the government telling me that I must purchase something I don't want to purchase.  But I should also be prepared for the consequences and have to pay for everything myself, without benefit of bankruptcy, if I willingly do not have health insurance.  There are some serious gaps in the way our "sick care" system works (we don't really have health care.  Most plans only kick in when you're sick.).  That needs to be fixed.  But please, don't presume to tell me you know better than I what I need.  Lay out a policy, tell people what will happen if they don't adhere, and let it go.

I don't know how I feel about gay marriage, either.  Logically, there shouldn't be any reason for the government to not allow it.  Ours is not a Christian government, and therefore should not be telling anyone who they can and cannot marry.  On the other hand, I firmly believe God instituted marriage between a man and a woman to be a symbol of how the relationship between Christ and his people is supposed to be.  With clearly defined roles for the husband and wife (and no, barefoot, pregnant, and in the kitchen is NOT in the Bible) it's pretty hard for me to think God had loose definitions of "husband" and "wife."  But my friends who choose to be gay should not be denied the same rights as me and my heterosexual friends to commit to one person for life.  Perhaps a good compromise is to allow for "civil unions" that gives gay couples the same legal rights in decisions about medical care and inheritance.  Just as people who are of a different race or religion than me should not be denied rights, neither should people of a different sexual persuasion be denied those same rights.  God loves everyone.  He doesn't pick and choose the way we sucky humans do.

I could go on and on about all these modern social issues.  Military spending. Space exploration.  International intervention.  Renewable energy.  Use of public lands.  The point is that we all have varying differences of opinion, but as Americans we should all agree to disagree.

So what makes an American, American?  She probably is descended from immigrants.  She values individual freedoms.  She is fiercely independent and believes in the ability and right of an individual to accomplish whatever she can with hard work.  She believes in caring for the elderly, sick, and disadvantaged.  She values education for all.

If this sounds like you, congratulations, you're a true American.  If you're opposed to immigration, refuse to grant equal rights to people different from you, have nothing but vicious words for our President, want to impose your faith on the rest of society, and don't have any interest in providing for those who are unable to provide for themselves, you don't sound very American to me.  You sound like, well, an Iranian.  Or a Syrian.  Or any other country that has declared its hatred for our President and persecutes people of different faith, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.  And you sure as Hell aren't Christian.

Christians are called to love each other unconditionally, demonstrate Christ in all they do, and pray for and support their leaders.  The Apostle Paul told Timothy, "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.  This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." (I Timothy 2:1-4)  He also wrote to the Romans, "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.  For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.  Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.  For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad.  Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority?  Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good."  (Romans 13:1-4a)  By no means are we to obey a government that compels us to violate God's laws.  A good example of this is Daniel, who adhered to what he knew to be right in violation of the king.  Also, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship a graven image, and were willing to go to the fiery furnace, and face death, because of it.  That is not what is referenced in Timothy and Romans.

We live in a country that has blessed us with rights.  We tend to take those rights for granted, and lose our way.  We decide that it's ok to portray our President as evil, threatening, tyrannical, unAmerican, and otherwise a bad dude.  I don't believe he is.  I don't particularly like all he's doing as President, but give me a break.  He's got his priorities straight, in that he makes sure to spend time with his wife and kids, even if he leaves work unfinished for the night.  He loves his country and wants to do what he thinks is best, even if it's not what I personally think is best.

This is a great place to live.  It's the BEST place to live.  No one, and by that I mean NO ONE, should be surprised that so many will risk so much to be here.  My family wanted a better life here, and now I get to raise my kids in a society where they can truly do whatever they want.  It's a blessed, precious, enviable privilege to be an American.  All blessings come from God.  Every. Single. One.

We don't have to like everything that goes on around us all the time; we are responsible to lawfully do what we can to fix it.  I don't think that includes the vitriolic comments made by otherwise great Christian people. It just doesn't reflect well on Whom we represent.

What does it mean?

Sorry I haven't posted here in awhile.  Just been busy.

I want to share with you the comments from many of my teaching friends regarding the victory of Glenda Ritz over Tony Bennett in the Indiana State Superintendent of Public Instruction election.  First, a little background.

Tony Bennett was elected four years ago, and almost immediately began to approach public educators as though they were the worst thing to ever happen to education.  As a teacher, I, along with my colleagues, took great exception to that.  I worked with some of the best teachers around.  I saw teachers who came in early, stayed late, worked weekends, purchased supplies, mentored struggling students, and did all kinds of things to try to help their students succeed.  To be told they not only were not good enough, but were the problem, was demoralizing and made many wonder why they were sticking it out.  To be told they were greedy was just crazy - and having summer break thrown about as if teachers do nothing all summer was just ridiculous.  Bennett first changed the rating system for schools, then made it illegal for teachers to bargain anything but salaries, then tried to have a new (illegal) contract forced on districts, then declared private, for-profit schools superior to public schools, then changed the ratings AGAIN, and twice changed the timing of the high-stakes test being used to rate those schools.  Oh, and this was done at the school's expense.  So it's easy to see why teachers were so opposed to him and what he stands for.  Bennett's idea of a good teacher was one who could pass a test, not one who has been trained in pedagogy and given ample opportunity to observe seasoned veterans and "practice" in internships.

Glenda Ritz is a teacher (as of right now).  She ran on the platform of highly qualified teachers.  She knows what teachers have been experiencing and wanted to change it.  The big obstacle for her was two-fold:  Name recognition, and she's not a Republican.  Bennett had the benefit of the backing of the GOP as well as corporate monetary support.  Ritz relied on word-of-mouth.

Today it worked.  Today, students, parents, teachers, and citizens grouped together to spread a message about how important it was to change the leadership in Indianapolis in the interest of Indiana's kids and were able to realize that change.  Not through expensive TV ads, not through mail (which no one reads anyway) and certainly not through slick signs and other media.  We just talked about it.  We simply put forth an impassioned plea for change and asked our friends and families to spread the word to their friends and families.  Today we saw the power of the voice of the people and how the system really CAN work for Joe Citizen.

So, back to the thoughts of my friends:

Today "the people have spoken" really rang true-a true grassroots campaign-Congratulations Glenda Ritz and all the students and teachers in Indiana!

I have never felt more validated in my profession. Thank you all SO MUCH for voting for our children, our teachers, and our communities right to control their schools. A great weight (in the shape, weight, and size of Tony Bennett) has been lifted off of my shoulders.

Thank You! Thanks to all my friends and family, ... who listened to me and my colleagues, respected our thoughts, voted across their tickets just because they respected our profession and Indiana children. This is an amazing day for Public Education in Indiana. Our children can now be taught to collaborate, create, communicate and participate instead of being taught to take a test once each year. Thank You!! You are all amazing! 

 Goodbye and good riddance to you, Tony Bennett. Go find yourself a new job - I suggest applying to one of the testing companies or for-profit school corporations you have been supporting, instead of Indiana's hard working and dedicated teachers!

Thank you thank you!!! Glenda Ritz is our new superintendent of public education!!! I am so happy I cried a little!!!! 

THE TRIBE HAS SPOKEN! Pack up, TB. Update your resume. We have been validated. Thanks from the bottom of my heart to all who support Glenda, from our kids, our communities, and from teachers everywhere.

It is nice to know that the best candidate for the job can win even if she didn't have the money or political clout. I should sleep good tonight.

And from two friends, one a former student who will be student teaching next year, and the other whose husband is in school to be a teacher:

It feels good knowing I will have a job when I graduate :)

YAY!!! A huge win for our family :) Glenda Ritz as State Superintendent! This means a hopeful outlook for my amazing husband as he begins his teaching career in less than 2 years! So proud of you honey - go get 'em!!!!!!!!!! 

It was important.  It still is important.  Our children are always important.  Our votes continue to be important.  And my feelings about the future of this state are so much more optimistic tonight.

I am now re-energized, re-encouraged, re-committed to be a good citizen, vote for more than just the President, and be more involved in my community.  It DOES matter!  We CAN make a difference!

 

What's your proudest parenting moment?

Moms are blatant child-braggers.  From the first smile, all the way until... well I don't think it ever stops, actually, ... we brag about our kids, and for good reason, too.  Unconditional love, which is evolutionarily contradictory, gives us the ability to think our own offspring are the best, and all other children are somehow inferior.  In short, we all think our kids rock, even if they don't. :-)

Those of you who have met my two girls will probably agree with me that they're amazing kids.  They've endured hardship through no fault of their own, and are both honors students, well-behaved, and make good choices for the right reasons.  My friends, family members, and their teachers all agree with that assessment, too, so it's not me looking at my girls with my Mom Glasses in place.

Last week, my younger daughter was at her best friend's for a sleepover.  The next day, she sent me a text message, asking me to make an excuse for her to come home.

[We interrupt this blog for a side note.  When my kids were in elementary school, I told them if they were in a peer pressure situation, to use me as the reason they wouldn't participate.  It gives them an out while still socially saving face, and allows for distance to evaluate the situation and friendship at a later time.  We now return you to your regularly scheduled blog, already in progress.]

I kind of laughed, because it's an odd request to get from a 13-year-old.  So I texted back, "Ok, um, come home to clean your room."  This wasn't much of a reach.  Her room is perpetually resembling what a clothing factory would look like post-apocalypse.  So, long story short, she used me as an excuse to go home.  I later asked her what the deal was, should I be concerned?  She said everything was fine, no one was doing anything harmful or inappropriate, just going in a direction with language and video viewing that she didn't want to go.  I was pretty proud of my daughter at that point for sticking to her personal principles and politely excusing herself from a situation she didn't think she should be in.  And if the mother of the friend is reading this, don't worry, it wasn't anything BAD.  Just not in her desired range of activities.  I would tell you otherwise.

The other day, older daughter and I were riding back from her dance lesson.  This child is a senior in high school, and as such has to complete a Senior Project in order to graduate.  Leading into this summer, she had discussed working with an architect to design and build a scale model of a home for an actual client - a really ambitious undertaking.  So, when she suddenly declared she wanted to learn ballroom dancing I was a little shocked.  (And, truth be told, relieved, because ballroom dancing is much more manageable given this child's 12309487 other pursuits.)  Many people, including me at first, challenged her because the architecture project would help as she pursues a career in architecture.  She stuck to her guns, and enrolled in dance lessons.  45 minutes away.  Did I mention she doesn't drive yet? :-)  At any rate, her persistence paid off, and the other day she told me how much fun she is having, and how glad she is that she chose this project.  She is the youngest member of her class but she doesn't let that stop her.  The younger adults (I'd say in their 20s) enjoy her youthful energy, and one asked me if she was going to continue after her project was complete.  Swim season and other priorities might prevent this for awhile, but rest assured my child will be back in classes as soon as she can, because she enjoys it so much.  Everyone needs an outlet for energy, and this might be her lifelong avocation.  Cool.

Both my girls are rather, well, STUBBORN.  I have no idea from whose side of the family they get that.  :-)  In these two cases, their persistence has proven to be an asset rather than a liability.  As girls, one of the best lessons they can learn is to trust their inner voice, not doubt themselves, and assert themselves.  Looks to me like they're well on their way to becoming independent, assertive women, and this mama couldn't be more proud.

So tell me, what's your proudest (at least right now) parenting moment?  Go ahead and brag.  We all love to read stories about how our kids are doing great things.

This will probably offend everyone.

The rules of etiquette dictate that one not discuss religion or politics in social situations.  Lately, many, many people, myself included, have been discussing one or both of these on social networking sites.  So, here goes:

This is my religious, political, how-I-really-think blog

First, a disclaimer:  My opinions are my own, and do not reflect the official position of my employer, my family, my city government, or the milk man.  They are my own opinions, and, as an American, I am allowed to express them.

I find it really unfortunate that there has been such a serious division within American society.  I have already grown tired of all the political bickering, infighting, accusing, and otherwise wasting time when there are really important things to do, like improve education, reduce the Federal deficit, bolster our science and space exploration funding, provide reasonable health care without putting additional burdens on society, and eating chocolate.

The amazing thing is that the ignition wasn't caused by a true injustice; rather, one person, one man, who happens to be the CEO of a major restaurant chain, expressed his opinion and the policy by which his company supports charities.  No one was harmed, no one was discriminated against, and no one was publicly mocked.  I don't recall this man ever saying he thought gay people are evil and going to hell, and it would have shocked me if he had.

Instead, in our "If you're not for me you're against me" society, this man's opinion about how he thinks things should be became the catalyst for neighbor to rise against neighbor, and friend against friend, all in the name of civil rights and free speech.

The Bill of Rights grants us the right to express our opinions without the government telling us what we can or cannot say legally.  That doesn't mean we should just say what we think.  It also doesn't mean that we should take one person's opinion personally, nor should we take a person's opinion to an extreme.  However, in politics as well as in society, that's exactly what we have done.  So, here are my views on politics:

I have news for the Republicans:  This country isn't yours to take back.  It's ours, to use, and care for, and run efficiently.  If you're so interested in reducing Federal spending, start with your office budget.  Refuse your pension if you are a multi-gazillionaire (as most of you are).  To whom much is given much is also expected, and this country has been richly blessed.  It is our responsibility, as HUMAN BEINGS, to take care of others.  It is our responsibility to make sure that the beauty of this country is well-cared-for in a reasonable manner.  It is our responsibility to actually pay teachers, fire fighters, police officers, and soldiers what they're worth, not what you can squeeze out for them.  Do you value public safety, public education, and the defense of this nation?  Put your money where your mouth is.  Stop telling teachers they don't know how to teach.  Just because you went to school, does NOT mean you know how teaching works.  Using THAT logic, I should know how to design a bridge because I've driven over many, many bridges.  What a pile-o-poop.  Unions did not destroy this country, they helped keep oppression from getting out of hand.  Just because you can afford to do something doesn't mean you should.  Being able to earn money does not solve the problems we're facing as a country.  Sometimes, doing the right thing is more important than building your portfolio.

I have news for the Democrats:  Nobody owes you anything.  You don't DESERVE anything but respect and fairness.  You want a nice house?  You have to earn it.  You want an education?  Yep, you have to earn that, too.  If someone has earned a lot of money, that's his or her PRIVILEGE.  Stop being jealous of what you don't have, get off your fat fanny, and go pursue what you want.  Quit blaming everyone else for your problems.  Quit heaping society's ills on the rich.  If lazy people weren't lazy, they would be wealthier. And stop reading into what I'm saying.  All I'm saying is, it's nobody's job to take care of you but your own.  My responsibility is first to my God, then to my family.  I have to see to their needs ahead of a stranger's.  That's how it's supposed to be.  Stop defending the indefensible.  A woman who has had 4 babies, with 4 different fathers, who doesn't have the means to care for those babies, should be legally prohibited from getting knocked up.  It just makes sense.  Soldiers are not evil.  Guns are not the problem.  Legalizing marijuana won't solve the drug problem, it will just exacerbate it.   Unions are not the panacea we all thought they would be, and you know it.  Workers and corporations are not on opposite sides of a war, they're two important parts to keeping this country rolling.  And, if times are tough, everyone is going to have to give up something.  We can't spend money we don't have without penalizing our children.  We can't heap stupid, ill-thought regulations on businesses, be they large or small, and expect those businesses to stick around.  DUH, they're going to go where it's easier to do business.  BE REASONABLE.

Come on, have we really lost touch with what is important?  When I was a little girl, I was taught that one's faith was most important, followed by one's family, and then serving others.  The last thing on the priority list was supposed to be serving oneself. 

Why have my fellow Christians become so divisive, and angry?  I don't remember Jesus being this way.  Christ brought healing, not hate.  He brought love, not malice.  And when he did get angry, it was because people were acting out of turn, taking advantage of others, and using His house to their gain.  In other words, when Jesus got ticked, He had a really good reason.  And here's some news that will surprise a lot of people:  Jesus respected the Roman government.  He didn't walk up to sinners, sticking His finger in their faces, telling them they're evil and deserve destruction.  Even if it was true.  Jesus loved the unlovely.  He didn't advocate treating someone poorly because that person is a sinner.

So, if I follow His example, I am to be loving toward everyone, even those who are behaving in a way I don't agree is right; I am to find gentle words to respond to disharmony, not escalate the situation; I am to be angered by true injustice, and harmful behavior, not because someone thinks differently than me.

I am to respect the government.  The whole government.  Even *gulp* Tony Bennett, State Superintendent of Schools for the State of Indiana.  Oh geez, that's a hard pill to swallow.  But it's true.  I don't agree with the man, but crikey I'm supposed to respect him.

I am to respond to my friends with gentle words, not escalate the situation.  Yeah I've screwed that up the last couple of days.  And, unfortunately, it probably won't be the last time, either, because I'm a jerk.  And so are you. :-)

I am to love my neighbor as myself.  And, on those days that I don't like myself, more than I love myself.  For me, personally, this isn't hard to do.  I love people.  I don't always act lovingly, but I love people.  I want people to know my God because I act a little bit like Him a little bit of the time.

I have a list of things I believe are wrong.  I'm not going to list them here.  It's not for me to walk up to a person and attempt to flick a speck out of his eye when I have a tree branch protruding from my own.  I'll be qualified to judge you when I'm perfect, and not a day before.  I will continue to get angry when people hurt others, or act in an immature, irresponsible manner.  I think that's justified.  But rest assured, I won't tell you that I think you're going straight to hell because you don't like hockey.  [Disclaimer:  This is an example of hyperbole.  If you had paid attention in English class you would understand this.  I do NOT think people who don't like hockey are evil.  A lot of people died in a lot of wars so you can be wrong about the value of the sport, and I respect your right to be wrong.] 

I love you, whoever you are.  God has an amazingly wonderful, fantastic plan for your life, and if I'm privileged enough to help you discover it, how much more amazingly wonderful would that be?  If you want to know what I think I know, ask me privately.

God is real.  He is a living, thinking, caring Being.  He loves you.  He loves me.  And He is perfect.  Not in the "what a perfect morning" kind of perfect; the absolute, all-encompassing, not-even-a-scratch kind of perfect, and He expects perfection near Him.  Jesus sacrificed his own perfection to intercede for us, and the very simple but difficult thing to do is to just accept that, and try to live the way Jesus lived.  Please, don't tell me about the Crusades.  Don't tell me about all the other objections you might have to Christianity.  My only answer to all the screw-ups who have gone before me is that they're not perfect, just like I'm not perfect.  Like C.S. Lewis, you either accept it or you don't. 

And, if we choose to act poorly, whether we believe in God or not, we're going to face the consequences of those choices.  A drug user is going to eventually lose everything.  It's pretty much an established fact.  A liar will lose his friends, and maybe his job.  A thief won't be welcome anywhere.  Drive over the speed limit?  Yup, you're likely to get a ticket at some point.  Live a lifestyle that isn't in keeping with good choices, and you're going to face the consequences.  When I lose my temper, the consequence is that people avoid making me angry, and keep me "out of the loop."  When I overeat, I gain weight and risk my health.  I could go on and on and on but the point is I don't need to tell sinners they suck.  The consequences of the bad choice will do it for me.  Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but it will catch up, just like it catches up with me.

A saying that's been around for a long time goes something like this:  God grant me the courage to change the things I can change, the serenity to accept the things I can't change, and the wisdom to know the difference.  I'd like to expand on that.  God grant me the courage to stand up for what is truly right, the serenity to accept when I should stay seated, and the wisdom to know the difference.

How I spent (part of) my summer vacation

Today's blog post is unusual in that it's not my ranting or raving about anything, just newsy.  And very little science!

Being inspired by Fox 59's Sherman Burdette, I made plans to take my family on a mystery trip to southern Indiana.  I don't know much about this area except that it's the bottom edge of our state, and Corydon, the former capital and home town of former governor Frank O'Bannon, is down there.  I used some Hilton Honors points and made a reservation for one night.  And, the best part is, I didn't tell the girls where we were going or what we'd be doing.  I told Hubby, but only because we briefly contemplated canceling our plans and waiting for cooler weather.  In the end, we decided to tough out the heat.

If you're ever in New Albany, the Hampton Inn is nice.  Not amazing, but definitely nice.  And it's easy to get to.  Typical Hampton.  That's about all there is to say about that.  It was a good place to sleep.

We arrived in Jeffersonville for our FREE scheduled 11:00 tour of Schimpff Confectionary.  They have been in business for 121 years, and if you make a reservation, they'll be sure to be making candy during that time.  Well worth it, and it was interesting to see all the antique candy making equipment they still use.  After spending way too much on chocolates and hard candies, we went to check into our hotel.  Since our room wasn't quite ready, we decided to get some lunch and left our sweet stash with the desk clerk so it wouldn't melt in the car.

Sherman had said that Market Street in New Albany has a lot of "international" restaurants - "Just look for the fork in the road."  He meant this literally.  Scattered throughout New Albany are many art pieces, and on Market Street there is a large sculpture of a piece of cheese with a fork sticking into it.  Very amusing.

We wandered down Market Street and came across Habana Blues, a Cuban-inspired Tapas restaurant.  The adventurous spirit my older daughter and I share apparently rubbed off on my husband and younger daughter, and we went inside.  So glad we did!  Great food.  It's a small place but they don't skimp on quality in this restaurant.  Put Habana Blues on your list of places to go if you wind up in New Albany.

After dinner we went across the street to an antiques store.  Hubby likes to wander in them because he never knows what he'll find.  I saw some glasses with a beige-colored floral pattern on the side that I swear we had when we were kids.  That was slightly disheartening -- glasses from my childhood being sold in an antiques store.  When we walked in, that nagging old question popped into my head again:  Why do antiques stores always smell like an old lady's house?

Since it was 103 degrees Fahrenheit outside, and the upper floor of the shop was not air conditioned, we decided to see if our hotel room was ready, and it was.  The plan was to swim a little before dinner, but the pool was closed for maintenance.  So, we just relaxed a little before getting cleaned up for dinner.

We ate at Buckhead Mountain Grill.  My two-word review is Skip It.  The food was mediocre, the service was weird  - I swear I thought at one point one of the servers was going to stand there and watch while Hubby signed the charge slip! - and by 7:45 on a Saturday night it was pretty empty.  They have an outdoor bar area that I imagine in nicer weather is a neat place to hang, but again, I wouldn't waste any time or money on food here.  There's a seafood restaurant nextdoor that says "Excellent Sea Food" on its sign so you know it must be true.

The next day's schedule was to get up early, eat breakfast, and go to Falls of the Ohio State Park.  Hubby's shoulder was acting up AGAIN ("I don't like having Percocet Sundays") so he stayed at the hotel to "sleep it off" while the girls and I went to the park.  If you have never been to this state park, you really should go.  Spend a couple of hours wandering around the fossil beds in the river.  Someone (I was going to say "they" but I don't know who "they" are) put in a dam and hydroelectric power plant on the south side of the river, which keeps the fossil beds permanently exposed now - whereas once upon a time you had to wait for the river to go down to see the fossils, you now can see them year-round.  There are signs all over the place telling you to not swim and to listen for sirens.  However, with as hot and dry as it has been, no worries with regard to the flood gates being opened.  I took a few photographs, mostly for "record keeping".  The girls tried to get some rubbings with crayon but the vellum paper they brought wasn't suitable.  I think I have a few artsy-phartsy photos that might do well for posting to my Facebook account later.

After roaming the fossil beds, it was about 10:00 am and I was already heavily perspiring.  We went back to the hotel for another shower, and changed into nicer clothes for brunch.  Ah, brunch, that delightfully leisurely way to spend a Sunday morning if you're being a heathen and not going to church.  Kind of like us that morning.

Louis le Francais is a genuinely French restaurant on Market Street in New Albany.  We went for brunch and let me tell you, while the menu is somewhat limited, you will not be disappointed by anything you order.  I had "Zee Best Omelet" which it really was.  The chef prepares this omelet the way his mother taught him when he was still living in France.  It has roasted apples in it, and was really good.  Hubby had the vegetable omelet, which has ratatouille inside.  The girls both had quiche.  Louis makes his omelets with the ingredients mixed in, but they're so fluffy and so good!  The baguette kept coming, and paired with the fresh, homemade orange marmalade, which daughter #2 ate with delight, was truly divine.  Cappuccino!  Mimosa! Quiche! And for dessert, creme brulee and bread pudding!  Tres magnifique!  (Many thanks to daughter #1 for help with the French, who, incidentally, was dismayed that she had unwittingly passed on an opportunity to practice her French with the waitress, who was most definitely French.)

After brunch we came home, much to my chagrin.  It wasn't a FABULOUS vacation.  It wasn't a once-in-a-lifetime experience the way Yellowstone was.  It was simply a nice weekend with my family.  But aren't those the best memories?  Sure, I remember the big trips with my parents, but I mostly remember the little things, like my mom working with me to learn to cook and sew, my dad teaching me to play baseball and use tools properly, and our annual camping trips that were always the same and something I could always count on.  I hope I'm creating similar memories for the girls.