Obama on future grandchildren

http://www.mommylife.net/archives/2008/03/obama_doesnt_wa.html

This is sick: "But if they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby."

Three points here: first, this statement shows that, in an "off the cuff" moment, Obama really thinks children are less of a blessing and more of a duty ("duty" = me being kind). Second, I know a number of women whose lives have been so blessed by an "accident" - be they married or unmarried. Children change lives - for good if we let God work. Our relationship with our children is the closest we get to having any understanding of how much our Father loves us. Finally, what is his alternative? Abortion? Hello?! How traumatic is that?! Even the women I've known who are "pro-choice" and who've had an abortion have grieved, while being told that nothing is the matter, why are they so unhappy? That's the real punishment, but God forbid Obama and his ilk ever admit it.

Sorry for a little incoherence; I've had my sleepy tea already and am ready to call it a day.

Happy Easter

I was going to write something on Easter, but this is too good - I can't write much after reading it:

http://www.tonywoodlief.com/archives/001331.html#001331

That being said ...

We went to the sunrise service this AM: 6:30. The boys were sleepy, but they dressed, trooped downstairs, ate breakfast, and were ready on time. It was chilly, but in a good way, at least to what's left of the Northerner in me. We lit candles in the dark courtyard at Taft and sang, then walked in to almost-darkness and sat: prayers and readings - from Creation to Resurrection. Quiet music - Robbie played alone on guitar. Everything about it was filled with quiet joy. There was no pomp, no shouting, nothing loud and glorious. It makes a change from Easters past, where we had all that - Christ the Lord is Risen Today! - processing choirs and Bach on the organ. Instead, quiet joy. I felt more kinship to the very early Christians then I ever have before - gathered in a courtyard, small enough to be at a private home - then inside for fellowship. We took turns reading; no assigned list of participants, just those that wanted to came forward. There was no sermon - and really, if you need to be told by the preacher what to think on Easter, of all days, you need more help then there is on this Earth.

Happy Easter, and may your heart fill with joy when you think on what He has done for us.

Stations of the Cross

These are wonderful devotionals based on the meaning behind each of the 14 Stations of the Cross.

http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/Stations/face.htm

Blessings.

Washing Feet

Vignettes from last night's Maundy Thursday service:

Kneeling elders, people walking up slowly - then lining up eagerly, already barefoot

Paul washing Jen's feet - a husband's tender touch

Sitting barefoot, with the boys gathered around me, hushed

Feet clean

Boys holding me

Paintings - 3 Crosses (Two) and Easter Sunrise (One)

Tears

and finally, from a sleepy and slightly confused 5 year old: "Mommy, next year I think I want you to baptize my feet."

My Street

This is who my street was named after:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_McCarthy

"Glenn Herbert McCarthy (December 25, 1907 - December 26, 1988) was a wildcatter and a flamboyant oil tycoon. Within the oil industry and the media he was sometimes referred to as "Diamond Glenn" and "The King of the Wildcatters".[1] McCarthy was noted as an oil prospector and entrepreneur who owned many businesses in diverse fields. McCarthy founded the Shamrock Hotel in Houston, which gained him brief national fame and inspired the fictional character Jett Rink in Edna Ferber's 1952 novel Giant along with its 1956 film adaptation which starred James Dean in the role."

On the oldest blocks, there are old tile street curbs that spell the street name "Glenn", even though we've now reverted to "Glen".

Inflation

Isn't it nice to see what a few years and a little inflation can do for a girl?

"According to a Girls Gone Wild press release, Dupre visited Miami in 2003 to celebrate her 18th birthday. After fighting with a friend and getting thrown out of her hotel, Dupre found a nearby Girls Gone Wild bus, the company said. She signed legal papers and spent a full week on the bus, filming seven full-length tapes which included nudity and same-sex encounters, according to the company. 'I personally ended up buying her a Greyhound bus ticket back home to North Carolina,' Francis told the AP."

From the price of a bus ticket for a week's "work" to $1,000 an hour - that's quite a raise.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5631653.html

I want to write like this

http://www.amazon.com/Porch-Talk-Stories-Decency-Endangered/dp/0060736585/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1205885239&sr=8-1

I've always thought I wanted to write like James Lileks, but Philip Gulley would be just fine, too.

As the World Turns

I have a confession to make: I rotate things. Unloading the dishwasher and putting away clean clothes takes a long time for me, because I can't do it without this strange quirk taking over the process. Out come the shirts (or shorts, underwear, you name it) from the drawer, in go the clean ones on the bottom, and then back go the others on top. Plates, glasses, even silverware suffers. I take the silverware out of the drawer and stack it on the counter - rows of stacked forks, knives and spoons lined up on a cutting board (not the counter itself - it might be dirty). Then I put the clean pieces away, and pile the others neatly back where they belong.

I'm sick. I know this. But honestly, does anyone else have this strange compulsion?