I Changed my mind, I will talk about the election

Okay, I know I said I would only talk about the election with a few select people. But after watching this video and reading information regarding McCain and Obama on the websites of the National Right to Life Committee, NOW and Planned Parenthood I just had to say something. In none of the debates or the Saddleback Forum (which was a billion times more interesting than any of the debates)was it mentioned that Obama promised Planned Parenthood in 2007 that the first thing he would do as President is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. This would invalidate restrictions on abortion now in place including parental notification laws. This is a direct quote from the National Organization of Women's website: "FOCA prohibits states from enacting laws intended to deny or interfere with a woman's fundamental right to choose abortion. Minors have long been included within the protections of Roe. Parental consent or notification statutes have been used as a tool to deny access to abortion services for minors. When such laws deny or interfere with the ability of minors to access abortion services, they would violate FOCA." We could soon be living in a country where your 12 year-old can get an abortion and you would never know. But then again PARENTAL CONSENT STATUTES HAVE BEEN USED AS A TOOL TO DENY ACCESS TO ABORTION FOR MINORS.Can you believe this?? You would think that most parents would be outraged by a statement like this even if they are pro-choice (pro-abortion). There is so much left to say on this subject so feel free to leave comments. Here is a question for you: WHO will YOU choose as our next president???

What a difference He made in my life

I have been very reflective and quiet today because I realized how far I have come spiritually in the past year. This time last year I was a very hurt, angry person. I placed total blame on one person for the pain in my life. I was so angry and bitter that I failed to see my own weaknesses. I became rebellious and did not want to listen to anything anyone was telling me- especially God. I finally woke up one day and realized that I had not spoken one word to the Lord in over a month. This was a horrifying realization. Where was the woman I used to be? The one who was shy but spoke to others boldly about the Lord? The one who made it a priority to pray about everything? I thought, "HOW did I get here?" To make a long story short, God pulled me back to where I need to be. He has revealed to me areas that I need to work on in my own life and I can say that I am closer to Him today than I have been in a very long time. He has done things in my life that seemed impossible and hopeless at the time. I'm glad He did not let me stay away from Him.

"My heart can't see, when I only look at me.
my soul can't hear, when I only think of my own fears.
They are gone in a moment. You're forever the same.
Why did I look away from You? How can I speak Your name?
Lord, come with Your fire. Burn my desires, Refine me.
Lord, my will has deceived me. Please come and free me.
Come rescue this child. For I long to be reconciled to You.
Refine me. Refine me."-from "Refine Me" by Jennifer Knapp

My long overdue blog...and it's about the election

I haven't blogged in about a month for one reason or another so this is a long time coming. My mind is on the election tonight so I would like to just post a few thoughts/rants:

1. After this blog I will not discuss the election with anyone except Travis and maybe a friend or two. You know who you are. I know we won't get into any arguments. Also, I would like to keep the friends I have and not make any enemies.

2. Do not even try to debate with me over the election or anything political from the past 16 years. You will not win.

3. If you bring up the election, try to start an argument with me, or make a wisecrack about whoever you think my candidate of choice is you will be greeted with a blank stare or funny look. This is your cue to change the subject immediately.

4. If you are going to make an ignorant comment and/or video based on a rumor you heard about a candidate at least make sure it is true by doing a little research first. This is true especially if you are a celebrity. Snopes.com is your friend!

5. Please research each candidate's views on the issues that are important to you. Don't assume you already know.

6. Whoever wins is NOT going to be our country's savior. I'm tired of people acting like the future president is going to suddenly rescue us from all of our troubles. These people are not God. He's the only one who can rescue us.

7. Pray, pray, pray. Ask God to help you make the right decision. Ask Him to put the right man that HE wants in this place of leadership. Whether things turn out how you wanted or not, pray for the person elected to have wisdom to make the difficult decisions ahead.

Back to the old grindstone

So after a fun-filled, rest-filled weekend (eating decadent food at Ruth's Chris for my dad's birthday, eating out with Travis and my sis-in-law, sleeping in late) I did not want to go back to work today. Who did?? Anyway, I thought it was going to be a pretty easy day nonetheless. Boy was I wrong. It was an unusually bad day. I won't go into the boring details but it basically stunk and I still have a headache from it. I'm glad it's a short week.

Tonight was the first night of a Bible study that I am attending. I was (and still am) very excited about it but before I got there I really did not feel like talking to anyone because my head was still in such a fog from work. Once I got there I was able to relax and I'm glad I didn't sit there totally quiet and turn into a little recluse. I have the feeling that some of the stuff that happened today at work was the enemy trying to get to me so I wouldn't want to attend tonight. I'm excited about what I'm going to learn and about getting to know everyone a little better.

All that is within me cries

Yesterday I found out that my dad is not doing very well health-wise. He has chronic kidney disease but he looks healthy and still acts very young! My mom read me his lab results over the phone and my heart sank. He is very close to needing dialysis. It's scary how close. I wish I did not have all this medical knowledge sometimes because it makes things harder just knowing too much. His doctor told him that he had never seen a patient with the kind of lab values he has and look so good. I know this is a "God-thing" for sure. I know the Lord can heal him completely-He healed me when was very young of a problem with my kidneys! I was going to have to have surgery but my mom knew I was healed. She took me off my medication (something that is very out of character for my mom!) and took me to the doctor. The problem was completely gone. I had a kidney ultrasound about 6 months ago and my kidneys are still healthy. I know He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above anything we ask or think!

It's Monday all over again

I cannot believe how fast the weekend came and went! Work was pleasantly dull today. Usually I have a story about how a kid tried to beat me up while getting shots or something crazy a parent said or how a newborn baby pooped all over the floor (that happened last week). But the day was very uneventful which was so nice. Now that school has started back we do not see as many kids for checkups. Don't get me wrong- I love kids and I love working with them. But wrestling with kids that weigh more than 25 lbs. all day just to give them shots for kindergarten begins to wear on you quickly. We are hopefully in a lull before flu season hits. My feet didn't hurt when the day was over and I actually had enough energy after work to go do a little shopping at the mall and get my hair cut. I had not had a hair cut in four months and it was starting to look fro-ish. Now that it's a good length I can color it so I can cover up the two gray hairs I have.

Lo Zoo

Today Travis and I took our 3 year-old nephew Ethan to the zoo with us. He is very smart and talkative! Soon after we were there we went to see the new female gorillas and other primates. Ethan then decided he wanted a red snow cone. He repeated "Bubba, I want a red snow cone" over and over until we reached the elephants and the blessed snow cone station. By the time we were at the front of the line for a snow cone, Ethan had changed his mind and wanted a blue one. About an hour later we sat down for lunch and spotted my sister-in-law Lori and her brood. Ethan was so excited to see his cousins so we followed them into the reptile building. Lori and her family decided to go on to the gorillas while we made our way around to see other things. Ethan just wanted to find "Aunt Ori" and his cousins. We never did find them but we had so much fun. Ethan is such a good,sweet kid. Tonight we are going to watch a movie and pig out on junk food. Even though I had fun today, next weekend I am doing absolutely nothing!