Christmas Eve at NanNan and PopPop's

Caleb and Isaac in their new pj's...aren't they cute?

Christmas Morning

Isaac enjoyed eating his hershey kisses from his stocking more than anything else (chocolate drooling down his chin)...Notice his new jr. craftsman tool bench in the background...his mother was more excited about it than he was...

Christmas Night...

Isaac "playing" cards with his cousin Blake and others....

"The Day After Christmas..." A Little Tired

Sorry still no pics...

Earlier today I loaded 4 pictures ..or tried to..onto the blog...after AN HOUR AND A HALF it didn't work for some reason....I might try again tomorrow if I'm home...
Right now Blane and Isaac are outside shoveling snow and ice...hopefully Isaac will work hard enough that he'll sleep ALL night but he's doing pretty good in his toddler bed and seems to like it so much better than his crib. The other night I was lying next to him and talking and somehow I fell out of the bed with him on top of me laughing. He laughed so hard he spit up all over me! Blahh! But I do love his laughter!! Friday night we hope to go to the Gym/Ice Cream Social Alumni Nite at Messiah College. I figure Isaac will enjoy running around the indoor track and we can get some exercise chasing after him..then cancel out all the exercise with ice cream afterwards.
Tomorrow if the weather is nice enough I hope to get to Sears to pick up our family photos we had taken two weeks ago. Well that's all that's fit to print for now.....

Happy New Year!

I will put up pictures from Christmas hopefully some time this week....it takes a long time just to load pictures on my computer and FOREVER to load it onto the blog...we have dial up connection so it's QUITE slow...perhaps some day we'll get high speed...
No resolutions made but I am going to TRY and exercise more consistently and started yesterday...but it's hard to exercise with a toddler sitting on your head, pulling your hair or bouncing on my back while I exercise...he does try to exercise with me for about 10 seconds...
So I will have to decide each day during his nap "exercise, shower, or clean up the house a little"...if he takes a long enough nap perhaps I can do all three....
Well time to go shopping..we're out of milk...and I REALLY would like a cup of coffee and don't drink it black!
More later....

Happy Thanksgiving!

Mmmm....which one should I pardon???

I Was Adopted

HA HA....Wendy, Aubrey and Mom wearing mud masks...(I took mine off first...you don't think I'd put MY mud mask picture on the blog do you?)

I stayed overnite at my parents Thanksgiving nite and friday nite so Isaac could get used to Blane putting him to bed AND start "weaning" him...

Friday nite Wendy and Aubrey spent the nite as well...we had a good time. We don't get to do that too often...girls' nite out...

Isaac's 2nd Birthday Celebrated

I made Isaac a train cake for his birthday and Aubrey helped me decorate it!!

taking a bite out of the cake.....

"Bogo and Ike".....

Sayng goodbye

The Sun Still Came Up....

Welllll...despite who our President-Elect is now, the sun STILL came up the day after election. I can rejoice in that. Although I am disappointed with the outcome, I wasn't surprised after waiting in line close to two hours to vote! Obviously Obama is the one that brought so many out to vote...so many wanting change. Oh they'll get change all right...it's the KIND of change I'm not looking forward to. It's my opinion that A LOT of his votes came from people who just wanted a Black president....and saw the idea of a Black president as a huge step! That in itself IS a BIG change! I will say that I don't care if the next President is Purple or Pink Polka-Dotted....if he doesn't share my values...he doesn't get my vote! I think it would be wonderful to have a Black President if he believed in the sanctity of human life and the sanctity of marriage between a man and woman and if I felt he could do a good job as Commander In Chief....but unfortunately that isn't the case. BUT...BUT he WILL be the next President and he and his advisors WILL need our prayers more than ever!!!! I take comfort in the fact that God isn't surprised at the election outcome and HE is STILL in control.
I'm currently re-reading a book called Hitler's Cross by Erwin Lutzer. "Erwin Lutzer explores the story of Hitler's Cross-how a whole race of people so in need of a champion found little help from the Church of Christ and so invited the judgment of God." I remember the last time I read it a number of years ago and saw the parallels in how Germany started down the slippery slope and how far we've come as well (i.e. Roe v. Wade all the way to partial birth abortion, homosexual "rights"..."hate crimes"...prayer taken out of school to people losing their jobs just by mentioning "intelligent design"...etc. etc...)...
When I'm finished I may put a few quotes on the blog.
Now on to more important things...like wrapping a few birthday presents for Isaac's party tomorrow :)

My Thoughts On The Upcoming Election

This is pretty long .…so you might want to read my “blurts” in “spurts”. I thought I’d write down my thoughts about the upcoming presidential election which I see as a crucial time in our history. Of course I probably think that every time there is a presidential election that it's a crucial one but I think this one REALLY is. It’s QUITE probable that the next president may have the opportunity to nominate up to 5 new Justices of the Supreme Court during his term and this could affect our nation for years to come in a huge way positive or negative depending on who the next president is. I, for one, do not want liberal judges getting in and this could very well happen if Barack Obama is elected. It’s bad enough that Roe v. Wade ever happened and has helped to start the ball rolling in the wrong direction since 1973. Since then the dignity and value of human life has taken a back seat to a focus of “rights, rights, rights”…instead of “responsibility”.
I had a thought yesterday…if the vote for president depended on CHILDREN voting and not adults…who would get in?? Children I think tend to be very black and white in their opinions and very simple. They wouldn’t get caught up in all the economic issues but would focus on the pro-life and family values issues and where each candidate stands. I think if given some of the facts about our nominees in an understood way, they would vote for the nominees McCain and Palin simply for the fact that they are pro-life, because if they were informed of Obama’s stand on human life and it were explained to them what abortion is, they would be appalled!!! I can just hear their comments, “Mr. Obama would let babies be killed? He thinks that’s okay?” I think they would not even care as much for the other issues at hand but focus on the fact that a person would think it was all right to kill babies for convenience, because really that’s the majority of cases for abortion, not for the health of the mother and THAT argument is so very lame. Tell me exactly when and why the partial birth procedure is necessary for the health of the mother?? When is it EVER necessary to kill a baby AND through such a horrible procedure as partial birth abortion for the health of the mother? The concept of when life begins isn't even a issue in that case!! Everyone would agree it is a baby at the time of that abortion procedure. At ANY stage, it IS a LIFE!!! (I don't feel it's "above my pay grade" to say that)
If children were given the right to vote INSTEAD of adults and knew of Obama’s support for homosexual rights and their agenda, what would they think? Most children understand there’s a Daddy and there’s a Mommy in a family.
“Two mommies? I don’t understand!” “Was Adam a woman? Or was Eve really a man?” they might ask.
“Well no dear, but these days sometimes a man wants to marry another man and a woman wants to marry a woman.”
“oh…well when did that change from a mommy and a daddy marrying each other?”
“Well uh…THAT didn’t change but now you can have two mommies or two daddies too” “Why?”
“Because, well…because that’s what some people want.”
“Is it ok to do that?”
“Well..I guess for some people if that’s what they want.”
“How do you know it’s ok…I think it’s weird. Would you ever marry another woman mommy?”
“Oh my NO dear!”
“Why?”
“Don’t you think it’s ok?”
“Well…uh…for some maybe..but..”
“I just think it’s weird…so did God say later that it was ok then?” “Did God change his mind or something?”
“Is that why people say Obama is bringing a lot of change? ‘Cause if that’s what it means, I don’t like it…I think it’s weird! Does that mean if Obama is president you’ll have to leave daddy and find another mommy?”
“Oh NO dear I’m not going to find another mommy. It’ll always be daddy and me for you.”
“But Obama is bringing change and there’s going to be mommies with mommies and daddies with daddies…maybe lots of them and everything will be so mixed up.” “Do YOU think it’s right mommy?”
“No I don’t but if that’s what someone else wants we should respect them and not judge them.”
“But if God didn’t change the rules, how can it be right?”
“Well dear, have you heard the phrase ‘if it feels right, do it? They really feel that it’s right for them”
“OK….so does that mean if it feels right to eat 3 candy bars right before dinner, I can??” “That would be so cool!”
“No, no..that’s not right!”
“Why not?”
“Because I said so!”
“Sort of like when God says so?”
“Yeah something like that…”
“So mommy, then I don’t think it’s right to have daddies marry daddies and mommies marry mommies….I think God says so.” ANNNDDD it’s DEFINITELY NOT RIGHT to kill babies either! God LOVES ALL babies because he loves the world! He knew us before we were even born and loves us!!!

I’ve heard you can’t legislate morality…ok…but you can’t sit back and NOT fight the slippery slope either. The fact that there was a Roe v. Wade to begin with…that’s appalling. Even convicted killers have rights and get their day in court…the unborn have no rights and they have done nothing.
Some say keep the moral issues out of it…OR…somehow these issues of abortion and homosexuality get attached to the “separation of church and state” issue. If pastors preach against it, it’s seen as crossing the line into politics! Even some Christians feel these issues should stay out of the pulpit! If a pastor preaches against abortion or homosexuality, some Christians see it as endorsing a candidate and mixing politics with religion and GET OFFENDED and say pastors should “just stick to preaching the gospel” and stay out of politics! What exactly are they saying? Preach the salvation message but forget about what the Bible says about unacceptable behavior because that’s “intolerant” of a select group of people? That’s what I hear! Well I say preach it! Jesus was not afraid to confront the Pharisees OR the TAX collectors…he hung out with the tax collectors perhaps even more than the religious leaders! Many saw him as stepping on political toes and thought he went too far in what he said…so even then there was this “church and state” issue, BUT Jesus did not let that get in the way of valuing life and confronting wrong whatever it was. You CAN’T and SHOULDN’T separate your Christianity from your political beliefs and keep them in separate corners!

You won’t find the “church and state” statement anywhere in the Constitution. It was in a letter written by Thomas Jefferson. And the Establishment Clause is talking about keeping the Government from establishing a religion…But today it’s used to keep religious groups/churches quiet and is used in a negative way to stamp out religious freedom!! The Establishment Clause was never intended to be used in that way but to PROTECT religious beliefs.

Many of the present issues the nominees are faced with are economic policy and foreign policy. VERY important issues of which I know little about as far as how it should work. The nominees THINK they have the answers to correct foreign policy and how to fix the economy, health care, education, etc. BUT there is NO guarantee that they really know how to fix these issues. There is NO guarantee that they will get the cooperation from Congress in passing legislation and bills. I personally don’t think either health plan from the candidates sounds ideal. I THINK John McCain would be better able to handle foreign policy AND trust he would continue to support the State of Israel. I HOPE he would have a good economic plan as well. But all of these to me are gray areas…no “for sures” for either of them to make the best choices at all times. So I consider the moral issues and where each candidate stands. Do they value human life from the moment of conception! Mr. Obama doesn’t even know when life begins (“it’s “above his pay grade” to answer that question)…yet NOT knowing when life begins, he would approve of his daughters getting an abortion if they made a mistake because “he wouldn’t want them to be punished for their mistake.” Obama supports partial birth abortion as well...even though he knows as everyone does that unarguably at that state IT is a LIFE.
Does the candidate respect and believe that marriage should be between one man and one woman FOR EVERYONE not just personally. Mr. Obama would support the homosexual agenda.
This is what I think….if a candidate does not support human life and the lifestyle God intends for ALL of us….how can I even attempt to trust he will do well dealing with the gray issues. You have to guide a country on moral absolutes. If you don’t, how are you going to deal with other countries? I see this atmosphere of toleration and acceptance of things like the homosexual agenda affecting other areas – are we as a nation or a leader also going to fall into toleration of terrorists or appeasement? Mr. Obama supports the homosexual agenda which has gained so much ground and has already infringed on religious rights in some instances where pastors are accused of hate crimes for preaching against homosexuality in the pulpit. In regards to foreign policy, Mr. Obama is willing to SIT DOWN with known dictators like the President of Iran WITHOUT Pre-conditions! What does that mean? Iran, or at least its President has very clearly stated it “wants to wipe Israel off the face of the map.”

There are some who are just fed up with the present administration and want change. What kind of change do they want and what kind do they think they will get. Mr. Obama certainly promises change but I haven’t heard yet WHAT huge change he’s really going to make for the good. I only see bad based on his speculative past (ACORN), and where he stands on the moral issues and foreign policy…etc. Perhaps some people believe he’ll bring the troops home sooner. But would he do it too soon? Before the mission is complete in getting Iraq safely situated to run itself? Some people are angry we ever went to war in the first place and so definitely don’t want a military man in office and see “more of the same.” Do people not understand that we were ATTACKED on 9/11 ON OUR OWN TURF. We entered World War l and ll to fight for freedom for our allies and ultimately our own and lost thousands and thousands of our own, but most agree it was the right thing to do. On 9/11 WE were attacked and lost over 3000 innocent lives, and to prevent further attacks on our turf, we took the war to them, the terrorists, to prevent attacks from happening again on our soil, to root out terrorists and help establish democracy and freedom abroad so that others can experience the same freedoms we have. We cannot be isolationists. That mindset would put our country in jeopardy. It seems to me that many of the people who will vote for Obama are merely doing so because they don’t approve of the present administration and believe McCain would be more of the same. I assume that means the issue of the war and we just want our troops home…etc. etc…I don’t believe McCain wants the troops to stay over in Afghanistran and Iraq any more than anyone else. He knows first hand the horrors of war. He knows it’s ugly business, but unlike Vietnam, positive things have happened for the country of Iraq and the business there is not finished yet and he wants to see the job done not only for Iraq’s sake, but for America’s as well and THEN get those troops home.
I am SURE there will be things I disagree with in the next administration, even if it is McCain. There were things I didn’t agree with under the Bush Administration (i.e. “No Child Left Behind” –too much government involvement in education)….BUT I’d rather have McCain/Palin in office than Obama/Biden.
For anyone reading this blog and DISAGREE with my views…you are certainly entitled…My one plea would be for you to know that my birthday falls on voting day this year…so if you WANT to wish me a happy birthday…well you know how to do it…IF Obama gets into office, well…it’s my birthday that day so I guess I’ll have to say “It’s My Party, And I’ll Cry If I Want To, Cry If I Want To.”

Play Time and Cousins

1st photo-Isaac taking a break from the slide and swings
2nd photo-Ready, Set, GO!!!!
3rd photo-with cousin Jenny...who spent the night and picture taken after a trip to Farmer's Fair (notice her unusually Red Hair!)....compliments of her big sister helping to run the sand art/spray hair booth...

The Pros of Motherhood during the Toddler Stage

...I get to play with Play doh..sometimes a couple days in a row (and I do love the smell of play doh)
...I have an excuse for acting silly
...I get to shop in a toy store...
...I get/got to ride in a REAL Fire engine...like the other day during Fire Prevention week...but I didn't get a yellow firemen's hat like Isaac did..
...I get to "pretend" and play more than clean..(some days it doesn't feel like a "pro")
...I receive hugs and kisses daily from a rambunctious, loveable boy
...I get "awed" on a regular basis seeing a toddler learn new things
...sometimes I get to take a nap during the day...rarely but sometimes...
...I get to laugh more often
and on and on....

Things Isaac Says in A Day...

"Ommy,Ommy!" - Mommy come get me out of bed
"Ah bye, ah bye" - bye bye
"Gock, Gock" - put my socks on or take them off
"Goggie, Goggie" - I hear a doggie or I see a doggie
"Yeah, Yeah!"
"No!"
"Paydoe" - can we play with playdoh?
"Kayon?" - Can we color or crayon?
"Birday cake?" - Can I have some ice cream, cornbread, cake, or anything that looks like birthday cake?
"Boom boom car?" - Can I go for a ride in Daddy's Corvette?
"Bike, Bike!" - Can we go for a bike ride?
"Wing?Wing?" - Can I swing out back?
"moorer, moorer" - can I play with my bubble mower?
"Nite, nite??" - Can we set up the tent in the living room with the sheet and chairs and throw the stuffed animals in there and pretend to go nite nite?? (I'm soooo good at interpreting ha ha)
"Byder? Byder?" - Can we put a "diaper" on my stuffed animal?
"Daddy home?"
"Mommy shirt, mommy shirt? Daddy shirt daddy shirt?" - As he pulls the laundry out of the basket and lets us know what belongs to who....
"Gogurt" - Yogurt
"Ju-Ju-Juice" - usually means can I have some Milk...
"Pane, pane" - let's pretend we're airplanes!
"book, book" - let's look at a book..."The END" - and slam it shut after a page or two
"Bacob" - Caleb
"Gape" - grape
"Apple" - orange, pear, apple, or tomato