The Election

Dear Owen-

Someday you'll learn all about elections and how they work. When you were just 2 months old, you went with me to vote in the 2008 Presidential election. It was a pivotal election as evidenced by what happened in the 2012 election. One day, you'll be old enough to vote for president or anyone taking office for that fact. There are Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Constitutionalists, Libertarians and probably by the time you vote, many other parties. Over the years, their beliefs have shifted. The Democrats of the 1960's are the Republicans of the 2000's. Our country has become more and more liberal with their beliefs. Your dad and I are Republicans but even after this big loss in the presidential election, our party is calling for Republicans to rethink their stance on issues like abortion. When you're old enough to vote, I want you to vote for what's right, not what party they claim to represent. I want you to vote for the person who believes most closely to what the Bible teaches. We believed that man to be Mitt Romney in 2012 but those values weren't what was important to our country. Our country voted for someone who wants make it okay to abort unborn children, who wants to make it okay to turn marriage into something God didn't intend on it being, someone who wants to take our country further and further into debt. Today, our country's debt is over $16,000,000,000,000. I am afraid of what will look like when you are grown and out in the world paying taxes.

A friend of mine posted this on facebook (I wonder if you'll know what that it is!) and I think it's right on. This is how you should vote. This is how we should choose our leaders:

"The election is over, and we have President Obama for four more years. While I did not vote for him, and I do not agree with much of what he represents, I will respect him because God has allowed him to lead the United States, and I know that God is sovereign and has a perfect plan.
I did not vote against Obama because of his color or party affiliation.
I voted for the most pro-life candidate because God hates the shedding of innocent blood (Prov.6:16-17).
I voted for the most pro-Israel candidate because God blesses those who bless Israel and curses those who don't (Gen.12:3).
I voted for the most pro-anti debt candidate because the borrower is servant to the lender (Prov.22:7).
I voted for the most pro-work candidate because God says if a man does not work, let him not eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10).
I voted for the most pro-marriage candidate because God is for marriage as defined in Genesis 2:24.
I voted for the candidate who most closely believes that the government's role is to reward the good and punish the evil (Romans 13).
My vote aligned as closely as possible with the Truth of God's Word (2 Tim.3:16)." - MA

This doesn't mean as Christians we look down on anyone who voted for Obama or someone who doesn't believe what we in believe. In fact, we are to love them and pray for them. This doesn't mean we shouldn't help the needy or those who can't work. It just means people who can work, should. Unfortunately, our society has turned into a society of "takers not makers." People feel they are entitled to whatever the government will give them for free and it's simply not fair for people who work hard for a living to support their families to be expected to pay for the people who choose not to. It doesn't mean we should never be in debt. One day you'll want to buy car or a house and you'll probably have to borrow money to do that. What it means is that we should be responsible with our debt. Borrow only what we can pay. Our country has borrowed until we're at the point of massive debt. For the first time in history the president asked, while our country is in the worst financial times in history, for the debt ceiling to be raised. I liken it to maxing out a credit card, not being able to make the payments then calling the credit card company and asking them to raise your spending limit so you can borrow more. This is not responsible debt.

I don't know what issues will be at stake in 2028 when you get to vote in your first Presidential election. I hope things are better. Only God knows what the world will be like then. I am sorry for the mess my generation has made this country in to. I don't think there's ever been a time in history our country's drifted so far away from the beliefs we were founded on. Whatever the issues are when you're 20 and voting for president, I hope you'll follow the same guidelines and vote for the person who aligns with the Bible and what it teaches.

November 4, 2008 - 2.5 months old 

November 6, 2012 - 4 years old

I love you!

London Broil roast

We bought a London Broil and didn't know exactly what we wanted to do with it.  So we googled and found this:

Slow Cooker London Broil

While the combination of cream of mushroom soup and tomato soup doesn't sound appetizing, it was delicious.  I put some baby carrots, potatoes from Owen's farm garden, and small onions from our garden in the bottom of the crock pot.  London broil on top then poured soup mixture on top of that.  5 hours on high in the crock pot and it was pull apart tender.  Taste reminded me of a nice, hearty beef stew. It was delicious over rice.  We enjoyed the London broil cut because there didn't seem to as much fat and waste is in a chuck roast.

I should have taken a picture. 

Just So I'll Remember

Life flies by in a flash.  Owen will be 4 in a week.  Four.  Even though I have a good memory, I sometimes feel like I forget more than I remember.  Not the big events.  First steps, throwing away the bbs (his word for binkies), starting daycare, starting preschool, potty training.  Those are easy to remember.  It's the little every day things.  "You're my princess."  "I love you too, mimi."  Playing Beauty and the Beast. Those things.  The glimpses of how sweet and sensitive my rough, tough little boy really is.

I promise it won't be all mommy mushiness.

Sometimes I forget recipes too.

This is just so I'll remember.