On a Soap Box

Normally, I keep my political views to myself as no one out there seems to see things the way on do. However, this year, lately I have noticed "everyone" out there sharing their views and opinions, with or without facts about our leaders, policies and country. More and more I am seeing a country divided. Left and right, conservative and liberal, rich and poor. It's breaking my heart.
I love this county and I count being born here and living here as a blessing. So, I am going to get on a soap box and share my thoughts and opinions on some of today's "BIG" issues. You will see they are neither Republican nor Democrat, conservative nor liberal, left nor right. I am probably about as "middle" as they come.
I will start with the one that has made the news most recently - abortion (usually lumped together with women's rights.). Personally, I do believe that life begins at conception and I would encourage any woman I know to choose not to abort a pregnancy. However, I don't think - in fact I know- abortions won't stop if we make them illegal. Want to stop abortions? I think all the millions of dollars spent on lobbyists, PR campaigns and so on should go into programs support families and adoption. Teach men how to be involved, plugged in dads (and husbands) and their daughters won't be seeking "love" from other men (studies have shown over and over again girls are more likely to get sexually involved if they don't have good relationships with their dads) and their sons will learn how to be respectful, responsible men (instead of dead beat dads). Support families so parents don't have to work 2,3 (or more) jobs just to make ends meet and they can actually spend time with their children. Make adoption a real choice - affordable for loving families and a real option for those faced with an unplanned pregnancy.
Social Security and I will add Welfare and Health Care here. I believe we all have the responsibility to care for our fellow man. The elderly, the disabled, the sick, the poor, the broken, the forgotten, our veterans and your average person whose had a run of bad luck - every man, woman and child who needs our help should have access to it. The problem is we don't help. We expect charities and churches to do it and then we don't give to them or volunteer. We expect the government to do it but we don't want to be taxed to pay for it. We expect businesses to treat their employees fairly, pay them well and take care of them, but they don't because profit margins are the bottom line. The rich get richer, the poor (and middle class) get poorer. I think in general most people agree on these points. So what do I think we should do about it?? Honestly, I am not sure. I think we need more businesses to adapt a Quaker model of doing business like the Cadbury Family who started Cadbury chocolates. Look them up - taking care of their employees and their families was just as important if not more so than profits. (you can read a bit about them here http://www.quakerinfo.com/quak_cad.shtml ) I think we all could do more through our churches, charities and tax dollars.
Marriage - another hot topic. Here's my stand on that. IF marriage is a religious institution, defined by God or Scriptures AND IF we in USA have separation of church and state, THEN how can we legislate who can or can't get married at all? In fact, if these assumptions are true, shouldn't government stay out of ALL marriages? If there is a need to see who is "legally" or "contractually bound" to one another then lets call all legal unions something like that. [That being said, I do believe we need to protect the rights of children and protect them from being forced into any relationship (religious or not).]
I could go on about schools and education, religious freedoms, free speech and many other issues that make the news and a chatted about on the social networks, but I think I have been on this soap box for long enough. I recently took a quiz to see which politician in the upcoming elections I agree most with. The results didn't surprise me - none of them. I agreed with 4 of them on about 60% of the issues. I have to believe there are others like me. Others who are not left or right, Democrat or Republican, conservative or liberal have got to be out there. Someday maybe one of US will make it to office (but I am not holding my breath)

She's Mean!

"She's mean", I heard a child exclaim about an adult recently. It's wasn't the first time I had heard this about this person who I am very close to. The adult in question was "mean" because she enforces rules (and laws) for safety and and demands a level of respectfulness towards others. The children who I have heard make this comment over the years often tested these rules/laws to see if they could bend them or perhaps get away with breaking them.
So I started thinking. Do these children realize how blessed they are that someone cares enough to be "mean" to them. Someone who cares enough not to worry if they are "liked" and who will call them out on their actions when they are being disrespectful or unsafe potentially hurting themselves or others? How many parents today want to be liked by their kids and want to be their child's friend so they don't say no or hold their child(ren) accountable for their choices and actions? What does THAT teach them?
I hope my children have LOTS of men and women who are "mean" to them in this fashion. Adults who will care enough to tell them to "knock it off" and show them they can do or be better. If they are being disrespectful, inconsiderate or unsafe and I don't see it, I hope there is someone there who does see it and calls them out on it. If they are headed down a wrong path, I pray God places someone in their lives who help them get back on the right path, even if they don't like it.
I know sometimes I will be that mean person in my children's lives, but I hope there are others when I can't be there. I plan on being this kind of mean person for other people's children. Someday your child may come to you and tell you "Mrs. R is sooo mean". Ask them why. When they tell you, I hope the answer will be a child's form of because she made/makes me do the right thing (and the wrong thing was/is more fun or easier). Maybe you will be able and smile and tell them "that's because she cares about you and wants you to make good choices".  And maybe, just maybe, when you hear "she's mean" you will feel blessed that others are out there who care about more your child than they care about if they "liked". 

I'm Back

It's summer again. A full year since I last posted anything. Not exactly what I had intended when I started this "blogging adventure". A lot has changed since my last entry. This year my 3 children were in 3 schools, elementary, middle and jr. high. I was in preschool, starting a new adventure as a (paid) teacher. Our family took on new roles in programs at work, school and church. In addition, we adopted a second dog, made more renovations and repairs to our home and got busy to the point that we all got stressed out (or at least mommy got stressed out which stressed everyone else out). It's been a learning year for us all.
Somethings haven't changed at all though I am very proud to say. This year we will celebrate 16 years of marriage (19 years since we met and started dating). We have had our share of trials and tough times but as a couple and as a family we continue to grow stronger and learn more about how to work and play together. Watching our girls learn and grow and become beautiful, loving, smart young women is a continual source of joy for us.

Every day God reminds me He is good and faithful, even on or maybe especially on the days I start doubting and loosing faith. Whether it is a cooling rain that paints a rainbow in the sky on a hot day, or a kind unexpected word of support and encouragement from an unexpected source or the right song at the right time on the radio, everyday I feel God letting me know when I am on the right path and when I get off track.
My hope for this blog this summer and in the future is that I can share some of our adventures as individuals, a couple and as a family. Through those adventures I hope you (whoever might read this) can share in our joys and triumphs. Maybe I can inspire you or give you hope. and maybe I can show you what I see God doing in my life and in the lives of those around me.