Like Rolling off a Blog

Are those Wrinkles Painful?

2011-05-12T07:14:00.000-05:00

This blog might hurt. I know the impetus for it sure did.

I roiled and boiled and thought and considered on my entire hour commute, ruminating over what I felt was an unfair treatment of women of my age.

Recently, a coworker and I were discussing how we feel that we are becoming "invisible" and were trying to figure out when that happened. When did we walk into the room and no one cared we had arrived? When did we go from gaining appreciative looks from passersby to a slight nod of the head, if any acknowledgment at all? And if wrinkles caused pain, we'd be in a world of hurt. Wait... maybe we are in a world of hurt and nobody is paying any attention.

Many of us use Facebook to reconnect with people from previous schools, workplaces, and geographical locations. With that in mind, I belong to a group of former students (we didn't all graduate from there) of a DoD high school.

This morning I was notified that someone had posted on that group's wall, and here is what he (yes, that matters) said: I have not changed any of his comment other than to blank out specific names.
***************
The Last Time I saw this many old people, I just left my 90 year mom! Sorry, but most of the women look like my grandmother (I'm sure they are grandmothers at our age), but come on, eat less and go to the gym, Try to look at my friend (CH). I'm thinking.. Know wonder men like younger women, so many ladies out there have given up and let themselves go, I'll be 60 in July, but most people think I'm my 40's. I'm not braging at all, let's live longer for our kids, and our grandkids and get back to the gym. And just so you know, men would rather see you girls with colored hair, not grey, but what do I know?, after liviing around the world, and being a man. Just thought you might to know.
***************

Really, you thought I'd just like to know that? Know what most women live in fear of day by day? That they are not attractive to the opposite sex? That time is catching up? Or has already passed them by?

If you thought this post, Mister N, was going to help someone, think again! The counseling chairs are filled with women (and a few men) with eating disorders because of attitudes like this!

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm all in favor of keeping healthy. There needs to be a balance between taking care of one's body and being overly concerned about outward appearance. And I totally agree that we should be around for our kids and grandkids. But this comment just hit me wrong.... or maybe it hit me right.

Right in the wrinkles. And that hurts.

King Me!

2011-04-29T08:51:00.002-05:00

Nearly 400 years ago, the Separatists shrugged off the King's edicts and headed to the New World (that's the encapsulated version). So what is it that still draws us to royalty?

What causes us to long for the pomp, the queenly wave, the historical weight of it all?

Would it surprise you to read in the Old Testament that God never intended the people to have a king? HE was to be their only King, and therefore set up judges to rule according to His edicts here on earth. But the people clamored for a king. "All the people around us have one, why not us?"

The Lord relented (as He is prone to do to prove a point), and from then on the king was the "Lord's anointed" - the one chosen for the position. No one was to lay a hand on the Lord's anointed.

Then the world was turned upside down. THE Lord's Anointed One came, sovereignly, to take the place in our hearts of any other earthly king. No one is to usurp His authority.

And yet we strain toward earthly royalty. It is a reminder of prestige, of position, of authority.

I feel the tension. Do you? Wanting royalty "with skin on."

Lord, remind me again and again that I am to long after only my Heavenly King, and yet bless those in authority here on earth. Because You reside in me, Your kingdom is here.

God save the Queen (quite literally), and all her progeny!

2011-01-17T08:03:00.001-06:00

Trying out Ping, Lara. But how do you know my taste in music?

Synapse

2010-12-02T06:42:00.002-06:00

Who can say what causes one day to be all smiles, another to be all weepy, and still another fairly stable?

I can be getting ready for work in the morning, hear a song on the radio, and dance around - making the dog wonder what this human can possibly be thinking.

But then I can hear that same song (in this case it was Steven Curtis Chapman's "It All Belongs to You") and start to weep as I dance. God, in His powerful and yet unobtrusive way, will break through my self-absorption and use someone's words or melody to get my attention.

Is it the happenstance firing of a neuron? Something about the turkey chili and black beans? When I'm tempted to pull all experience apart and look at it logically, I could very well totally miss how God is intervening.

So, synapse or Spirit, this morning God got my attention. It all belongs to You, God! And it still causes me to weep.

Runaway Train

2010-11-13T15:10:00.002-06:00

We wanted to go see the movie, Unstoppable, this weekend, but don't think that will happen. Too many other things on the calendar.

Nevertheless, I still feel like I've been on a runaway train. Why do I allow this to happen? All fingers point in my direction.

It's no secret that I'm on Weight Watchers, and am quite pleased with the results and with the fact that I have a maintenance plan. But every once in a while my appetite and desires get the better of me. I binge. I hate that word. It sound disgusting. And I guess it really is.

I have looked for...and eaten...as much chocolate and nuts I can find today. Out of my bonus points for the week (and my week started this morning), I have 7 left. Truth be told, I've probably under counted, and I really don't have ANY left!

Here's the good news: I know basically where I am. In the past, I would have been content to ignorantly eat everything in sight and pretend I was still going to maintain. I DO have a plan. I DO know how much my body needs (and doesn't).

So, after today's runaway train, the dining car is closed for repairs. Only the fuel for each day will be allowed. It's a plan, and I choose to stick with it.

That's Me All Over...

2010-11-11T14:46:00.002-06:00

Is nothing sacred anymore?

I have no one to blame but myself. My name is all over cyberspace, and to some people that would be a good thing. To others, it's just downright scary.

No doubt you've heard of an "ego search" or "ego Google" or some reasonable facsimile. Type your name into a search engine and see what comes up. You may be pleasantly, or unpleasantly, surprised.

Over my lunch hour I determined to do just that...the ego search. And boy was I shocked! Addresses dating back 25 years, my age (correct, I have to admit), and photos! Yipes!

Some people pay good money for this kind of ubiquitous publicity. I think mine is under the heading of "not-so-discerning" sharing on the Internet.

Go ahead and make your day. Search for yourself. And if, by chance, you find yourself, I hope you like what you find.

Weak in the Knees

2010-11-04T13:19:00.002-05:00

Have you ever seen something that made your legs go weak? These seem to fall into certain categories for me, but mostly it is of the physical infirmity kind. I'd never be a good nurse!

Anyway, I was returning from our monthly Highlights meeting this morning, heading for the street and thinking that this would probably be the last day I'd want to wear the shoes with open toes. It's getting a bit chilly, and I could feel the breeze sneaking into my instep.

Just as I was reaching the curb, a woman passed in front of me. She was shuffling along, and if she had been pushing a shopping cart, I can assure you I would have safely assumed she was homeless. Her footwear was flip flops.

I glanced at her feet as she shuffled by and saw that her leathery heels were split wide open. May I remind you that she is wearing flip flops and has no "heel" on her shoes.

As I crossed the street I began to sway and had to shake myself of it lest I collapse on the pavement. The sight did indeed make my knees go weak.

What could I have done? No money in my purse to give her for a new pair of shoes or at least some cream for her feet. My shoes would have been of no help to her. That opportunity is past.

But I can be grateful.

But what does it mean???

2010-09-30T12:51:00.002-05:00

Layers upon layers of meaning can be extracted when reading Scripture, but that's not what I'm talking about.

When I was studying psych and sociology in college, we had a discussion group that invariably turned to dreams and their interpretations. Do they really tell us anything today, or are they just manifestations of the latest meal we ate?

I woke up in rather a strange mood due to my last dream.

For the past several years my jaw has been shifting. Don't know why, and I don't want to acknowledge that it might just be the aging process. Anyway, it has taken my teeth on a journey I really dislike!

So, before I awoke this morning, I dreamed I woke up, went to the mirror and gasped because I only had a sliver of a tooth where my left front tooth should be. It bled and fell out. I held it up to the light, and saw that inside was the image of an early stage pregnancy.

Oh, weird! But I started sobbing and sobbing and ran to tell Mark that I needed to get to a dentist right away to get my teeth replaced. He said I couldn't possibly go because he was sick and needed me there.

And that's when I woke up.

Any takers?

Chocolate "Cheesecake"!

2010-09-29T12:14:00.003-05:00

Just had to share this, courtesy of a mild tweak of Britany's pass-along recipe.

First of all, make the cake mix base...

1 box devil's food cake mix (If you use low or no sugar devil's food cake mix, you can count the cake part as 2 points. I didn't know this when I started, and so made it with regular devil's food cake mix, which makes the cake portion 3 points.)
1 box angel food cake mix

Frankly, I love the symmetry of that combo ...

Combine both mixes completely in a gallon ziploc pouch. Save for making an assortment of individual cakes.

Now, time to create the cheesecake surprise!

Place 1/3 cup of the cake mix in a large mug (I like to use a very large cappuccino mug)
Cut Weight Watchers reduced fat cream cheese brick into 8 equal portions. Drop one portion (1 ounce) into the cake mix in the cup.
Stir in 3 T cold coffee (hot works, too) or water. Stir until dry is incorporated.
Microwave on high for about 1 minute 10 seconds (play with your timing according to your own microwave and your desire for goopy or cakey cake.)
Allow to cool just slightly before digging in. MMMMM, the flavor of digging into that cream cheese in the middle of the cake is scrumptious.

Don't like cream cheese? Try dropping a single serving of sugar free chocolate pudding into the cake before microwaving. Voila, lava cake!

With sugar free cake mix combo... total is 3 points for the serving.
With regular cake mix combo ... total is 4 points for the serving. Worth it!

Reading at Bedtime

2010-09-28T07:19:00.002-05:00

I am admittedly and woefully behind in reporting on Pearl in the Sand. I finished it quite some time ago, in fact.

Well written, well researched, and brought me to tears - but I don't want to say at what point in the story, so as to give too much away.

It was a romance in the best sense of the word. Not sensual, although containing it. But the tending of the heart and soul...that is what was so touching.

Great work and I highly recommend it.

Now I'm on to Influenza Bomb. Quite a departure from a romance!

Books, books, and more books!

2010-09-07T19:32:00.002-05:00

I am not a speed reader. I digest my books.

When I was in school, I learned skimming tricks, and outlining, and all the key idea grabbing techniques. But you can't do that with fiction.

In fiction, if an author is worth their weight in words, every thought needs to count. So skimming is a dangerous practice.

Right now I'm reading through Pearl in the Sand, by Tessa Afshar. It is getting rave reviews, and it is to my benefit to like it (since I *ahem* work for the publisher). I'm not normally a romance reader, so we'll see how this goes.

I have a stack of mostly fiction by my bedside, and as soon as I am finished with one, I stack it near the door...to either send it on to my voracious-reading-relatives or to our church. Someone is about to get a whole bag full! Any takers?

Yes, it's been a while

2010-09-05T10:16:00.002-05:00

With the advent of Facebook's micro-blogging (i.e. saying whatever comes to mind whenever it happens), the true thoughtful extended blogging has taken a back seat.

Truthfully, this post is just a placeholder to point you to FB, and so that Blogger doesn't think I've dropped off the face of the Internet.

See you soon at one or the other.

Testing my HTML

2010-05-13T10:24:00.001-05:00

Blogspot is cool for another reason! I can let it do my dirty work for me. I'm in a training class for creating a Facebook page, and we're using BlogSpot to convert our HTML for us. Very cool!

Life Goes On

2010-01-31T16:14:00.004-06:00

It's hardly fair, I say, I say,
It's hardly fair, I say
For life to travel blithely on
As if a normal day.

A life is gone, the widow weeps
I know not what to say.
We know the truth, but maybe she
Knows not the narrow way.

"Whate'er it takes," he used to say.
He often would repeat
That if his wife would closer be,
He'd glad accept defeat.

It's our turn now, it is, I say
For us to meet her need.
What would be worse, in this or next,
His word she wouldn't heed?

Don't turn away, o, grieving one.
Don't turn away, I say.
It's only in Christ's sacrifice
You'll meet again one day.

I Hate Food!

2010-01-23T14:01:00.004-06:00

No, that's a big fat lie.

What I hate is the hold food has over me. Why does something so simple as daily food consume (pun almost intended) my thoughts? Why do I have to think about what I'm going to eat? When I'm going to eat it? How much?

It's because that simple daily food consumption is not so simple. The need has turned into entitlement and on to gluttony.

I get the impression that most sin is the living-outside-the-boundaries of a God-given need. For example... adultery/ fornication/ homosexuality are outside the boundaries of the God-given satisfaction of sex. Greed is the o-o-b result of daily needs being met. And gluttony is the o-o-b result of our daily need for food.

This morning I went to a Weight Watchers meeting with Ingrid. I really like the facilitator. She is upbeat, balanced in her approach, but what rankles me about the meetings is the focus on food...recipes, what people did and didn't eat, how to eat more and get away with it. This is the very problem I'm trying to run away from, folks! The focus on food!

I've been a yo-yo dieter for years, claiming every single time that "this is the last time." But, like an alcoholic, I have to admit that this is going to be a life-long struggle of wanting more than I need, and therefore needing to want less.

I will also admit that this time is different, because there is more at stake than just my weight. I'm moving into the era in life where my peers are on meds of all types for hyper- and hypo-this-and-that. I don't want to go there. It may be in my genes and unavoidable, but I want to avoid it as much as possible.

So, although my focus has to be on food for now (just enough and no more), I have to look beyond the scale and on to fruit...of the Spirit...self-control.

And casting all my cares at the feet of Jesus every morning, waiting in expectation for my daily food.

Which, by the way, I don't really hate. It's a love/hate thing.

Something Old, Something New

2010-01-15T07:21:00.002-06:00

As the old adage goes: something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.

Not that I would be superstitious. No, it's tradition! So the morning of January 15, 1977, I dragged my maid of honor (well, matron, I guess) to a Penney's store and found a blue garter that I could throw away. Hey, it qualified for the traditional garter, something new, and the blue. And the garter I wore on my other leg (that I wouldn't dare throw away) had belonged to (borrowed from) my mom. So ... in my estimation at the time ... old.

It was the first year that the Air Force was celebrating the commemoration of Martin Luther King's birthday, so our wedding had to be postponed by two hours. No problem.

My m-o-h had helped me move stuff into our new townhome, and Mark would move his things in after the honeymoon. In the meantime, that townhome became my home base. And that morning was when I remembered that I had forgotten the new blue garter.

Due to circumstances that I will not dive into here, I was on edge that morning and was working just to smile.

At the Air Force chapel, veil in place, I took my father's arm. He walked me down the aisle, gave me away, then stepped up to the platform to co-officiate with another chaplain.

That's when I noticed something. Whether from prompting by others to keep the blood flowing, or from sheer fright, Mark's knees were knocking. What an auspicious beginning: me on edge and Mark's knees knocking.

If God gives us the days, my goal is 79 years like Grandma and Grandpa Nelson!

But here we are, by God's grace, 33 years later. Somewhat older, but somewhat newer. Too much borrowed...and sometimes (but not often) blue.

Life in the Balance

2009-12-31T10:59:00.000-06:00

I cannot weigh 2009 in a balance and come up with any semblance of equality or tipping.

The hurts were deep, but the joys were soaring. And to say that one would outweigh the other is not going to work. Life just doesn’t work that way.

I get a visual of a giant hand shaking a tray of hilly sand. Once shaken, it all levels out. As a literary device it might work for some illustrations, but not for the emotions and spiritual lessons of a year like 2009.

Death was waiting at the doorstep in January. And yet in February, a job of mammoth proportions was given out.

Anxious waiting and financial stresses. And yet the year ended with two new grandsons, beautiful and healthy.

No, you can’t shake this year down and make it level. But my favorite Bible verse still applies. I love it. I cling to it. I repeat it even when I don’t believe it.
Romans 8:28 (NASB) And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Out with the old. In with the new. And trusting God for making me into the image of His Son!

Tips the balance every time.

Right Around the Corner

2009-12-26T07:20:00.003-06:00

2010 is waiting on my doorstep. I think I want to open the door to see it. But right now I just don't have the time, and I'm running in circles, doing and not doing stuff. Both the "doing" and the "not doing" are causing me anxiety.

"Just stop it!" I say. Doesn't work. "Pray" I say. Does it work? Is it supposed to "work"? That sounds rather formulaic to me.

Prayer is communication. Private, personal, supposed to be two-way, if I would just listen. So part of prayer is silence? Maybe that's what I've been missing. The listening part.

Prayer, blogs, Facebook...it's all a pouring out. The soul stretched out for all to see. Except for the prayer part. My soul is always stretched bare for God to see. The difference is that He sees the REAL me, not the one I'm trying to show others. The "got it together" person. Or the "always anxious" person. He sees who He made me to be...who I am right now...and the chasm - or gap - between the two.

When I write, I realize that others could be reading it. And so everything is couched in preaching to myself and either encouraging, exhorting, or entertaining others. But with the Heavenly Father, there's none of that.

He strips the anxiety away to show what is lying beneath it: a broken relationship (or one on the brink), desires that are ungodly, perceived needs that aren't being met (translation: selfishness), words that are left unspoken out of fear of rejection. It amounts to a big pile of nothing in eternity, but a big pile of useless fretting here.

So in about a week, my door will open to a new decade. That is if God gives me breath for the next week. And at that time, I'll really try to stop and listen. Listen to the prompting for what He intends for 2010 in my life. Given His propensity for gift-giving, love, power, justice, etc, I shouldn't be too anxious, should I?

The New Elf Yourself for 2009!

2009-11-10T17:17:00.002-06:00

I signed a "no social dancing" policy, but I don't think this is social... is it? Hahahaha!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

She Did It!!!

2009-11-07T19:28:00.002-06:00

Yes, folks, Grandma turned 100 on November 1, the first in living memory for a family member to hit that mark. Several got to 98 and 99, but this milestone was elusive until Grandma achieved it. If God so chooses, I certainly hope I am this lucid at the century zone.

Looking Forward

2009-10-04T10:37:00.002-05:00

It's coming soon! My grandma Nelson is turning 100! November 1 is her birthday and we're heading west to celebrate.

So, here's something that we should read at her party. You've probably heard it before, but it's certainly true that Grandma will have bragging rights!

Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids? If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions. How old are you?.... "I'm four and a half "....You're never 36 and a half....you're four and a half going on five!

That's the key. You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next number. How old are you? "I'm gonna be 16." You could be 12, but you're gonna be 16.

And then the greatest day of your life happens....you become 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony....you BECOME 21...YES!!!

But then you turn 30....ooohhh what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk....He TURNED, we had to throw him out. There's no fun now.

What's wrong?? What changed?? You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you're PUSHING 40.....stay over there, it's all slipping away........

You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, you're PUSHING 40, you REACH 50.....and your dreams are gone.

Then you MAKE IT to 60.....you didn't think you'd make it!!!!

So you BECOME 21, you TURN 30, you're PUSHING 40, you REACH 50, you MAKE IT to 60......then you build up so much speed you HIT 70!

After that, it's a day by day thing. After that, you HIT Wednesday.... You get into your 80's, you HIT lunch. You TURN 4:30, my grandmother won't even buy green bananas....it's an investment you know, and maybe a bad one.

And it doesn't end there....into the 90's you start going backwards.... I was JUST 92...

Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again.... "I'm 100 and a half!!!!"

I'm Not Old! But I'm wearing it anyway...

2009-08-30T16:40:00.002-05:00

Happy Birthday to me... :-)

Warning!

When I am Old
I will wear Purple!

When I am an old woman,
I shall wear purple - -
With a red hat which doesn't go,
and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension
on brandy and summer gloves and satin sandals,
And say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
and gobble up samples in shops
and press alarm bells
and run with my stick along public railings,
and make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
and pick flowers in other people's gardens
and learn to spit!
You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
and eat three pounds of sausages at a go,
or only bread and pickles for a week,
and hoard pens and pencils
and beermats and things in boxes.
But now we must have clothes that keep us dry,
and pay our rent
and not swear in the street,
and set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner
and read the papers.
But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me
are not too shocked and surprised
when suddenly I am old,
And start to wear purple!

--Jenny Joseph

Not-so-speedy Internet

2009-08-20T20:07:00.003-05:00

All in all, I like the U-Verse package from AT&T, however, the download and upload speeds (and we're paying for the highest end of home Internet) are pathetic!!! If you go to speedtest.net you can find out just how fast your Internet service is to your computer.

When we had Comcast, we had speeds of 21 Mbps download and 14 Mbps upload.

Now, with AT&T, this is what we struggle to get.

It's not even hamsters running in their wheels. It is the turtle family doing laps.

Pointy and poignant

2009-08-18T07:50:00.002-05:00

This was the lead cartoon for the movie, UP! It's amazing what emotion can be evoked through animation.

Cloud - Watch more funny videos here

A creation of Aussie

2009-08-17T12:58:00.003-05:00

Check this out! It's an Aussie Burger, and you have to ask for it by name, because it isn't on the menu.

The menu is located at the Lakeside Grille in Petersburg, Kentucky. Better known as the site of the Creation Museum.

And it takes some creativity to put this thing together...burger, cheddar, bacon, fried egg, shredded carrots, pickled beets, lettuce, tomato, onion, and pineapple! Practically a rainbow in a bun.

Which is very appropriate for the restaurant. The Creation Museum has multiple allusions to the global flood (billions of dead things, buried in rock layers, laid down by flood water, all over the world). You really should try it... and I don't just mean the burger.

Head for the Creation Museum as fast as you can! It's worth it!

Might as Well Admit it, I'm Addicted to ...

2009-07-19T19:30:00.002-05:00

Do you supposed God "gifted" us with addictions? Something in us wants to either be devoted to something (or someone) or at its zenith... addicted.

I find that just like the "whack the mole" game, my addictions just switch places. When I think I've got one mastered, another pops up. Perhaps I'm addicted to shopping online. So I quit cold turkey and, voila, I'm staking out Dairy Queen for the latest Blizzard flavor every day. Neither is true, but I do find that when I'm relying on food, for example, my reliance on the Lord wanes. And when my food love is under control, my love for the Lord increases.

This may not be true for everyone, but if you look at my waistline, you'll get a pretty good indication of how my soul relationship is doing. Right now, it is inversely related. Not a pretty picture.

Remember Anne of Green Gables? She spoke of her "besetting sin." Mine shows itself in too much food. What's yours?

I Blame it All on Mondays!

2009-07-11T06:45:00.003-05:00

Or I could blame it on the Sixties. The 1968 Congress that decided to begin the unraveling of history. Ever since, we've leaned on convenience rather than truth (oh, now *that's* an inconvenient truth!). Instead of celebrating Lincoln's birthday on February 12, it's whatever Monday Congress declared. And Washington's birthday...February 22, but unless you read the fine print on your calendar,you and your kids just assume you get a federal holiday somewhere in February.

Not that this was an intentional dismantling of American history, but I do believe it has served as such.

It's sad to watch our generations lose their moorings because they don't know history, or the importance of that history.

So, it is with equal distaste that I come upon my Grandmother's 100th birthday. Oh, no, I'm excited about her turning 100, don't get me wrong. But part of the family decided it would be convenient to hold her birthday a month earlier than the actual date. I can feel my skin starting to crawl. "She turns 100 on November 1," I want to scream! But no, October 3 is more convenient.

I'm considering a boycott, but that would only look like I didn't care about Grandma, so I'll be there, Lord willing. However, since I can't stand the thought of her birthday not being celebrated properly, ssssssshhhhhhh, I may actually show up on the real date, too!

Viva la history!

The King has Died (The King Lives)

2009-06-26T09:15:00.002-05:00

Late 1970s, the headlines read that The King has Died... Elvis Presley.
June 25, 2009, the headlines read that The King has Died ... Michael Jackson.

Circa 30 AD (depending on which calendar you trust), the people alternately chanted and mourned: The King has Died.

Newspapers for the last 30 years have had "Elvis sightings." No doubt there will be "MJ sightings."

But Jesus appeared to more than 500 people AFTER his death and resurrection. No Photoshop retouched images.

Go ahead and mourn your "king." Mine is alive!

Fathers, Past... Fathers, Present ... Fathers, Future

2009-06-21T07:46:00.002-05:00

It seems like I blog in bursts and then sit on my haunches for long periods of time. Much like the rest of life for someone who is very intense. So, it is with great pleasure, fear and trepidation that I delve into where that intensity originated.

Fathers Day. My dad was 24 when I was born, just shy of 35 when going into the Air Force as a chaplain, and is "pushing" 80 now. But he never slows down. Well, maybe slows, but doesn't quit. He is still out there visiting in the hospitals, feeding AIDS patients, preaching at his home church and at the Alzheimer's unit, and cuddling babies that come to church for dedication. Yep, that's the public dad that he is.

Fond memories include camping and also my 18th birthday, when Dad took me on a "date" to a country kitchen type place where you drink out of mason jars. He bought me a small amber colored glass pitcher to commemorate the time, and that pitcher still sits by my front door.

If you boiled it all down, I think I got my "life by points" mentality from Dad. Do, do, do. I'll let that settle in a bit. And a bit of the schmaltz as well. But all that doing doesn't allow for getting into someone else's skin and seeing what's going on.

Present: Even though there are no longer kids under the roof that are our dependents, I'll still call Mark the "Fathers, Present." He stepped up as a father, at the age of 25, also without having the best recollection of what a father should be. His dad died when Mark was 16, and was busy, busy, busy - like my dad. And fairly tight lipped about personal life - like my dad. Makes for interesting communication in the next generation, I'll tell you.

But Mark has worked, and read, and done his best to be the dad he felt the kids needed. Yes, communication styles vary and come across in a double-minded way sometimes, but he loves those kids! We often talk about wishing we really were independently wealthy, and start Elfstrand Enterprises, and hire all the kids.

Future: Ah, it's good to see the next generation take the past and remold it so that it comes out much better! Better communication. Better parenting styles. And giving us grandchildren that are being brought up in the fear and admonition of the Lord. Pain included. The fathers they are becoming are so rewarding.

If God so chooses, may their quivers be full! And if not biologically, then may their influence on fathers be spread around the globe.

Happy Fathers Day - past, present, and future!

Up with UP!

2009-06-10T10:12:00.001-05:00

If you haven't already seen it, you really must go see the Pixar movie, UP. They have masterfully crafted a story and animation that will make you laugh hysterically and weep (if you're not careful, you may sob). 3D version is not necessary, but when the DVD comes out, I'll be in line to get it.

They Call Truth "Hate" because they Hate the Truth

2009-06-03T07:15:00.002-05:00

This is on a t-shirt and refers to the "hate speech" legislation up for review. I think I'll buy one.

What a weird and warped country we live in, because people have not understood, nor have they cared to understand, the founding fathers' intentions on free speech. Nor do they understand, nor care to understand, sin.

Scripture says that "they call evil 'good' and good 'evil.'" We've reached that day.

Happy Mathers Day Rhonda Family!

2009-05-10T08:05:00.005-05:00

Several years ago, shortly after we moved here, Mothers Day was celebrated with our daughter at a Teppan dinner house. I love Japanese food, and love the atmosphere of Teppan style cooking.

At the end of the meal, the wait staff took our picture and presented me with a paperframed photo with the caption... Happy Mathers Day Rhonda Family! We've laughed about it ever since.

So why am I weeping this morning? I don't have any right to. I received yellow tulips from my hubby on Friday (so I would have them in the house for our house-guests on Saturday), and on Saturday I received a gorgeous bouquet of red roses from Marshall and Lara. Tonight I will go to the "in-laws'" house to have dinner with Ingrid and family.

Part of why I'm weeping is my heart breaks for Lara this Mothers Day. Empty arms instead of a card and kisses are really hard to bear when, all around you, mothers are being feted.

And I ache for Britany who really would like the family to be their own little family. I truly hope that God's hand will clearly be shown - perhaps even the influence of a daughter on her mother and father during this time.

And I'm being selfish, because neither son and family are here. And because not even my hubby said Happy Mothers Day this morning until he saw me weeping over my latte. And because the mothers had to plan their own dinner... I should really do the honorable thing and just bite my tongue on that one, but this is my blog, right?

I had better make a plan for Fathers Day. I don't want him to have to plan his own dinner; that is, unless he really wants to. Nah, barbecue somewhere with the family in the evening after sloppy joes for lunch- that's the plan!

There's a big difference between self-sacrificing and martyr. Which will I be today?

Gonna Wing It

2009-05-09T12:28:00.003-05:00

Our friends, the Wingers, are coming to visit this afternoon. I haven't seen them in years. They were very close friends when we lived in northern California, and he was our family dentist. Jacque is a gem.

We left northern CA the last time in 1991. Seems like yesterday, but I'm sporting more gray, a set of progressive bifocals, and a whole lot more pounds. Now, I ask you, are you embarrassed to see people you haven't seen in a long time? Am I the only one?

And then there's the house. We have never, and I mean never, made a killing in the real estate market. Every time we move, we start at ground zero. Need I tell you what a successful dentist who rides the market has in the foothills? Gorgeous. Now I'm in the coveting category as well as the slippery slope of having my husband feel like he hasn't provided. We do well, mind you. I'm proud of my hubby and thankful for all God has blessed us with over the years. But we've also made some bad decisions financially. 'nuff said.

Which leads me to this afternoon. Lord, protect me from apologizing for my home. Put me aside and grant me the spirit of hospitality.

It is what it is. We are what we are. We're gonna wing it.

Good Beginnings = Good Reads?

2009-05-04T19:05:00.002-05:00

Wendy Lawton asked her readers to mention a lead-in line to a novel that really grabbed their attention. You know, I've heard that when novelists are awarded, the only clue as to who is getting the award is the reading of that first line in the book.

It has to grab you.

I personally like Snoopy's intro line: It was a dark and stormy night... followed by some random jumbled thoughts. Which, I might add, works for Snoopy.

I've actually thought about intro lines quite a bit. Leading the reader to the next paragraph, the next chapter, the next book.

So ... It was a dark and stormy night ...

Don't hold your breath.

Cross over the Moon

2009-05-01T09:39:00.004-05:00

Oh, Lord, quickly come. That's the answer for current believers. But our children and grandchildren are inheriting a world of which we can only imagine. We've succumbed to the zero population rhetoric of the 60s. Please watch this video, and take it into consideration for evangelization and for child-bearing. Rather sobering.

The - One - Little Pig

2009-04-28T14:48:00.003-05:00

Are you afraid of the swine flu? It is getting so much press, and - oh, my - 60 people have contracted it in the US!

Well, folks, I'm wondering how much of this is just another strain of hyped flu. Check out these flu statistics from a "normal" year in the US. Astounding.

So, just keep washing those hands, and quit worrying about stray pigs that might sneeze on you.

The FAT trap!

2009-04-10T07:29:00.002-05:00

I was just reading in Genesis 45 where Joseph reveals his identity to his brothers, tells them about the next five years of famine, and encourages them to come back with the entire family to Egypt. Pharaoh agrees and sends carts with them, saying that they needn't bring much in the way of furnishings because they will be allowed to live on the FAT of the land in Egypt.

For anyone who has read the "rest of the story" (as Paul Harvey would say), we're thinking, No! don't do it! You'll end up enslaved for the next 400 years!!! I know the prospect looks like an answer to prayer now, but don't get trapped by the trappings! Just take the food and go!

So, the question becomes, when God answers our prayers, can we get trapped in or by the answer? Have we given more credence to the "stuff" of answered prayer than the character it is intended to produce? The richness of our relationship with Jesus?

I think I'm trapped in the fat layer.

Nazis. Fascists. US politics.

2009-04-04T09:16:00.003-05:00

That ought to make you wonder, huh? The headlines today are shocking. For a generation who has never read the truth of history...and another generation who decided to rewrite history...there is shame and future shock coming.

The public seems not to be able to see past the media hype and the end-of-the-nose stimulus packages. Read history and you will see what a scary road we are traveling. The picture is much bigger than our pockets, folks. I wish I knew who to attribute some of these quotes to, but one has to do with "woe to the nation who discovers the deep pockets of government."

Ask the people who have socialized medicine. You DON'T want to go there. This country was built on individuals, inventions, freedom. With every finger government has in our lives, it creates a clenched fist around our throats.

This could very well be the generation that sees why the US is not listed among the nations around when Jesus returns.

Pray for pre-trib. Prepare for post.

Hello, brain?

2009-03-27T13:44:00.003-05:00

Wow, it's been a long time since I posted anything. One would think there is nothing rolling around in my mind worth talking about.

As a matter of fact, when I see other people's posts I do wonder whether I should just delete this whole thing. They sound so spiritual and deep. Sometimes I feel that way, but other times I just need to "talk."

But speaking of the brain, I was alerted to an article on smells and Alzheimer's. Pretty interesting. Did you know that you can take a scratch and sniff test to determine if you are at risk for Alzheimer's? Cinnamon, cloves, almond, lilac, peppermint. Etc. Seems that losing the "attachment" of an odor to its name is a clue to whether the rest of the brain glue is starting to lose its grip.

I'm afraid to sniff this one out, how about you?

You Should Write a Book

2009-03-15T17:16:00.002-05:00

It has been said that each person has one good book in them. Maybe. Maybe not.

So, when Ingrid said that I should write a book, I laughed. "About what?" "Well, you could start with devotions taken from your blog."

Hmmmmm. Working in the publishing industry has jaded me just slightly to that prospect. I don't have a "pulpit" nor do I have a name anyone would recognize outside of my own four walls. Maybe if the whole family each bought a copy... no. No publisher would touch that.

She said that if I spent as much time writing as I did reading, I'd have a book done in no time. Might be true, but might not be a good one, either.

I read the blogs of the authors I know. And I know how hard they work on writing. It is a discipline and a never-ending endeavor - attending writing workshops to hone the craft, doing research, writing, editing, writing, editing. And you have to have fairly thick skin for the editors and critics out there.

Really, she brought up something that tells me I don't have thick enough skin... I don't even allow anonymous comments on this blog! :-)

Until now ...

Funny Lot

2009-03-14T18:31:00.003-05:00

Man, he is a funny lot.
When it's cold, he wants it hot.
When it's hot, he wants it not.
Man, he is a funny lot.

That's me to a "t". Busy, busy during the week and wishing for a breather. Now, with no one in the house, I'm so totally bored I don't know what to do with myself. Don't want to waste time by watching TV. Don't want to gain another five pounds by grazing through the pantry. So, perhaps I'll go watch a nice sunset.

Seems to be an appropriate end to the week.

Definition, Please

2009-02-28T17:27:00.002-06:00

I'm collecting definitions of "a trophy wife." Do you have one you'd like to share? The definition, not the wife.

Apple of my Eye

2009-02-21T11:09:00.004-06:00

Ah, yes, photo software is pretty fun. Especially when it's free.

Snowed?

2009-02-21T06:37:00.003-06:00

We make a lot of decisions based on weather. Good or bad, it affects not only farmers, but commuters, teachers, kids, the elderly, travelers ... We determine our day based on what we see outside. Or what we expect to see.

Snow storm, they said. Three to eight inches starting at midnight, they said. 90 percent sure of it, they said.

Could be that is true in some areas, just not here in the northerly parts of our zip code. We got two inches maybe. Enough so the dog romped out the back door. But even my Corolla could get out of the driveway in this.

We totally changed our weekend plans because of the weather forecast. A flight was scheduled for this morning - oops, might be 8 inches of snow and a cancelled flight. So.... rescheduled the flight for last night, had to reserve a hotel room at the other end, have to go pick up a car in the extended lot of the airport, Papa missed playing with the grandgirls (they were coming over because he was leaving the next day) ... all because we believed the weather report.

Just for fun, I'm going to check the flights for Southwest. Frankly, I'll feel a whole lot better if some of them are cancelled. It will make our machinations more palatable.

Rats!

2009-02-17T18:14:00.002-06:00

Green eyes. I have them, and they come in handy as a symbol of jealousy and/or envy.

That's me right now! My hubby gets to visit with our kids in California while I get to take care of the birds and the dog and work from dark to dark. Rats!

Marshall and Lara will be moving into their new place so he'll get to walk through it and feel at home. Rats!

And while he's there, he will be visiting our best friends from northern California, who are getting all our "old" friends together for a soirée. Another rats!

I could have taken vacation to go with him, but I'm in the middle of an extremely busy convention schedule, and don't have as much vacation as he does. More rats!

Oh, and if I thought I might spend my time playing with the grandgirls and making dinner for Ingrid and Andy while he's out there playing? Not a chance! They leave for Florida two days after he leaves! Mega rats!

I don't know whether to be depressed or angry. I'm just sure that acquiescence isn't part of the equation. "Rats" pretty well sums it up.

Thanks for coming to my pity party. I'll be staying home with my rats now.

Valentine Vignette

2009-02-15T07:08:00.003-06:00

We played, we baked, we painted, and we collapsed. But this is just a minute of the evening.

No triskadecaphobia here!

2009-02-13T07:43:00.004-06:00

In 1980, February 13 fell on a Wednesday. How could that be indelibly etched in my memory?

I went to see my favorite hairstylist that morning - Cindy. She asked me not to have a baby in the salon, as I was just a few days over my due date. I assured her I was fine, thanks.

So, newly coiffed, I ate my lunch, puttered around the little grey house, put Marshall down for a nap, and continued puttering.

Around 4:30 I felt "something" happening. I called Mark, followed by calling Sharon, who was to be my backup coach, given the fact that Mister Dad bailed out the first time. I decided to lie down to see if the contractions would continue, and also so I could concentrate on my breathing.

Finally, we decided we needed to get Marshall to the babysitter, and jump in the car for Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital.

After much breathing, no meds, and pushing/shoving/pushing, Adam Richard Elfstrand made his debut at 7:37 PM (like the plane has landed!). All 12 pounds and 4 ounces of him! He looked like he had been through a fight, and I have to tell you, he had been.

I shook and shook after that - the muscles begging for oxygen. The nurses joked that they should get us a bicycle so he could ride home. How appropriate! Today, Adam is an avid biker.

Adam was the second largest baby ever born at that hospital, and that warranted a newspaper article, quipping that the Green Bay Packers were on the doorstep asking for him.

Today is your day, Adam! You are such a gifted, handsome, humorous, and loving man. God has blessed us and you greatly.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to YOU!!!

Prayer List

2009-02-11T12:22:00.002-06:00

Self control in words and in eating. (duct tape over my mouth might solve both!)
Discernment in all of my "to do" list.
Lara's job interview this afternoon.
Housing that accepts dogs, good neighborhood, near church (another prayer request), and transportation.
Safety for Lara's drive back south to get ready for move.
Full employment and health insurance for Adam and Britany.
Safety for their trip to Chicago.
Full support for Andy and Ingrid with CEF.
Full health insurance for their family, especially for maternity care.
Awakening in the country - to provision of God, not government.

It Pays to Wait

2009-02-08T13:32:00.002-06:00

I decided it was time to put some addresses into the spreadsheet. Addresses of people who had taken the time to send a condolence card for the loss of Timmy. I'm really glad I let some time pass before doing this, because it caused me to look at them and read them over again.

It also makes me think of the many times I intended to encourage and empathize with the grieving and never did. Shame on me. The cards were lovely, the sentiments lovelier. And now I can actually take some time to think about them.

So, thank you again for those who helped, who prayed, who grieved with us, and who encouraged us to look "to the hills, from whence comes our help."

They're Off!

2009-02-07T20:13:00.001-06:00

Tomorrow morning, a new chapter begins in the book God is writing for Marshall and Lara. You can read more about it HERE.

Points, hunger, exchange, carbs, yo-yos

2009-02-04T20:29:00.003-06:00

They want me to do it. "They" are Ingrid and Britany. I hate being fat. And sometimes I get to the "sick and tired" stage and do something about it. I have a feeling I'm just about there.

But I don't want to spend money on something I should be doing myself. I already have a chart of exchanges if I want to do that. And I also know I'm not supposed to be eating until I'm truly hungry, and stopping when I'm just satisfied. Sounds pretty easy...

But, of course, weight is a problem beyond what I eat. It is an addiction to something I already need. So, what should I do? I really don't want to go to meetings, but know they keep me focused and accountable. I don't want to buy diet food - it's expensive and doesn't solve anything in the long run.

I keep telling myself I'll just eat less. Well, if I have, you'd never know it.

What should I do??? Self control is the answer, but it sure is easier said than done.

Race you to 50 pounds...

God is Great! God is Good!

2009-02-01T18:01:00.002-06:00

And we thank Him for answered prayer - BIG time!!! We're doing the happy dance, too!

Just When I Thought it was Safe

2009-01-31T08:18:00.004-06:00

Remember the Jaws 2 movie? Teasers went ... (with appropriate drumming/sawing sounds in the background)... Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water...

Just when I thought I had a handle on the tears that came with Timmy's passing and memorial, I broke down again. Of my own doing this time. I thought I'd set all the photos I took during the trip to a particularly meaningful song to me: Jamie Slocum's "Dependence." I've grown to love that song. So, if you can handle the download time - and the meaningless shots of a shattered iPhone at the end - please settle back and listen to the words of this song as you see what we saw in southern CA. WARNING: some photos may be unsettling.

The Decaf Wars

2009-01-29T19:18:00.002-06:00

Starbucks no longer has decaf in the afternoon. True or False?
Caribou is giving away decaf tomorrow afternoon. True or False?

Those are the business news reports, but look a little deeper and you'll see a lot of hype.

You get people totally unnerved that Starbucks could quit serving decaf at the very time that people presumably switch over to decaf. NOW the truth: Starbucks will be serving decaf ON DEMAND! In other words, they will brew a pot of decaf when someone wants it, not letting a pot sit there without being consumed. I say that's responsible. I say that's FRESH COFFEE!!

Caribou has twisted the news, of course, and says they will give their customers anything, anytime, etc etc. So tomorrow afternoon, you can get a free 12 ounce cup of decaf. I say - grab the free coffee, but don't buy anything from them.

I've been on a Caribou boycott for several years now. Reason? They are owned by an Islamic bank. This is no email joke or hoax. Check it out for yourself.

Personally, I won't take my money to a place that may very well support more than a decaf war.

What Not to Pray For...

2009-01-29T10:02:00.001-06:00

I hear it all the time..."And, Lord, please give me (them) patience..."

Eeek! Do you know what that means? How does one attain or obtain patience? By trial! So is it okay to pray for something to happen fast so I don't have to pray for patience?

Lord, you know what it is I'm praying for, and patience isn't it!

And a one, and a two, and a sticky finger day

2009-01-27T19:32:00.003-06:00

Let's see if this works. I wanted to upload an audio file for Jill Savage, so she can hear the Moody Radio spot for her new book, REAL MOMS, REAL JESUS. However, I think I have to upload a movie instead. So, you are stuck with a slideshow of sticky fingers set to the 60 second spot. When it was recorded, a word was left out. Hopefully it is not too noticeable. Let me know if you figure it out. :-)

Change, change, change

2009-01-25T06:56:00.002-06:00

Some of us love change, and some of us love stability, and some of us realize that balance is the key. Here is that test to check your stress level. I have a reason for putting it here, of course. You won't be able to get your score unless you actually take the test on their website. Or you can add them up yourself.

Stress Test
Find your stress level by checking the events you have experienced in your life in the last year.
Check any event that applies to you then click on "Calculate My Total Stress Units" to get your score.

Question 1 of 8
Your Finances
Foreclosure of mortgage or loan (30)
Mortgage or loan less than $10,000 (18)
Mortgage more than $10,000 (31)
Change in financial state (38)

Question 2 of 8
Your Living Conditions
Change in living conditions (25)
Change in residence (20)
Change in recreation (19)
Change in church activities (19)
Change in sleeping habits (16)
Change in eating habits (15)

Question 3 of 8
Your Family and Personal Life
Death of a Spouse (100)
Death of a Close Family Member (63)
Divorce (73)
Marital Separation (65)
Marriage (50)
Marital Reconciliation (45)
Retirement (45)
Pregnancy (40)
Gain of new family member (39)
Death of close friend (37)
Son or daughter leaving home (29)
Trouble with in-laws (29)
Outstanding personal achievement (28)
Change in number of arguments with spouse (35)
Wife begins or stops work (26)
Revision of personal habits (24)
Change in number of family members (15)

Question 4 of 8
You and the Law
Jail term (63)
Minor violations of the law (11)

Question 5 of 8
Your Work
Fired from work (47)
Business readjustment (39)
Change to different line of work (36)
Change in responsibilities at work (29)
Change in work hours or conditions (20)
Trouble with boss (23)

Question 6 of 8
Holidays
Vacation (13)
Christmas (12)

Question 7 of 8
Your Education
Begin or end school (26)
Change in schools (20)

Question 8 of 8
Your Health
Personal injury or illness (44)
Change in health of family member (39)
Sex difficulties (63)

I was messaging with Lara yesterday and realized (I guess it just came back to mind, because I always knew it) just how many major stressors they've had in the last month or so. But here's the trump card: Jesus. That may sound trite, but along with Jesus comes His assurance of eternity, His body of believers, and His sufficiency.

One score and seven years ago...

2009-01-24T07:54:00.002-06:00

Mom was home from Germany.
I was lying in bed, minding my own business.
It was 1:15 AM.
I turned over...
"Mark!"
"huh?"
"We've gotta go!"
I don't remember whether it was snowy outside in Grass Valley that night. Might have been.
But we hopped in the car, complete with bag, and making sure Mom had Marshall and Adam in her routine for the morning.
At 3:16 AM, no thanks to the ER doctor, Miss Ingrid Christine Elfstrand was born.
I cried.
I had such a good relationship with my mom that I wanted that same thing with a daughter. And here she was.
Ten pounds, 2 ounces, and my doctor got there just in time to catch her.
I'm happy to say that God has been gracious over the last 27 years. Some big downs, but the ups have been better.
And now she's a mommy to girls and understands that special bond.
There is that old adage: A son is a son 'til he gets him a wife...a daughter's a daughter the rest of her life.
Happy Birthday, Daughter of Me. And your name means... Daughter of the King - of Christ.

I'll Meet You There!

2009-01-20T12:16:00.003-06:00

God has been so gracious throughout this time of human grief. Some of the "timing" issues that the Lord has brought to mind are:

Marshall's unemployment as of December 15 meant that he was able to spend the last month of Timmy's life with him.
Marshall's employment search elsewhere means that if Timmy had passed away later, the family and friends surrounding Marshall, Lara, and Timmy would not have been there.
Friends visited from out of town the day before Timmy's death, causing Marshall and Lara to stay home (they had planned to be at Disney all day)
Both nurse friends were available for insight and encouragement
Timmy was at home in his mama's arms, with his daddy holding his mama - and the FATHER holds them all

Some encouraging thoughts brought up at the memorial service and brought to mind this morning:

The arms that Timmy could not lift are now being raised in praise to the Almighty God.
The legs that didn't serve Timmy here are now kneeling before His maker.
Great Grandpa Nelson is meeting Timmy around the Throne of God!
Great Grandpa Nelson can see him!
All tears have been wiped away.
And in an instant any one of us are there with them. If we are called children of God.

Prayer requests:

For Marshall's interview on Thursday - wisdom, insight, and fulfillment of purpose.
That the praises would be brought to mind when tempted to despair.

Please Hold

2009-01-13T15:25:00.003-06:00

As in "wait." Soon we will have information about a memorial fund for Timmy. Right now, the info I do have is that the memorial service is open to whoever wishes to support Marshall and Lara. It will be held at 1 PM on Saturday at Trinity Church in Redlands, California.

Please pray that we will all be held in the strong arms of Jesus as we celebrate the fact that Timmy is already there.

Safe at Home

2009-01-10T18:42:00.003-06:00

August 11, 2007 to January 10, 2009

Sent to friends and family at 6:40 PM Central Standard time:

I just got off the phone with Marshall. The paramedics are still at their house, and their pastor and wife - Gary and Elizabeth Inrig - are also there.

Timothy Joseph Elfstrand, one day short of 17 months old, received his new body this afternoon. He is safely in the arms of Jesus. Lara said he was doing well yesterday, but was sleeping more and more, and struggling to breathe today. He fell asleep. Praise God for the peaceful passing. Both Marshall and Lara held him for quite some time, telling him they loved him.

Please pray for all the details that go along with death, that Marshall and Lara really weren't yet prepared to deal with. Pray for the peace that passes all understanding - that certainly holds true for me!

This has been a very hard (understatement) month for them, with Marshall losing his job, but ultimately losing their child. Also pray that if it is God's will, He will bless them with children again.

In tears and prayers -
Rhonda

PS for the blog - We do not mourn like those who have no hope. Eternity is real. And we will really see Timmy again. But the ache will last a long time on this side of heaven.

She's a Good One, She is!

2009-01-10T15:18:00.003-06:00

No way!

Yes, way!

Three?

Well, almost four.

But she has the bug. The Shutter-Bug!

Ashley has the photography bug like so many in this family do. She keeps asking to use Nana's camera to take pictures. The picture you see was taken by Ashley (age 3 years and - let's see - 10 months) at what she calls the "muffin store," AKA Dominick's grocery store.

This either proves that anyone with a digital camera can take decent shots, or that she definitely has a career ahead of her! And I'm embarrassed to say that it is every bit as good as those I take.

Time to take a photography class, Nana.

Mom was right

2009-01-09T16:51:00.003-06:00

Mom always said I was a worrier. She was right. There are just way too many things out of my control. Take, for example, the weather.

Knowing that the last time I ignored the weatherman, I paid for it with a 4 1/2 hour commute (one way), I was determined not to duplicate that mistake. So, when they said driving would be treacherous (which I guess it was this morning and would have taken me 2 hours to get to work), I decided that working from home would be more efficient. Snow in the form of 3-8 inches was to fall in late afternoon, snarling rush hour traffic...using the term "rush" loosely of course.

I'm looking out the window just before dark and nary a flake in sight. I feel like a wimp.

Oh, but that's not all! I got a phone call from my director, who is waiting in Cincinnati to help set up for a conference. The product was (I repeat "was") to have arrived anytime from Monday through Wednesday. Today is Friday. No product. I'm toast. No one left in Distribution, but one. He says he overheard a conversation that the trucking company messed up and will deliver at 8 tonight!!! Yipes! They'd better! Now I have to be anxious over a trucking company not getting product where it belongs because that is my job to be anxious over these things!

Ah, now I feel better just venting. Not...

Truth or Consequences?

2009-01-03T20:27:00.002-06:00

That was a TV show from long ago, but here's my assertion: what we used to call "true" now gets relegated to "myth" or downright "fiction."

Take, for example, that turkey makes you sleepy. Is that true or not? Snopes.com says that it is false. Wait! For years and years, we were told that turkey contains L-tryptophan that in turn causes drowsiness. Now they are saying that it is the overeating that causes drowsiness, not the turkey.

Okay, I'll give you that. And being as I just consumed turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, pomegranate, salad, olives, rolls, apple crisp, and ice cream... I think it's time to close my eyes. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Where, Oh Where, Can that Little Coat be?

2009-01-02T15:09:00.003-06:00

I am so upset. Not hopping mad, but that unsettled upset where you just can't get comfortable.

Today seemed like a good day to take off, being between New Year's Day and a Saturday. Good idea! And it also seemed like a good day to take Ashley and Amberleigh to see "The Cheese" - AKA Chuck E Cheese.

Got there. Found a booth. Got our olive pizza (yep, that's the only topping they won't pull off). And then we sallied forth with our 30 tokens. But just before that, I said to Ingrid, "I'll wait here if you want to take the girls." "No, we can all go." "But who will watch the stuff?" "Everyone leaves their stuff in the booth, that's not a problem."

Being the untrusting soul that I am (I do admit that trust is an issue for me...), I grabbed my purse, and we all left our jackets on the booth benches. Ashley's was lying on top of mine.

The place was unbearably warm, and I wondered if they ever found bodies that had expired from heat exhaustion under the tables or games.

Around the time we were ready to get the girls home for their nap, we went back to retrieve our coats. Mine was there, but that was all. After a slight elevation of blood pressure, I looked under the table. There was Amberleigh's coat. But Ashley's? Gone. Not under the table, not in the next booth, not on a hook somewhere, not on any other child that we could see in our 20 minute walk around the "amusement" center. Nowhere!

We left a phone number and description, but someone is either walking around in Ashley's coat, or selling it on e-bay. Pink, the color of her headband. And hearts sewn into it. And a very soft inner lining in the hood.

I'd like to think it was an innocent mistake, but what "innocent" person takes a coat from someone else's booth?

So, be on the lookout, and let's hope it was someone who was freezing and desperate for a new coat.

Happy Day after Today

2008-12-31T21:20:00.003-06:00

Midnight will ring in the new year... 2009. It's a new calendar, a new date on checks, and time to start collecting tax forms. Oh, sorry, shouldn't have brought that up.

Does the New Year mean anything to you? Do you stay up to watch the ball drop? Light fireworks? Kiss your honey?

We used to do all that, and wax philosophical at the same time. However, now we realize that the next day will come whether we are awake at 12:01 or not. And that my computer will automatically change the year on my custom checks.

So, see ya in 2009, because I'm heading to bed!

Calling Mister Prasil, Calling Mister Joe Prasil

2008-12-29T10:13:00.002-06:00

My first high school experience was in a DoD school (Department of Defense) in Japan. Johnson High School, to be exact. DoD schools are very careful about the teachers they hire - at least they were back when I was in high school.

So when I took English Lit my sophomore year with Mr. J J Prasil, I learned a LOT! We took apart, symbol by symbol, F. Scott Fitzgerald's Great Gatsby. Colors, names, images, themes, you name it, we came away with layer upon layer of meaning.

That's why I'm looking for Mr. Prasil today. Last night we went to see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, also by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Wouldn't you know, the main female character's name is the same as the main female character in Great Gatsby.... hmmmm. What does one make of that? Also, the entire premise of life lived backwards has some real ideas to chew on.

So, I either need to hear what Mr. Prasil thought of this movie (and how closely it resembles the short story - because the movie is decidedly NOT short), or I need to find the Cliff notes. Or I'll be chewing on these ideas for a long, long time!

A Bit of Christmas

2008-12-26T12:51:00.003-06:00

Save money??? Live Better

2008-12-24T10:26:00.002-06:00

Okay, so what's wrong with this picture? Mark was the one who noticed it and told one of the floor managers, who promptly shook his head and got someone out there to fix it. Makes you wonder about WalMart math, doesn't it?

What's in a word?

2008-12-23T20:13:00.002-06:00

It is terribly difficult to convey emotion in print. Great writers can create the nuances necessary so that the reader can discern between serious intent and humor. Doesn't sound that hard, actually, but in the real world of emails, blogs, and Facebook postings, it can be very hard indeed to distinguish a person's emotional disposition - unless you use the ever-famous emoticon. :-) That's a dead giveaway, or should be.

So, long live emoticons and LOLs and the like. Because without the telltale smirk, how do you know if I'm joking?

All I Want for Christmas...

2008-12-23T10:32:00.003-06:00

I was fine until I wrote that headline. Then it occurred to me what I'd want for Christmas. I'd want Timmy restored to where the majority of 16 month-old boys are... wide eyed with wonder at the tree, reaching for ornaments, hovering around Mama's legs so that Santa doesn't get too close.

But God has given me something else. I get to see how He is drawing Marshall and Lara closer to Himself, and is supplying all their needs for Timmy.

So, here's the Timster, snuggled up with Santa near the Shamu tank, I think. A bit of an odd juxtaposition, but so is a sleeping child in Santa's arms.

Jesus holds him even closer.

Merry CHRISTMAS, with a capital C!

2008-12-20T18:34:00.001-06:00

This is great! They do get in your face, but make a great point. So, bah humbug on the Happy Holidays...call it what it is! Merry Christmas!

Cinnamon Tums?

2008-12-20T17:28:00.003-06:00

I admit I've been getting heartburn way too much lately. And when it's really bad, it makes me cough terribly.

So we - the Papa and I - went to Cinnabon and brought home some mini-cinnis, regular and pecan. Tasty little morsels...going down.

Each place you go that features cinnamon seems to use a different international variety. Cinnamon at Starbucks tastes different than cinnamon at say, Cinnabon. Well, and Cinnabon does have all that wonderful cream cheese frosting, but I digress.

Within a half hour of indulging in two mini-cinnis and two pecan minis, the heartburn arrived with a vengeance. Tum-ta-tum-tum to the rescue!

We have a variety of Tums in our pantry. Out of curiosity, I decided to read the labels. The extra strength mint one had sucrose as its first ingredient (yes, sugar, which happens to make heartburn worse for me), and - get this - TALC! Hasn't talc been put on the carcinogenic list? eeek!

So I reached for the smooth dissolving chocolate flavored Tums. These little goodies qualify as dessert all by themselves. But I had to chuckle when I read the "active ingredients" followed by the "inactive ingredients." Calcium bicarbonate. Yep. On which list, you ask? On BOTH! Active and inactive. Huh?

But at least it doesn't have talc. I'm feeling much better, thank you.

Let it Snow!

2008-12-19T16:08:00.002-06:00

Usually I wouldn't say that, because I'm no longer a kid who can pull out the toboggan and head for a hill. No, I have to drive in the stuff. But today was a different matter.

Largely due to the fact that Moody Bible Institute employees come from a 100 mile radius to Chicago, and the weather went anywhere from ice storm to 12 inches of powder, we actually had a snow day today! Here in lovely northern Plainfield (makes it sound rather large) we got a layer of ice, followed by a few inches of white, then nicely coated again with glaze.

While the weather was transitioning from snow to rain again, it was warm enough to get some of the chunks off the cars and sidewalks. Good news, because we're expecting teen and single digit temps and chills in the next few days.

But did I take the day off? Only to the extent that I didn't feel guilty taking a nap this afternoon. Otherwise, I finished up several emails, plans for catalog, and general details.

Ah, yes, those are good days...

Blog envy

2008-12-14T08:07:00.003-06:00

Oh, my, I thought I was so "with it" having a blog. But of course, it is fairly private, never visited, and doesn't given much in the way of talk show fodder, so I can understand why it stays under the heap of blogs.

But when I saw Ray Pritchard's blog, I really felt bad. Man, he's got all the stuff a full blown blog should have, and it's connected to his Facebook, etc. Woe is me... I'm going to have to beef this thing up!

Oh, what fun it is to ...sit

2008-12-13T14:52:00.002-06:00

I know Britany did or will share this on her blog, but it sure is cute! And her commentary on it was funny, too:

Oliver + Santa = BFF

Well I am glad that the picture turned out well because the hour of waiting for Santa was enough to give me a minor heart attack. Ollie was running around, crying, wanting juice that I didn't have. But as soon as Ollie was asked to sit on a bearded tooth missing fat man he was all smiles. Oh geez.

I'm B-a-a-a-a-a-a-ck!

2008-12-11T15:08:00.004-06:00

What a bittersweet week in southern California. I wish I didn't have to leave, but then I do have to get back to work and hubby. If only ...

Please check Lara's post on their blog complete with pictures in their gallery.

Guilty as Charged

2008-11-30T08:46:00.003-06:00

I was charged with being non-traditional. I was charged with being negative. And I'm guilty on both counts. You see, I already sent out the Christmas letter, but I sent it out as a PDF to those for whom I had email addresses. Hence, the "non-traditional."

Then I was charged with being negative, because, well, 2008 had some pretty negative things happen - more so than previous years. So, yes, it did sound negative.

But let us not grieve like those who have no hope... that's a quote from Scripture. And I believe it, but sometimes my head and my heart aren't exactly lined up. Rats! If only I could be perfect.

So, here is the offending letter: Begins with...

Can you gift wrap 2008, please, and send it somewhere else???

Maybe that’s a bit strong, but I believe that 2008 has been a trying one for much of the world. So much so that we are looking forward to Jesus’s return even more! Joy to the World, let the Lord come again!

Good news and bad news in the Elfstrand household for 2008:

Mark and Rhonda still have their jobs...yea! And for the most part were healthy the whole year! Another yea! Travel for fun and profit included. Pictures can be found at flickr.com/relfstrand. We are hurting (and praying) for our kids - does that ever stop??? Find Rhonda on Facebook.

Marshall and Lara have had a stressful year, but are first to say that God is sustaining them through it all. They moved from Boise back to southern California, but couldn’t sell their home, so are losing money on renting it out. Shortly after the move to southern California, they began to notice developmental problems with Timmy (16 months old at Christmas). Just before Father’s Day, they got the diagnosis of Leigh Syndrome (Leigh’s Disease), a rare and incurable mitochondrial disease. Updates can be found at elfstrand.net.

Adam and Britany have had a stressful year in other ways. They finally were able to move into their own place and were grateful that both of them were fully employed, but then the other shoe(s) dropped. Half of Adam’s office was laid off, including Adam. Just previous, Britany had postponed back surgery for a herniated disc so that their new year insurance could kick in. Not to happen. Oliver (21 months at Christmas) is a cute and active redhead. They keep some pictures and fun blogs going at britanyelfstrand.blogspot.com and adamelfstrand.blogspot.com.

Ingrid and Andy have had their share of stresses, with the housing market going south, and Andy wishing to go fulltime with CEF ministry, but not having the income to go with it. Shortly after moving into a home in Naperville, their basement flooded. Ashley (3 years, 9 months at Christmas) is now attending preschool and loving it. And Amberleigh (16 months at Christmas) is just the most lovable little girl ever. Find Ingrid on Facebook (a lot!) with updates and pictures.

Mom and Dad Sawyer have had some health issues this year, but are currently doing well and appreciate the friends and relatives that live near them. Grandma Nelson celebrated #99 on November 1!

So, there you have it. Guilty!!! Lord, help my unbelief.

Random Thanksgiving

2008-11-27T19:55:00.003-06:00

And here are just two of the reasons why I'm thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T09:40:00.002-06:00

According to the quiz, we are celebrating Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday as of the 1930s (?) or was it 40s? Oh, well.

The appetizers are about ready to roll over to Ingrid's house. And we'll be rolling out of their house later today if we're not careful. The chocolate chip pecan pie is out of the oven. The spinach dip is ripening in the refrigerator and hawaiian bread torn for its merriment. The Macy's parade is playing in the background. Sausage has browned with peppers and onions for the wonton bites. Veggies and fruits cut. Meats and cheeses and crackers in their respective platters.

Will there be room for turkey and smashed potatoes and sweet potato pone and green bean casserole, etc? You bet!

Oh, and I forgot those cute little Pilgrim Hat cookies I found on familyfun.com made with shortbread cookies, marshmallows, melted chocolate, and I substituted a square of Life cereal for the buckle rather than frosting.

But I could get lost in all this, and very nearly did. I'm really thankful. I can see the keyboard. I can smell the food. I can pay the bills. I feel the warmth of a house. I will see my two grandgirls, and know my two grandsons will be together today. No one in our family is in the hospital (today!). And as far as the Lord has revealed, our family will all be celebrating the Lord for eternity. Now THAT is something to be thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Did you ever want a twin?

2008-11-23T17:10:00.003-06:00

As I was perusing catalogs and online offerings for Christmas glut, I came across the My Twinn doll (there is probably supposed to be a registered trademark next to that name).

I always thought this would really be cute: a doll that looks (almost) exactly like its little owner. Hair color, hair style, eye color, skin color, and matching outfits. You can even pay to have freckles put on, or a particular birthmark.

But then I got to thinking, what if the child is creeped out by this? Do you think they would be? Or would it be fun to have a mini-me?

And the winner is!

2008-11-21T13:58:00.002-06:00

Looks like I could get just about any kind of pizza and someone would like it. So much for that poll. Perhaps we should vote on the best "chicken crossed the road" joke. I was just sent a whole chicken-yard full of them, and I was laughing out loud, which isn't kosher in a cubicle. If you'd like to see some of them, let me know.

What's Your Favorite Pizza?

2008-11-14T11:22:00.002-06:00

I'm trying out a poll on this blog. Let me know what your favorite kind of pizza is... stuffed, thin, certain pizza house, what toppings? This could get huge, because we are all loyal to certain pizza, I think. Okay, so you can either comment or you can take the little poll on the sidebar or bottom of page (assuming it's working.).

The Pain

2008-11-13T16:23:00.002-06:00

I'd prefer to run from pain. I'm a wimp. I've always been a wimp. When emotional pain gets too hard, I prefer to get far away from it.

So I was thinking on my way home...I'd like to go to heaven. Now. But then another thought hit me like a ton of bricks (well, so to speak).

If you aren't praising God now, what makes you think you'll want to praise Him for eternity?

Ouch. The Pain.

The Big versus the Little Picture

2008-11-13T09:20:00.002-06:00

Complicated...that's what personal and national economics are...complicated!

Since I don't allow anonymous comments on this blog, I got a personal email regarding something I said about voting. I wanted whoever may read this blog to see the comment and my response. Again, this would be a very looooooong blog if we were to discuss all the historical ramifications of bail outs, personal responsibility, self-government, etc. So this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Comment:

I was just reading your blog...and since it won't let me comment (no anonymous or "name" option), I just thought I would write you an email...
I noticed on the day before voting day, you were saying all the things to vote for.
One of them you mentioned was to vote for independent, not state run, healthcare.
That kinda stung, especially since you know that my family and [others]have both been on (and are currently on) public aid. You voting to not have health insurance for us is just painful to think about. Not to mention all the other people that can't get jobs or healthcare.
What we SHOULD be voting for is for the insurance companies to lower their ridiculously high rates for independent purchasers. Because right now, my family can not afford 500 dollars a month for insurance that doesn't even cover everything!

just food for thought....

My response:

In general, a person’s individual autonomy is to be respected above the government having control over your life. I, too, was on state aid when [our firstborn] was born. I appreciated it was there, which is a two-edged sword. And yes, the economy needs to cause insurance companies to be more reasonable with their premiums and payments. Doctors are having a hard time (ask Sue Claydon) paying their own bills. So it is a really hard thing to think about.

There are also Christian insurance companies that are more like co-ops, where people pay in what they can, and then draw out when they need it.

We really should be taking care of each other, rather than depending on the government. In the meantime, and in the day to day, you do what you have to do to take care of your family, and that is what you’re doing. But in the big picture, the more we depend on the government, the more the government will control our lives from the cradle to the grave. Not a good picture.

More food for thought…

What Happens in Vegas...

2008-11-13T06:38:00.002-06:00

You'll never guess what my husband asked me the other day. Well, maybe by virtue of the title of this post, you will guess.

He said he'd been thinking about what we should do for our 32nd anniversary (wow, that doesn't seem possible)and suggests that we get a package to Las Vegas and see Donny and Marie Osmond! Is this crazy?

Vegas does have some good deals, and incredible architecture. We really aren't tempted by gambling. So maybe it would be a good thing to do in Mid-January.

Have you ever tried...

2008-11-12T18:42:00.000-06:00

The most boring blog? You really should sometime. I recommend it.

Just when you thought there was nothing to worry about...

2008-11-08T06:06:00.003-06:00

Wait to introduce peanuts... don't wait to introduce peanuts...

Man, I guess we might as well jump in at any point and just not worry about it, huh? Now they are saying that your child is more likely to get a peanut allergy if you WAIT to introduce peanuts.

Just where did all these allergies come from anyway? I don't remember them when I was growing up. So perhaps today is a good day for the grandkids to get a peanut butter sandwich.

I'm over it...

2008-11-06T13:44:00.002-06:00

It hasn't been quite 48 hours, and I've gone from disbelief, to anger, to depression, to ... acquiescence.

I've been getting all kinds of emails from other believers and, no, they have not been hateful or hurtful, they have been a call to prayer. I have to agree.

God has a purpose and a plan. May He be merciful to us as a nation, and bless us as we turn to Him.

Please help me, we're falling...

2008-11-04T17:02:00.001-06:00

And will we get up? Will the polls be right? Or will God be merciful to us, a sinful nation?

Yes, God is sovereign. But I've read the Old Testament, folks. I know what happens to people who don't listen to God. I've read the sin/slavery/repent cycle. We are in the sin cycle. The very selfish sin cycle.

"Change"? We need change, all right. But it is a grass roots change we need. A heart change. How long will it take for this nation to wake up?

Answer: when Jesus returns.

Vote!

2008-11-03T19:26:00.002-06:00

Vote for LIFE
Vote for Liberty
Vote for the founding fathers
Vote for individual responsibility
Vote for less government
Vote for freedom around the world
Vote for freedom to worship God anywhere and everywhere
Vote for the constitution - you do have freedom of speech (ideas), freedom of the press, freedom to bear arms, freedom to assemble
Vote for localized, not nationalized, government
Vote for independent, not state run, health care
Vote for the platform of the party that represents these American ideals
Vote McCain and Palin

Aye, chihuahua!

2008-11-01T16:16:00.002-05:00

You know you're losing it when a dog story makes you cry. I guess I've always been a sucker for a story where the "underdog" makes good. Where someone is acknowledged, and surprised by the acknowledgment.

So if you haven't seen this cute movie, I don't want to spoil it for you. Just watch for a German Shepherd named Delgado.

Mi corazon es su corazon...

Once a mom, always a mom

2008-10-27T10:41:00.003-05:00

You never do quit being a mom, the days just look slightly different.

I can't stop being concerned about whether my children are fulfilled, safe, living in God's will for their marriages and families, and about their health and welfare in general.

Lord, in your power, your might, your love, and your omniscience, please provide exactly what each needs to be more like you today.

And then, Lord, would You remind me that You are the only One who can provide, so that I can remove it from my list of things to do???

scrolling by

2008-10-24T05:28:00.002-05:00

Have you ever watched the "new posts" scroll by on E-blogger? This morning, when I logged on, most of them were in Chinese! Wow!

But speaking of scrolling by, I feel like that's all I'm doing at home these days. I come home long enough to unpack and repack and say "hi". Sometimes not even enough time to do laundry.

I usually put "travel" on my list of things I enjoy. But now, that enjoyment is slipping slightly in the ratings. I guess what I should say is that I enjoy variety. And too much of the same thing, whether it is being home or being on the road, starts to wear on me.

My bags are packed....I'm ready to go ... I'm standing here ... or typing or whatever...and heading to Cleveland. In the rain, no less. Do I sound tired? Do I sound ungrateful? oops

Keep on scrolling by then.

Love... for granted

2008-10-18T19:47:00.002-05:00

The things we do for love... (a song from decades ago and the actions of involved parents)
The things we take for granted... (like being able to eliminate waste from the body)

Marshall and Lara are on their way to the hospital with Timmy, yet again. The "mama diagnosis" is dehydration and resultant dry/clean diapers. Dry and clean sound good until you realize that a baby's diapers are not supposed to be either for very long. It means that food is not getting where it needs to go.

Prayer is always appreciated.

True Woman and beyond

2008-10-11T15:14:00.003-05:00

It's very hard to keep a conference "high" going. I just returned from the True Woman '08 conference, exactly 40 years after the NOW convention that kicked off "women's lib." True Womanhood, however, is not based on "self actualization" but on glorification of God through the biblical role He has given us. Not an easy task, this swimming upstream.

I signed the True Woman manifesto, and meant every assent. But I know that the only way I'll put into practice all that was taught is to stay in the Word of God continually.

Prayer is what will keep me in the Word. Help me.

you snooze, you lose

2008-10-08T14:55:00.002-05:00

Wrong! I haven't been snoozing and that is why I'm feeling a bit pekid. Going from one conference to another. How do consultants do it? How do conference speakers do it? Okay, this time I have to remember to take my ear plugs.

Answers to prayer

2008-09-29T19:13:00.003-05:00

Do you want to see prayer in action? Look at the picture of Timmy on his hands and knees! Didn't get there by himself, but he's practicing with physical therapy, and God is so good to strengthen his little body. I imagine that after a session, he's about worn out, but it sure is good to see him up and about.

Feed a cold?

2008-09-28T14:38:00.002-05:00

The cold that is making its rounds at our office and family knocked me down starting Friday. It takes its own sweet time going through its cycle - sore throat, runny nose, headache, dry cough, croupy cough. I'm in the cough stage, with a bit of the nose and headache hanging on.

If you talk to a type 1 diabetic, they'll tell you that a high blood sugar can signify an infection. And of course, when a person's blood sugar is up, they don't need to eat. I know that a cold is a virus, but viruses will also elevate the blood sugar. So that tells me that, no, you don't feed a cold or a fever - just wait until the stomach growls. That will give you a clear indication of when to eat.

And there is the simplified medical training for the day. Without a license, and no charge.

I think I feel a headache coming on. Time for a nap.

Where is Waldo (President Waldo, that is)?

2008-09-27T07:12:00.002-05:00

After hearing much of the debate last night, I can understand why McCain didn't want to participate. But lest you think I'm an Obama fan, I can't for the life of me figure out why he wanted to show up.

I am very sad for this country. I didn't see or hear a presidential leader last night. For some people, the economy is the biggest issue. If you have a job and money in the bank, you should be grateful. I am grateful. But there is an undercurrent going on that is so much bigger than just the economic symptom.

If last night's debate swayed a voter one way or the other, shame on them! That means they really haven't taken the time to know what they themselves believe, and what the parties stand for.

In a nutshell: Republicans hold to less government intervention in an individual's life - that the federal government should be in charge of interstate commerce, national defense, and that government should be BY the people as locally as possible. In essence, your city and state are your primary governing entities, not the federal government. By contrast, Democrats believe that the government is the solution for an individual's ills - higher taxes, higher involvement in the daily lives of a citizen. The irony is that the only "choice" in the Democrat's platform is whether or not to kill a baby. Otherwise, they will manage your life from the cradle to the grave.

Sarah Palin is the closest we have to an energized presidential candidate, and she is only on the ticket for veep. The irony, of course, of my endorsement of Palin is that, although she stands for much of what I believe, her very immersion in public life demands that she spend less time with the family she is raising. As the old commercial used to say, "What's a mother to do?"

So, let the voter beware. Know what your party stands for and where it is ultimately leading... to personal responsibility or to socialism. Then read a real history book and see where that leads you.