Slippery Slopes

It amazes me how desensitized to things I can become. When I was a kid, if you heard "crap" or some similar word on a TV show, it was the exception--not the norm. Now, you can say all manner of things on TV that I won't print here, because I like to keep my blog G-rated.

But there's a far more troubling area that our entire country seems to have become desensitized to: abortion. When I was in college, I remember wearing my "As a former fetus, I oppose abortion" shirt with pride and vigor. There certainly weren't many who openly supported abortion. It was more of an ugly little secret. I mean, nobody wanted to get an abortion, right?

Sadly, abortion is no longer shocking or even shunned in our society. Nope, regular early-term abortions are a mere fact of life, although still unpleasant. Now we've moved on to debate partial-birth abortion. If you've never researched what this is, and have merely heard the term on a newscast, you simply must Google it. This is heinous, by anyone's standards. And yet Barack Obama has refused to vote against it, instead voting "present." A "present" vote is a coward's retreat--a meaningless vote that allows him to continue to say that he hasn't supported partial-birth abortion. Obama has voted "present" 129 times in the senate on various issues.

So we see the slippery slope: We become "okay" with abortion--nobody likes it, but it's an unpleasant necessity. Then we accept partial-birth abortion--because apparently not everyone knows they want an abortion in the early stages of pregnancy. Now it has come to this: we are actually faced with the decision of what to do when a baby survives an abortion. (Yes, it does happen.)

How could that actually even be a question? If a live baby is born, how could any doctor who has pledged to "first do no harm" let that innocent child die? And yet, it would seem that Barack Obama would allow that to happen (http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p=7030bd098cca768e72d111&skin_id=701&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url).

We've all heard Obama say that nobody likes abortion...that he would take measures to limit abortion...but the truth is that his voting record does not back up those statements. He has been endorsed by Planned Parenthood, is openly lauded on the NARAL Pro-Choice America website, and his own words continue to reveal his stance:

• "Thirty-five years after the Supreme Court decided Roe v. Wade, it's never been more important to protect a woman's right to choose... I've been a consistent and strong supporter of reproductive justice, and have consistently had a 100% pro-choice rating with Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America."
• "I am pro-choice. I believe in Roe v. Wade..."
• "I've got two daughters...if they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby. "

Here's a copy of his voting record:
http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=9490

Granted, the Republican candidate's stance on abortion isn't as strong as I would like. But at least it appears he hasn't gone down the same slippery slope as the Democratic frontrunner.

Is there anything more important to life as we know it than life itself?

Reagan is Out Standing in Her Field

Get it? Outstanding (out standing)? OK, bad joke. This is a pic of Reagan at Walden Farm.

Our Little Pumpkin

Presley got to visit Walden Farm last weekend. She saw lots of pumpkins and got her face painted--cute!

Pumpkin Patch

Now that I'm on Facebook, I sometimes upload photos or videos there and forget that I haven't posted to my blog. These photos are from last weekend at Walden Farms. The girls had a great time petting the animals, walking through the cornfield, getting their faces painted, and just enjoying the outdoors.

Celebrity Sighting

Scott and I had dinner for his birthday tonight at the Cheesecake Factory in Green Hills Mall. (Thanks, Sarah, for offering to watch the kids!) After dinner, Scott wanted to walk to the Apple store and check it out. I, personally, wanted to get back to the kids and had very little interest in the Apple store--or the mall on a Saturday night, for that matter. But we took the little detour and, after consulting a directory, finally found the Apple store. (It was totally geeked out, btw.)

On the way back through the mall, we both did a double-take as we spotted James Marsden. In our house, he is best known as Edward from Enchanted. He's also been in the X-Men movies as well as one of my favorite shows from a while back, Second Noah. He had a little girl, about two- or three-years-old on his shoulders (I assume that was his daughter), and absolutely no one seemed to be bothering him. You gotta love Nashville, perhaps the only place on earth where a bona fide movie star can walk through the mall on Saturday night and nobody seems to care.

Pumpkins!

Last week Scott and the girls carved the two pumpkins that Grandma & Grandpa brought us. Actually, I traced the patterns and Scott did the carving. The girls mostly watched. This year, we found Disney patterns--how perfect for our little princesses! Cinderella turned out beautifully:

but her castle actually looks like a "spooky" castle--not a "princessy" one. What can I say? I was working with a lopsided pumpkin!

Here's a pic of what Cinderella looks like all lit up (pretty--but maybe a little creepy, too):

She's Got the Right Attitude

This week we said good-bye to a dear friend, our former neighbor Ashley, who lost a six-year battle with cancer. (More details at: http://valsmomblog.blogspot.com/2008/10/ashley.html) Reagan has known Ashley since she was an infant, and Ashley was the only non-family babysitter Reagan had as a baby.

When I got the news on Monday that Ashley had passed, I was worried about how to tell Reagan. Reagan knows about death and heaven because she has lost three great-grandparents in the last few years, and we explained that their bodies were worn out and tired, and they were going to heaven to get new healthy bodies and be with God. But this is the first time Reagan has known a young person who died (Ashley was only 23). And, most recently, Reagan has been praying, "Thank You, God, that You are healing Ashley." I wondered how she would respond to God's choice of ultimate healing, rather than earthly healing, for Ashley.

I guess I underestimated her. When I told her Ashley had gone to heaven to be with Jesus, Reagan didn't get sad at all. In fact, she kept asking me why I was so sad. (Honestly, I found it a little disturbing that she wasn't more upset.) But then, as the day went by, she did say a few times that she was sad and would miss Ashley.

Then, last night as we were getting ready to go to Ashley's visitation, I was giving Reagan the behavior talk: "We need to be respectful. And quiet. There might be some very sad people. Some might be crying. We're not sad because Ashley went to heaven; we're just sad because we'll miss her."

Then Reagan said with earnest excitement and amazement, "I wish I was Miss Ashley! I want to go in heaven! They have streets of gold--that's metal!"

Wow, if we could all have that attitude.

Presley's New Skill

I have video of Presley demonstrating her latest skill, but since I try to keep this blog G-rated (or at least PG), I'll have to offer a description and keep the video for private viewing (but, wow, is it ever funny!).

So one morning when Scott was out of town, I was taking a shower when Presley burst in and said she needed to use the potty. I told her I couldn't help right now, but if she could get her shorts and diaper off, she could do it herself. She managed to do that, and within seconds she had used the little potty. I did the whole, "Good job, Presley!" routine and told her she'd have to wait a minute for me to help her. But she said, "I do it myself." She promptly pulled the removable bowl from the potty chair, opened the big potty, and dumped the contents in. (Good start!) She then stood on the step-stool and pulled herself up on the sink, balancing with her bear bottom in plain view. She then turned on the water and filled up the potty bowl, dumped it, filled it, dumped it, etc., to rinse it out. Then, she got some soap from the dispenser and washed her little hands!

This process was so amazing to me that I had her repeat it for Daddy that evening, and then for Grandma and Grandpa when they visited. In fact, Presley was so proud that she told Grandpa, "Get your camera!" so he could tape her doing it. If you're ever over to our house, we'll show it to you...we could probably win $10,000 from AFV with that one--but our daughter's modesty is worth more to us than that.

Ashley

Our dear, sweet friend Ashley went home to be with Jesus Sunday afternoon, surrounded by friends and family. Her last words were, "I love you" to those who had gathered to sing hymns and pray at her bedside. Her service will be this Wednesday at Judson Baptist Church.

If you are not familiar with Ashley's story, you can read about it in this post: http://valsmomblog.blogspot.com/2008/07/pray-for-ashley.html

Our hearts are breaking for her family, but we know that their hope is in Jesus too. Please pray as they continue to deal with this devastating loss.

My Little Cookies

A while back, I entered a contest to win a vacation to Disney World. Well, more like, I entered dozens of contests to win various Disney vacations or prizes. (I have a website I visit periodically and enter the ones that don't take up too much time or effort.) Anyhow, one of these contests was from Cookie magazine. I believe I had to write a fifty-word essay about my idea of a perfect day at Disney. Honestly, I couldn't have put much effort into it, because I forgot I had even entered it. But, I was chosen as a finalist! And, no, I didn't win a Disney vacation, but I did win a CD of children's music and t-shirts for me and the girls. Mine was just a red shirt with "Cookie" on it. The girls' shirts were considerably cuter. I didn't request any particular style--just gave them the sizes and they sent these:

Looks like they nailed their personalities! Presley is definitely the "tough cookie" while Reagan is more of a "smart cookie." Couldn't have chosen better myself! (BTW, these were taken just after the girls got out of the shower; thus, the wet-n-wild hair.)

Another Plea for Ashley

I just received the most recent update on my neighbor Ashley, and the news is very grim. While they still carry hope in their hearts, I believe the family is coming to terms with the notion that Ashley has very little time left on this earth. I'm no mind-reader or doctor, but from the last email, I would guess days, not weeks.

I'm asking those of you who have followed her story (or are simply prayer warriors who have stopped by) to bathe Ashley and her family in prayer at this time. I don't know what God's plan is. Certainly He could choose to heal Ashley, even now, for we know that with God all things are possible. But it would seem He has made another choice. Despite how sad that makes me, I know that even in Ashley's death, God will be glorified and lives will be blessed.

Specific things to pray for: Ashley's pain is great, and she struggles to breathe. Pray for physical relief and continued optimism. And pray that she'll be able to leave this world peacefully, if that is God's will. Many family and friends have gathered; pray for peace and comforting times and sweet memories to be shared among them. Pray especially for Ashley's mother Judy, who is dealing with unimaginable grief and has not completely healed from her own breast cancer surgery. And also for Alli, Ashley's sister, who has been an amazing nurse and confidant for Ashley. Then, finally, pray that God's hand would be evident in every step of this journey. Let everyone who came near be a witness to God's great power and mercy and strength, as displayed in this family. Amen.

Yet Another Reason...

...I will be voting Republican in this election.

Here's a new number I just heard on the Today show: $995. That's the MOST money Joe Biden has given to charity in the last ten years--the MOST!!! I won't go into specifics of my own numbers (not because I'm ashamed, but because I know my friends read this blog and it's tacky to talk about money among friends), but Scott and I give considerably more than that. . . considerably. (The bulk of it goes to our church, but we also support a number of local and national charities.) Now, I consider us a pretty average American couple. Certainly we have more than many, but we are by no means wealthy. Yet, when I compare our numbers to those of Joe Biden, I am astounded. The average family in America gives 2% of their income to charitable organizations. The Democratic nominee for Vice President gives less than one hundredth of one percent.

Here are the numbers (year, adjusted gross income, charitable donations, percentage of income):

1998--$215,432--$195--.0009%

1999--$210,797--$120--.00056%

2000--$219,953--$360--.0016%

2001--$220,712--$360--.0016%

2002--$227,811--$260--.0011%

2003--$231,375--$260--.0011%

2004--$234,271--$380--.0016%

2005--$321,379--$380--.0012%

2006--$248,459--$380--.0015%

2007--$319,853--$995--.0031%

(An aside: Republicans are often criticized for being greedy and Democrats are certainly on record as supporters of our welfare system. It strikes me as ironic that studies have shown that conservatives give more than liberals. Here's one story, but a simple Google search will yield dozens: http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=2682730)

Here's another number: $15,000. That's how much Biden spends on train tickets each year, commuting between his $3 million home in Delaware and Washington, DC. But don't worry, he doesn't pay for those.

Do you think this man can really relate to the economic issues of middle America?

Oh, by the way, here's a report on John McCain's giving (a very different story): http://philanthropy.com/news/updates/4437/john-mccain-discloses-data-on-his-charity-giving

And here's the Obama info (better than Biden, but nowhere near McCain): http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2008/03/obama-releases.html

Here's Palin's (not as good as I had hoped, but still outshines Biden by a country mile): http://philanthropy.com/news/updates/5900/gov-palin-releases-tax-returns-reveals-charitable-giving

Can You Hear Me NOW!!!

Presley has developed an annoying habit of asking for something over and over and over...even after we have said no. Only, she doesn't just make her demand the same each time. She slows down, articulating each word as well as her little two-year-old language skills will permit, emphasizing then final word. It goes a little something like this:

Presley: I want treat.
Mama: Not right now.
Presley: I want treat!
Mama: No, you have to eat something healthy first.
Presley: I...want...treat...right...now.
Mama: You're not getting a treat.
Presley: I. Want. Treat. Right. NOW!!!

Obviously, this little tactic doesn't work (I'm tougher than that, people!), but it does keep us entertained.

Reagan's Crazy Costumes

Every day is Halloween around our house, as Reagan creates unique costumes from her existing wardrobe. And, boy, does she have an extensive dress-up wardrobe! Besides the many princess costumes and accessories that we have purchased for her, she was the beneficiary of a substantial collection of hand-me-down costumes from her cousin Camille. It's almost uncommon for Reagan to get through a whole day without putting on some sort of costume piece or accessory. Here's a pic of one of her latest creations:

The pants are part of her SSA (standard school attire). The top is half of an Ariel costume, and she has complemented it with fairy wings. Then we have the pink fuzzy slippers and the red Snow White purse. The tiara is generic and not associated with any particular princess. The necklace is also Ariel, and I believe it came from a Happy Meal. The piece de resistance is the Austin Powers sunglasses with yellow lenses. (Those were Mama's from oh-so-long ago.)

She has a fashion sense all her own!

It's the Little Things in Life

I'm trying to have an "attitude of gratitude" these days. I know I can fixate on the negative and let it take over, forgetting how much I have and how good I have it. So, here's a little list of things I enjoy, things that make my life a little bit better:

• Sugar cubes. Or "dots," as they're sometimes called. I remember these being in our church kitchen when I was a kid. I love them in my coffee or tea because they're just a bit more fun than the traditional spoonful of sugar. They make me feel more refined, more British.



• Nice pens. Many of you know I have an affinity for office supplies (don't even get me started on Sharpies!). But there's nothing quite like a pen that feels good in your hand and writes flawlessly and effortlessly. Pilot is a favorite brand of mine.



• Fun shoes. (See my earlier post.)



• A fresh, untouched Sunday newspaper. Now, lately I am most annoyed with the Tennessean. They are ever-so biased in their political reporting (in favor of the "opposing" team). But I do love to sit and read the paper slowly, and in whatever order I choose, without having to share it.



• Great songs. I don't mean fun songs that have a great beat (although I like those too). I mean a song that has clever, meaningful lyrics--a song that makes you wish you had written it. My favorite artists are also songwriters, and I'm a closet songwriter myself. As a copywriter, my job is to put the appropriate words together into sentences--words that convey my meaning and capture interest. But a songwriter has to do that PLUS put it into a specific rhythmic pattern and make it fit with the melodic line. Now that's talent.



• Photographs. In this digital age, we tend to take a lot of pics and hit the delete button more than we probably should. Many of these gems never get printed. But I still like holding a photo in my hand. I like to put them in albums and look at them in groups. Call me old-fashioned, but I prefer flipping through old albums to clicking on thumbnails.



• Feather pillows. They're getting harder to find, but I have one that my mother had before me. It's probably as old as I am, if not older. Some of the feathers have come out, and the seams have been re-sewn many times, but I still love it.

This, of course, is just a partial list. And it doesn't begin to cover the "big" things I'm thankful for--my God and my family would top that list. So, what are you thankful for?

What I'm Learning About Single Parents

My dear husband, Scott, is out of town for five days--can you hear the screams coming from Magnolia Lane? It's actually quite rare that he has to be gone, but when he does, I usually call in the grandparents for reinforcement. (They will be arriving later this afternoon.) In the mean time, let me share a few things I have learned about single parents in the last twenty-four hours:

• Single parents need more time to do everything. Why? Because they only have one set of hands to comb all the hair, button all the buttons, and tie all the shoes. Admittedly, I handle most of the morning school rush. But if Reagan happens to finish breakfast before Presley, as she often does, I know I can send her upstairs and Scott will help facilitate the whole "use the bathroom and brush your teeth" process. (And it is a process, seriously.) When Scott isn't here, I find Reagan has fallen back to sleep on the stairway.
• Single parents can't possibly awaken early enough to have time to themselves. On a normal day, I get up around 5:30 or 5:45 (yes, that's a.m.) to read my Bible and have a twenty-minute workout. Then I grab a shower and am ready to get Reagan up by 6:30. But Presley inevitably wakes up sometime in the 6:00 range. No problem--I just put her in bed with Scott and continue with my plans. But when Scott's not here...you guessed it. I must halt mid-workout to fetch milk or turn on Elmo. And then I hear, "I want you, Mama." That means, "Come sit with me...I need attention!"
• Single parents are always indebted to someone, and that feeling stinks. Having friends that are willing to help is wonderful. But being on the receiving end of free childcare makes me uncomfortable. When it's an even trade, I don't mind. I do my stint in the church nursery on Sunday mornings, so I'm OK with dropping Presley at the door. But on Wednesday nights, while I'm at rehearsal, I feel a twinge of guilt at putting her in a nursery that I never help in...especially when she's the only child other than the nursery worker's son!!! But, when Daddy's not home, you do what you have to do.
• Single parents have to make all the decisions. OK, so some single parents actually have exes who help with major decisions, such as public vs. private school and whether to take dance lessons or play soccer. But when it comes to the day to day, the parent in possession of the kids has to make a LOT of decisions on her own: like whether to take the kid to the dr. or just wait it out, or what punishment is appropriate for a kid who sasses a teacher. (These are mere examples; my kid has never sassed a teacher!!!)

This is just a drop in the bucket. I didn't even go into the financial ramifications...whoah. I'm just so grateful I have a husband who is helpful and is almost always home with us! But, seriously, when are the grandparents getting here?!?