a new screen

My little computer has to go in for a new screen. Or a screen fix. So again...I'll be slipping into a black hole with no internet connection for awhile. Miss me everyone. :)

jw

Politcal Sparks

The sparks have started flying around here. And it really makes me sad.

So here's my two cents...

1. Each politcal candidate is a person. A human. With opinions, pain, love, family, fears, thoughts, rights, embarrasments, skeletons, sucesses, struggles, and ideals. Just like me. So if I don't want them sitting around judging me or calling me names...I better mind my mouth.

2. Its ok to disagree with someone's plan, policy, thoughts, or decisions. But that does not make it ok to attack someone and spread untrue stories. Name calling does not help. In fact...it makes me sick.

3. You cannot write someone off without hearing what they have to say. You have to really really really listen and then disagree. You can't say, "I don't care to hear there opinions."

4. You have to let other people disagree from you. If your sister doesn't like your canidate...you don't get to rag on her. She has a RIGHT to think how she chooses. It does not make her less of a Christian.

5. Democrats are not demons. Stop calling names. Democrats go to church, and they love Jesus, and do good things too. Stop being so cold toward other parties. If we want congress to work together and ignore the party line...we have to do it in our homes and neighborhoods.

6. Usually...there are many solutions to one problem. It doesn't HAVE to be your solution. Everyone has something good to contribute.

7. Don't critize someone whose job you have never had. You might have bothched it worse. Save the judging until you have actually stood there. Even if you really think you could do it better. You don't know until you live it.

8. Jesus stayed out of politics. He didn't leave us any directions for party lines or voting procedures. We have to do the best we can. Everyone. Whether they vote yes or no about homosexual marriages or sunday alchohol sales.

9. Jesus always preached reconciliation.

10. You can't force morality on anyone by a law. It doesn't work. That's why Jesus just loved people instead.

Now...everyone...PLAY NICE!

but I like purple!

Addy has had some really exciting things going on at school lately. They celebrated Winnie the Pooh's birthday, working on Kansas day celebrations, had a special day for the 100th day of Kingergarten, had a really neat field trip to a care home singing oldie songs like Buffalo Gals.

Fun stuff. She brought home her first homework. They are really working hard on counting to 100 and writing it...and counting by 5s an 10s and...all things 100. She came home with a packet to draw 100 starts, write 100 words, fill in the missing numbers on hearts from 1 - 100, writing the numbers from 1 -100 by 5 and so on. Fun stuff.

Yesterday in the car:

Addy: Mom...tomorrow we have to wear our favorite Kansas team stuff.
Me: Like....K-State or KU?
Addy: No...the wildcats or KU.
Me: Yeah...the Wildcats are K-State.
Addy: We can wear our favorite team colors.
Me: So you are going to wear to Jayhawk stuff right?
Addy: No way...I want to wear purple and white. I like that better.
Me: Uhhh...well I think your family likes KU better.
Addy: So. I like purple. It's pretty.
Me: But we like KU.
Addy: So.

Me: I'm calling Grandpa.
Addy; fine.

Grandpa: Addy, the Jayhawk is a nice nice bird that would never hurt anyone. Wildcats are ugly and mean and would eat you. Jayhawks are so pretty...red and white and blue.
Addy: So.
Grandpa: If you don't like the Jayhawks...you will have to hug me everyday and sit on my lap so I know you still love ME.
Addy: ok.

Me: So ok...I'll get a KU shirt to wear.
Addy: No. I want to wear purple.

Me: I'm calling Papa.
Neal: Oh...well I like K-State.
Me: *click*

Me: Ok...Addy...Sean and Jill and Maddy and Aiden all like KU. We can borrow a shirt from them.
Addy: No. Go Wildcats.
Me: That's it...Addy...KU is so much better...they are undefeated!
Addy: So. I like purple.
Me: Lets go to Sean's.

Sean: EEEEWWW the wildcats are yucky...gross...booooo...hissss...phhhhht.
Addy: *giggles*
Sean: KU is awesome! woot woot woot woot
Maddy: GO KU!
Aiden: Go wildcats ... I mean go jayhawks (he's still learning)
Sean: ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK.
Me: Yeah Addy...KU has a better cheer.
Addy: Ok. Go KU.

awwww the power of peer pressure. She wore an awesome KU jersey to school today. And out the door to school today she turned and grinned and said...ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK!

The music teacher is a K-State fan...she wore a purple wig today. :) ahahahahha

But the principal told Addy what a good choice she had made while crossing the cross walk today. ahahahah I agree.

at Laura's request

Philip Pullman. :)

friends

Jill: I'm so glad we have dinner friends...and all kinds of stuff friends.
Me: Me tooooooooooo.

Today is Neal's birthday. He is 28. We got to celebrate with our amazing friends Jill and Sean. We finally finally finally got babysitters for all our kids and went out together. We had so much fun. The M. and W. households have been a little tense and maxed out the past few days...so I wasn't sure if our date night would be a good idea or not. I nearly backed out at the last minute. But...my senses returned and at least for me...I had an awesome night and it did me a world of good.

By the time we got on the highway to dinner...the car was full of 4 laughing friends...and I don't think we stopped laughing.

We had free dinner coupons...so we all ate a silly silly amount of food. Neal got to have homemade tortillas and tacos today....and steak...and shrimp...and cheesecake.

Neal has all these amazing stories from work...and one time I laughed so hard cheesecake just about came out my nose.

We also at Neal's request went to see Cloverfield. He loved it...I was entertained.

Jill: Well...next time can we see a chick flick?
Neal: We didn't make you see Rambo with us last time...this WAS the chick flick.
Sean: Any movie that ends with I love you...is a chick flick.

I have some new friends I'd like to tell you about...another time though...Penny and Harry Gillman.

Happy Birthday Neal...I hope this super fun evening is just the first of a year of fun and laughter and love. And you know...it creeps me out that Heath Ledger was only 28. I don't know what I would ever do without you. You are my North Star.

The Golden Compass thoughts

Jayme's first thoughts upon hearing about TGC.

-ooooh...that's bad news. that's not good. don't want any anti-christian stuff popping up in culture. must be careful.

Neal's first thoughts upon hearing about TGC.

--Oh great. There go Christians again. Jumping all over something that probably isn't worth jumping all over...making Christianity look bad. Before I get on the bandwagon...I better go read the whole trilogy myself...and then do some research on this Pullman dude.

Jayme's next thoughts:

--Oh. Well..yeah...that makes more sense than just freaking out.

Ok...so. Yes. Phillip Pullman is an atheist. But did you know that he stands on that position because of organized religion...(hypocritical Christians)...rather than because of his feelings toward God? You know...hateful power hungry Christians who love to get all political rather than being Jesus? Don't dare try to tell me those people aren't out there. Let me tell you. I've lived there...and I have the T-shirt.

So...what happens when Pullman gets tired of being told what to think and believe by nasty people claiming Christianity...writes a book to make a point...and then Christians freak out and declare him unsafe without reading his stuff??? Ah...Pullman wins and Christians look bad. Sigh.

So...now that I have read TGC...here are my opinions.

1. Pullman is an amazing story teller. Amazing. His story is awesome. Its a tale of a brave little girl doing her best to find her way using love, strength, compassion, truth, and values to guide her. The story is rich with fictional cultures and peoples. The sacrifices in the story move you. Its a great great great story.

2. Pullman did a poor job of creating an allegory. I had to have Neal explain to me what he was really trying to say. It's a stretch. And soooo not threatening.

3. Pullman never attacks the nature of God is this first book. He might in others...I haven't read them and won't claim to know. Pullman does attack organized religion...especially the Catholic church. I don't blame him.

4. I have heard...from Neal...and he's pretty reliable...that later in the trilogy one of the characters does kill God. By reaching out and touching him and all his particles explode into nothingness. Ummmmmm...you have got to be kidding me.

5. I know that my God is all powerful, all knowing, the creator of all things good, wiser than me, everywhere, gracious, compassionate, loving, gentle, jealous, real, living, never agings, never sleeping, never failing, and giving. Why would I ever be threatened by this book and some sad man's views of religion and maybe God. I'm not. Jesus is so much bigger than TGC.

6. I would use TGC as a tool with my kids if they were older...to teach them about how sad it is when church isn't safe for people, how lost people are without Christ to guide their minds and hearts, to remind them how big God really is, to shine the beauty of Christ into thier minds. It might even be an interesting place to discuss the nature of our souls...and how they were made to follow God's plan and how we need him so badly.

7. I'm ashamed of how some people claiming Christ have been so threatened and freaked out about TGC. It isn't "bad news". Its news we need to hear and then respond in love knowing how awesome our God really is.

8. If anyone ever tells me again how TGC is a bad story...I'm going to tell exactly why I think its a good story. Both for its literary value and its value beyond. I would also suggest they pray for Pullman to find someone who can demonstrate the true nature of Christ to him...and pray for the souls of those who must have hurt him so badly in the name of Christ.

"If we are the body...why aren't his arms reaching...why aren't his hands healing...why aren't his feet going."

and..................I cut 6 inches off my hair today. I'll post a picture sometime. :)

vroom vroom

Ellie: Mamma, Mamma, I got pick-ups.
Me: Ok.
Ellie: *frowning at me* No...I got pick-ups.
Me: Thats great. Can you drive them over in the living room. (I was distracted.)
Ellie: *frowning aLOT at me*
Me: OH...You have the HIC-UPS!!!!!! Wanna drink of water???

Silly me.