Look Both Ways Before Crossing & 117/365

What is one of the first things we teach our children about crossing area that contains moving vehicles? We teach them to look both ways before crossing so they don't get hit and this is not something we as parents only mention once in passing, it is a lesson we reiterate multiple times. When we learn to drive or teach our teens to drive (ahhhhhhhh) and we come to a stop sign, again what is the lesson we teach? Look Left, Right, Left before going on so again they do not get run over. These are lessons most of learn before we hit adulthood. However, our politicians are banking on the fact that we will only look one way when viewing what is happening inside the beltway. This is one of the administrations key tatics and they seem to be employing it on a regular basis.

A story that once appeared dead and buried is being revived at exactly the same moment that Government Health Care is being hotly debated. It was announced by an anonymous official source that in the next little bit Attorney General Eric Holder would decide whether to pursue a case against Bush Administration officials regarding "enhanced interrogation" methods utilized in the previous administration. Now should the current administration "decide" to pursue a case against the previous administration it would indeed cause such an uproar that Congress will be able to push through bills such as Health Care without much uproar because all eyes would be focused left and not looking right.

This administration employs such cons as bait and switch so well it has become common place, yet We the People are footing the bill and paying the price. During the previous administration we were daily inundated with cries from certain corners of how the administration was using fear as a tactic to strip away our liberties. However, I am not hearing any outcry from those same corners as con-artists and thugs are using bait and switch and fear to boot to quickly tear apart the fabric of our society.

How many times will they be able to tell us to look one way while they are destroying our society the other way before we say enough? Sen. Boxer is threatening the American People with scenes from the Book of Revelations if the Senate does not sign off on Cap and Trade. She is telling the press that if the Senate does not pass this massive tax increase on We the People that we will be treated to droughts, floods, fires, loss of species, damage to agriculture, worsening air pollution and more. Both Cap and Trade and Government Run Health Care will dig deficit holes so enormous on We the People that our great great grandchildren won't be able to cover the cost. But more importantly these bills will remove even our right to decide what type of light bulb we want to use or if our child needs medical care. Such legislation increases government control on your decision making ability.

So the question remains how many times will We the People allow our legislators and this Administration to cause harm to our society without accountability?

117/365

Today I am thankful:

1. For the way God opens doors.

2. For doing the right thing even when it is the hard thing.

3. For Grace.

4. For cool nights of late they are wonderful.

5. For this powerful reminder I received last night after stepping by faith into the new role God has given me when my mind began spinning like a wheel going at 1000's of RPM (does that ever happen to anyone else?): "So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while, "he who is coming will come and will not delay, but my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him". But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved."~Hebrews 10:35-39

Double Speak & 116/365

According to dictionary.com the term Double Speak means –noun evasive, ambiguous language that is intended to deceive or confuse. Now this type of thing appears to have become the norm inside the beltway but in my mind it is unethical to say the least to use Double Speak on the folks you want to foot the bill for your idea of utopia. There are full disclosure laws on the books for a variety of business transactions and in my mind legislation that spends We the People's money should indeed be viewed as a business transaction.

Tucked away inside the massive "Government Run Health Care" bill are an amazing amount of pet pork projects such as walking paths, streetlights, jungle gyms, and even farmers’ markets. These pet projects increase this already huge bill by billions. When asked why our "esteemed" legislators would put such pork in a Health Care bill the answer given by Sen. Ted Kennedy is that these are community transformation grants and will lead to healthy lifestyles. Which to most folks of average intelligence is a euphemism/double speak for it is a way to pay off those who funded my campaign. There is not one coherent thought in this administration that what they are doing will rip apart our healthcare system while cost Trillions upon Trillions that we the people have no way of paying. I would also point out that the billions of pork projects being added into the "Health Care" bill were also added into the NOT READ HAD TO PASS THIS VERY SECOND STIMULUS Bill.

This is the type of thing that gets thrown into bills all the time, so this type of pork is not anything new. (Is that not a disturbing fact?). However, We the People have not in general be very good about calling our legislators out on such madness. We have in essence given them a free pass to legislate all kinds of nonsense and then we reward them for massive spending by re-electing them.

It has become a vicious and expensive cycle, they write/hide massive amounts of ridiculous spending into legislation, we the people don't read the legislation, although neither do our legislators, they vote to pass the massive spending, and then We the People re-elect them. This cycle is up to We the People to break, because it has gone on for so long the bulk of our legislators believe they have the right to spend on anything they want to.

We the People must read legislation and stop listening to the double speak that our legislators love to speak. The time has come to hold them accountable for their actions and if they cannot be good stewards of the public trust then we must remove them from leadership.

116/365

Today I am thankful:

1. For a new small group. This group of folks have a heart for the Father and are transparent and real. It was like slipping on a pair of comfortable shoes to walk in and study the Word with them.

2. For the lesson of patience, even if I don't want to learn it.

3. That Firefox underlines my numerous misspellings not only on my blog but as I comment on other blogs.

4. For excellent books.

5. For these verses that jumped off the page at me this morning and seem to give a great view on the current state of affairs, "Here's a piece of bad business I've seen on this earth, An error that can be blamed on whoever is in charge; Immaturity is given a place of prominence, While maturity is made to take a backseat. I've seen unproven upstarts riding in style, While experienced veterans are put out to pasture."~Ecclesiastes 10:5-7 The Message

Remember When & 115/365

Remember when growing a garden or having a farm were just about producing food? Remember when local farmers could grow produce and sell them to local vendors or farmer's markets or give away their produce to those in need? Remember yesterday when I said our current administration would not be content to only take over the Housing, Financial, and Auto industries? They now have their overreaching government sites set on the private farming industry. It seems that daily I read and discover new and outrageous ways that the government is working to control everything in our lives. I keep praying that one day I am going to wake up and read about something good that this Administration and Congress are doing so I can share it with you and we can get behind it. Anyway I digress on to HR 2749.

I read about this late last week and wanted to read the bill for myself before I wrote about it because it seemed like one of those hoaxes. However, it is a real bill introduced in June. Here is the Open Congress summary:

This bill proposes greater FDA regulatory powers over the national food supply and food providers, namely granting it the authority to regulate how crops are raised and harvested, to quarantine a geographic area, to make warrantless searches of business records, and to establish a national food tracing system. Concurrently, the bill would impose annual registration fees of $500 on all facilities holding, processing, or manufacturing food and require that such facilities also engaged in the transport or packing of food maintain pedigrees of the origin and previous distribution history of the food. The bill is an enhancement to H.R.759, and to a lesser extent, H.R. 857, previously proposed food safety bills in the 111th Congress. It is also co-sponsored by the same Representatives as the latter two bills, although new to the line of support is Rep. Henry Waxman, chair of the House Energy and Commerce committee.

In essence if passed this bill will grant the Federal Government total and complete control over all farmers in what they grow, how they grow it and where they can sell it. This bill is especially harsh to Amish and Mennonite farmers because they will be required by this bill to employ technology that is against their religion to register and track things or they will have to shut their farms down. All farms will be required to register and the FDA will have the power without cause or warrant to search records and to shut down farms. This will also have an adverse effect on farms that produce things like Raw Milk and Organic Products, it will basically ban such items. It would also for the most part kill the small farms because "The bill includes a tracing requirement that will extend from the beginning of an animal or plant's life to its consumption. This is overkill and unnecessary. The cost and red tape will harm small farms." (from mcall.com)

Now I am all about food safety, I try to ensure what I purchase and feed my family is safe and healthy. Yet I am also thrilled that I have the option of purchasing fresh food from family farms and farmer's markets if I want to. It should be noted that from 1929 to 1933 the Soviet Union did something similar with their farms, it was called Collective Farming and did not work well at all. Stalin's take over Soviet farming was done in a more bloody and ugly way, but the result was the same, in the end the Politburo ran the Soviet empire's food supply.

So while our media is focused on things like Michael Jackson, and the President is in Russia placating Putin, the House and Senate are working on things like Health Care nightmares, Cap and Trade, and the quiet takeover of one more industry.

On another note, I was thinking that folks could get depressed and overwhelmed reading this blog and that is definitely not my intent. My prayer is that folks will read about what is happening and see areas where they can be involved and informed.

115/365

Today I am thankful:

1. For the gift of a multi-tracked mind.

2. I know I put this down yesterday but I am still super thankful for it, my Air Conditioning.

3. For about 6 uninterrupted hours of sleep.

4. For packs of 50 Crayola Colored Pencils (this did not exist when I was younger).

5. For, "All of your life, no one will be able to hold out against you. In the same way I was with Moses, I'll be with you. I won't give up on you; I won't leave you. Strength! Courage! You are going to lead this peeople to inherit the land that I promised to give their ancestors. Give it everything you have, heart and soul. Make sure you carry out The Revelation that Moses commanded you, every bit of it. don't get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to where you're going. and don't for a minute let this Book be out mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you'll get where you're going; then you'll succeed. Haven't I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don't be timid; don't get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take"~Joshua 1:5-9 The Message

Thievery & 114/365

Thou shalt not steal, it is one of the commandments. Stealing is wrong is standard that most parents try to instill in their children at even the youngest ages. All states and countries have various laws on the books that are enforced to deter stealing and punish thieves. So why has the US government decided that they can steal without remorse or consequence?

I was reading this morning about the government controlled bankruptcy of General Motors, you know the company that We the People were stolen from to bail out, the company where the President overstepped his constitutional authority and fired the head of the company. Well the US Government is now stealing from those who invested in GM, the bond holders and creditors who under bankruptcy protection get first crack at the assets.

The agreement has been reached that GM can sell it's best assets to Government Motors (government run General Motors, although Obama has said he does not want to run GM). This makes my head what to explode. This administration continues to manipulate circumstances to pad and line their pockets and further their agenda of government take overs. The judge in this case is not doing his job since he is not following the law, he is capitulating to the US governments wants and desires.

Unethical does not even begin to cover what is happening. Here is a section of the FoxNews.com story on this that illustrates the ineptness and lack of reality based thinking of the current administration:

It might be difficult to change public perception of a company that's received $50 billion in taxpayer funds. In exchange for those funds, the government will have a 60 percent ownership stake in the "new GM." The Obama administration has said it does not plan to interfere with the day-to-day running of the company, such as where to open a plant or which dealer to close. The government has been involved in the selection of the new company's 13-member board of directors and change of control transactions.

While I try not to be astonished by things that are transpiring I find it hard to hear the words we will not interfere in the day to day running however we are choosing the 13 member board of directors.

Rules exist to prevent chaos and in America they have existed for our government to ensure that We the People are not subjected to tyranny or corruption. Yet one can see with the entire story of GM, from the bailout to the firing of the CEO to the bankruptcy that at no point did our Constitutional checks and balances come into play. We the People are witnessing first hand how a Constitutional Republic can become a Tyrannical Government without a shot being fired. Free Enterprise helped drive and shape this country and has afforded our population tremendous advantages, yet we now have an administration that has clearly shown its contempt for American ingenuity and drive. It is important for We the People to be aware that if the government has the ability to take over the auto, housing, and financial industries without resistance that all industries and privately held businesses including farms which I will write about in an upcoming post can be next.

114/365

Today I am thankful:

1. That since Wednesday my A/C has failed to work well, which is bad news in Central NC in July. However yesterday it started leaking onto the walls (sounds bad I know, but wait) so I called maintenance it was an easy fix (blocked pipe) and for the first time in days my house cooled off last night.

2. For finally downloading Mozilla Firefox, IE 8 was shutting down every blog i tried to open including my own. Now I can read and comment on blogs again, whoohooo.

3. That for whatever bizarre reason my children are still sleeping. This is totally rare and something I am taking advantage of.

4. For that thing that happens out of the blue that brings a smile to your face.

5. For, "Use your heads as you live and work among outsiders. Don't miss a trick. Make the most of every opportunity. Be gracious in your speech. Th goal is to bring out the best in others in conversation, not put them down, not cut them out."~Colossians 4:5-6 The Message

Fireworks That Did Not Celebrate American Independence & 112/365

Last night it is likely that many to most of us watched fireworks in celebration of American Independence and Freedom. However, I wonder how many of us noticed the fireworks that took place to show contempt for all that we stand for? North Korea fired SEVEN missiles and from all reports they have gotten better as time has gone on, falling under the adage of practice makes perfect. Each missile apparently hit it's target.

Obama pay attention this is important: North Korea is not going to quit thumbing their nose at the US or the world body. Kim Jong Il lives in the same delusional world that Saddam Hussein lived in, Pol Pot lived in, Napoleon lived in, Hitler lived in, and Stalin lived in to name a few. He is also no different then Ahmedinejad, the Taliban, Osama bin Laden, Al-Queda, Mugabe, and Castro. All of the above hold one distinct characteristic in common they are without a doubt megalomaniacs.

Mr. Obama in case you are not aware of what that word means click here for the Wikipedia definition. Such pathology does not lend itself to negotiation or reason because it is evil. Yet this latest round of missile launches did not even garner a comment from you.

Another set of fireworks that occurred while you were reading your TelePrompTer was the comment by the mullahs in Iran that opposition/reformist leader Mousavi is an American agent and should be tried for treason. That strikes me as ironic since you insisted any type of support for the people of Iran and the reformist would be viewed as interference by America thus you did not take a strong stand. But you failed to see what most of us see that standing against evil and oppression are not luxuries that you get to pick and choose for political expedience. Standing against evil and oppression are matters of the heart and there can never be any excuse to not do so.

Mr. Obama you also stood by and allowed another strike to freedom and liberty yesterday while celebrating. You failed to remove the US from the OAS when that body decided to suspend Honduras for upholding its Constitution. Where were the words of outrage for such a move or the words of support for a country that followed their legal and constitutional means to remove a rogue leader without bloodshed? Update: Here are two on the ground bloggers in Honduras talking about what is transpiring in that country as it is reported that Venzelua and Nicaragua are making moves against Honduras' new government:

El Pergamino
Honduras Abandoned

So as we celebrated our blessed and amazing 233rd birthday of hard fought and won Independence and freedom, our leaders are proving on a daily basis that they do not understand just how precious and fleeting such blessings are. Nor apparently are they willing to stand and face evil and work to beat it back.

112/365

Today I am thankful:

1. That we still possess the rights in this country that were endowed by Our Creator.

2. For the thoughtful card and balloons that my neighbors gave me yesterday for helping when their newest member was making her arrival. I also got to hold that sweet 3 day old baby girl yesterday.

3. That yesterday was a busy yet promising day and much was accomplished.

4. For my dad's recipe for awesome homemade marinade for grilling steaks.

5. For, "Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You're not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won't last forever. It won't be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ - eternal and glorious plans they are! - will have you put together and on your feet for good. he gets the last word; yes, he does."~1 Peter 5:8-11 The Message

Some Words of Our Founding Fathers & 111/365

The day before Independence Day I thought I would share with you some thoughts from our Founding Fathers:

"It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more. You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not." ~John Adams letter to Abigail Adams on July 3, 1776

"Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect every one who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined." ~Patrick Henry, speech in the Virginia Ratifying Convention, June 5, 1778

"My hand trembles, but my heart does not." ~Stephen Hopkins(attributed), Rhode Island delegate, at the signing of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

"Nevertheless, to the persecution and tyranny of his cruel ministry we will not tamely submit — appealing to Heaven for the justice of our cause, we determine to die or be free...." ~Joseph Warren, American account of the Battle of Lexington, April 26, 1775

"Nothing so strongly impels a man to regard the interest of his constituents, as the certainty of returning to the general mass of the people, from whence he was taken, where he must participate in their burdens." ~George Mason, speech in the Virginia Ratifying Convention, June 14, 1778

Over the next few days we in America will be blessed to celebrate our countries 233rd birthday, let us not forget the amount of sweat, tears, blood and treasure that have gone into the making of this great country. Don't forget those who have stood and are standing, have fought and are fighting and the many who have died and who are willing going into harms way daily in service to us so that we may celebrate. May we also remember their families.

111/365

Before I get to my list of things I am thankful for today I would ask for your prayers that as I sell some things and some furniture to meet my financial obligations that the needed buyers would come and the price would be met. Now on with one of my daily favorite things:

1. That after some brutally hot days it cooled off beautifully last night. What a treat to walk outside this morning and be met with an incredibly cool refreshing breeze.

2. For microwave popcorn, this has got to be one of the best food inventions ever, it is quick, does not heat up the kitchen, is healthy (if it is not healthy please don't bust my bubble LOL) and the entire family loves it.

3. That my best girlfriends wonderful husband arrived home safely from his Nicaragua missions trip.

4. For our amazing military and their families.

5. For, "So if you're serious about living this new Resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ - that's where the action is. See things fro His perspective."~Colossians 3:1-2

Not Surprising & 110/365

This morning the headline read North Korea fires missiles, I believe currently the count is 4. Is this surprising? Nope the world including the current US administration is acting toothless and spineless in the face of a maniacal tyrant. Kim Jong Il has been allowed to do whatever he wants, any sanctions imposed harm the North Korean already starving population. He knows that the only thing that will be hurled at him are words and more words.

This man does not respond to words, he never has. Yet not one world leader is willing to stand and stop him from firing missiles, starving and torturing a population and in general acting like he is king of the world. I do not get it, not even close. How difficult would it be to destroy the nuclear facilities, missiles and feed the people of North Korea? Can't the leaders of the world see how dire the situation is for the North Koreans under Kim Jong Il? Or don't they care?

This man is a danger to his country, his neighbors and anyone else he takes a dislike too including places like Hawaii, and allies of ours like Japan and South Korea. I am under no illusion that evil exists everywhere and that this world will always have tyrants and dictators, yet I can't help but think there was a time when free countries in the world would come together to stamp out tyranny.

While I am not a diplomat or geopolitical genius, I would just ask President Obama and the rest of the leaders of the free world what is it going to take for you folks with the power to stand against this man's evil? Does he have to take out a city before you believe he is serious? If he does are you guys going to stand and say oops we did not want to meddle in North Korean politics? Take a stand, he is only one man and despite protests to the contrary can be stopped if those who could would. Also Kim Jong Il's actions beg the question is this the time to cut spending on Missile Defense or defense in general?

110/365

Today I am thankful:

1. That yesterday morning I was able to assist my neighbor who went into a rapidly progressing labor, and was one of the first people who got to greet that family's beautiful new daughter, grand daughter, sister, and niece. She is beautiful.

2. That in the above situation we were able to get to the hospital in time.

3. For Tiramisu for brunch, sometimes it is nice to be an adult.

4. That I was invited and got to assist in a mom's focus group for a new computer that Dell is creating for the 6-12 year old age group. That is the first time I have done a focus group. Very neat and interesting experience.

5. For this awesome reminder, "Where you are right now is God's place for you."~1 Corinthians 7:17 The Message

Off Kilter & 109/365

Things seem a bit off kilter today in the political realm. One off kilter thing is that Al Franken is as of yesterday a United States Senator. While the House and Senate are full of questionable folks this one takes the cake in many ways. The Dems now have a filibuster proof majority in the Senate. While I don't live in Minnesota if I did I would be up in arms, the election between Coleman and Franken was without a doubt crooked. However, the MN Supreme Court has ruled and MN now has Franken as their jr. Senator and there is no longer a check or balance at least on paper with the White House and the US House and Senate. I am thinking Nov. 2010 can't get here soon enough.

Another off kilter thing is the idea that the US government is still backing this ludicrous idea that what took place in Honduras is a coup. I again am seeing that they do not read or maybe they just don't believe in constitutional protections. So while the US and World bodies are still condemning and threatening the Honduran government for protecting its Constitution and citizens by legally removing a rogue President, the US and same world bodies are still intent on placating Iran who appears to have started hanging protesters. This report is from the Jerusalem Post (HT Gateway Pundit):

As the Iranian authorities warned the opposition on Tuesday that they would tolerate no further protests over the disputed June 12 presidential elections, a report emerged of the hangings of six supporters of defeated candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi. Speaking after Iran's top legislative body upheld the election victory of incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, sources in Iran told this reporter in a telephone interview that the hangings took place in the holy city of Mashhad on Monday. There was no independent confirmation of the report. Underlining the climate of fear among direct and even indirect supporters of Mousavi's campaign for the election to be annulled, the sources also reported that a prominent cleric gave a speech to opposition protesters in Teheran earlier this week in which he publicly acknowledged that the very act of speaking at the gathering would likely cost him his life. "Ayatollah Hadi Gafouri said that the Imam [Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini] never wanted [current supreme Leader] Ali Khamenei to succeed him. He even went to say that the Islamic republic died the day the Imam did," one source said.

When do those who are supposed to lead wake up to the lunacy they are perpetrating? If those of us who are just every day folks can look at situations and see how harmful they are, why can't those who are elected to represent our interests do that which is right? I look at all that is transpiring and am sickened because harm is being caused needless and apparently without regard. In the land of 1st amendment protections for our media they have in most cases capitulated to become state propagandist (not all but the vast majority).

In just a few days our nation will celebrate it's 233rd birthday, may all Americans eyes be opened to see that unless We the People are willing to shake off apathy/complacency and take a stand that every drop of blood our military has shed over our history will have been in vain. Also let me say that I am under no illusion that shaking off apathy or complacency or taking a stand is easy, fun, or not scary. The cost for such actions are often very high. May we all read and realize the truth in the following:

“Freedom is a fragile thing and is never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people. Those who have known freedom and then lost it have never known it again.” ~ Ronald Reagan, from his first inaugural speech as governor of California, January 5, 1967

109/365

Today I am thankful:

1. For last night, please see this post!

2. That while circumstance can seem overwhelming that I need to remember I am not defined by my circumstances.

3. For hair long enough to pull into a ponytail, it makes life so easy for hair styling challenged folks like me.

4. For coffee mugs that are the correct size for both coffee and soup, but not at the same time.

5. For, "For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."~2 Timothy 1:7 (AKJV)

An Extra Item for 108/365

108/365 Plus

Have you ever had a special blessing? I mentioned in my post earlier today that if all went well I would get a special treat and well I did and it was so fabulous that I couldn't wait until tomorrow to share it with you. Tonight I was blessed beyond measure to spend the evening with 6 fellow bloggers. One blogger, Beth from I Am Heading Toward My Destiny who I met briefly last Thursday sent me an email letting me know that on Tuesday, Mimi from He & Me + 3 would be in NC on vacation and that they were headed to dinner with some other fellow bloggers, CC from His Heart , Liz from Tidbits from Liz , Miti from Pieces of Me, and Tara from Keeping Up With The Kellys, she invited me to join.

Let me just tell you what an incredibly wonderful time we had!! To sit around a table with ladies who have a heart for God, incredible sweet spirits and amazing transparency and who are all wonderful writers. I was just blessed to my toes. The amazing thing is a year ago I would never have gone to dinner with 5 ladies I had never met and one lady I had briefly met. I would have been too shy and likely too nervous and very sure that no one would like me or find anything I had to say interesting. But God works in us and changes us if we will let Him. While at times life can seem overwhelming, God does neat stuff like this for us and for me when I need it the most.

A special thanks to Beth for also blessing me with treating me to dinner. I also must add that I have a daughter with an amazing heart. She stepped up to watch the boys and make dinner for them so that I could go tonight. Originally we were supposed to have helper arriving at a bit past 6 (I left around 5:30), but that person was delayed and did not arrive until almost 8. But she took care of everything and gave me a much needed break. Here is a photo (thanks to CC for emailing it to me, the ones from my phone were not very clear).

From Left to Right
Mimi, CC, Liz, Mel, Tara, Miti, Beth

Judging the Judge & 108/365

Yesterday was the last day of work for Supreme Court Justice David Souter, he has officially retired. The president has put forth the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor a federal appeals court justice. On the surface it would seem that Judge Sotomayor would be the perfect pick. When she was announced that is what many in the mainstream said. I mean who could attack the first Hispanic and only 3rd woman Supreme Court justice?

Since that nomination more has been revealed about the legal mind of Judge Sotomayor. It has been revealed that based on numerous statements through the year she views life through a racial and gender biased lens. Now that is not to say she has not confronted gender and racial bias in her life, however I do find it disturbing that she bases binding legal decisions on criteria that is outside the law.

Another fact that seems telling with this nomination is that 60% of Sotomayor's decisions have been overturned by the Supreme Court, including a major case yesterday. The case involved 19 white firefighters and 1 hispanic fire fighter who were denied promotion based on the sole fact that despite passing the promotion exam the City of New Haven fearing a civil rights lawsuit through out the test results because other members of color did not pass the exam.

Yesterday the Supreme Court made it clear that your color should not matter in how successful or unsuccessful you are in your chosen profession. Yet, Sotomayor believes just the opposite. Her opinion on various cases have come down to skin tone and she has publicly stated that, “I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experience would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn’t lived that life.”

Justice is blind for a reason, not that the system is perfect. However, if we as a society allow those who do view the law through a gender or racial biased lens on the highest court in the land, then we have failed. Time will tell if Sotomayor is confirmed or if as more comes to light the Senate says no. It is up to you and I to let the Senate know if we want Sotomayor appointed for life to the Supreme Court.

108/365

Today I am thankful:

1. That I may get to enjoy a special treat this evening if all goes well.

2. For encouraging comments at exactly the right moment.

3. For AIR CONDITIONING (yes that is in capital letters on purpose).

4. That even though my beagles have taken to escaping at every opportunity that nothing bad has happened to them before they can be caught and returned home. I live on a busy street. Is their a specific prayer for escaping puppies?

5. For, "Who stood up for me against the wicked? Who took my side against evil workers? If God hadn't been there for me, I never would have made it. The minute I said, "I'm slipping, I'm falling" your love, God took hold and held me fast. When I was upset and beside myself, You calmed me down and cheered me up."~Psalm 94:16-19 The Message