Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Oh the things a pregnant woman will eat!

2 tomatoes
2 cucumbers
1 bottle of Italian Dressing
Chop up the vegetables and pour in the dressing. Marinate overnight.
You can also add onions.


I have not been blogging much lately. We have all been sick with a nasty cold and anybody that knows anything about all day morning sickness will understand how I have been feeling. As I was making this salad the kiddos thought that it was the craziest looking thing they have seen. To me it just looks wonderful! It is really good in summer!

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

I can't come up with a good title for this one....

.....this is an email that I received from Michael Farris. Please read this and take the action requested. This is just too ridiculous to let it go any further.



From the Desk of Michael P. Farris ...

February 7, 2008

Dear HSLDA Members and Friends:

I am writing to you today about obtaining permanent protection for our rights as parents. For nearly 25 years, HSLDA has focused on defending the right of parents to home educate their children. We have met with great success in this effort, and we have seen God’s hand of blessing on thousands of families as the homeschooling movement has progressed.

After all, this movement was built upon the firm belief that parents possess a God-given right to direct the upbringing and education of their children. And I know that you’ll agree with me in saying when that right is under fire, we must do whatever we can to protect it.

Parental Rights are in Jeopardy

A “perfect storm” that could literally demolish the rights we value so deeply is approaching on the horizon. If these threats persist, we could soon be looking at the demolition of the parental role, and an upsurge of government intrusion in family life.

Even though parental rights are recognized as a fundamental right under current Supreme Court doctrine, there are two threats to the recognition of this principle.

The Threat from the Federal Courts

Today an increasing number of Supreme Court justices refuse to recognize that parental rights are a fundamental right. In the 2000 case of Troxel v. Granville, only four of the nine Supreme Court justices expressly agreed that the Constitution “protects the fundamental right of parents to make decisions concerning the care, custody, and control of their children.” Two of these justices—then-Chief Justice William Rehnquist and Justice Sandra Day O’Connor—have since left the Court.

Even Justice Antonin Scalia, a noted conservative, holds that parental rights are not judicially enforceable at all until there is a specific parental rights provision in the Constitution.

The Threat of International Law

Even as the recognition of parental rights is fading within the federal courts, international law which diminishes parental authority is approaching possible ratification. The growing use of international law in American courts offers a frightening glimpse into the future. If the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) becomes binding on this country, then parental rights as we know them will be erased. This international treaty provides for the government to define what is in the “best interests of the child,” supplanting the parent as the ultimate decision maker.

Moreover, if the UNCRC is ratified, all state laws which recognize the right to homeschool will be superseded by international law if international tribunals or American courts think that such education is not in the “best interest of the child.” We would do well to remember the example of Germany on this point.

There is Only One Solution

I am convinced that there is only one solution to this attack on the child-parent relationship: We must amend the Constitution to permanently secure the rights of parents. The Parental Rights Amendment is the only way to protect and preserve the rights of parents to make key decisions for their children, as well as to direct their upbringing and education.

The only way that we can accomplish this goal is to gain the nationwide support of millions of parents like you. We need to raise our voices to safeguard the child-parent relationship. And we need to be organized and vocal so that Congress will listen.

It’s the Battle of Our Lifetime

The battle for parental rights will be the fight of our lifetime. That’s why I am turning to you for support as we launch this vital campaign.

The process of amending the Constitution is both long and challenging. Our goal is to have a substantial number of Congressional co-sponsors before the Parental Rights Amendment is even introduced. Ultimately the amendment requires final approval of two-thirds of both the House and the Senate. Once passed by Congress, the amendment must then be ratified by three-fourths of the states.

We Need a Groundswell of Support

As you can see, passing the Parental Rights Amendment is not going to be easy. But it is completely possible. If we can find 10,000 people within each congressional district who are willing to contact their congressmen and senators on this issue, then we can gain a favorable response from most members of Congress. We are referring to these individuals as Citizen Co-sponsors. Our goal is to find 10,000 Citizen Co-sponsors in at least 80% of the congressional districts in the country. While this number may seem daunting, it is clearly attainable. In fact, if each HSLDA member recruits 40 people to become Citizen Co-sponsors by signing the petition, we will reach this goal.

The bottom line is this: we need a groundswell of support and activism from our HSLDA members. That’s why I am asking you to do two things right away.

1. Join ParentalRights.org

You can become a Citizen Co-Sponsor simply by signing the petition for parental rights on ParentalRights.org.

But I am asking you to take this one step further.

I am challenging you to join the campaign. With a gift of $25 or more, you can become a member of ParentalRights.org. There are two reasons why we urgently need your financial support. The first and most obvious reason is that building the infrastructure to secure a Constitutional amendment requires a substantial amount of money. Second, under existing federal law we can only send detailed information about the political implications of this effort to dues-paying members. Therefore certain communications will only be given to our dues-paying members rather than those who have only signed the petition.

2. Get your friends and neighbors involved

I’m asking you to enlist your friends and family to visit ParentalRights.org, and encourage them to join the campaign. Our user-friendly Tell a Friend application enables you to upload email addresses from your address book, and easily inform friends of the importance of the campaign. Growth is essential during the early stages of this effort, and that support needs to start now.

We need grassroots support from dedicated parents in all 50 states to ensure the smooth passage of the amendment. I firmly believe that the homeschooling movement is the key to victory in this massive effort. We’ve come a long way in the last 25 years… but there is so much more ahead.

I’m challenging you to join the fight today.

Sincerely,


Michael P. Farris
Chairman, Home School Legal Defense Association
President, ParentalRights.org



Tuesday, February 5, 2008

How Fast They Change




Thinking of a new baby has me looking at old photos. Jenna is only 31 months, but they have all changed so much.

Thankful for the Word.


There are times when anxiety and worry can get the best of me. Through those times there is only One who can get you through. The past couple of weeks have been that way for me. Greg came to me one evening, bible in hand and read slowly and purposely to me the following scripture.

And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.


How beautiful is that? How sweet it was to have it come from Greg with all love and sincerity. I am so blessed. So this has left me with a song on my heart for several days. It is from one of the most gifted songwriters I know. My favorite part is the chorus...and when I can't stand, I have to lean, and when I can't see I must believe. If you have ever heard Kyla or the Rowland's sing it then you know how powerful it is when it is seasoned with God' s spirit.


One Scarred Hand
by: Kyla Rowland

He is the fountain for a thirsty soul,
He is the healer and so much more,
When my heart is broken by this worlds demands
the pieces are mended with one scarred hand

And when I can't stand,I have to lean
and when I can't see, I must believe
the Great Physician's touch is the balm that can
mend broken hearts with one scarred hand.

It's the hand that hung this world in place
A hand that was scarred to give me grace,
and to think a hand that holds the stars,
is still small enough to mend a broken heart.

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