What I'm For...

Today I went to have lunch with my son while he was at College 4 Kids. I got him his favorite from Subway and just went to show him that he's worthy of my time and taht I wanted him to have an enjoyable lunch -- with me. :) It was a nice surprise for him (I mean, he KNEW I was coming but since I don't normally do that... it was nice for him.)

On the way home, I heard a new song by Pat Green called "What I'm For" and I wanted to share the lyrics with you... they just "spoke" to me (music usually does) and so I thought... hm... what am I for?

I'm for wildflowers in the window
Mechanics you can trust
I'm for crackers in my chili
And leavin' grudges in the dust

I'm for drive thru order takers
Who can muster up a smile
I'm for takin' in that stray dog
That's been hangin' 'round for awhile

I'm for turning off the TV
Gettin' off the internet
I'm for learning all the words
To the Gettysburg Address

I'm for dusty pawn shop guitars
And boxers passed their prime
I'm for soakin' up the wisdom
When an old man speaks his mind.

I'm for laid off factory workers
When the wolf is at the door
You don't have to guess what I'm against
If you know what I'm for

I'm for Texas Margaritas
Gettin' outta debt
I'm for havin' faith in something
That hasn't happened yet

For the shy kid in the corner
Afraid to ask the girl to dance
For the ex-con outta prison
Who just wants a second chance

For the inner city teacher
With her heart stuck in her throat
Can still see God in every child
And never gives up hope

I'm for dusty pawn shop guitars
And boxers passed their prime
I'm for soakin' up the wisdom
When and old man speaks his mind

I'm for Detroit factory workers
When the wolf is at the door
You don't have to guess what I'm against
If you know what I'm for

I'm counting all my blessings
When the wolf is at my door
You don't have to ask what I'm against
You don't have to guess what I'm against
You know what I'm for

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Isn't that such a poignant statement? You don't have to guess what I'm against because you now what I'm for. I wish most of our politicans were the same way. I don't seem to know what anyone stands for up there other than paving the way for their own agenda? How sad. We know what they're NOT for.... AMERICA. Why are so many people on the UNAMERICAN bandwagon like it's the "in" thing?

Me? What am I for?

• I'm for standing behind your word... Say what you mean. Mean what you say.
• I'm for helping the helpless (animals, children and elderly)
• I'm for smiling at those that serve you... because they could be having a bad day, too.
• I'm for leaving bigger tips because times are hard.
• I'm for homecooked meals... not something from a sack.
• I'm for Sunday school because it gives people (of all ages) something to hold onto.
• I'm for being a friend even when there is nothing for you to personally gain from the relationship.
• I'm for time spent in nature because I feel that people spend too much time in front of electronics (computers, televisions, game stations).
• I'm for buying American.
• I'm for individuals... not unions.
• I'm for biscuits and gravy... though I can't make them the way my grandma can.
• I'm for hunting... if you have a need for the meat.
• I'm for recycling because we are a throw-away nation that needs to realize that burying the trash doesn't make it go away!
• I'm for men of integrity like my father, because there aren't enough of them in the world.
• I'm for putting some decency back into the television programs that are on when the sun is up -- lose the bad words, sex scenes, and token homosexual roles.
• I'm for Christians taking a freakin' stand instead of being passive about things that don't go our way choosing only to pray about it. Pray but also get up and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. WE ARE THE MAJORITY... we shouldn't have to cater to the minority.
• I'm for standing up for what you believe in... whatever the cost.
• I'm for preserving the memories you have via whatever means you need to (photos, blogging, scrapbooking)
• I'm for vacationing with your children because if you choose to spend your memory making times away from them...what memories will they have of you? There's plenty of time to vacation away from them when they're grown and gone.
• I'm for Colorado! It's just my favorite place on the planet!
• I'm for dirty knees on my boy's pants because that means they've been running wild outside and enjoying their youth.
• I'm for just letting it go... things are bigger than you and you just have to move past it because otherwise it will eat you up inside.
• I'm for turning off the television because that's not quality time...
• I'm for loud music to sing along with in the car.
• I'm for finishing what you started.
• I'm for the loyal, faithful and trustworthy.
• I'm for those people willing to give others a second chance... because that's what Jesus would do.
• I'm for teachers!
• I'm for a simpler life, a simpler time.

So what are you for?

Babies and Santa

I knew this day would come... Josh asking about babies... and sex... and Santa. However, knowing it was coming still hasn't prepared me for it. Well, actually, Drew has asked about babies too. He knew he was in my tummy and wanted to know if I "pooped him out."

(bwa ha ha.. who can't laugh at the thought of your kids thinking you poop them out?) I want my children to know -- when it's time for them to know. I'd also prefer my children to know the FACTS rather than the assumptions their friends make and share with them.

The whole baby/sex thing gets brought up more frequently than not because of the over abundance of it's inclusion in every form of media there is. This is primarily why I a) don't like television and b) don't like non-family-friendly radio stations. We watched Marley and Me, for instance, a seemingly benign movie not too terribly long ago. Josh told me that his friend Shane learned where babies come from just from watching that movie. I was like... what? Oh it's about a DOG... ok... so the dog probably has puppies... nature in it's purest form. That can be an educational lesson then, okay. Little did I know it was about Jennifer Aniston and her husband trying to have a baby all the time. UGH... talk about awkward! So, Andy has been banned from movie selections at our home now. They all must be run through me. I did, however, have and he shouldhave checked this resource called Kids In Mind. It's a fantastic resource and leaves nothing to chance with it's screen by screen listing of important aspects of movies that parents want to know. Topics like sex/nudity, violence/gore, language, alcohol/drugs, etc. It's listed for the parents to decide if the content is acceptable. The sex/nudity for this show 5 and below are some of the situations seen in this feature:

SEX/NUDITY 5 - A husband and a wife kiss in bed and it is implied that they have sex (we hear squeaking springs). A husband and wife kiss, she sits on his lap, she stands up and takes off her dress in front of him (we see her bare shoulders and the side of her breast), she jumps into a swimming pool, her husband takes off his shirt (we see his bare chest) and jumps in too, and they kiss and hug.

► A dog tackles a woman and thrusts on her leg rapidly (the woman yells). A wife jumps into her husband's arms and kisses him. A husband and wife kiss in several scenes throughout the movie. A young man and a young woman kiss on a beach. A man flirts with women and uses a dog and a baby as lures to get into conversations with women.

► We see a nude baby boy and his genitals are visible. A dog jumps into a shower where a young woman is bathing and she pulls the curtain down to cover herself (we see her bare shoulders). A dog pulls a towel off a young woman just out of the shower (we see her bare legs). We see many women in bikinis and men in swim trunks in several beach scenes. A woman wears a low-cut wedding gown that reveals cleavage and the skirt is hiked up to her thighs.

And while some parents/people/liberals may feel that we, in America, take things to the extreme (i.e., there are some countries where soft-core porn is shown on daytime TELEVISION?) I certainly don't feel that protecting my children from the over-sensationalized sex industry is being over-protective. I want both boys to have a healthy respect for women, their bodies, their minds, and to know their role in relationships. I don't expect them to become monks and take a vow of celibacy but I do expect them live for the Lord and remember that everything they do has a consequence.

So, something the other day gets brought up and Josh says, yet again, that he wants to know where babies come from. I'm really struggling with feeding him too much information or approaching this from a scientific-based basis. Should I approach this from a biblical standpoint? Should I intertwine the two? What books should I use as a reference... should I let him read books and come to me with questions? I'm going to pray about this... (and seek the counsel of friends with older boys!) :)

The other topic that has come up is Santa... is he real? While I understand many weird-o's (just kidding -- geez, chill out!) out there think that you're lying to your children and are just showing them that you can't be trusted for giving them this fun and fantasy to believe in during the holiday season... I think it's just good, old-fashioned fun. I see no harm in letting children believe... this year, however, I will tell Joshua the truth SO LONG AS he swears an oath that he will not spoil it for his younger siblings (both here and in Iowa.) I intend to have him read a book with me called The Autobiography of Santa Claus by Jeff Guinn. We will then have a special lunch (in December) where we will discuss this whole issue... about how he was a real man but now his spirit is kept alive by all who believe in the very spirit of selflessly giving -- which ... isn't that a true example of showing Christ's love of others? Call me crazy, but I feel that it does! I'll also tell him that as long as he believes in the SPIRIT of Christmas, Santa will still visit him. :)

Just a couple of random topics that were on my brain today.

A night away

I spent Saturday evening in the company of strangers at my beloved's 20-year high school reunion. You know, inasmuch as I feel that it is probably a great thing to WANT TO include spouses, I can't imagine that any of them really want to be there unless they're already acquainted with friends from the school. I mean, I enjoyed saying hi to new people but superficial conversations just to avoid awkward silence bores me. I'm sure he was sick of saying, "...and this is my wife, April" almost as much as I was bored of the forced smiles and actually trying to look like I wanted to be there. He felt bad leaving me at a table to mingle and I felt bad trailing around like a lost puppy behind him so I didn't. I mean, yes, I did go out of obligation because he wanted me there but it's full of memories and people that I was, nor will ever be, a part of so why make me go?

One of his friends that I had met on one previous occasion was there with his wife. They are from Frisco. Nice couple. He graduated with Andy and she graduated with a class of 1600 from Plano. She and I share the same mind-set as far as reunions go... neither of us ever care to attend any more of ours. I will not go to my 20 year high school reunion in 2 years. Just because I shared air space with someone for four years doesn't make them my friend anymore than me walking down the produce aisle of the local Albertson's makes me a kiwi fruit. Would it be nice to catch up? I suppose, but you can do that over Facebook or Twitter. Neither of which I participate in/on. I just feel that if someone wanted to be my friend, they would be still... not because of a looming reunion. Andy says it's because he went to a smaller school, the friendships are more close-knit than at bigger schools with 400+ in the graduating class. I can't imagine a class reunion of 1600 people (like the wife from Plano). That's crazy man.

Honestly, looking back, I didn't really enjoy high school much at all. I think I was, perhaps, too analytical then as I am now and realized just how ridiculous much of it is/was. The cliques were so ... DUMB. The elitist attitudes were such a turn-off. I had to work most weekends so being involved wasn't an option. So, while a lot of people look back on their high school years with fondness, I just look back with much contempt. It was just a phase I had to go through.

One thing the 1989 reunion did have was a Powerpoint presentation of photos alumni had submitted. I thought that was neat... having photos but you started to see a trend and in much of the photos were the same group of people. My friends were mostly people that weren't in my class. In hindsight, I wish I would have had the opportunity to enjoy high school more but you can't have a do-over in life so just make the best of life now.

Once the reunion was over, we went to go check into the hotel - did I mention this was taking place in Thackerville, Oklahoma? At the Winstar Casino golf clubhouse? OH...and at the reunion... I won a door prize -- a freakin GAS GRILL? WTH? LOL. We'll sell it as we have one and ours works just fine. And to think I never win anything.

Anyhow, I digress, we left the clubhouse and went to the hotel to check in... well, actually, first we went to the hotel we THOUGHT we were to check in (the Microtel). We pulled up under the little covered valet area and I $hit you not, a freakin COCKROACH landed on the windshield... like it had just fallen out of the sky? I was sitting there (I swear I'm getting goosebumps just thinking of it... ewwwww!!!) thinking... OH HELLLL NO! I'm not staying anyplace infested with roaches.. we will drive back home! Luckily, after double checking the paperwork, we discovered were staying at the Best Western. Whew! We checked in and went to the casino.

The Winstar casino, if you've never seen it... is quite bizarre. I think of casinos and I imagine Las Vegas with grand entrances and elaborate exteriors and landscaping. This is just a bizarre building that is HUGE... with this expansive sea of concrete parking lots surrounding it. Someone told us to park on the north side as that was where the tables were (blackjack). We parked and walked in...and upon entering, you're HIT with a stench of cigarette smoke. It was absolutely disgusting. The smell was enough to give me an instant headache. We walked around looking for the group that was going to be meeting us there. It's an interesting place to people watch. Andy made the comment that he wondered how many people there were living at or below the poverty line... or on some sort of assistance. The clientele was just not what I'm used to having only been to Vegas casinos. I'm talking people walking around in flip flops, over-alls with wife-beaters on. It was BIZARRE!

We made it to about 2am, the only gambling we did was with a free $10 that the casino gave to us. Andy bet it in $1 slots and won $31 so we cashed out. LOL. I bought some Tylenol but it didn't touch the headache the DJ gave me from playing the music too loudly at the clubhouse. I drank water and watched a few people losing on 21. You have to give the house $0.50 for every hand you play -- win or lose? What kind of freakin' racket is that?

Got back to the hotel and washed my face. I HATED the though of everything I had on covered with the stench of smoke but I was too tired to shower so I set the alarm on his phone and went to bed. The bed was SO COMFORTABLE! Wow... it has been a LOOONG time since I've slept in a bed that was THAT comfortable! I may e-mail them and ask what kind of bed it was. The pillows sucked but the bed was fantastic! We woke up, I showered, he showered and we hit the road for the Cracker Barrel. Yes, I totally blew my diet this week and I don't care! :) I love the Cracker Barrell. It's my favorite place to eat breakfast, lunch or dinner I think. Delicious home cooking that just reminds me of my grandma's! I'm trying to decide if the bloating i feel is my monthly "friend" or... hmm...maybe the delay is news of another Driggers? Hmmm??? I seriously SERIOUSLY doubt that but... stranger things have happened. Regardless... I ate like crap... and feel bloated about it... I'll deal with it later but for now.. I'm going to bed! Toodles!

All hail the chief!

Obama's 6 Month Report:

Observations on the President's Early Days:


1. Offended the Queen of England.

2. Bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia.

3. Praised the Marxist Daniel Ortega.

4. Kissed Marxist Hugo Chavez on the cheek.

5. Endorsed the Socialist Evo Morales of Bolivia.

6. Announced we would meet with Iranians with no pre-conditions.

7. Gave away billions to AIG also without pre-conditions.

8. Expanded the bailouts.

9. Insulted a Special Olympian.

10. Doubled our national debt.

11. Announced a termination of the space defense system the day after the North Korea launched an ICBM.

12. Despite the urgings of his own CIA director and the prior 4 CIA directors, released information on intelligence gathering.

13. Accepted without public comment the fact that five of his cabinet members cheated on their taxes and two others withdrew after they couldn't take the heat.

14. Appointed a Homeland Security Chief who quickly identified as "dangers to the nation", groups including military veterans, and opponents of abortion on demand, and who ordered that the word "terrorism" no longer be used, but instead referred to such acts as "man made disasters".

15. Circled the globe so he could openly apologize for America's greatness.

16. Told the Mexican President that the violence in their country was because of us.

17. Politicized the census by moving it into the White House from its Department of Commerce origins.

18. Appointed as Attorney General the man who orchestrated the forced removal and expulsion from America to Cuba of a nine-year old whose mother died trying to bring him to freedom in theUnited States.

19. Announces that members of the Bush administration will likely stand trial for "torturing" a terrorist who had played a part in killing 3,000 Americans by pouring water up his nose.

20. People in his administration instructed Air Force One to fly low over New York City and alarmed the citizenry all for a “photo opportunity”.

21. Sent his National Defense Advisor to Europe to assure Europe that the US will no longer treat Israel as a special ally and warned Israel that they might be on their own with the Muslims.

22. Began the process of nationalizing the Auto Industry and the Insurance industry.

23. Announced that for all intents and purposes the Health Insurance Industry will be nationalized (and wants to use over a trillion dollars to pay for it!!!!!).

What a president! And he thinks he’ll be re-elected???? And you know what? … he probably will because “our liberal press adores him".

1300+ more days to go... God help us all!

Asking for prayers

If everyone within reach of my blog could lift my Pastor, Andy McQuitty, and his family up in prayers, I would be forever grateful. This is a wonderful man that has really touched my very soul with the gifts God has given him. Thank you! The following letter was in my e-mail inbox this morning:

7.18.09

My Dear Friends,

It looks like the Lord has scheduled me for a very interesting journey over the next little while. As I prepare to disembark, I'd covet your prayers.

On Tuesday of this week I was diagnosed with colon cancer. That's the bad news. And that's my "journey".

But there's lots of good news as well. We think we caught it early. A CT scan on Thursday showed no evidence of the cancer's spread to any other organs. The surgery to remove the affected area will be done laparoscopically by one of the best surgeons in Texas. Best of all, the Lord is my Shepherd, and none of this scary stuff even phases Him.

My surgery will be this Thursday and I'll be in the hospital for 3-5 days.
Please pray for the hospital staff; I'm a bad patient and they're going to need much grace from God!

Determinations about the need for follow-up chemotherapy will be made after the procedure.

I'm not looking forward to all this and truly wish it wasn't on my plate, but it is what the Lord has teed up for me and I'm at peace with that. After all these years shepherding other people through these situations, it's my turn now! Alice and my family are confident and trusting and a huge bulwark of strength for me, and I think the Lord has much to teach me in these days.
So we go forward.

My doctors are very hopeful that we will have a very good outcome to this surgery and that the procedure itself will be curative. Ah, but that's where the Great Physician comes in. We're just putting it all in His hands. I'm just glad that I'll finally be able to get that pesky ten pounds off that I've been battling for the last two years.

Lord willing, I'll be back in the saddle in about six weeks or so-preaching, teaching, golfing, leading, and eating way more fruits and vegetables from now on (but I won't drag you into all of that!).

The Lord is my Shepherd, and yours too. . . we shall not want! Love and appreciate you all more than you know. . .

10,000 Blessings Mis Amigos,

Andy

An awesome quote

"The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government -- lest it come to dominate our lives and interests."
-- Patrick Henry

Major milestone last night

Drew had a major milestone last night -- he had his first sleepover. He also ate his first inedible object. :) But let's focus on the fun aspect of the night. His little bud from across the street came over to share some pizza and a slumber party. It is a first for both them. Look how much fun they were having.



But during all the fun, D came running downstairs in a complete panic. I figured it was a tattle-tale session. It was anything BUT! Bless his poor little heart; he swallowed a round metal ball. One of the metal balls from those toy sets called Magnetix. He'd nearly choked on one as a toddler. He'd been told multiple times NOT to put things in his mouth. Apparently, he had to learn things the hard way (why do I see this as becoming a constant with this child?) hee hee.

He was TERRIFIED they were going to have to cut him open to get the ball out. I called our doctor's office and spoke with the nurse on duty. Since it was round and not a magnet and he only ingested one, he should just pass it. We, however, have to go excavating for this ball in every BM this child has... um... EWWW!

I guess the good thing is that I'm going out of town tonight so Drew's grandmother is on poo duty.... poo doodie... you choose! LOL...