I Love America

On this 239th celebration of American Independence I have a few thoughts I'd like to share.

First and foremost:  I love America.

I love everything about it. 

 Here’s just a small list of some of the things I love: 

• I love the Declaration of Independence, The Constitution and The Bill of Rights.
• I love that it was built by the blood, sweat and tears of millions of immigrants.
• I love that there are people braver than I who protect it with their lives….keeping us the land of the free…and the home of the brave.  And I love all those that went before them who fought for Independence and freedom.
• I love that we don’t all get along, and that’s ok. 
• I love that my daughters are afforded the same opportunities as my son.
• I love that I get to worship where and when and Who I want…and you do too.
• I love that I get to choose who represents me in my government.
• I love that I have the right to vote.
• I love that even though it makes my blood boil…people have the right to burn, stomp on and disgrace the US flag.  And if they have that right then they also must have the right to display whatever flag they desire.  Be it Confederate, rainbow or Nazi.
• I even love that sometimes these days I am so frustrated by a segment of society that believes it is the most tolerant when in actuality it is the least tolerant…but they have the right to voice their opinion the same as I have the right to voice mine.
• I love that we have the separation of church and state.  And if you believe that the Ten Commandments should not be displayed on a government property then you must also believe that a church has the right to marry whoever they choose according to their beliefs.  Because that’s what the separation of church and state means.
   
  For me, loving America is like loving my children.  I love it with every fiber in my being, even though sometimes I don’t agree with everything it does.  I don’t stop loving it just because it’s strayed from the path I believe it should be on.  I’m disappointed in its actions sometimes, but I still love it. 
   
  I still believe in the ability of the majority to stand up and right the wrongs. 
   
  We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
  ~Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776~

On Lent and Divine Mercy

I have spent the last several months doing a lot of soul searching.  I'm going to admit something here that I have not admitted to anyone...not anyone.  It is really hard for me, but I feel it is necessary.  I fell into a spell of doubtfulness.  Like Thomas before me, I was having a hard time believing.  I was succumbing to the evilness in the world.  Not something I have EVER experienced before.  In fact, I always prided myself on my unwavering belief.  Well, pride goeth before the fall...isn't that what they say?  I suppose most people go through times of questioning...usually it happens earlier in life than your mid-50's but for me, I have never questioned my faith...until recently.  And it's not so much that I was questioning the existence of God or His love and mercy...but something just didn't feel right for me.  The world seems like it is spinning out of orbit. Things are crazy out there people!  But instead of falling wholly on the Lord for strength...I questioned.  I'm not proud of it...but there it is.  Why do these trials come upon us?  I think sometimes we need to go through the trial to get to a new place of understanding and devotion.  That is where I am right now.  On the brink of a new understanding and a deeper devotion.  I share this with you because maybe someone who will read this will be going through the same thing and possibly, through prayer, we can lift each other up.

Usually for Lent we give something up as a sacrifice...candy, caffeine, soda...you get it.  But this year I have decided to do something different.  I'm going to pray the rosary...everyday until Divine Mercy Sunday (the second Sunday in Easter).  And hopefully by that time I will have made a new habit and I will continue to pray the rosary everyday.  That is my goal. And just maybe you might be tempted to pray along with me.  Here is my plan:

Both my parents were very devoted to the Blessed Mother.  It served them well and so I've decided to look to Her for guidance in my quest for a deeper devotion. I will pray the rosary everyday with the intention of peace in the world.  I am so upset, horrified and frightened by the things going on in the world right now.  I feel called to pray for peace.  I have also been reading about the Marians of the Immaculate Conception and Divine Mercy Sunday.  They inspire me. If you are interested you can follow the link to their website.  It has lots of info and even a section on how to pray the rosary. So what is Divine Mercy?  The following is from Fr. Michael Gaitley's book Divine Mercy Explained:

Okay, so what is Divine Mercy? What is this thing that gets to the heart of Sacred Scripture and to the very center of our faith? To begin, mercy is "love's second name," as John Paul II said. It's a particular kind of love, a particular mode of love when it encounters suffering, poverty, brokenness, and sin. Divine Mercy is when God's love meets us and helps us in the midst of our suffering and sin. In fact, because this side of eternity we're all sinners and because suffering is our lot in life, God's love for us here always takes the form of mercy. It's always the Lord stepping out in compassion to help us poor, weak, and broken sinners. From our perspective, then, every good we receive is an expression Divine Mercy.

Poor, weak, and broken sinner...that is me.

So this will be my Lenten journey.  The rosary and Divine Mercy.  I hope some of you will take it with me. We need to pray for peace.

Peace be with you my friends.

Prepare Ye The Way

Merry Christmas friends!  I hope each and every one of you have a blessed and joyous Christmas. 

Today is the last day of Advent.  Advent...the season of hope.  The season of anxious waiting.  The season of preparing for the coming of the Lord.  I love Advent.  It is filled with the hope of a promising future.  The end of Advent is the summation of one of the most awaited prophecies. The birth of the Savior.  The One.  The Great I Am.  He who will lead us out of the desert into the promised land and eventually fulfill the prophecy of dying for our sins and then the greatest prophecy of all...coming again to bring us home.

The world is truly messed up.  Things are crazy right now.  I'm sure my parents felt the same way in the turbulent '60's.  Sometimes I do wonder if we aren't traveling a fast road to the end times.  No one knows.  Which is why we have to always be ready.  We have to make way for the coming of the Lord...every day.  Advent, more than any other season, brings this home.  Prepare ye the way of the Lord!

Even with all the ugliness in the world, I am still hopeful.  Hopeful that each of us in our own way can bring God's grace to this world.  That we can be that light, the candle in the darkness for those who have lost their way.  Through our actions we can fill the world with grace and peace.  It starts with each of us.  If we carry Advent in our hearts throughout the year we can fill a dark world with light.  We can prepare the way of the Lord.

If we choose to live in the Light we can change the world.  We can do it.  

The Lord is coming.  Prepare ye the way of the Lord!

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Luke 2: 8-14

Let Freedom Ring!

“America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship. You've gotta want it bad, 'cause it's gonna put up a fight. It's gonna say, 'You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who's standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours.' You want to claim this land as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country cannot just be a flag. The symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Now show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms. Then, you can stand up and sing about the land of the free.”   Michael Douglas as President Andrew Shepherd in the movie An American President 

This is one of my favorite movie quotes.  Which may surprise those that know me well, considering it comes from what I consider a movie with a pretty liberal slant.  However, this exact sentiment is what I learned from my father, who was as conservative and patriotic as they come.  It says exactly what it means to be an American.  You have to stand up for what you believe in while respecting the views of those who believe what you abhor.  It’s tough.  Especially in the political climate we live in.  But instead of ranting and raving about that which you are opposed.  Use what you already have at your disposal.  Use wisely your voting power. 

America is advanced citizenship. 

Such a powerful statement and something we are sorely lacking in America today.  People don’t think for themselves anymore.  We live in a nation of lemmings.  People who listen to a 10 second sound bite, via some type of social media, and make decisions based solely on that.  We have people who vote for a person based only on the color of their skin or the political party they represent.  Both are wrong. 

We don’t value our voting privilege.  Because that is what it is in my mind.  A privilege.  A privilege that was bought and paid for by young men and women from the inception of this country to the present day.  They fought, bled and died for our privilege to vote.  Don’t you think that makes us responsible to use the privilege wisely ? 

I think it is incumbent upon us to be responsible care takers of this great nation.  We should cherish it as much as we cherish the lives that were lost defending and keeping it free.  We should vote responsibly.  Do the research.  Read about the candidates.  Research their back round, their values, and their vision for the country.   Voting is the most important tool we have as Americans, and as a group, we use it poorly.  It’s the most powerful tool we have to create change.   

So while you are enjoying the food, drink and fireworks this Independence Day, remember what the day is all about.  Remember that we are a free nation of free people with the right to choose their own leaders and live in that country without oppression.  And remember the price that was paid for the privilege to call yourself an American. 

I'll leave you with this quote as a little Independence Day food for thought:

"The tyranny of a prince in an oligarchy is not so dangerous to the public welfare as the apathy of a citizen in a democracy."   ~Charles de Montesquieu~

Happy Independence Day my friends! 

Let Freedom Ring!!

 

Humankindness...Paying it Forward

Hi bloggy friends.  I'm not sure how many of you are still even reading my very infrequent postings, but I'm coming to you to ask for your help.


One of my daughters best friends is going through a very rough time right now.  She and her husband are fighting for custody of his biological daughter.  It's a very stressful and heartbreaking time for them.  I am asking you to please pray for this couple and their daughter.  They need your prayers desperately.  Please put them on your prayer list.  I appreciate it and I know they do also.


If you have received some humankindness recently and feel the need to pay it forward, I would be so appreciative if you could help them out monetarily. They are in desperate need of funds to further their quest to be reunited with their daughter.  If you are able to donate, it will be greatly appreciated by their entire family.  Here is a link to their story and you can make a donation there if you wish:
http://www.gofundme.com/bringhomemegan 


I am thanking you in advance for any help you can give.


Here are a couple of pictures of Josh, Amanda and Megan.












Hope everyone has a great weekend!  God Bless you all! 

New Year's Eve Musings

 

I've never been much for celebrating New Year's.  It wasn't a big holiday in my family.  We didn't do any special foods or activities. The one memory I do have from when I was a kid is what a treat it was to be able to stay up and watch Dick Clark count down to the New Year in Times Square.  If I could stay awake.  Sometimes I made it and sometimes I didn't.  Theses days it's just a good reason to have a day off work.  I don't do resolutions because I feel like if I live my life the way I'm supposed to everyday...I don't need them.  That's not to say that I do live my life right every day...but it's what I strive for and no list of "stuff" is going to change the way I go about my business.  That's just me.

 

One thing I do enjoy every year is Dave Berry's year in review.  He is such a smart and funny writer.  I always enjoy reading his articles.  You can read the article here.  It's long...but worth every word.

 

Reading his article did give me a few ideas of things I hope to never hear again, some of these things dominated news and social media to the point that it made me want to scream, some of them just irritated me.  Here are the things that annoyed me in 2013:

 

Miley Cyrus, twerking, Jodi Arias, Duck Dynasty, Obamacare, Obama, Congress...all of them, Alex Rodriguez, Ryan Braun, the LA Dodgers, zombies, sequestration, debt ceiling, The City of Glendale City Council, The Goldwater Institute, Quebec hockey fans, new computer systems at work.

 

I guess that's enough for one year right?  I had no idea there were so many until I started typing them.  I'll end on a high note.  Here's what gave me joy in 2013:

 

33 years of marriage to the same man...I really do love that guy; my kids...no explanation needed; crocheting...anything; my cat...I know, it's weird, but true; my big crazy, weird family...I love them all; a beautiful wedding; and last but not least...my new son-in-law Adam...He is a special young man and I could not be happier that he is now a member of our family.  I am looking forward to many years with him :)

 

My heart is full and my life is perfectly what it should be.  Looking forward to lots of the same in 2014.

 

Happy New Year friends!  Hope you find your joy in 2014...Love you all!



O Holy Night

Christmas is five days away....FIVE!  Every year I feel surprised by how fast the holiday sneaks up on me.  You'd think I'd have learned by now...

You know how things just don't seem to go right sometimes?  That's how I feel about this Christmas season. 

Dan started decorating the outside of the house, got the lights up around the roof and promptly got sick. He's been sick for the better part of two weeks.  Needless to say no other decorations made it up.  He is highly disappointed.  Decorating the house for Christmas is the highlight of his year. 

I've had a really hard time getting into the Christmas spirit this year.  I miss buying gifts for the kids. Gift buying is the highlight of MY year.  I love searching for and picking out gifts.  But we are exchanging stockings this year so I only have one person to buy for. ONE!  How do you only buy for one person?  I mean, it's practical and its necessary and I love the simplicity of it.  But I yearn for the days of a pile of presents under the tree.  I need some grand kids people! :) 

One thing that never changes is why we celebrate this holiday in the first place.  I try to always keep that in the forefront of my mind.  Especially when lamenting the absence of gifts under the tree.  

Driving home last night it was cloudy, a little windy and a tad chilly.  And then from the radio came the most beautiful version of O Holy Night.  It was the perfect setting...for the perfect song.  It made my heart swell and it filled me with Good Tidings.  This is what Christmas is all about, Gerri.  It was exactly what I needed at exactly the right time.  Amazing how God always does that for me.  In the midst of Christmas hub-bub and lamenting, He finds a way to bring me back to what is Real.  The Christmas Story is one of hope and the beginning of the journey toward Easter and eternal salvation.

I am happy for this season of hope and thankful to my Savior who always finds ways to bring me back to Him.

Wishing you and yours a Blessed Christmas.