What's it Worth?

I HATE politics! Can I make that any more clear?

Now, I know there are a few good men & women that are in the political field, but for the most part, I believe they are natural born LIARS instead of natural born leaders. Most politicians will tell whatever half truth that benefits them the most to whoever they are talking to at the time.

It no longer matters what is right or what is wrong. It's ALL about the most votes.

With that being said I am NOT thrilled with all the extra stuff surrounding the rewording of Amendment One.

Yes, I completely believe that marriage is a holy union ordained by God. Yes, I completely believe that marriage should only be between one man & one woman.

What does marriage have to do with children's insurance or with single parent's custody issues or with the fact that violence is a crime whether you are married to the offender or not? Why has it even been insinuated that these issues could be in jeopardy?

This completely infuriates me & breaks my heart at the same time. We have children that MIGHT suffer from this because the government wanted to complicate yet another issue.

I have friends & family members who are openly homosexual. I know children that I love with all my heart that are being raised by homosexual couples. I have dear friends that are living together, friends that are divorced, friends that are single parents, and friends that have children born out of wedlock.

Does it mean that I like the situation or have to approve of their actions? No, but I do NOT sit in judgement on any of them. God is the ONLY one holy enough to judge. We are ALL sinners! I have just been saved by grace and am forgiven of my sins! Does that mean that I don't ever commit a sin? NO, I sin daily. I sinned first thing this morning by choosing to give in to my flesh and sleep late instead of meeting with God early to start my day with prayer and studying His word. Did He forgive me? Of course He did, because He loves me!

 

As much as I hate this, I can only answer for me & my house! I can't be held responsible for the government & their wicked conniving ways, for my friends, family, or my neighbors.

Since I am held accountable for my actions & for the things that go on in my house, I CANNOT vote for ANYTHING that I KNOW is an abomination in God's eyes. So it is with a heavy heart but a clear conscious that I will most assuredly vote FOR the passing of Amendment One.

Because I KNOW that God has NEVER forsaken His people or let the wicked prevail, I KNOW that the God I serve will take care of everything else trying to hinder what is right. The best I can do now is pray for our leaders, our nation, & those who are lost.

2 Chronicles 7:14

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

If you feel the need to comment on this post, PLEASE be respectful. This is my blog, these are my ideas, beliefs, & opinions. I won't ever (intentionally) bash you for what you believe, so please have the same respect for me. I love you all! 

How Do You Grade THAT?!

I am DREADING the next couple of days with EVERYTHING that I have in me! Its that time of year that we homeschool moms HATE!

Austin is taking his state tests tomorrow & Thursday. He's not the least bit nervous, but I am. This test (at least to me) measure so much more than what he has actually learned. They also measure my success as a teacher, his success as a student, and our success as a family.

This has been a rough year when it comes to school. We have had so many "interruptions", we have had too many days off, and we have switched curriculum after 12 weeks.

I do not feel like a complete failure this year. I KNOW that my kids have learned a lot, BUT that little piece of paper is not going to ask Austin anything raising chickens, helping on a farm, delivering calves, raising a baby, running a home business, living for Jesus, learning football plays, or developing a good work ethic! If it did, man, we would be all set!

Unfortunately, the state of NC has this list of things they think are important. Yes, I think those things are important as well, but we don't always learn just those things.

I'm glad that God sees the effort that we put in more than just the results!

Koinania Vacation Giveaway

While trying to plan our family vacation this year, I came across this giveaway!

This is a ranch owned by a homeschool family out in Missouri. I've never been to Missouri.

We haven't even been on a real vacation in a couple of years. How awesome would it be to actually win one!!

Keeping my fingers crossed!!

Happy Birthday Austin

Saturday April 13, 2002 at 7:24pm, my life changed dramatically! Austin Dale Bauguess came screaming into the world. He was the most beautiful sight I had ever seen. I cried with relief, nervousness, & terror as I laughed with joy, wonder, & amazement at this tiny little baby on my chest.

I was clueless!

I thought I would have it all together. I thought I would be the perfect mom. I thought I would know what to do in any situation. Man, was I wrong!!

It didn't take me long to figure this out either. But somehow, I have managed to keep him relatively safe for 10 years..... Yes, I just said 10 years!

When did that happen? I feel almost like Rip Van Winkle. It seems that these years have passed by without me realizing it.

My chubby little buddy who would scream if we quit feeding him & loved to ride 4 wheelers & go fishing is now my very handsome, almost too skinny young man who barely takes enough time to eat & still loves to ride 4 wheelers & dirt bikes & go fishing. In fact, Austin spent the biggest part of his birthday fishing with his daddy.

I am proud of the person he is growing up to be (please remind me of that when we are having "one of those days")! He loves to tinker around & build things. He has a huge imagination. He is passionate about his chickens & is a great help around the farm! He still loves serving God.

Some memories I cherish, some things I wish I had done differently, some days I would like to relive, but all in all, its been a good 10 years!

Now if I can just figure out how to slow down the next 10 years!

More than Fuzzy Bunnies & Brightly Colored Eggs

As I was finishing up buying all the goodies for the kid's Easter baskets the other day, I brushed off the desire to buy Logan an Easter book to put in his basket. After all, he would just eat it & we still have a few really good board books left over from the older kids. I filled their baskets with the usual candies, marshmallow peeps, bubbles, crackers, & toys.

Then as I made my way back around Walmart tonight, it hit me like a ton of bricks. They ALWAYS put out a cardboard display near the front of the store displaying whatever holiday is coming up. Both sides are usually loaded up with books, coloring books, board books, books, books, books.

That cardboard display was there & it was loaded with books just as it always is....BUT, the main side, you know, the side that everyone sees had Diary of a Wimpy Kid & various other humorous books.

Wait, did I miss something? I literally stopped & looked around. I was looking for the Easter book display. I didn't see another display. I walked to the other side, the back side, the side that hardly anyone sees unless you are deliberately looking. Oh, ok, THERE were the Easter books. Kinda...

There were a handful of Bibles, a book on Heaven, & that was about it.

My heart sunk. I felt almost betrayed. This is the horrible death & the resurrection of my savior we are talking about! Why was it not important enough to get 2 sides of the display? Why does it not deserve a better selection of books to give our children?

Unfortunately, this is the world we live in!

My kids know why we celebrate Easter...don't they? I have never lead them to believe there was a little bunny who hopped over to our house & left goodies. I have never stressed how important it is to dye or hunt eggs.

Yes, we do still enjoy hunting for eggs. Yes, we do still like to share a basket full of little trinkets. Yes, we do still get all dressed up in sparkly new clothes. Yes, we do still eat dinner with the family. But none of these things truly matter. They are all fun, but NOTHING can take the place of the love on Calvary's hill!

As you celebrate Easter this year, spend a little more time in thankfulness to the only man who loved you more than anyone else ever could. The only one capable of taking your sin away just so you could live in Heaven with Him for all eternity. 

This is what our Calvary's Hill looks like today on Good Friday.
The grass is growing nicely & the body of Jesus has been wrapped in
grave clothes, placed in the tomb, & the stone has blocked the entrance.

Calgon Take me Away

I have been in DESPERATE need of a vacation for a LONG time! I worry, I stress, I get ill over the drop of a hat, yep, a vacation!

Justin told me a couple of weeks ago to clear our schedule for a couple of days. Do you have any idea how hard that is? Between school, extra curriculars, baseball, soccer, & church, not to mention any free time (wait, scratch that, I don't have free time. Although some people think I have all the time in the world. Anyway, that's a story for another day.) our days stay pretty busy, but I like it that way! So, I managed to squeak out a couple of days, even though I will be missing the Mother's Encouragement Tea (oh, how I need to be there).

He wouldn't tell me anything other than we were taking off for a couple of nights. One of those nights being without the kids. Not even Logan!! Oh my! I immediately start feeling guilty with a capital G. We haven't had a real family vacation in 4 years. Now, we have been camping & to the Great Wolf Lodge a couple of times, but not an actual go away, stay away, vacation (read BEACH). In fact the last time I went anywhere off was almost 3 years ago for our 10th anniversary & that was without the kids. I said never again!

So here I am, battling my selfish desires against my sane objections. The kids need me, Logan can't handle it, we can't afford it, we have school, etc, etc, etc.

Well, today is the day. And it came none too soon. My stress level was through the roof and my patience was nonexistent. I smiled as we dropped the kids off at my mother in law's, but I still felt guilty.

BUT, come to find out, my wonderful hubby won, that's right WON a 2 night stay at a local hotel. So no more guilt about money.

AND, the kids are coming to stay with us tomorrow. So no more guilt about them not getting to enjoy the pool.

AND, Justin is preaching at a local church tonight (the same one he has been preaching at for the past 2 weeks) & the kids are coming there. So no more guilt about completely abandoning Logan.

AND, we are close enough not to take Austin to baseball tomorrow. So no more guilt about missing their activities.

AND, I got to do WHATEVER I wanted this afternoon AND I get a full nights sleep. So no more guilt...period.

Well, maybe a little. I pray that Logan doesn't have too hard of a night!