It's a Spirit of Self-Control, Not Self-Righteousness.

I’m not a particularly political person. I don’t go to rallies or participate in heated debates. I’m not getting my panties in a wad over the current healthcare issue, or demanding immediate resolution to our nation’s economic crisis. It is what it is, people. Government can’t fix everything.

Not even if we were served by the administration that you WISH had been elected.

I didn’t vote for President Obama. I was disappointed at the election’s results, but the fact remains. He is the leader of our nation and as Americans, and especially as Christians, we are called to support him. Let me just say, I am not in favor of blindly following anyone. Those who know me know that I tend to have questions. It’s not necessarily driven by doubt, but I typically have questions for those in leadership. And if a leader is a true leader, they can handle answering a few questions from little ol’ me.

Last night at a school parent meeting, I learned that President Obama is going to address America’s school children next Tuesday, September 8th at 11am Central Time. I was a little surprised, but not shocked. Fellow parents, it’s not a scandal. I’m pretty sure he is not going for mass brainwashing. He’s the President. He’s facing the sad reality of our nation’s terrible drop-out rate, and he’s going straight to the source. The kids.

Why are conservatives so upset? Because you want your children to retain the right to drop out mid-way through their education? Trust me… they’ll still drop out if you let them.

Seriously though. What are you teaching your children by resisting the broadcast of this speech? One parent compared this impending address to Adolph Hitler’s propaganda. Really? Hitler? Really.

There were several parents at last night’s meeting who declared that they would be removing their children from school during the address. I doubt they’ll back it up, but even if they do… They’re only inviting trouble down the road. These parents will be teaching their children that, if they don’t want to listen to a person of authority, they should just walk away. Or plug their ears. Peaceful protest? Perhaps. But it seems more like defiance to me.

And what will happen later, when YOU are the authority figure that your child doesn’t want to hear? When they walk away or block out your voice, will you smile and say “Aww, look at that! Look at my little conscientious objector. I’m so proud!”? I don’t think so.

I am looking forward to next Tuesday with this in mind:

For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-control.
2 Timothy 1:7

What is there to fear? Nothing can stand against God. I have to trust that God has ordained those who come into power. I am praying for President Obama, that his time in office will be purposeful, that his leadership will be respectable, and right now I am praying that his speech on Tuesday will be pleasing to God. Not pleasing to me. Not pleasing to you. Pleasing to GOD.

I plan to lean on Him, and fully invoke this spirit of power, love, and self-control as I talk with my children about President Obama’s address. Ultimately, I wield far more power over my children than any president. My words and actions have a much greater personal impact on them. I want to show my children a broad display of love and grace in this and all circumstances. I commit to exercise self-control as we speak about our great country, her leader, and his authority. Whether or not I agree with his words, he has authority here.

As my children view President Obama’s address in their classrooms, I plan to be informed. I will be watching the speech here on my home computer. I would encourage all other parents to do the same.

Also, read up on what has been communicated to your child’s school:
• Letter to school principals
• Activities for Grades PreK-6 [PDF, 64K]
• Activities for Grades 7-12 [PDF, 108K]

I hope that this can be a beneficial experience for our nation’s children, in which they find encouragement and strength. I hope that this can be equally positive for our nation’s adults, that we embrace this opportunity to partner with our government for the sake of our children’s success.

I know this is a hot topic, and you want to sound off. Please comment. Share your thoughts and perspective!

Playing Beauty Shop

Last Thursday, I spent several hours at my grandmother’s house. I call it “playing beauty shop” because it really is just play. I’m not any sort of professional. I’m just a little granddaughter, playing with scissors and rollers and administering a combination of chemicals, ominously called a Permanent.

I cherish this time with her. She has always been so special to me, but even more so now that I understand that our time is precious. The days are numbered. And I don’t say that just because she turns 82 today. The days have been numbered all along; Hers and mine. I just didn’t believe it when I was younger.

Our beauty shop time is ours and ours alone. No one else gets to set her hair. Only me.

We talk and laugh and reminisce. She tells me stories about her life. There are so many stories, and while some favorites are told and retold, I usually get to hear at least one new one. We talk about the family, about the weather, her friends at the Coppell Senior Center. We talk about her upcoming travels. There are always upcoming travels. Whether her departure is in a week or months, she is always planning her next trip.

And last week, as with most times I visit her, she asked her most frequently asked question:

Are you losing weight?

Weight is a common discussion with my grandmother. You might call it an obsession. I tell her that time spent chasing kids and not baking keeps me fit. She tells me that she always had to diet like crazy to keep any weight off.

One summer I lost a lot of weight. I went over to So-and-so’s house to sunbathe, and her husband came out with the camera. I jumped up and covered myself so quick! But now that I think about it, I wish I had let him take my picture. I have never been so thin as I was then, and I wish I had a picture of myself.

This tale of sunbathing and camera-shyness has been told before. But then she tells me a part of the story I’ve never heard.

Actually, that was the one time your grandfather said to me, “Jeanne, you’ve lost enough weight. You’re getting too thin. You need to stop it now.”

Then she laughed a little, and got a sort of sheepish look. She continued, speaking softly and grinning widely, as though she were betraying a great secret.

You see, I had been going to the doctor and getting diet pills. I had so much energy! I could just go and go and go… She pumps her arms in an act of faux running.

Gramma, do you know what was in those? Doctors used to prescribe amphetamines for weight loss. That’s SPEED, Gramma.

Oh. She shrugged. Well, it worked!

I just love her. She cracks me up. I tell her that she was in danger of drug addiction, using an incredibly harmful substance, and she shrugs. I thank the Lord that my grandfather made her stop, and she laments the loss of her waiflike physique. We both smile and shake our heads.

And I laugh out loud.

Happy Birthday, Gramma!

Signs and One Lucky Burro

I ask you, Safeway Gas Station, why do I have to be responsible? I don't even live here!



And what? It's so intriguing. I like my coffee with a little mystery, don't you?

Actually, I don't like coffee.



In Texas, we call it "Mexican Food."



Lucky the Burro was probably the main attraction for kids at Colorado's Cave of the Winds. What's that in your barrell, Lucky?



Oh. Maybe Lucky the Burro has some grown up fans as well.

West Coast Bumper Stickers

I'd like to begin by pointing out that these two bumper stickers were on the same vehicle. From California, but I suppose you didn't need me to tell you that.


This is a bit unsettling for me. Excuse me, Person, I hope you realize that this is not actually a legal document. It's just a sticker. If you really want to hunt terrorists, please join the military.



Yeah, C'mon California!

In Honor of Sabrina

A few years ago, my friend Sabrina and I started to email eachother pictures of funny signs that we encountered out in the world. She is the one who introduced me to Stick Figures in Peril, the genre of signs that are meant to serve as warnings or directions. But really, many of them simply serve as stick figure comedy. Sabrina has a hilarious blog called Signage Gold that is dedicated to making fun of signs. In honor of Sabrina, I am posting these Stick Figures in Peril from our Colorado trip. Enjoy!



Stick figure in peril of losing half of his house while lying on the floor with his head in a corner.




Stick figure in peril of sprouting a mushroom-shaped head while bouncing awkwardly between huge circles.




Stick figure in peril of being pelted with rocks because the people who made the sign posted above him did not understand that you put things in quotations when you don't really mean them. "Oops."

Funny Things on the Way to Colorado

We saw a lot of funny things on this trip. Maybe they were actually funny, maybe they were only funny to us. Either way, I'm going to share some here, but just one or two at a time. It's just too much to post all at once... I want the joy to last a while! (I'll enjoy it, even if you don't.)




When I saw this sign, I thought, "Wow! This place must have some classy bathrooms, if the Chevron folks want to come all the way over here to use them." But then I found out that this is not the case. Which left me thinking, "Just how disgusting ARE the Chevron bathrooms that the people over there think that THIS is an improvement?"




Maybe Sherwin Williams should rethink this logo and slogan. You know, with the whole environmental movement and all.

Oh, and notice the driver noticing ME taking his picture and laughing. As usual. I am SO not sneaky.

Sin is a Carnival Funhouse

She’s locked in a building that she doesn’t even realize is burning down.
I know I have to wait and trust that God will open the door at the right time.
But I’m struggling with patience.
I want to rush right in and save her.

It’s a carnival funhouse, with twisted hallways and stairs that lead nowhere.
The mirrors are all wrong, but she looks to them anyway.
The faces she sees are laughing, but this really isn’t funny.
Is this independence? Is it happiness? Love?
This ‘love’ doesn’t seem right.
Is there a way out?

The flames are high, coming striaght from the foundation.
She walked in, not seeing.
This whole thing could collapse at any second.
She doesn't even know.

I want to rush in and save her.
But I know that I alone am not capable of saving.
I love her so much,
But nobody loves her like God loves her.
And only He knows how to open that door.



Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
2 Timothy 2:25-26