Abby the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Abby took a spill on the playground at school on Friday. She was banged up pretty good on her nose and lip. It doesn't seem to bother her, but it hurts me to even look at it. Here are a couple of pictures...notice the blue on her tongue....its from the blue crayon she was eating (hope it was non-toxic).

It's that time of year again...

You can hear the sounds in the air, see the people in the stores, and you know that it's that time of year...."flu season" is here! You thought I was talking about Christmas, right? Be sure to get your flu shot and make sure you wash your hands. Here is a funny blog that is dedicated to signs that remind employees to wash their hands. Here are two of my favorite signs on the site.

Change is here!

I am not angry, upset, embarrassed, or ashamed of Obama's victory. If anything, I'm relieved that its over. Now we can change.

After clinching an historic victory, President-elect Barack Obama wakes up Wednesday morning to the task of uniting a divided country and laying the groundwork for an ambitious presidential agenda.

Obama will inherit on Jan. 20 the worst financial crisis in 70 years, as well as the task of winning the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Within minutes of taking the stage in Chicago Tuesday night to acknowledge becoming the first black president of the United States, Obama cautioned voters of the tough road ahead.

"Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even in one term. But, America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there," Obama said in Grant Park.

And to those who did not back his candidacy, Obama said, "I will be your president, too," and noted the need to "heal the divides that have held back our progress." (Fox News 11/5/08)

When I go to church and see thousands of adults enter those doors week after week, when I see hundreds of little kids raising their hands in worship, when I see elementary students going to the cross with their prayers, when I hear of huge life-change happening in our student ministry, when I see new campuses opening to make room for more Christ-seekers.....I know there is change happening already....regardless of who is President.

(I'm paraphrasing Lanny here...) There is phenomenal evidence of God working in the lives of individuals, who have a lot…and who have nothing. What we all have is an opportunity to walk with and experience the character and wonder and grace of the Creator of this Universe. I have yet to see negativity, fear, cynicism (ok well i kinda like to be a cynic now and then) rudeness, blame,and a mean spirit, to take anyone down the road to the wonder of God.

I have seen people who are dissatisfied use their gifts and influence to make a difference in all of the lives around them.

The character of people of God has historically been used in times of doubt to take us to new and incredible places. Things are the way they are. God hasn’t given us the spirit of fear, but of LOVE , and POWER and of a SOUND MIND.

My friend Kevin had a shirt on the other night that said "Be the Moon, Reflect the Son" I love that! The world needs us to reflect him more than ever before, no matter who may have won this election.

What do you say we decide to show the world now who God is….I am more convinced than ever that our benediction is based on a verse that we should adhere to with grace and humbleness….and strength. Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”

So, grow up and follow… and lead… and watch what God does.
This is our planet. Hold on to the one who made it and help to light it up!

Change is here!

Election Day - We Voted!

Clay and I hurried out the door this morning at 6:30am and got the kids to school, stopped by Starbucks (of course), and headed out to vote on Daniel Island. There are only 5,171 people in our precinct, so we were hoping for rather small lines. I was impressed with the turnout, but glad that it only took about 2 hours for the whole process. Here are some pics from this morning...

Reading from today's quiet time....thought I'd share (take it as you will):

Ezekiel 11

2-3 God said, "Son of man, these are the men who draw up blueprints for sin, who think up new programs for evil in this city. They say, 'We can make anything happen here. We're the best. We're the choice pieces of meat in the soup pot.'

"Oppose them, son of man. Preach against them."

11 -12 "I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their hearts of stone and give them tender hearts instead, so they will obey my laws and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God."

Someone in our small group gave this to us last night and I thought it was appropriate to share today....

Praying for the President and Others in Authority

Pray that our elected officials would:

1. Recognize their personal sinfulness and need for the cleansing power of Jesus Christ.
2. Understand their inadequacy for the task before them and their need to pray for God's wisdom, knowledge, and courage.
3. Reject all counsel that violates the spiritual principles of God's Word and be willing to trust God to lead them in the right direction.
4. Resist the pressures of those who would lead them astray or tempt them to destroy the Lord and His will for their lives.
5. Work to reverse the trend toward ungodliness in our land and to restore America's Christ-centered values.
   
6. Be prepared to make godly choices in the best interest of America, regardless of the cost.
7. Rely upon the Word of God and prayer for strength and success.
8. Maintain dignity, honor, trustworthiness, and righteousness in office.
9. Strive to be a godly example to the men, women, and children of this land.
10. Remember that while in office, they are accountable to God for their attitudes, actions, and motives.
    

Why I'm not voting for "The One" candidate

I love this link... click here! (It's about 10 minutes long, but worth watching.)
Also, please people....don't waste your vote by writing in "Mickey Mouse" or random other no-namers. Prayerfully consider who you are selecting as the next President of the United States.

Here are just some of the reasons I am not voting for Senator Barack Obama:

• Obama voted against the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act
• He has called for the repeal of the federal Defense of Marriage Act.
• Obama stated on March 15, 2007, that "I do not agree...that homosexuality is immoral."
• Obama supported banning the sale or transfer of all forms of semi-automatic firearms
• He also voted against allowing persons who had obtained domestic violence protective orders to carry handguns for their protection.
• Obama said he would institute an "Independent Defense Priorities Board," cut investments from an “unproven missile defense system,” "set a goal for a world without nuclear weapons," "work with Russia to take our ICBM's off hair trigger alert" and "slow the development of Future Combat Systems."
• He specified that, under his plan, federal money given to places of worship could only be used on secular programs.
• Obama stated that he opposed education vouchers for use at private schools because he believes they would undermine public schools.
• He also is against the teaching of intelligent design as scientific fact, but supports teaching it as theology.
• Obama's health care plan includes implementing guaranteed eligibility for affordable health care for all Americans, paid for by insurance reform, reducing costs, removing patent protection for pharmaceuticals, and required employer contributions.
• Obama opposes the Health Care Choice Act which allows young, healthy people to purchase less expensive individual health insurance.
• Obama says he favors increasing capital gains tax above the present 15% rate to 20% for families whose income is above $250,000.
• Obama announced a plan — if elected — to deploy an additional 7,000 troops to Afghanistan. (He's not bringing everyone home, like the media wants you to believe!!!!)
• "I consistently believe that when it comes to whether it's Native Americans or African-American issues or reparations, the most important thing for the U.S. government to do is not just offer words, but offer deeds," Obama told a meeting in Chicago in July 2008.
• Obama has said that the death penalty is used too frequently and inconsistently.
• And he uses Times New Roman font and writes in ALL CAPS...just kidding about that one!
  

Halloween

Our neighborhood had a big shindig at the clubhouse (thanks to Kevin & Brenda Hair!) and we joined in on the festivities. That was probably the most fun we have had in our neighborhood since we moved in here over 2 years ago. They had freaky food (see pics below), fun games for the kids, and a hayride! Abby even got an original (face) painting from a local artist & neighbor, Sandy Philips.

Several of our good friends were there. Lee & Martha Ann stopped by for a while and helped us corral the kids. Having an extra set of hands helping with the kids is awesome!

I left a bunch of apples on our front porch with a sign to "please take an apple"....amazingly enough, they were all gone by the time we got back home!

The last two pictures are from the party at school earlier in the day. Cody didn't want to be a shepherd, so he was Tom Cruise from Top Gun. He loved wearing his sunglasses in school.

Cody's Firestation

I know....this is one of those posts you read where the mom says..."Here is Olivia blinking for the first time..." or "Look at our little Philip, trying to poop in his diaper" Yeah, yeah....everybody's kid does amazing things (at least in the parents' eyes), so here's my "look what my kid can do" post:

Here is a picture of Cody with his homemade "fire station" that he made on his own tonight. Look how he even made a bay to park his trucks in by using a cooler....very creative! Notice how he also picked out cars that were "firetruck-looking" or red. I may have a genius on my hands!