Birthday Masterpieces

 The GrandBabes created brush-stroked oils for my birthday gifts.  Here are their offerings on the Family Art Wall.  So great

pure genius

the president creating a job

Elissa's Wordless Wednesday

Worth a thousand words

Robert Joseph exchanges vows with Tiffany Wai-Chee

First of the photos, so the jury's out, Cheri0.
But, it isn't nice for the Mother of the Groom to outfox the Bride.
Vakre: Norwegian for "Beautiful."

All Entitlements Are Not Created Equal

All Entitlements Are Not Created Equal

Granted, a hard pill to swallow. But the Truth shall set us free.

Colorado Elk Hunt

Kristi with her brothers, Rock and Robb.
Robb even has camou binocs.
The backdrop beauty of Colorado
makes me miss it.  

Work in progress: The house or me?

Both.  Aren't we always and forever a bloomin' work in progress.


The genesis of this Facelift was deterioration 
in the green paneling around the dryer vent.
Robert and I talked about getting this nice textured rock around the front.  

He'd be proud.

Rock's trophy

Rocky's 5 X 5 Colorado elk.
400 lbs of fine winter eating.
Sarah, would be so proud!
That's how we roll

Truth of the week

The most often repeated commandment in the Bible is “Do not fear.” It’s in there over two hundred times. That means a couple of things.  It means we are going to be afraid, and it means we shouldn’t let fear boss us around.

Mirth of the week

Does this little desk make my presidency look big?

My Drill Instructor

My Drill Instructor

Dallas Willard advises, "Follow the tears."  When I do, this is what I uncover:  As a vulnerable female, the sacrifice of Navy One makes me cry.  It is not complicated.  Someone I trust has my back.  Thank you.

Economic sense QOW

Quote of the week comes from the venerably esteemed Thomas Sowell:  Aside from sheer ignorance of history and economics, class warfare politics pays off in votes for politicians who can depict their opponents as defenders of the rich and themselves as looking out for working people. It is a great political game that has paid off repeatedly in state, local and federal elections.

Jew versus Jew

Jew versus Jew

Let's give it up for folks of the Jewish persuasion voting with their substantial brains rather than anyone with a D behind their name.

To head-off the obvious thought that I, O Faithful Truth-teller, robotically vote for anyone with an R behind their name, there are without question candidates that I'd be loath to pull the lever:
Moonbeam Romney, Camera-loving Michelle and Pretty Boy Perry.  Can anyone say, "Biz as usual?!"

Good Neighbor

Our weekday morning wave is not this dramatic but, nevertheless, Good Neighbor Lar Bear is at his window across the street EVERY morning as I pull out the driveway and head to school.  So you can imagine my downcast mood when Good Neighbor and his Bride, Audrey, head to parts unknown during the bitter months.  Sometimes, they are snow birds.  Seasonally out of their SD nest.  I miss The Daily Wave when Good Neighbor is gone.


One morning this week, there was a woman behind me itching to get out of the neighborhood.  As I slowed down to check for Good Neighbor's greeting, I launched into my eager child gesture in response.  Waving To Beat The Band!  Apparently the gal behind me thought I was waving to her and waved back from her SUV behind me.


I didn't see her but here's Larry's take:
CB (Care Bear):  This morning as you waved to me the lady behind you was waving too. I think she was thinking you were waving at her. Too cute.      Lar Bear     
Dear Readers, don't you wish you lived on 43rd St NW?  I'm sure glad I do.  

Family times; aka, Focused Devotion

Terrified that the Cock-A-Doodle Alpha was going to spur the Little Man, Big Sister Morgan protected Isaiah: "Gabe!! ALPHA!! Get the man out of here!!!"  

Ya gotta love it!
Honestly, I do not know of a family that 
is more intentional in their Full Attention to 
their children.  We could all learn a thing or two.  
Focused Devotion

Thomas Sowell

Thomas Sowell  (link)

Quote of the day: 
What most people are unaware of is that there was no Great Depression until AFTER politicians started intervening in the economy.  Intervention in the economy is like eating potato chips: You can't stop with just one.   Thomas Sowell


http://jewishworldreview.com/cols/sowell091411.php3

A study in contrast

http://bostongazette.wordpress.com/2011/09/12/bush-and-obama-911-remarks-a-study-in-contrast/

My heart is singing.
Can you hear it?
"Hallelujah"

Isaiah making the best of the lemons in his life.
LOVE the Little Man

Is this great or what!

the Redemptive factor

One time my Journalist Friend, Cheri, featured "Six Words that Define Your Life" on her blog.  I think there's a book along that vein.
My 6:  Always looking for the redemptive factor.

Redemption - restoring that which has been lost (6 words!) - is really the thrust of Christ's message.  "Behold, I make all things new." (that's 6 words too; such a coincidence)

New, fresh, restored, redeemed!  Could there possibly be a more inspiring Promise?  If that doesn't get one out of bed with a bounce, we better find the fibulator; the pulse is MIA.

Redemption:  the crocus in the crack

the Cross in the crossfire

Redemption on display:
1)  The dysFUNctional family featured in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape."  Goodwill and charity triumph through every fiber of the family quilt.  Lots of Bad Boy stains in that quilt but, nevertheless, God is among them.


2)  My forever friend, Laura Jean, is running her 2nd marathon in Boulder, CO, this LaborLess Weekend.  She runs in memory of her daughter, Pearl Jean, who died shortly after arrival at birth.  Laura and Josh opted to trust God with their  9-month gestation and run the full course of the pregnancy knowing that moments after Pearl arrived, she would leave this earth and be present with the Lord.  Laura and Josh launched a ministry non-profit for families that experience the heartbreaking devastation of entrusting a newborn to the Everlasting Arms when their arms are bereft of their child.
"To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord."  These courageously righteous families know they will hold their child again.  But not here.  They wait for Redemption!

Laura finding God in the midst.
As always, the Lamb wins!

3) Three redemptive memoirs:  Clarence Thomas, "My Grandfather's Son."  Condoleezza Rice's "Extraordinary, Ordinary People."  Thomas Sowell, "A Personal Odyssey."  Redemption on steroids!

Sarah's strategy

Diane Adams told her husband that Palin started the race in the back of the pack, among the walkers, keeping a low profile for as long as possible. Then she ran around them, and took off.  Excerpt from LA Times article

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-palin-marathon-20110904,0,1357976.story?track=rss

http://caucuses.desmoinesregister.com/2011/09/04/sarah-palin-runs-in-iowa-half-marathon/

RUN SARAH RUN