The one about Collin and the election...

Surely by this time next week Americans will be glued to their TVs, radios, or smart phones, waiting for our newest president to be announced.

Personally, I have this sinking feeling, and it's based on nothing more than the fact that our country is overrun with already-socialist-minded morons who believe they shouldn't have to work hard for their own house, job, car, health care, food supply and good credit! It's enough to make me want to scream.

Well, come to think of it, there is another reason I have a sinking feeling... we are thoroughly warned in scripture what to expect when individuals and nations turn away from the Living God (from start to finish the Bible is full of warnings, but prophetic books in the Old Testament like Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel express the most vivid imagery). Though neither candidate is ideal, if the democratic nominee wins, the USA will be getting more of what it deserves.

Collin has been by my side during the entire election process. He has watched all of the debates, and attended the McCain-Palin rally in Virginia Beach. It has been a learing experience for teacher and student! He can pick out when someone is skirting an issue, when someone is confident in their platform, why eye contact is important and what a lack thereof usually indicates. Electoral votes, the stock market, Democrat, Republican, Iran, Russia, cold war, recession, government-run health care... Collin's vocabulary "extra credit."

While all of it counts for something in "homeschooling," I know there's a good chance that Collin will forget a good portion by the next election. So what is most important? After the election dust settles, my job as a God-fearing parent is to be certain my child knows why voting matters, and what matters when voting. Christians MUST vote on the issues... the moral issues. Not race, or service, or experience (oh, but experience does matter), or eloquence, or preference. Preserving the sanctity of human life and God-ordained marriage - these are of concern to the Creator's heart. Should they not be what concern us? There are no other morality issues being discussed on the campaign trails.

So, tonight when my son presented the question, "Is there a good chance Obama will win?" I had to answer, "Yes." And though some would think Collin's 9-year-old reply to be uncomfortably straightforward, I am thankful that he is attuned to the moral implications of having a man like Obama for president. Collin's reply? Simply this: "I guess that means there will be less children to play with, and more gay people walking around." Yep, son. Strip away the hype and that's what you get.

The one about/against the liberal left...

I received this in a forwarded email, and simply couldn't resist...

This video is 9-minutes long, but it has some of the funniest, truthful analogies I've heard. The guy talks fast, and he uses a handful of modern, pop-culture references/lingo. I had to verify that the names he mentioned near the beginning are current rap stars (for those who, like me, don't follow this stuff). Some may be uncomfortable watching it, but it is refreshing to have actual proof that some of those the leftist media and liberal democrats are trying to brainwash refuse to be deaf, dumb and blind to their lies.

I recommend the Republican party spend some of it's money to get this on prime-time television... (not that I am delusional enough to think anyone cares about my recommedations)

The one about HRHS (huh?)...

I read an interesting blog on a site for moms the other day (don't remember the site). It is something I needed to read. You see, I am not compelled to blog every day, or every other day, or every other week. Some days the only thing I want to do is come home and not look at a computer screen. And that is ok.

What I read was essentially this: If you are going to blog, it should be because you want to... and you want to for YOU. It is a journal, and there should be no pressure to journal. For a person who analyzes why she does and doesn't do things... like me... it was a relief. So. No more apologizing. I haven't blogged in almost a month... and that's that.

Moving on... LOL.

I am really excited that Collin was able to join a homeschool sports team. HRHS (Hampton Roads Homeschool Sports) has been around for a while, but has really grown in the last three years from what I am told. The first day of the season when we all met coaches and teams... I was amazed! I had never seen so many homeschooled kids in my life! It was a wonderful thing.

Collin and I are quite introverted in that we do really well keeping to ourselves. We love our church/ministry/biological families, but our ties stop with them. We don't shun other relationships, but we don't seek them out. Collin and I naturally keep to ourselves wherever we go. We did so especially for the four years Collin played in a local chaper of a national soccer organization. As much as we interacted with those kids, and their families, for those four years, we maintain only one connection, and that by scant emails. Mr. Chuck is a senior adult that adopted his granddaughter after her mother died. Once at a game, he hit it off with Collin's grandpa (my dad) and we were automatic friends! Below are photos of Collin playing soccer in 2005 through 2007, ages 6, 7 and 8:

Even with homeschooling families, we seem to be the odd-family-out. I can't completely understand the reasons why, but was comforted to know that others in my small circle of friends often experience the same thing. Without being able to fully explain, and without a sense of superiority, I conjecture that we somehow exude inner convictions of no-nonsense. I know... anyone can undoubtedly assume that is a prideful statement, but it's truly not intended that way.

Today, though, things were a little bit different. Seemingly, as Collin is relating to kids (his age) that have far more in common with him than any he has ever met, he is doing really well on the soccer field. Experience didn't help him when he was in the other league; he was timid, self-doubting, disconnected. Now, however, it seems like he has a comfort level he's never sensed. It is something I can see with my eyes, and my heart, but is difficult to put into words. Homeschooling kids/moms will likely understand better what I am saying. :)

I don't anticipate that I will walk away from this cool, unique league with any more connections than I did with the other league. Since our lives consist mostly of ministry and church, I can confidently say I am just fine with that. However, for Collin, I am very thankful. Over the years, though infrequently, he has mentioned having friends that understand him. He has prayed for a homeschooled kid to move to our block. And though he's done so infrequently, the desire exists. Here are Collin's recent soccer photos:

Even if none of Collin's teammates ever come for a sleepover, God has given him a chance to simply be himself around other kids without the world's twisted misconception of homeschooling. It is truly an answer to prayer for Collin... and his mom!

The one about being tagged...

Ok. I have been tagged once or twice over the years, but usually from people I don't keep regular contact with. The tags seemed suspect so I didn't look any further than the subject line of the email...

Since I started blogging I've heard more about it, and since Bethany invited the first person to comment on her most recent "tagged" blog to consider herself "tagged." Anyway, there is a first time for everything. Here goes...

1. Spell your name how it sounds. Meh-lis-ah.

2. Are you available? Depends on what one mean’s by that.

3. What's your favorite number? Seriously?

4. Favorite color? Brown.

5. Least favorite color? Yellow.

6. What are you listening to? Steven Curtis Chapman (Bethany's Artist of the Week). The first Christian artist I saw in concert... still one of the best!

7. Have you ever wanted to be a fire fighter? I think so, when I was a lot younger.

~~THE DO SECTION~~

8. Do you believe in God? Absolutely, yes!

9. Do you know how to swim? Yes.

10. Do you like roller coasters? Yes, but as I get older I grow more weary of them.

~~THE DOES SECTION~~

11. Does your room contain a desk? Yes.

12. Does your family have family picnics? Umm, does eating on the grass outside of a Subway because it’s too cold inside count?

13. Does your house have a bookcase in it? Yes, two.

~~THE HAVE SECTION~~

14. Have you ever been to Canada? No.

15. Have you ever gone fishing? Yes. Thankfully, it has been a long time.

16. Have you ever seen a celebrity? Yes, several music artists. (I’ve been to over 50 concerts in my short life. Thankfully the last 20 or so have been only Christian celebrities).

17. Have you ever been on a motorcycle? Yes, and I loved it! Though I believe them to be frivolous purchases.

~~THE HOW SECTION~~

18. How much money do you have on you right now? About $28.

19. How many cars have you owned? Four.

20. How many jobs have you had? Shamefully, 17.

21. How tall are you? 5 feet, 5 1/2 inches.

~~THE LAST SECTION~~

22. Last person to call you? Jeremy.

23. Last thing you yelled out loud? Collin, don’t laugh so loud! Pastor is still doing discipleship!

24. Last person you were in a car with? Collin.

25. Last time you ate at McDonalds? July 12th, heading home from Kingsfest. I try to eat there as little as possible.

26. Last thing you had for dinner? Subway’s Oven-Roasted Chicken Breast sub.

27. The last thing you bought? Dinner.

28. Last person you saw? Collin, as I tucked him in for the night!

29. Last time you cried? Last night.

30. Last time you laughed? Earlier tonight while I was showing some guys at Victory Home the BBQ Song video on YouTube! (You must watch it!)

~~THE WHAT SECTION~~

31. What is the temperature outside? 76 degrees.

32. What time did you wake up? 9am. I was woken up by someone ringing my doorbell at 6:30 this morning! It took me a long time to get back to sleep, so I slept in…

~~THE RANDOM SECTION~~

44. Do you have a best friend? That’s up in the air at the moment.

45. What goes best with a soft drink? Duh? Pizza.

46. What did you do two nights ago? Went to church.

49. Is your birthday coming up? Yes. December 30th. I will be 31… yikes!

53. Where were you at 3:02 AM this morning? In bed asleep.

59. What was the first thing you thought this morning? Man, I am tired. I am gonna kill those guys for ringing my doorbell.

60. What are your plans for this week? Work. Go to church. Take Collin to the first practice of soccer season. Make it to the YMCA two more times. Sleep.

64. Coke or Pepsi? Really, what kind of question is that? COKE!

66. What do you dislike at the moment? Losing my hair.

67. What did you dream about last night? I rarely remember dreams.

68. What's the last TV show you watched? Deal or No Deal.

69. What is your favorite piece of jewelry? That’s hard to say. I have a number of pieces from my dad, and my mom, collected since I was a teenager.

70. Name 1 person on your Top Friends who is the most like you. We are all quite different!

72. Are you on any medication? Yes.

73. Have you ever cut your own hair? Yes.

74. What is your favorite frozen treat? Butter pecan ice cream.

75. How many piercings/tattoos do you have? 3 ear-piercings. NO TATTOOS.

76. Where's your favorite place to be? On my white sofa.

77. Is there someone you haven't seen in a while and miss? Absolutely. My dad.

79. Do you care what people think about you? Not usually… but I am learning when it matters.

80. Last new person you met? I don’t remember.

82. Last person to tell you they love you? My son, Collin.

84. Last person to make you cry? Collin, through no fault of his own, telling me a sweet story about my dad/his papa.

85. Who can you tell anything to? God. My mom (even though we are soooooo different and distant, I know I can tell her absolutely anything).

86. What are you doing today? It is nighttime. I am getting ready to go to bed.

87. Do you have a crush? How honest are you supposed to be with these things? LOL.

89. Do you like ketchup? Yes.

90. Will you be in a relationship 3 months from now? At this point, only God knows...

91. What color is your pillow case? White. I like white bed linens.

92. Do you wear a bikini during swimming in school? No school for me, thanks.

93. Have you ever been to California or Chicago? Neither, but I’ve been to Illinois.

97. What is your favorite fruit? A plum. Yummy!

98. What do you want to do today? Today is now tonight.

99. Are you cold? Usually, yes.

100. Does it annoy you when someone says they'll call or text you and they don’t’? Not really, unless it is work related. Most of the time, I’m glad for peace and quiet.

Well, that was kind-of fun!

The one about Melanie's 2nd contest...

I won! I won! Ooh, and I get some cool things!

Melanie came up with another cool contest: The person who could think up a cool alias for her daughter (and my friend, Bethany) would win some chocolate, a cool and unusual book, and some smelly-good lotion!

Go to Melanie's blog, Tripping Along the Narrow Road, to read all of the neat entries and to watch for yourself why "Flutterbug" fits Bethany so well!

The one about Collin and his Papa...

So I won't forget... I want to record, here in my blog, a memory of my dad that Collin shared with me earlier while we were eating dinner.

I don't know what made Collin think of this particular moment with my dad/his papa:

Mommy, do you remember that time I spent the night over Mamaw's and Papa's house, when Papa was too sick to go outside because of the weather so we put up my tent in the living room?

Sort-of...

Papa had his catheter and everything (my dad was very ill with prostrate cancer), but he got on the floor and slept with me in the tent on the hard floor.

He did?

Yep. And you know what he told me?

No, son. What did he tell you?

He told me not to tell Mamaw, but he was the one with the advantage that night, not Mamaw (for having the bed to herself - Dad always had a hard time sleeping/staying still). He said that he hadn't had good rest in a long time... and he would now because he was sleeping with me.

Son, our Papa was one of the sweetest men this world has ever, or will ever, see! You know that?

Yep. I do. That is why so many people miss him.

Yes, my dear boy... yes, it is.

Dad, my heart aches just picturing you so selflessly laying on that hard floor next to the apple of your eye... for what would undoubtedly be a sleepless night for you! I realize now, more than ever, that you taught me some of life's most valuable lessons without speaking one word. You are teaching me still. I... we miss you so much.

The one about a tree...

Thank God hurricane season most often misses us! At weather.com I learned that our region hasn't been hit by a MAJOR hurricane in 169 years (if I remember correctly). Of course, we have had tropical storms hit us, and the outskirts of a hurricane. Just nothing catastrophic! Whew!

I had a strong feeling that Hanna wasn't going to be at all what she was being made out to be. For Hampton Roads, anway. And as she neared, the warnings lessened in severity. That didn't keep mobs from emptying WalMart's shelves, though. LOL.

Every strong wind that blows this way makes me pray about the dead tree in the yard of the neighbor behind me. It has a large trunk, is wrapped completely in ivy, and shoots out in two directions at it's middle... and it leans against the fence that separates our yards. It leans ONLY toward my house. No other direction.

I can count on strong gusts blowing several small to medium sized branches into my yard... toward my patio and sliding-glass back door. I have asked the nieghbor to the left several times to help me throw a chain around that tree, hook it to his truck, and put the pedal-to-the-medal. He is from the "real" south and loves any chance to shoot his guns, ride his motorcycle, wear his bandana... and make use of his truck! Despite many promises, though, the tree was left standing (leaning, rather).

Today, as Hanna lightly blew over our area, God was working a tiny storm in my backyard! And answering prayer! Collin came running upstairs, "Mom, mom. Stuff is falling in our yard!" I ran to see the tallest arm of the tree laying in the middle of the yard... measuring about nine feet long. It is about two feet from my patio. Praise God! If it has broken further down the trunk, istead of in the middle, it would have hit my house, broken my glass door.

As God had it, guys from Victory Home were working in the townhouse next door, and they came to the rescue. Picking up the branches that were sticking straight out of the ground, and all over the lawn. An hour later, our friend, Paul, arrives with a saw, and they start cutting it down for bulk trash pick-up.

Wouldn't you know... it gets better? The other arm of the tree - the one shooting up toward the east - is still there, and swaying more than before. Paul and I are discussing what to do about it... I want them to attempt the plan hatched with my neighbor because I know that any gust could send that thing right into my home. As we are reasoning it out... a long, strong wind blows through... and knocks the remaining top half of the tree to the ground, parallel to the fence. Martin (a VH client) barely gets out of the way!

It was something to behold. God knows that tree has been a concern of mine since I moved to this house three years ago. Every windy storm gave me pause. If the tree were to fall down from the roots, there was no doubt it would hit my house. Not only did God bring down the tree by a storm that didn't pose any real danger, but he had it happen when I already had friends around to help, and he kept off the rain so they could spend two hours cleaning up the mess! And the coolest answer to prayer... no damage was done to my home!

Today, God made it really easy to praise Him in the storm!