civil rudeness

After the booing of former President Bush during the recent inauguration, I found President Obama's thank you to Bush a nice and civil comment. And while he mentioned no policy by name or anyone in the Bush administration by name, Obama then proceeded to bash Bush in a very civil tone. I'm still not totally sure how I feel about that. I know the two blatantly disagreed with each other, but was the speech a backhanded slap at the outgoing administration, or simply an announcement of what's too come?

It reminded me of stories from 200 years ago. The Union Army occupied Baton Rouge and other parts of Louisiana, and the women of the city were most unhappy with the situation. They would hold their noses every time a Union soldier walked by, or make snide remarks. Fed up, the officer in charge decreed that any woman showing disrespect toward a soldier would be treated as a prostitute. After a number of upperclass women were arrested and thrown in jail with a group of prostitutes; the actions ceased. Kind of. The women stopped holding their noses or making snide remarks, but instead would move to another sidewalk if a Union soldier walked by. And they took to doing their own housework during hours of army drills. More than one soldier found himself wearing the contents of a chamber pot that were emptied out the window. I don't know if or how that situation was resolved, whether the soldiers quit drilling in the streets or if the ladies finally started being nice, but it reminds me of the current political situation.

I like to think had I lived during that era, that I would have been a woman of grace and humility, wise as a serpent but harmless as a dove. Given that I laughed the first time I found the above story, I fear I may have been just as heedless and disrespectful as the women of the past. And what about now? When I encounter people who are blatantly disrespectful of Bush, or who lavish praise on Obama and his Civil Right plans for the GLTB community, or his extreme stances on abortion rights, will I be able to calmly disagree and respectfully state my opinion? Or will I follow suit and return trash talk? While we don't have chamber pots today, I do think my Grandma's term of "potty mouth" aptly describes many things we've heard lately. And as I think on Scripture's command to be ready to give an answer for the hope that is within us, I hope I'm not only ready with the answer, but with the proper attitude as well.

BLESSINGS and Blessings and ....ingratitude?

I have a gracious employer (Mid-Way Baptist Church in Raleigh). When Bobby was sick this past April, they allowed me to work from home, or simply ignored unworked hours, and various people assisted in covering jobs for me while I was out. I would come in, expecting to complete projects, and find them already done! (Thank you again, Wendy, Linda, and Amanda!) Then when the Belarusian kids returned, they allowed me yet again to shift and consolidate hours for six weeks, even though it was often an inconvenience. Today, the office opened at 9:30am due to snow and ice on the roads, but no one said a word about me arriving at 10:30am (though someone did see me slide through the parking lot and slip and fall coming in!) but simply checked to see if I was okay. And when our HR person called last night to tell me the office would be open today, but late, her last words were "Stay safe." And they sent us home at 3:30pm today.

In addition, on my way to work I saw one van in a ditch, and passed a policeman checking out a three-car collision. I made it safely (other than sliding into my parking spot!). Coming home was a breeze.

I have heat, running water, and I live in a country where power is PEACEFULLY transferred every four years, without martial law being enforced in every town, nor the militia pushing people out of office. How blessed can I be?

So instead of whimpering about how I'd love to stay home for the next two weeks and do nothing but work on projects and clean house and sleep, I'm trying to count my blessings. That in and of itself is so sad, because I have so many blessings that my mind should not ever be distracted by petty selfishness. And to think I used to ponder why the Children of Israel were stupid for complaining all the time!

Inauguration Day 2009

Thank God for snow!!!

It snowed so much last night and this morning the office was closed today! Whoohooo! So even though I was not going in anyway due to inclement weather, now it's not counted against my vacation days (I still have two left!!!)

So I had time to fix sausage balls for breakfast, got to watch the historical inauguration, iron clothes, AND complete one of my January projects!

I didn't think about taking a before picture, but Mrs. Bryan's planter was last painted several years ago and was done the same color as the porch floor - grey. My brother-in-law did an excellent job of painting it then, but as anything exposed to the elements and leaking potted plants, it needed a new job. At Christmas (yeah, hard to believe it was so warm at Christmas we sat outside on the porch while the youngest Bryan grandkids rode bikes), I noticed for the first time all the intricate details. As many times as I have watered the plants on this thing, I had never noticed the grape vine trellising up the sides of the planter. So I went a little elaborate and painted all the individual details. I'm pleased with the results; (I hope she is!)

I should have one hour of free time left this evening after supper prep and clean-up and normal routine stuff. Do I iron more clothes, start another project, or rest and read some? Decisions, decisions, decisions. Now if I could just be off tomorrow...sigh.

things that make me go GRRRRR!!!!!!

In today's News & Observer, one of the articles highlighting art (anti-Bush art, to be specific) also commented that there are numerous "End of Era" parties going on today. That part doesn't bother me too much. But the next comment did. There are also "Shoe-Outs" taking place today, where groups of people plan to throw their worn-out shoes at one of the White House gates. I think everyone who is so willing to desecrate a public icon with such extreme disrespect needs to first be fined for littering, then have their citizenship revoked on the grounds of treason, and then deported to a country of their choice. (And yes, I feel the same way about the NC State students who wanted Obama dead after the election).

I recognize that people who are non-believers (non-Christians, that is) do not adhere to the Biblical principles of "obeying and praying for those placed in authority over you." And that's their choice. But when someone is blatantly disrespectful and hateful to anyone whom the voters/the public put in office, they are anti-American, not to mention anti-Christian. I didn't vote for Clinton, and I didn't like his policies, but I didn't diss him with the venom that I've seen leftists heap on Bush.

And meanwhile, I think I'm ready to start gearing up for 2010. If you haven't already, then join the pub - the republicans that is, as we hope to reclaim Congress in the next election. In the words of Hilary Clinton, "There's too much at stake."

Recession vs. Depression

A recession is when your neighbor loses his job; a depression is when you lose yours.

We hear it on the news, but it seems this past week it keeps coming closer and closer to home. As of today, I have three friends out of work, and 8 friends who have had their hours either cut or made almost non-existent.

It really makes me re-evaluate the difference between a need and a want. My mother used to remind me growing up that God promised to provide for our NEEDS, not our wants. I never liked it when she quoted that Bible verse. But I can say that God ALWAYS provided. I didn't have name brand clothes growing up, and more often than not most everything I owned was a hand-me-down. We ate out maybe once a year, and food was almost always given from a church member's garden or a generic brand, but I never went hungry. Not ever.

I remember the late '80s when the coal mines shut down in Walker County. We had three men in our church who lost their jobs. One of the families complained several months later that it was hard being poor. Every time they went to the grocery store they had to buy generic brands they were so poor. My little sister and I just stared at her. I actually felt sorry for her that she thought buying generic brand food meant you were poor. I knew several girls in my class who owned 2 pairs of blue jeans and alternated them out every other day because that was all they could afford. And about 1/2 of our high school students had jobs. If we ever heard of a position open, be it McDonalds, Church's chicken, or in a grocery store, people rushed to apply. I found my after school job as a cashier by overhearing a girl at school saying she'd have to quit to play softball. I went in the afternoon she was to quit and put in a job application. I went in for an "interview" at 9am Sat morning and went home at noon for lunch and worked until 5pm. And that was after six months of looking for a job. I considered myself blessed.

Then I went to Nashville to college, and for the first time I realized according to most people's standards, I was poor.
The next year I went to Cote d'Ivoire, West Africa, and discovered I was one of the richest people on the face of the earth - and my income hadn't changed a dime.
After graduation I went to China, and discovered that I lived in a land of opportunity beyond anything I had dreamed or realized. It had always been taken for granted. I've been to college twice for different majors, have changed careers, even had the luxury of being a stay at home wife for several years - and those facts alone make me one of the most privileged people in the world.

I do wonder what will become of our nation and its economy. But I also recognize things can get much worse before we're even close to destitute. And its times like these I turn to my Heavenly Father and rest in his arms. He's never out of a job.

an ode to my friends who are mothers

Gone are onesies, wet wipes, rash,

We're adding pull-ups to that stash

Or so we hope.

In comes big boy underpants,

frilly panties or dinosaurs that dance,

We dream of progress.

Methods come, endless advice;

Our children have their own device.

Training's not their choice.

Some kids go upon command,

others require a more firm hand.

Or just won't go.

Targets for the boys to hit;

Girls who scream and throw a fit;

Or sit terrified.

It seems they'll poop in every place

Except the spot reserved with space.

And then go hide.

Every country, every tongue

Has a way it must be done.

To train a child to properly

Do what does come naturally.

I've been thinking about you and praying for all of you these last few weeks!

drool and dream

When I got home today, I checked the mail as I usually do. And lo and behold, if the Keepsake Quilting catalogue wasn't there! Forget e-mail, forget mopping floors, and laundry...what? Oh, those piles of material...yes, I'm looking at material!

I'm not even going to count how many pages I've turned down, but let's just say this one has more than most. And for those of you starting to get concerned, I'm not ordering anything. But I did have this thought: If I ordered all the stuff for one quilt every time the catalogue came (which is 4x a year), then when I retire I won't have to worry about whether or not I could afford to buy the material and supplies!!! yeah, I know, provided the moths hadn't eaten it all by then.

Some days I think I should just quit my job and work on projects. The idea takes on a glistening glow, and then Bobby comes home and says, "Not that I'm trying to give you more work to do, but...." and I realize if I had more time he would simply have more lists.

BUT...they had a new t-shirt in the back. It sported a crown, and underneath was this title: Queen of Unfinished Projects. I'm thinking I could create my own design for that and use those iron-transfer, computer print-out sheets from Michaels...another project!!! Whoohoo!