marriage, babies, and tough choices

This week I posted on Facebook my heartbroken thoughts regarding California's Prop 8 and Texas' filibuster Tuesday night that stopped the voting of a law that would restrict abortions after 20 weeks gestation. Inevitable I received quite a bit of backlash for it. I believe marriage should remain between a man and a woman only. To do otherwise goes against scripture and biology. I believe that abortion is murder, plain and simple, and is never right when the baby is alive. I don't think many people understand what is done to these little ones. It is horrific.
It was suggested that I don't know how I would react if I was told that there was a problem with the baby inside me and that I should abort. The truth is, I do know because I was faced with that possibility once. You see, I am a carrier for, I believe it's cystic fibrosis. When the test came back on that we then had to have Everette tested. If both of us were carriers there was a great chance that our unborn baby would have it. The doctor said that if that was the case, we would have to make a choice. We didn't hesitate. Everette and I both said abortion wasn't an option. We would have him tested to be informed and prepared if necessary. His test came back negative in the end and I am thankful. During that waiting time though, we had plenty of time to think about it and we knew in our hearts that abortion would never be an option for us. I know my God. I trust Him to do what's right.
I don't know why it never occurred to me to join a Pro Life group before. I will though.

It seems more and more that it is a crime to be a Christian. But we are supposed to bend over backwards for Muslims, lest we offend them. I don't see our government intervening when a Christian is offended, but they are sure quick to act if a Muslim is. More talk about sharia law being allowed. With one president we are losing our right to be Christian, our right to own guns, our right to say anything that does not support Islam. At this rate, in a few years we might be executed for not being Muslim, women and children might be legally murdered by their husbands and fathers for any sort of upset. Is this really how We the People of the United States want our nation to go?

How has it become legal to abort babies even in the third trimester, when they would have lived if born. Why is it a 15 year old girl can have access to the morning after pill without consent or knowledge from her parents? Why aren't teens being taught abstinence? What happened to learning morals? Our military is no longer allowed to be openly Christian, but they can be openly gay. Do the same rules apply to Muslims in the military or just Christians and Jews? I was appalled when I read the article where one person stated that a Christian sharing his/her faith is like spiritual rape. Excuse me? How can a conversation you can walk away from anywhere near the same as rape? That comparison is an insult to rape victims, in my opinion, and an insult to Christians. 

Should I now go and sue the military, schools and any company or organization that has put a sensor on Christians for infringing MY rights? This is my country too, and I am NOT giving up my rights!

Dead dryers and calendar mistakes

Two days ago I went to use my dryer, which was working fine the night before, only to find that it would not start.  Tried everything I could think of, and no dice.  It just would not start.  So I went online to www.craigslist.org and found that most of the dryers listed were 2 hours away in Shreveport, LA.  Fine. I found one that looked promising and the guy would even deliver, so I went ahead with it.  After many text messages back and forth, he showed up yesterday afternoon with a functioning dryer and took my dead one with him. Not a bad price either at $245.  Now I can get caught up on laundry, yay.  

Now regarding Scouting; Today as I was asking one of my den leaders if their den was going to make it to the upcoming Pack meeting, which I said was scheduled to take place during spring break.  Why during spring break, they asked?  "I don't know" I said.  Then I got the idea to quadruple check my calendar, only to find out that there is no pack meeting scheduled during spring break.  It is scheduled for the week after.  Wow, I have been contacting people and telling everyone that it was next week, when in fact it is the following week. I totally screwed that one up.  I think I need to big desk calendar.    Does that tell you how scatter brained I can be?  I hope my Pack can forgive me my error.

On other fronts, I sent my oldest boy on his first out of state weekend hike with his Troop.  Let's hope the weather holds for them. Maybe we can get this bad weather curse to lift.  Also, I recently got myself a metal detector, as I have always wanted one.  Today I was in my yard exploring and found a 1930s WM Rogers Mfg Co child's silver plated Mickey Mouse spoon. It has some damage from exposure to it, but it is still a cool find.  In good condition they seem to go for anywhere from $16-40. Also found a penny, LOL.

National debt

A copy of an email I just sent Texas Representative, Jeb Hensarling;

Regarding the Sequester and national budget, I have two comments/questions. First, Rudy Giuliani mentioned last night that what the Sequester is supposed to do is cut additional spending, but what the President is saying is that it will cut into current spending like education and military. How is that right? Second, instead of cutting into things like education, military, medicare, etc. why don't we cut foreign aid? Why do we continue to give so much to other countries, especially ones that have respect for us, and yet continue to take away from our own nation? Why is it more and more taboo to be openly patriotic? Why must we have gay pride and Mexican pride and Muslim pride but no American pride? How much and for how long are we going to allow China to own us? Is there any hope for our country? Ok, I realize that was way more than two.

I am from California. Gender equality is a common concept there.  I knew things would be different when I moved to Texas, but I was not prepared for how truly different it is. Last night I had my eyes opened to the reality of the male/female roles here. I am a mom to three boys, and for the first time I wished this morning that I had at least one girl. (ok, that's not entirely accurate. I have always wanted a daughter.) Today, I wished that at least one of my sons was a daughter.  It was only for a moment, but that moment lasted long enough to almost knock me down.
Because I have three sons, I find myself immersed in a man's world.  We have done soccer.  dinosaurs, Legos, Star Wars, etc. Mostly, we have been participating in Scouts. We are on our sixth year of scouting.  Ian is a boy scout, Tristan is a cub scout. I have been a scout parent, a den leader, and now assistant Cubmaster  This is the second pack we have been with. The first was in California at Camp Pendleton. Great group of leaders. Really had it together there.  Now here we are in Texas, and I am finding out just how much of a man's world this is.  In our pack, currently half of our leaders are women and half are men.  I do believe that Boy Scouts should be guided mostly by men, as it is boys they serve.  However, I am a mom who has only sons.  My husband works long hours and is not able to serve as a scout leader in any way.  (Also, it's just not his thing.) A spot needed to be filled, and I filled it. So I do what I have to do for my sons.
In the past week I have been talked down to, corrected, interrupted, chastised, brushed off and very nearly patted on the head and told 'not to worry my pretty little head about such matters. Let us deal with that.'  All this by the male leadership in our pack. I work my butt off for this Pack, am placated in my efforts and then thrown under the bus. If this is the attitude out here then find someone else to fill my shoes. Find someone else to do all of the things that myself and the other Moms in this pack have done and are doing. I am not a scout leader because I love the outdoors or enjoy spending much of time in a testosterone laden environment.  I do it because I have sons, I do it for them, and if I don't who will?

Keep BSA faith-based

This week in the news there is much talk about the BSA's decision to revisit their own stance regarding a ban on homosexuals within the organization. For the sake of funding and wanting to fit in, the Boy Scouts of America is considering lifting this ban. I am going to come right and say it.  I am against this decision. I believe the ban should remain intact. I do not think that we should have to increase the exposure our sons experience of homosexuality in their every day life.  It isn't scriptural, which BSA is faith-based. It isn't natural. It isn't right. You know, our children get this pushed on them all the time. We joined BSA because of its moral grounding.

How dare others who don't believe as we do, come in and try to force us to change our belief system. If you want to be included in scouting, then accept our choice or go start your own organization.  Do not try to change what scouting has been about for 100 years! It is not archaic. We are trying to teach our sons what is right. Not confuse them. BSA, PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE THE POLICY!!!  

I have every right to NOT accept homosexuality.  And I am not a bad person for that choice.  If BSA is made to change this policy, then you may as well strip every core value as well. For me, it's all or nothing. I am standing up for what I believe here. 

Birthday blah

I have determined that being home alone on one's birthday is sad and depressing. I wonder if this is all my life is. If it weren't for the automatic pop up on facebook, how many people would have thought to send me a message today? How many of those handful of people really care? I have to frost my own cake. There will be no gift. No lunch with a friend or family member. No party. But that is how it is every year. Just another day, nothing special. I got a call this morning from my Mom, and she sang her warped version of "happy birthday". I love my Mom. My kids made me cards. They are fantastic. My husband baked a cake last night. It's still sitting in its pans on the counter.  All of the chores still need to be done.  I have a den meeting to take my 7 year old to this evening. Kids are at school, husband is at work. Once again, I feel insignificant. I think I hate my birthday.

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