Friday, October 31, 2008

Election '08

Just to clarify where I stand, I do not support Obama in the least. I think is a poor choice as a president and I certainly do not want him in that office.

Taken from the McCain site.


Taxes

John McCain believes we must keep taxes low to reward hard work and create jobs for all Americans.

Barack Obama wants to "spread the wealth around" and is more interested in controlling who gets your piece of the pie than he is in growing the pie.

Economic Plan

John McCain has a comprehensive economic plan that will create millions of good American jobs, ensure our nation's energy security, get the government's budget and spending practices in order, and bring relief to American consumers

The Obama tax increase would come at the worst possible time for America, and especially for small businesses like the one Joe the Plumber dreams of owning. The small businesses Senator Obama would tax provide 16 million jobs in America. And a sudden tax hike for those businesses will kill jobs at a time when we need to be creating more jobs.

Energy

John McCain will break from the past to lead a great national campaign to put us on a course for energy independence. No problem is more urgent today than our dependence on foreign oil.

Barack Obama voted for the same policies that created the problem. He voted for the energy bill promoted by President Bush and Vice President Cheney, which gave even more breaks to the oil industry.

Health Care

John McCain will make health care more available, affordable and responsive to patients and he will give families more choices over their care.

Barack Obama's plan will harm employer coverage, continues the push toward government-run health care and will damage private coverage.

Reforming Washington

John McCain has a record of working to end Washington's stagnant, unproductive partisanship. He will end wasteful government spending and put the government back on the side of the American people.

The American people have not seen Barack Obama forsake partisanship for progress. In his short time in the Senate, Congressional Quarterly shows he voted with the Democrat Party 97 percent of the time.

Government Spending

John McCain is committed to and has long fought for restoring fiscal discipline by eliminating wasteful government spending. Out of control spending has resulted in a weaker dollar, raising the cost of groceries and gas and killing jobs. John McCain will rein in federal spending to help our families in tough economic times.

Barack Obama plans to increase spending by nearly a trillion dollars. Already in three short years in the Senate, he has requested nearly a billion dollars in pork projects for his state and has been an eager participant in this corrupt system.

Education

John McCain will shake up failed school bureaucracies with competition, empower parents with choice, remove barriers to qualified instructors, attract and reward good teachers.

Barack Obama wants our schools to answer to unions and entrenched bureaucracies.

Iraq

John McCain had the judgment to understand that America's strategy in Iraq was failing and the courage to call for a dramatic change. That strategy is now working, and America is succeeding in Iraq

Barack Obama opposed the new strategy and predicted wrongly that it would fail. He voted to deny critical funds to our men and women fighting in Iraq.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Election '08

I am by no means a political junkie. I grew up in a family that did not vote (at least, not that I remember) and the stance was more with the Independent party. While in college, I did get involved in the elections as a poll book holder and a sign holder. I can say that I am a conservative.

When it comes to the elections this year, wow, what a time to pray for the nation! So many people are being steered in the wrong direction.

If you want to be told where your child can attend school, vote Obama.
If you want your kindergartener to learn about sex education and alternative lifestyles, vote Obama.
If you want an increase in federal income taxes, vote Obama.
If you want someone to appoint Supreme Court judges that have a changing interpretation of the Constitution, vote Obama.
If you want further restrictions on the right to bear arms, vote Obama.
If you want someone that supports public funding of abortions and not notifying the parents of a minor about having an abortion and not giving health care for survivors of abortions, vote Obama.
If you want sodomites to be considered a recognized minority, vote Obama.
If you want public funding for art that is pornographic or anti-religious, vote Obama.

Really, if you want a socialist change, vote Obama. I know I'm not.

Check this link out.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

VBC Ensemble at Hanover

The VBC Ensemble sang for the first time in a church service tonight. It was a wonderful experience. Mr. Walton said that the US Marine Corps motto is Semper Fidelis, meaning "always faithful." He then went on to say that the Christian's motto should be Semper Gumby, meaning "always flexible." We needed to be tonight. Brooke was out of town (she the accompanist) but came back this afternoon. Wendy was already going to be the accompanist for the evening. With me having bronchitis, my voice is nowhere close to being back 100% so I was not able to sing at all with the group, but Brooke sang in my place. I was the official page turner for the evening (well, Adam said I paged the turns...lol!). Everything still worked out well. We went to Panera for dinner after the service and had a great time there as well.


The VBC Ensemble
(Mr. Walton, Adam, Ashley, Brooke, Hope, Nicole)

Tim, Adam, and Ashley

Tim

The girls

Singing

Practicing

Practicing

Random pic of me

Hope, Brooke, and our cute little buddy watching the inchworm special olympics
(you had to be there to understand)

Hope and Brooke

Random pic of Hope

Staged random pic

Brooke and our little buddy

Random pic of Brooke

Ashley, Hope, and Brooke

Ahsley attacking Hope and Brooke...who knows!

Random pic of Ashley

Ahsley and Brooke

Ahsley and Adam

Nice one, Ashley!

Practicing

Adam

Simply Trusting (Listening CD)
You can also get Adam's CD through Bible Truth Music
Great stuff!

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Last weekend, I was able to go to MD to visit one of my former college roomies. I had a wonderful time! The change of scenery and people was very welcome and refreshing. Jen and I caught up and watched The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants on Friday night (a family from the school was able to drop me off at the Metro station) after she picked me up. Then, we went to visitation devotions before heading off to Wal-Mart so Jen could finish an errand. Of, by the way, the chicken parmasean from Pizza Hut is EXCELLENT! Before we went to the corn field maze, we spent a couple hours at a mall and had lunch there. The maze was great! I had never been to one before. It took us almost two hours to find our way out! I stole all these pictures from Jen since I didn't have my camera with me for this trip.
I certainly enjoyed my mini-but-much-needed-vacation. The only thing is, I came back sick and it turned into bronchitis. Tomorrow at school, we have our fundraiser incentive of the teacher dunk tank. My students are totally pumped about dunking me. I told them it wouldn't happen becasue they all can not throw and that the'll miss the target completely. :) I'm planning on bringing my swim cap and goggles for a special effect.



Torry

Thomas and Annie (and he has a pumpkin under his shirt)

Thomas and Annie again
Sherry with her maglight
Sherry (Jen's sister..she also went to Fairhaven)

Sam (or Rockstar, Mr. Mom, or James Dean depending on Jen's mood..lol!)

Nadia and I on the hayride

Me in the corn maze

Josh (or as Random Person as Jen called him), Dan, and Sam

On the hayride

A few group shots :)




One of those candid "gotcha" shots of Dan

Dan and Sam

Dan and I not too long after we arrived at the River Valley Ranch Corn Maze

An 8 months pregnant Annie and I

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Sometimes, I really dislike being a female. Mainly, it has to do with emotions. I can't stand feeling excited, confused, upset, frustrated, mad, depressed, alone, and crowded all at the same time. I wish other things were clear-cut and easy to understand. Well, one situation in particular, anyway.

So I had CPR training Saturday. I was not happy about it being scheduled at the last minute and take away my only day to get something done on top of that. My hand hurts from all the compression practice we had to do. The class took about 2 hours since we spent 2 hours taking the first aid portion online. This is the second time I have taken a CPR class and while I'm glad I know how to do, I'm even more glad I've never had to use it on any one.

College midterms are coming up as well as the school's first quarter. I'm looking forward to going to the teacher's convention next month. I get to room with Kammie! That'll be fun!

Nessa and Jay came down for a visit Saturday afternoon. We had a good time and didn't spend too much money. We all had SOBE's and SlimJims for our movie snacks. We made Jay watch two chick flicks. lol

My class is going to drive me up the wall this year. I feel so bad for having such a short fuse, but these kids just don't listen! I am trying to work on my response to them and Lord willing, it will get better as I let Him work through me.

Monday, October 06, 2008

Well, I got a change of pace. I'm now on crutches with a sprained ankle. Go figure! LOL! The Lord sure does have a sense of humor.

Sunday, October 05, 2008

Living? Check.
Breathing? Most of the time, check.
Family? Check.
Friends? Check.
Job? Check, check, and check.

I know I am blessed with what I have, but why do I feel so "blah" these days? This school year is really pulling a number on me. This week was ok with the kids, but I know I never want to have another class like this. Unfortunately, next year's is no better...perhaps worse. I feel like all I ever do is work related stuff. Lesson plans take FOREVER to do (glad I'm now three...technically two...weeks ahead), breaks are joke, aides are few, days are long, and pay is minimal. I hate living paycheck to paycheck, but the Lord has not failed me (and He never will). Oh, not to mention I practically LIVE at the church or in my classroom. I am there Sunday though Saturday for hours.

My family seems to be getting it together (generally speaking), but there are plenty of problems. Just found out that Mom, Dad, and AJ may not be able to make it out to Nessa's for Thanksgiving. I'll only make if Nessa picks me up (since my car has issues...nothing out of the norm there). Nessa, her boyfriend, and I are planning to drive up to MI for Christmas (since none of can afford to fly). That'll be interesting. Not sure if I'll be able to make it a week without visiting the ER at least once while we're there. Then again, it wouldn't be a normal visit home without not being able to breathe and creating some fun in the ER with the crazy stuff Nessa and I do to lighten up the moment. We have had hospital staff tell us to quiet down (shocker, right?).

I think I'm in need of a change. Just not sure with what to change, though. Life's not bad here, but...well, I don't know.

I want to go on a long trip away from here. California sounds good. I'd love to hang out with Mimi again. Maybe even go see Glenn and Katie. I'd love to see Carol before she and Adam head off to Mongolia. I'd love to visit my home church and see those who have influenced my life for the best. I miss so many people right now. Yes, I've made friends here, but I still feel disconnected. That could also be my fault. Maybe getting older does that to a person.

*sigh*

Thursday, October 02, 2008

Just thought I'd share this with you. I found it interesting.
I fall under the young, unmarried woman portion, but I'm certainly NOT voting for Obama. NOBAMA '08!

You should also see this very disturbing video. I don't know how to post a video here, so just click the link.