Conversation with Courtney

My five year old could keep this blog going daily, but I am pulled in so many different directions, that finding time to record it all is just something I can't do. I have one friend, fellow blogger Jodie, who, as I have shared before, does it all AND keeps a daily record of her children and their shenanigans. I, being only a type B+ at best, am doing a mediocre job keeping up on the happenings of my children, but this had to be recorded, because I know I will forget this precious conversation.

I was tucking Courtney in for bed at my mom and dad's house. She said she was scared. She usually shares a room with big sister Kayci, but Kayci was sleeping over at her cousin's house. I tried to reassure Courtney that she wasn't alone, that Jesus was with her always and she could talk to Him and she would feel safe. She said, "I can't hear Him though!" I said, "You can't hear Him like you can hear me, but you can feel Him in your heart. " I kissed her and left the room. However, my mom-sense told me that there was about to be a very cute conversation. And I was right:

Courtney: Dear Jesus, I am scared in here by myself, could you talk to me?
(pause)
Courtney: (whispered voice) What????
(Pause)
Courtney: Could you please talk super-duper loud because I can't hear you very well.
(pause)
Courtney: (soft crying) See I told mom you wouldn't talk to me.

It was sad, but so cute. I of course went back into the room and tried my best to explain what we all wonder from time to time. Is God listening to us and does He really interact with us in a way we can understand. I think it was more of a lesson to me then it was to Courtney. But she soon fell asleep to the droning sounds of my ever present voice and all was well in her world.

I Have Much to Say...

...yet I wonder if anyone cares. I don't mean that in a pathetic, reassure me, way. I just wonder if the drivel that is my form of communication is boring or provocative. I wonder this, because I am really starting to notice that most people don't listen when others talk. I find that when I am visiting with my family, I feel like I have to say a full paragraph's worth of information in under 10 seconds or I will be interrupted. It could be completely quiet while my family is sitting around playing a game of hearts. I think, "This would be a good time to share an interesting story." So I might start a sentence with, "I saw this really cool thing on the Discovery Channel the other night..." and for some reason this triggers the sharing of everyone else's recent TV experience. This springboards the conversation into several avenues, including, but not limited to, "Watching too much TV," "Jen and her messy house," "Who needs a snack," and "Who's turn is it anyway in this game?" By the time everyone else has shared their kernels of interest, I can't remember what I was going to say. Then I wonder, do I do the same to those trying to talk with me? Do I finish other people's sentences, because I want to talk about what I want to talk about? I am sure I do. This must be the core of why I blog. No one can interrupt, and I can pretend everyone is listening with awe and intrigue.

In my mind, I am very interesting. In my mind, most everything I have to say is riveting. But on the occasion I say something boring, I am always quick to say, "I will try and space out those boring stories." I am very thoughtful that way.

By the way...

I just read this blog and, "I will try and space out these boring blogs."
Thanks for hanging in there anyway.

I need Something Funny on this Blog

I just reread my angry blog from last week. Wow, I was really fired up. Much has happened since that blog and it has only been one week.

Here is a quick summary. We elected a new president and while I am not a big fan of this new president, I can appreciate what this victory means for those who do like him. Aside from the fact that people are pretty sure that George Bush has single handedly tanked this country (which is lame to say). I am sure that for the African Americans in this country that have suffered unfair prejudice, being held back by the "man" are now celebrating, because "the most powerful man in the world" is now a black man. I know this is exciting and really the change that many were hoping for. I hope I get proven wrong about what I think this particular president means for our country...unfortunately, if anything goes wrong in this administration, it will still be George Bush's fault.

I had a great time with my family up in Bakersfield this past week. I love when we are all together. I love the laughing and the storytelling the most. It is awesome. My dad barbecued, my mom slaved over the trimmings and we had a great birthday celebration for my niece and nephew. Pregnant JRG was visiting from Oregon and Jonni was visiting from across town so the three of us were together. Most of the time, when we are together, we laugh a lot. Add my dad into the mix and the laughing is constant (as long as my dad stays awake). I wish I could communicate some of the funny moments this weekend, but I think I would have to conclude with "you just had to be there." I am very thankful for my family, quirks and all. I love that we really do enjoy being together and make efforts to make these events possible. I love that I still have two grandmas who can travel and get around well, who also love being with all of us. They have such great stories to tell and I am so glad they are still around to tell them.

I still haven't really come up with anything funny for today's blog, but I can give you the start of a joke I was thinking about while my grandma and sister and me were crossing the street:

"A grandma, a pregnant woman, and a middle aged mother walked into a bar...."

Please give me an ending for this joke...I think it has a huge amount of potential.

I Wasn't Going to Bring Politics Into This but...

After reading two of my favorite liberals who blog, I am so depressed and really confused, I decided to write out one of my genuine questions . I know, I know these are fighting words, but I really don't understand. I have never claimed to be the sharpest tool in the shed, but I do know how to think. I don't blindly take someones word, or tell someone they are wrong just because I don't agree. I honestly try to see things from others point of view, and usually come to the conclusion, "OK, I can see how they would think that..." But there are some things I just don't see how a rational, thinking person could embrace and defend so vehemently.

1. How can someone be pro-life yet for the death penalty? This question may be among the most asinine questions. As if an innocent baby is even on the same playing field as someone who has committed a crime such as MULTIPLE murders or rape or the KILLING OF A CHILD who has been living for sometime outside of the mother's womb (like 1 hour-18 years old). These are the only offences that get the death penalty, and this is after years of appeals and years on death row. We aren't taking these criminals out as soon as they are caught and then killing them without first exhausting all possibilities. An aborted baby, is never given any of these possibilities and their only crime is being conceived. How the hell can someone put these two things together?

There are just under 1.3 million abortions a year. Those people who are pro-choice (actually pro-abortion, but get offended by such a label) claim that abortion and partial birth abortion should be a women's choice because of cases like incest, rape, and the health of the mother. John McCain was raked across the coals for "air quoting" mother's health. He said that mother's health has come to mean so many things. Everyone went nuts over this, saying he was insensitive and out of touch. The truth is, "health of the mother" can and does mean mental health, not just whether or not the mother will live or die if this life is brought into the world. This includes the mom not wanting the baby, not being emotionally ready for a baby, or simply not wanting to be inconvenienced with the idea of a baby with or without special needs. You cannot tell me that all 1.3 million abortions each year are in the name of "saving the mother." I've read different statistics that say less than 1% of all abortions are because of the rape and incest. The other 99% are because of the inconvenience factor.

One blog I read vehemently exclaimed, "What about the courage it takes for the mother to choose an abortion...?" Are you kidding me? Other comments included, "If I want to kill my fetus...it's my body...I don't need anyone telling me what I can do with my body." or "When John McCain gives birth out of his penis, he can tell me what to do with my uterus."

These comments and 775 more like them were from mothers!! Come on people, its seriously not about telling anyone what to do with their body. It's trying to protect those who have no voice.

By the way...I don't think abortion should be illegal. Because I think people will do it no matter what...but I don't think they should be so easy to come by that it acts as a form of birth control. And don't even get me started on being able to take my child to get an abortion without my consent. What kind of society are we living in that this is what we are fighting about?

People say, "Don't be a one issue voter..." Truthfully, it says something about the character of a person who would defend this practice with such passion.

So yes, I am pro-life and pro death penalty. But in the name of being fair, if you can prove to me if at any point a baby DESERVES to be put to death like some of our criminals. I am willing and wanting to listen.

And I would be willing to give up being pro-death penalty if you would be willing to give up being pro-choice.

The Vadar Family

For you Star Wars fans out there that secretly hoped that once Darth revealed that he was good, went on to marry and have children. These photos are for you.

We had such a great time walking into our church party. No one knew who we were, but were very impressed to see a family of 5 Vadars marching into the church. I think once people found out it was actually Steve Merrick's family, they were even more impressed. I'm almost positive I heard a few, "I didn't know he was the type to dress up..." or "He's always so serious, it's nice to see a funny side..." Besides the sweltering heat inside the gym (and inside our costume) it was really a fun night.

Thanks Steve for coming up with and implementing the idea.