Are You Proud of Your Country?

"In God We Trust" is on every penny, in every hand, every pocket, and every cash register. This was a nation founded on God. But are we still proud of that?

When I see the beautiful red, white, and blue waving gently in the breeze or hear the words of The Star-Spangled Banner sung, my heart beats with pride. I am proud that the U.S. is the most benevolent country in the world, helping many countries and people in need. I am proud of the policemen and soldiers protecting and promoting justice through our land. Going back, to our nations start, I think of the Sons of Liberty; men who cared enough for their freedom to die for it and who believed that God was the source of their freedom! Families and individuals who spoke out and acted about the injustice and fault in their land. Now unfortunately, people accept many things that should be spoken against.

You ask, "Am I proud of this country?" In some areas I burst with pride. But sadly, in others, I cower in shame. I am shamed because, even though this country was founded on God, this nation has chosen to turn away from their Maker. The United Sates of America has allowed 1.21 million abortions to happen in 2008 along according to the Alan Guttmacher Institute, which does not include the impact of the birth control pill. Is American now a country that thinks children are such a nuisance to kill them off like flies? God designated marriage to be between one man and one woman. Why does this country allow any other? What about the Second Amendment that allows every man to take up arms? Why do people want to do away with the guns that protect our Country? God is not honored by these things, for this I am shamed to be an American.

"The God who gave us life gave us liberty..." stated Thomas Jefferson. God gave us this freedom that we now have and I am proud that I can express these things that are wrong to hopefully benefit this nation. I am also proud that I can tell others about my great God and the nation that needs to turn back to Him for wisdom - a nation that can honestly say, "In God We Trust."

by Marie McDonnell

Happy 14th Birthday, Matthew!

I can't believe you're THAT old, Buster!! =)

Best quote about Matthew - "He spends all night reading and all day telling us what he's read." =P If you have any questions about The Revolutionary War, World War Two, Korea, or Vietnam, just ask him! =)

The "Boring" Life of Hensie and Susi =P

I'm sure you're all tired of seeing "Hunka Munka" (excuse me, Laura, Hunca Munca) so we thought we'd do a post or what we've been up to.

So, our daily schedule - we rise promptly at six (...ahem, well, we're working towards that. ;-), then write out a "enormously long" to-do list.

Susi’s list

• Bible
• Clean room
• Read one chapter in “The Rising Tide” (current WWII book ;-)
• Breakfast/dishes
• Read one chapter in “Home Comforts” (current book on my reading list)
• Math (I try to do two lessons)
• Science (Ken Ham’s “Answers in Genesis”, bk. 1)
• Lunch/dishes
• History with three youngest (we're reading through“From Sea to Shining Sea” bk. 2 in the “Light and Glory series”)
• Science with three youngest
• Math with Matthew and Joe
• Clean kitchen before & after dinner
• Write (I’m working on one of my three =D (embarrassed smile =P) WWII stories.)

These jobs differ between the days of the week

• Make bread
• Sweep/mop all downstairs floors
• Upstairs bathroom
• Make Daddy’s lunch

Hensie’s list

• Bible
• Clean room
• Cats (litter box, food, and water)
• Clean kitchen
• Straighten Living room (every other day vacuum)
• Straighten Family Room (every other day vacuum)
• Straighten book shelves
• Read one chapter in “D. L. Moody’s Collection” (current book on reading list)
• Practice violin/piano (switching every other day)
• Sew (I’m working on a summer skirt)
• Clean kitchen before/after dinner

These Jobs differ every day

• Vacuum and sweep bedroom
• Vacuum upstairs and stairs
• Make bread
• Make Daddy’s lunch

A few leisure things we don't add to our lists:

• Journaling (we both do a LOT. =)
• Read a leisure book (e.g. Viking Quest series, Louis L'Amour, A Life of Faith books)
• Time on the computer (check email, blogs, buzz, post, write emails, waste time, etc.)
• Play around on the piano (hymns, annoying Sonatinas that everyone's sick of, Pride and Prejudice music)
• Singing hymns in harmony with Laura, Bekah, and Daddy
• Play volley ball
• Watching Gomer Pyle episodes, Donald Duck and other cute, old-fashioned ones, old westerns, and war movies.
• Doting on the kitties

So, that's our average day! Of course, every day, there are the little different things that make each new day special - Sarah, Stephen and Gracie's visits, extended family visits, Phil's weekend visit, drawing names for Christmas, shopping trip to the Dalles, first freeze (last night!!), day spent in Yakima with extended family, and lots more.

"Enjoy the little things in life, for someday, when you'll look back, and they'll be the big things!"

Hunka Munka

John 15:3-5

"You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."

Just got back...

...from a WONDERFUL weekend with the Hainlines at the Oregon coast! We had so much fun playing in the water, playing volley ball, and talking. Hopefully, we can go again next year!

Back to Work! =)

It's a very rainy Tuesday. I'm just taking a quick break from work with Hunka Munka perched on my shoulder like a parrot to write this quick post. We're in Lynden again and, after three days socialization, we're back to work on the house. Hopefully, this will be our last trip to Lynden for the purpose of working on the house! Pretty much all that's left to do is touch up work, some caulking, a teeny bit of sanding,then we'll clean the house like it's never been cleaned before and pack up everything! It's been a long, busy summer and I'm ready to settle down into winter. =)

New Hair Cut!

Laura actually cut my hair a week ago, I've just been slow about posting these pictures. =) I wanted to post them at least before I go up to Lynden and everybody sees my hair in person. =)

Before.

After. In addition to cutting off at least five inches, Laura cut four layers, the shortest just long enough to stay in a pony tail for ten minutes. =)

Happy Birthday, Phil!!

Playing Elsie Dinsmore

Kris was Elsie and I was Enna. =)