Marking Pearl Harbor Day at an area TEA Party

My Family and I attended a local TEA Party tonight. It seemed a fitting way to round out our Pearl Harbor day.
We took our twin boys with us as we feel strongly they need to hear about Freedom, Liberty and Patriotism as well as see it in action. The room was alive with activity and the sea of red white and blue clad persons were a nice contrast to the Christmas trees standing on either side of the doorway.
Our local group goes by the name of Citizens for the Constitution Texas (www.c4ctexas.org)
Ten principles form the group's foundation:
* Support of the Constitution of the United States of America in its original form along with the Bill of Rights that guarantee the personal liberty and rights of all citizens of this country.
* America is fundamentally a good country based on the values of its founding fathers.
* The Unites States of America was founded without question on the premise of a loving and benevolent God, which inspired the creation of a government guaranteeing the freedom and liberty of individuals.
* The family is sacred and the most important unit of our society.
* Our system of law and justice was and is based upon Judeo-Christian principles.
* Integrity and honesty are integral to our system of governance.
* We each have the inalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, but there is no guarantee of equal results.
* We do not accept or support redistribution of wealth. Americans are the most charitable people in the world, but charity is a personal choice.
* We reserve the right to disagree with authority and to share our personal opinions. This is our right guaranteed by the Constitution and we will not give it up.
* Our government is "by the people and for the people." Elected officials and appointed bureaucrats work for us and answer to us. We the People are the source of their authority.
For more on Citizens for the Constitution, visit the Web site at www.c4ctexas.org.

I saw several people carrying signs:

T.E.A. Taxed Enough Already!
Save the Tea---Dump the Politicians
Spread the Work Ethic, NOT the Wealth
WAKE UP AMERICA!

NO more Socialism

NO more Political Correctness

NO more Closed Doors

Support our Troops, Don't Prosecute them

Were just a few I saw. The crowd was polite and orderly, I didn't see a radical fringe of rowdies. What I did see were Families, Elders and Youngsters, Veteran's and Businessmen, Patriots, coming together for a common cause.
The meeting was opened with music from the Campbell Family Singers who led the crowd in a round of God Bless America, followed by This land is your land/ this land is my land, This is My country, Of course Lee Greenwood's God Bless the USA and Amazing Grace and several others. They regaled us with country Gospel, it was quite enjoyable.

Jason Harris opened the meeting in Prayer.

Marshall Holland called the meeting to order and introduced a distinguished guest, Mr Wilford Moore, a WWll veteran who was injured at Pearl Harbor on that infamous day, December 7, 1941. He shared his memories from that day and told us of the injury he sustained when a 500lb bomb landed within 60 feet of him, which damaged his hearing in both ears but otherwise left him unscathed.(A miracle Yes) He shared with us the grief of losing his best buddy in that attack. It was a stark reminder for me, the high cost of freedom and liberty that so many of us take for granted. My son was excited to be able to talk to him after the meeting and to see his pictures from that day and the days that followed. An amazing history lesson for my son who is a WWll buff of huge proportions.
We watched a short video called At the Revolution by Alan West. When it was finished there was more than one shout of "I'd Vote for him" that went up around the room. I was thinking in the back of my mind perhaps we haven't heard the last of Alan West. I am going to start some research into this man.
The visiting speaker for this evening was George Stevenson, who is the chairman of an organization called Grass Roots America We the People, from Tyler,Texas.(www.GRAWTP.com) He talked about his childhood, growing up on a farm and about his father who served in WWll. He talked about complacency and the need to put an end to it.
He spoke to us about the need for us to stand up and make changes and how it starts at home, in our own towns and cities and getting involved in our local government. It starts with talking to your neighbors, families, friends. He spoke about the importance of the 2010 elections and the fact that the opposition knows our numbers are growing. He shared the importance of not sitting on the sidelines anymore.
He urged those in attendance to study our constitution, study our founding fathers and their vision for this country. He stated that we were born for this moment, like our ancestors before us, this is our day, this is our destiny.
He shared the importance of prayer for our country and the need for conservative values to again be embraced. He spoke of the "movement" to silence Christians with the threats of stripping churches of their tax exempt status; and the fact that churches need to stand up and say fine, go for it, pay the tax and once again let their voices be heard. This statement was applauded and cheered by the entire room.
It was a rousing meeting, and it was refreshing to see so many others who have concerns about where our country is headed. It spoke to my maternal instincts that wonder what will be left of this America that I love, for my children and grandchildren. It spoke to my Patriotic side, my Proud American side, the one that remembers when love of country was something everyone felt, at least everyone I knew. It energized me to become more involved, become better educated about the issues so I can make more informed decisions; to raise my voice with the growing numbers of Citizen Warriors who have been awakened.
We also heard from our local Superintendent of Schools and his opinion about President Obama's choice for "Safe School Czar" Kevin Jennings who is nothing more than a pedophile in my book.

Also in attendance was one of our Local City councilman. He shared a bumper sticker that he had seen recently that read: Annoy a Politician by defending the constitution. He spoke about the groups focus which is...

To be educated; about the issues and the Constitution.

To be prepared; as a community

To be Organized

To have a member of the group in attendance at every County Commissioners meeting, every City Council meeting, every School Board meeting. .

To Stand Up and be counted, to once again have our voices heard. One person CAN make a difference and it starts with YOU!

Get out there and make a difference today in your hometown. Stand up and be heard America!

The will of the People is the only legitimate foundation of any Government, and to protect its free expression should be our first object. ~ Thomas Jefferson

First Game of the Season

Last night was the first game of the season and excitement was high in the stadium. The setting of the sun brought with it a hint of crispness in the air, giving us hope that fall is on its way.

It has been ages since we last attended a high school football game. Our boys made the marching band this year, as 8th graders! The band director decided to let 8th graders audition and then put them through a rigorous band camp to see if they had what it took to march with the big dogs. It is a coveted position to be sure, and one shared with 13 other talented and committed 8th grade students as well.

Times have changed in our absence. The place was alive with activity and pomp. The teams had inflated little huts they ran out of, there were drill teams and bands and cheerleaders and mascots as far as the eye could see, not to mention the stands filled with cheering fans. It was impossible not to be caught up in the buzz.

The teams took their places on the field and the game began; our team didn't disappoint us. They played well and kept us screaming and cheering from our vantage points in the stands. The band did their part playing to the crowd. The cheerleaders followed their team on the sidelines with shouts of encouragement and glee. The mascot was a bit flat but it was a pretty warm night and I am sure the suit was stifling. Everything was thought of and even the concessions people were in the stands with goodies so you didn't have to miss a minute of the action.

Our team was up by 7 at the half and we were waiting with baited breath for the band to take the field. We watched the the other team perform their halftime show and enjoyed their efforts, but our real interest was in our own teams performance. We had seen bits and pieces of it over the past several weeks during practice.

They marched onto the field with what to us was perfect precision, and the drill team too, the show began.

We were trying to pick out our boys in the group, it is difficult when they all are dressed alike. This was the first time to see them in their full regalia too. We finally spotted them both only to have the show start and to lose them in the steps. The show was awesome!

They out shined the other band in complexity of the steps. It was wonderful, the drill team, the dance team, the band; all of it. The crowd went wild when they were finished. This years show looks to be a hit. They will continue to add to their show as the weeks go on, and I for one can't wait for the next one.

The players took the field after the half, entering again through their little huts to cheers, whistles and even an air horn. The excitement didn't end and our team went on to win 33 to 7, a fantastic start to the season.

We made our way out of the stadium, our faces beaming with excitement and pride. We decided that we would try and travel to away games, if our schedules allow, as we don't want to miss a minute of the action. What a GREAT First game of the season!

Texas to Michigan: Diary of a Road Trip

We decided to drive this year for our vacation. Since most of our extended family lives in Michigan it is a logical choice. The trip is long and grueling but worth the effort when we get there. What follows are notes I journal-ed during our trip; enjoy the ride.

Day 1: June 18, 2009
Left at 4:30 am . For a state the size of Texas there are relatively few freeways, especially in our neck of the woods, so the two-way traffic slows things just a bit. There are quite a few truck s on the road. Only in Texas, just south of Texarkana we find the craziest thing, there is a traffic light sort of in the middle of no-where and the speed limit drops from 70 to 55 in about 20 feet to get through the light. Makes no sense to me.
First gas up in Benton Arkansas, traffic has been surprisingly heavy even with the high cost of gas. Again, lots of trucks. Gas $2.59 per gal. We have two vehicles to fill, our middle daughter and her other half are following in my car. I will be returning home later than my hubby and them as the boys and I will stay a few extra weeks in Michigan with mom to help her with her booth at the Flea Market. At least we are on the freeway now and we can "hit it and get it" as my hubby says.
After a quick stop for a picnic lunch we are back on the road with me at the wheel. Hubby has decided to take a rest. The traffic is heavy across I-40 to Memphis, but I just cranked up the oldies and keep up with traffic.
Blytheville AR, stop for fill up, potty break for us and the dog, ice for cooler. Gas is $2.54 per gallon here. We were stationed here in the early 90's at Eaker Air Force base, where we lived until it's closure sent us further west to Arizona. We enjoyed living in AR, but are saddened at the dilapidated condition of the base as well as the town since we left. I think the closure of the base here had a pretty negative impact on the town.
There is a heat advisory today, not surprising in the Mississippi Delta. It is just like a sauna outside. I am thankful for AC in the car and feel a bit of sympathy for those who came before such luxuries and wonder how they could stand it. We are a spoiled bunch for sure. The hubby is back at the wheel after a nap. He was actually surprised we had gone so far as he slept. He was really sleeping hard, snoring and everything in the passenger seat. Ev and I were chuckling at him, and I just turned the radio up a bit to cover the noise.
The news says we may be in for some severe weather, but so far sunny and clear. The cotton is up and the corn is higher than the knees. All seems as it should be here in the southeast USA. We are getting ready to cross into Missouri for a short hop, then across the Mississippi River into Illinois, the "sort of" home state of our president. Traffic has thinned significantly, a welcome reprieve. Southbound lane remains heavy.The freeways in Arkansas east of Little Rock are in pretty rough shape, and I-55 N here in Missouri isn't much better. They have a road sign that reads…"The difference is you, Drive Safe." There is lots of debris and potholes on the road, but there is a mile marker every 2/10 of a mile!
A pit stop in Cairo Illinois; just over the Mississippi River, is a sad reminder of the economic climate. It is pretty shabby looking with many boarded up buildings and closed businesses. I did find a $5.00 bill laying on the ground next to the truck in a parking lot though! We decided to stop for the night in Mt Vernon Illinois, at the Red Roof Inn, they are pet friendly and have complimentary breakfast. We have Kirby along this trip, it is her first road trip and she has been so good. She hasn't eaten or drank much though.

Day 2: June 19, 2009
Woke up to gas being 20 cents higher per gallon! Overnight! Price is $2.78 per gallon. I guess we should have topped off last night. The freeway is still in rough shape, as well as medians and shoulders. The state over all in southern Ill seems neglected. It reminds me somewhat of one of my first trips to Mexico and a road trip there, their "freeway" system was in pretty poor condition. I can't help but think back to other road trips across this same stretch of highway. There is a grief, if you can call it that , sort of like the USA has fallen into serious disrepair, like an abandoned old building. It is a shame.
The roads further north, closer to Chicago, seem to be in better shape, as well as the medians and shoulders. Maintenance must be the responsibility of the counties for the most part. There are many farms in the area we are in, it is a nostalgic and comforting scene to see fields of wheat and corn as well as barns and silos along with farmhouses. I just saw a sign for Cumberland County, it is truly beautiful country.
The horizon ahead looks like we could possibly run into some of the weather we have been watching for. My guess is in Chicago. We just passed the mowers and got a nice big whiff of fresh cut grass. There are lots of "Burma Shave" style signs in this area of highway. We just passed ones that said, "Young thugs won't dare attack, if a teacher might shoot back." gunssavelives.com
Pit stop in Paxton Ill at a Casey's General store, very clean restrooms! Quite a picturesque little town. The storm seems to be looming larger on the horizon. We did run into some rain, just enough to clean our windshields and knock the dust off the car, God's carwash!
Huge Abe Lincoln standing on the side of the road holding a sign that reads "Annoy a Liberal, use facts and logic." in Kankakee. They like to make statements here LOL. Traffic in Chicago relatively light and no delays. Quick trip across I-80 through the corner of Indiana and up I-96 into Michigan and into the rain! Stopped at welcome center for a quick lunch under the maple trees.
Gas is $2.79 per gallon. Saw it for $2.89 in Indiana and as much as $3.05. The soaking at the pump is just in time for summer travel. I hope it drops some after the July 4th holiday. It is funny, we haven't lived in Michigan in over 20 years, yet there is a feeling of "coming home" just crossing the border. Our son in law is on his first trip to Michigan and it is exciting to be able to share the experience with him. I hope he still loves us after traveling 2 days and then the next 10 days "hanging" with family. My hubby describes it like being a puzzle piece put back in its place; at least for the time being-- then it will be back to home in Texas.
We missed our exit not paying attention and had to go about 5 miles out of our way to the next exit and get turned around. I think this is about 3-4 times we have done this on this trip alone. It has been quite a while since our last road trip and we are a bit rusty. Blue skies ahead, looks like we are driving out of the storm. We had to turn off the AC in the car because we got a bit chilly, another nice reprieve.
For the state of Michigan being so broke, the medians and shoulders are all mowed and there is very little debris on the roadways. The freeways are in pretty good repair too. I imagine we will need and alignment after this trip for sure. We were able to pick up a repair brochure at the welcome center that lists all areas of road construction and repair going on around the state, so we can compare it to our route and decide if we want to find and alternative route. We have 2-way radios in the cars so we can keep in touch with the kids behind us, it has made for a fun ride.
I guess I may have spoken too soon, I-196 at South Haven is terrible. We decided to go through Holland for a quick stop at the Wooden Shoe shop. US 31, the scenic route may not have been the best idea, traffic is pretty heavy and stop and go, oh well we are on vacation--right.
We are on the last leg of our trip. There are lot's of RV's and trucks pulling boats, it lets us know we are close to the water. I am thinking they must be gearing up for the holiday weekend coming in a couple of weeks.
We drive into Manistee, a quaint little Victorian town and it is a reminder of small-town USA and childhood memories from the 1970's. It is quite picturesque complete with a steeple in the distance rising up out of the trees.
A few miles further and we will arrive at our destination, the little house in the woods, along the banks of the Betsie River, where I spent a good part of my childhood, and where my mom still lives today. It will be home again for the next few weeks. Our families will gather and hugs and laughter will abound, as well as the exclamations of "I can't believe how much you've grown!" for the nieces and nephews. All the good stuff memories are made of. Let the vacation begin…

Never forget..."Home of the Free, because of the Brave."

I am sitting here early on this Memorial Day 2009 and my thoughts are of my baby brother who was deployed to the Gulf region this past week. He is a Chief Warrant officer in the Navy or better known as "Gunny". Our family has a long history of Military service. We are a family that is proud of our Service members and appreciative of the sacrifices they make to serve. I can never get through a Honor Guard ceremony without a tear or two, in fact even the Star Spangled Banner raises a lump in my throat.

My hubby is a veteran also; of the Air Force. We have lived on several military installations around the world. For two small town kids from MI it was a huge adventure. Our memories of those times are some of our best and we made some incredible friends too.

My dad was a Navy vet and served during the Korean conflict. Three other brothers have served with honor as well.

I am distressed when I see disrespect or criticism for our military forces. They do a job few are willing to do. They go to some of the most God-forsaken places on this planet in pursuit of enemies who loath us. They die much too young and leave voids in their families that can never be filled.

They are brave hero's in my book and I refuse to see them as anything but. Their harshest critics are not able to comprehend that they are free to complain and malign them on the very backs of those who have fought for those freedoms. Ask any veteran and they will tell you, that is what they fight for. They are America's sons and daughters.

Our way of life is an ideal and it runs deep in our veins. We enjoy relative Freedom, safety and prosperity that hard work affords us. We are a blessed Nation, yet more and more I see people willing to throw it all away for bigger government and less freedom. I believe our founding father's are twisting in their graves.

So as you celebrate this Memorial Day with your BBQ or whatever you choose, take a moment to remember the Brave men and women who serve their country with honor and pride. Send up a quick prayer for their safety and protection; and never forget..."Home of the Free-because of the Brave."

Lifestyles of the Not-so-Rich or Famous (An Average American Family)

The Average American Family?

My mind has been preoccupied by the same thing that is on many peoples mind these days; our economy. I have been thinking about how our lifestyle has been affected and whether it is a negative impact or a positive one.
We have been a one income family for the past several years, out of desire verses imposed change. We decided we wanted a different lifestyle than the one we were ardently pursuing.
I consider our family to be "an Average American family". We live in a nice house(with a nice mortgage to prove it), in a decent neighborhood. We have two cars, a dog and 2.5 cats(our neighbors cat eats here several times a week). We also have two kids still at home. Anyway, I have always considered us Middle class, so I thought I would look into what that means income wise. What I discovered was not surprising really, but it has opened my eyes a bit.

I found a website by the US Census Bureau that lists Median family incomes by state. You can check out your state too.

For a family our size we should have an income of $59,808 (plus or minus) $1250 to meet median family income statistics. We don't meet that criteria, so I decided to start looking for information about poverty levels. This information is a bit more convoluted to find. Curious, could it be that it is better just not to know how poor we are. Actually the information is available but not as simple to locate.(at least for me, I don't claim great computer savvy)I was able to locate a figure of $20,614 US for a family of four as of 2007. Whew a relief for me because we are above that.
Now that I realize we are not middle class, I wonder, "what are we then?" We aren't poverty level either. Where do we fit in to "the Average American Family?" We must be the poor relatives, but not the poverty stricken ones. We are the lower middle class. Where does that put us for lifeboat status? Toward the top? or bottom?
The conclusion I have come to is that statistics don't mean much in the grand scheme of things. We don't need them to tell us how we live or where we fit in to the equation. We have modified our lifestyle to fit our income for the most part. There isn't as much disposable income as we once had. It has made us more creative, and I think has grown us as a family.
A typical family night for us now might include making homemade Pizza and a board game or rousing game of Dominoes etc.. Movie nights are easily planned with a quick trip to the video store, or better yet a re-watch of a movie already in our collection, and a bag of microwave popcorn. Or even a family fun night playing Wii golf or bowling at our daughters house. Dinners out are relatively scarce, as are frivolous shopping trips etc. Our shopping trips now include making the rounds at our local Goodwill and several other thrift stores. We have also started to read as a family. We are re-discovering the classics of our childhood, and sharing the adventures with our kids. I am the one who narrates the stories and my hubby and boys really enjoy being read to. Funny how that seems to be something you never get too big for.
We have friends that we get fresh eggs from. We now plant our own garden; that we increased in size this year. We have scouted out places to pick wild Blackberries, figs and grapes as well as pears.
My boys are learning to make jams and jellies, freeze fruits and veggies as well as helping to can foods too. They were a big help when we built our greenhouse this spring. They got to hunt this year with dad for the first time and are now talking about next year. They recently helped a friend of ours stack wood on a trailer after it was split, to be delivered to the widow ladies in our community who need wood. They are learning the value of hard work and a job well done. These are life lessons that are priceless.
I know that we are blessed to be where we are. My hubby has a fairly stable job, which provides us with access to medical insurance(for which we pay dearly) but what is the alternative. At this point gas is still affordable, as are our utilities. Whether that continues remains to be seen, but no amount of worry can fix it. I know too that there are many families that have not fared as well as ours has, my heart goes out to them.
Our life is far from glamorous, but it is pleasant. We have chosen to focus on the important things, rather than the pursuit of more stuff. So, even though I don't see any TV producers beating a path to our door to film the latest reality show, it is all good. While it may not be for everyone, I think our numbers are growing daily. So to all you other "Average American Families" out there, Hang in there, Life is good, especially when you slow down enough to enjoy it.

Thoughts of the day.

I think the simple life may be an oxymoron of sorts because life is anything but simple today. We are living in a time of change and uncertainty to be sure. There is hatred and division running rampant right here in our own country.

I suppose there are those who will say that we have always been divided and I guess that is true to an extent. It is easy to become discouraged if one focuses very long on the politics in America. I feel like we(the American people) have been sold down the river by corporate greed. The very officials that we elected sold out long ago and joined forces with the dark side if you will.

There was even a time in my life that I was on the same wheel, running faster and faster and getting nowhere. The trouble with that lifestyle is that it has no sustainability, at least not for me. The chance to step back and re-focus on what is really important has been a life-changer. Life is about God, Family and Friends hence it becomes simpler when we change perspective.

"Each day is a gift" may be considered a cliche' but I believe it is true. We choose whether to open it and be thrilled, or return it in hopes of finding something better. Mind you there are some "gifts" that need to be returned.

Take some time out today to reflect on the important things in your life. The Simple life is a good life.