Let's Not Forget Them

One thing I have noticed lately and I feel a little sad about it is the frequency of blogging has slowed down. I am not sure why, perhaps it is summer and people are on vacation. Perhaps it is because the young soldiers our blogging family has been keeping track of and praying for are safe at back home. As I look back on the last 18-19 months when our soldier left it seems as most of the world I live in has stood still. Any vacation was taken at Fort Bragg to support our daughter-in-law and the grandkids. Preparations for them to come back to home (Ohio) for holidays were done. Finally the big preparation for the return of Jacob to the United States was done. The world just stood still, at least mine did. I am pretty certain ABNMOMMA’S did too. We need to keep in mind the 110, 000 brave soldiers still serving in Iraq.*

When Jacob deployed it was for 12 months and was bumped up to 15 months. Since he left in January we decided we would leave Christmas decorations up until he came home in January. Being a rather bull headed person after we learned of the extra 3 months I said something to the affect “those damn decorations are staying till he comes home.” Then he did come home to Fort Bragg and we found out his 30 day leave wouldn’t be until June.

ABNMOMMA put her foot down and the artificial tree and Nativity Scene succumbed to her wishes or at least I did. Now, herein lies my problem. We have 14 foot tall ceilings in the Great Room. Hanging in the Great Room are 16, 12 inch ornaments about 2 to 3 feet from the ceiling. To quote Subvet, “she who must be obeyed” has requested they come down. I say, since I am the one who has to climb up the ladder and reach about 6 inches longer than my arm will allow they should stay. Christmas is only about 4 months away! Safety first, don’t you agree?

What say you? C’mon guys I need your help on this one. Save me!

*Please note the addition of SSG David Cross to my Soldiers Prayer List. He was recently deployed to Iraq and his parents are part of our church family. Your prayers for his safety are appreciated.

G-d Bless All

ABNPOPPA

Who among us would not post on our blog this memorable day. The day that gives freedom and justice for all of us in the greatest county in the World. Sure there will be the flags, parades and fireworks, a tradition that has spanned over 200 years. We are so lucky and blessed.

As my children were growing up and as I tell my grandchildren today one only needs to read two documents to live a righteous life. The first is the Bible and the second, of course is The Declaration of Independence. I firmly believe if one puts time and effort into these two instruments, lives by what the authors wrote, and follows them as the authors intended a person will have a successful life.

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,

I have only copied the first part of the Declaration of Independence because I feel it contains two very important statements. The first,

"all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator".

It doesn't say only in church, it doesn't say not in the place you work, it doesn't say not in a court room and it doesn't say not in a school. The Creator endows every man, woman and child all the time everywhere!

You only have to go back to when prayer was taken out of the schools to see the moral decline that has taken over. First the schools, then work and now some state and local governments are trying to pass laws that would prevent Pastors, Preachers, Priests and Rabbis from preaching what the Creator has endowed on every man.

The second statement, "

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed".

The key here is with the consent of the governed. It is not just the last Congress that was elected two short years ago but ones that were elected several years ago that began the downward cycle the Greatest Nation on earth faces today. The term "do nothing congress' is appropriate for the current congress. The slippery slope started when "we the people" began to demand less of the people we elected. It began when we decide it wasn't worth the effort to study who was running for what office or what they wanted to do, or...who they were connected with. Our elected officials have health insurance they don't pay for, bank accounts they don't have to balance, can take a trip anywhere in the world and say it is for government business and drive in cars we can't even begin to afford. All at taxpayers expense.

I say Bull Crap! It is time, "we the people" begin to form a more responsive government. It all starts with holding their feet to the fire this coming election day. The President of this great country is the most powerful man in the world but....it is the Congress that holds the purse strings. I don't care who you vote for as it is none of my business. I do care that you vote and encourage everyone you know to find out where these current congressmen and women stand on issues. What have they done in the last 2,4, or 6 years? Is it for their own political gain or is it for the betterment of this county! Have they voted on issues or skipped town when they thought the vote might hurt their chance for re-election? If they have put themselves before the betterment of this country. I say Vote them OUT! We don't need do nothings guiding this country. What do they stand for? If you don't stand for something you'll fall for anything! (Garth Brooks)

IMHO these last two that are running for President of the United States should resign NOW! Getting paid while being absent from your job to campaign is an insult to every American working man and women.

"..my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.

John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address, January 20, 1961

God Bless America & Happy 4^th of July