That Smoke

I am SO ANGRY.

It is no secret our house is on fire. And not figuratively - as a nation, we are burning. We are not great. We are a world-wide embarrassment. 

Months ago I wanted to order an American flag so I can hang it upside down. You can tell yourself that the nation is not in distress but you would be wrong.

Last week the world watched a masked armed "agent" shoot an American woman in the face. In front of her house. In America. In broad daylight. And then call her a "f&*^ing bitch. (And don't come at me with justifications or "explanations". I've seen all of the angles. He was wrong.)

I mentioned the flag again and my Beloved said "we don't want that smoke."

But here's the deal, THAT's the problem. THAT's how we got here. Enough people didn't want to risk retaliation so instead of saying anything - they kept to themselves. 

And their neighbors were marched to concentration camps.

Enough people kept their heads down and looked the other way and watched silently as people they claimed to care for were KILLED because of WHO THEY WERE.

So, smoke it is. 

I know that I am fortunate to be able to say the things I say without fear of being fired. To know me is to know where I stand. And when the time comes and my grandchildren ask their mom where their grandmother stood when the United States resembled Nazi Germany, she will not have to sensor her answer. She will not have to hesitate or change the subject.

She can, with confidence, say - she was obnoxiously against the oppressors and their open racism.

And that's what this is. This administration is actively trying to white wash America.

And if you are silent on this matter - you are part of the problem.

You can sit in church on Sunday and pray for the nation but if you are silent the rest of the days - you are part of the problem.

If you are silently trusting that God is in control and He has this all handled, this is His plan - you are part of the problem.

Jesus flipped tables. Jesus served those in need.

As a reminder, here's Matthew 25: 40-45

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 

42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 

43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

What's going on Minneapolis is just the beginning. When this happens in your city to your neighbors - will that change your mind? 

If you voted for this, I hold you personally responsible. The deaths that have directly resulted from moves, actions, plans of this regime are on YOUR hands. 

The irreputable damage this administration has caused is because of you. You put your trust in the hands of the openly hateful.

How you agree with any of this is beyond me. How you sleep at night knowing families are being ripped apart "for the betterment of the nation" baffles me.

I am most angry at "God's people" who are standing by while God's children are being snatched from their families.

We do not live in a time where you get to say "I don't do politics" and ignore what's going on - this isn't political. This is immoral. This is basic humanity and we're failing. This is not a difference in politics - this is a difference in morals.

And we should all be seething....

A Pinch of Hope

This weekend I stepped WAY out of my comfort zone for something I knew in my heart was important. 

I have been unapologetically vocal about my disgust with those in leadership roles and my disappointment with those who put them there. I share this on social media and in the shirts I wear when I leave the house.

But lately, that hasn't been enough.

Last Friday I decided to see if there was a No Kings gathering in our area and was pleasantly surprised to see one in our little community. I told my Beloved I needed to be there. I texted my like-minded Bestie and her response was an immediate "I'm down." That night we bought markers and made signs. 

I was going outside......

Before we left the house, it was important to me that Alice understood why this was necessary.

We talked about our Freedom of Speech and how the current administration would like to silence those who disagree with them. We talked about how they are trying to manage what stories the Press are allowed to tell. We talked about how they are attempting to erase parts of history that might make us uncomfortable; but these are things that to be learned so we don't accept the terrible treatment of others as being okay. 

Lastly, we talked about the importance of showing up for our friends that do not look like us who are having to worry about being unlawfully detained for the color of their skin. That is not something we have to worry about and it's important to use our voices for them. By showing our outrage at the blatant injustice - we are showing them they are safe with us.

On Saturday, with our signs in hand, we headed to City Hall and joined around 300 people from our community in solidarity that NONE of this okay. The lies. The shutdowns. The disgusting internet trolling done by the freaking leader of the United States - NONE OF IT IS OKAY.

We held signs, waved, blew bubbles, sang, chanted - even when it rained.  

And for the first time in a long time, we all didn't feel so alone.

We stood next to a woman from our neighboring community who was thankful to be able to stand with people who felt the same way she did. 

It's easy to feel like we're crazy. But over 7 million people peacefully gathered to express their anger at where we are heading. 

And for the first time in a long time, I had hope.

Hope that the hate won't continue to win.

Hope that eventually the lies will stop and consequences will happen. (I miss accountability and consequences and checks & balances...)

Hope that communities can live in peace again.

Just.....a pinch of hope.

I'm thankful we attended because now I know I'm not so alone in the immediate space I share with so many. 

Until next time....

The 13th Year

13. 

You are officially in your Teen Era, kid. 

Skibbiddiboopboop!

You played volleyball for two semesters with the City of La Porte Parks and Rec. They were both very different teams and you learned a lot. Underhand serving was your JAM!

You handled 6th grade like a champ! You joined the Drama Club and got to play Snow White. Art class was your favorite. You attended your first school dances. You purchased pickles at both.

With all the extra things you wanted to participate in, you made the hard decision to end your time at Taekwondo. With you getting older, it was time to move to the adult class and that was scary so you decided to hang up your belts. You did the right thing and told Mr. Barnhill in person and that was very brave.

We visited California! We had fun at Disneyland, stood in the trees and got our feet wet in the Pacific Ocean. We toured the bay, rode a steam train and shopped in San Francisco. It was a grand adventure!

We added to the family! We brought Sully home in March. We met a lot of dogs but you wanted to see the one with the little legs. And now he is ours. The two of you love playing tug of war.

This was your last summer with La Porte Parks and Rec summer camp. You had an absolute blast and were heartbroken to have to say goodbye. My hope is that you get to continue to grow with this program and eventually return as a camp counselor.

You started a new school this year. You were disappointed to not get an art class again; however, I think you landed where you needed to. You are now in theater and choir. You are staying after school almost every day for practices. You have an audition next weekend for Regional Choir. You are also on the travel One Act play crew! My little Techie!! We are so excited to watch you continue to grow.

Since you had volleyball experience, you decided to take athletics. You do regret that now. ;) You tried out for the volleyball team but didn't make it. This turned out to be a good thing because practice is at 6am and we do not do early. Gross.

You found the musical Epic on YouTube and that is your entire personality now. Bless it.

You got to attend your first concert! We say Laufey and she was WONDERFUL!

You had to get your second round of braces a week early because you threw away your retainer at school. When I told you you would need to go through the trash - you...were...scandalized.

Kid, you crack me up. We laugh SO MUCH. I hope that never changes.

We also get passionate so we now have safe words to use before things get too out of hand. We also have one for when you have big feelings but no real reason. We use these often.

You still want to be tucked in. I told you on your birthday now that you are thirteen, you don't need to be tucked in any more. You looked at me with the most teenagery face and said "I'm gonna get tucked in." 

The next few years are going to fly by and we want you to know that you are so very loved. Even when the three of us are cranky - we love each other no matter what.

I hope this year is everything you want it to be and more.

Watching you grow is our favorite thing.

We love you,

Mom & Dad

Proverbs 31:8-9

*Direct quote from JD Vance before he traded his morals for power.
Look it up - Google is free.

I shared where I stand on the subject of the current president. Go here and here for a reminder.

I will remain vocal as things continue to go downhill. It's important to me that people in my life know where I stand - either to feel safe or to stay quiet.

The man and his people are atrocious and there is no defending them.

But that's not what this blog post is about...

I recently shared this picture on Facebook:

This post is about this comment - 

I have removed the name of the commenter from the above picture and also from my Facebook. The block function is something I use liberally these days.

This line "don't assume this isn't part of His will" is problematic.

Because THIS is what that sentence is saying - 

        Families being ripped apart...

        People being taken off the street and sent to other countries...

        People being persecuted for speaking up...

        People losing jobs...

        Criminals being pardoned...

        Bribes being flaunted...

        Lies being told daily...

        Foreign leaders being insulted in front of the press...

        People losing much needed support - is the will of God.

Hard. Nope.

None of this will EVER glorify Him. There is absolutely no way any of this can be spun in a way to show them on the right side of humanity. 

And as Christians - if we are not actively speaking out AGAINST it - we are actively participating IN it. 

It is a privilege to go about your daily life not worrying about how decisions made by terrible people will directly affect you.

Staying silent tells the people around you who do not have that privilege that they are not safe with you.

This is the time to flip tables.

And saying "this is God's will" with all the Christian audacity you can muster is a slap in the face to all of those suffering.

None of the Bible stories I learned growing up ended with "go forth and separate the poor and banish the foreigner in my name." 

The current regime is not the will of God. It's the will of people who fell head over heels for a very golden idol.

I read a quote the other day that said "Trump was their test against false idols and they failed."

I believe that 100%.

Again, some of y'all didn't pay attention to Veggie Tales and it shows.

Until next time....