Rash Vow - The Compact - Update - Birthdays

Okay - the latest issue. I got through Grandchild Birthday #1 by going in with Abby to redo Josh's bed. I sent some UW Badger fabric I already had :-) and sent money which Abby and Greg used to buy a used bed frame and make a bulletin board-type head board. Perfect! Now it is Aidan's turn - Grandchild Birthday #2. Since Aidan can't read yet (he is a brilliant almost 4 year old but come on it's okay to not be reading Grammie's blog yet!) - I am putting my idea for his birthday this next week on my blog. I am getting him his very own gift certificate to the Milwaukee Brewers!! If his parents are really nice to him, they can go to a baseball game with him. The Brewers are awesome this year - and unfortunately are in the same Division with the St. Louis Cardinals. So this will be a fun (I hope) year of competing with Warren and Marcia's favorite team! Anyway - I also have a bag of candy to take as well - since I can buy "food." And as a Grammie - I am defining "food" rather liberally. Happy Birthday Aidan. Also - remind me to sing Happy Birthday backwards as Bill's Mom did this week at a Birthday Party with her friends in Hot Springs Village!

Politics, Movies and God

Bill and I watched a disturbing and powerful movie last night - Rendition. Without giving away the plot, the basic story line is an Egyptian citizen who is married to an American and who has lived in the US for 20+ years. He is suspected of being a terroist and with the approval of the US CIA, is tortured in Egypt. The bottom line for us - is that there is evil everywhere in the world. It does not really matter which country you are a part of. The only hope the world has is to know God through Jesus Christ. Even the best (and of course the worst) country will disappoint - but only God will never disappoint.

I haven't posted since the bruhaha about Obama's pastor. I, for one, am happy that at least the concept of whites not really understanding racism and what it is like to be black in the US is finally being discussed in the context of a Presidential Election. While I don't agree with all his pastor said, at least we are talking about these things in the open. That is progress. One other point that both Greg made on his blog and an editorial in the Milwaukee Journal also stated is that pastors (especially apparently in the black church) have a duty to speak forth for God and it may not always be pleasant to hear. Perhaps Obama's Pastor was being faithful to a call. Think about it.

Rash Vows - Update

Rash Vow #2 - I have now lost 10 lbs. I am obviously very happy! Have been stuck at -10 lbs. for a couple of weeks - so am very motivated to get into the teens! I am enjoying eating healthy food - still feel the draw to sugar. Probably always will. More later.

Rash Vow #1 - Am now in my 4th month of not buying anything new. I am still amazed at how easy this has been. I find choices to make. Christian and Kate even honored my vow and found some great books for Bill's birthday at a second-hand book store. (Bill was heard to say - "It is not my vow!!") Anyway - now that spring clothes are in the stores and in the many catalogs that come in the daily mail, I will admit I was very tempted (especially the pretty shoes!) But once I decided I was not going to break the vow to buy more clothes - I was okay. This trip to MN, I am going to a large Good Will in St. Paul and looking for a few casual spring tops. During my last trip to this Good Will, I was amazed at the quality of items and the low prices!!

"Spring" in the North

This post is for my sister in Missouri who is fully into spring!! Here in the North Woods we are now into the strange season called "When is spring ever going to come!" Then we go right into Summer which we will match with anyone's Summer. :-) Anyway - today some of the brown earth was visible on the hill in my south-facing garden and a soft spot started in the snow on the lake. The "good news" from such a long and snowy winter - is that we are all hoping our lakes will rebound! I will post some pictures when the snow is almost gone!!

Rash Vow #2 - Update

Very quick update on the diet. I have lost 6 lbs in 3 weeks. I am currently stuck but motivated to break through another mini-marker! Onward and downward (I hope!)

Rash Vow #1 - Success with small temptations!

Quick Update with my first rash vow to not buy anything new for one year. I am continuing to love this! I feel so free and relaxed. I can go into a big box store and not buy anything other than the pharmacy or food item I planned to buy. Here a few little temptations I got past this last week:

- I was reaching for the new John Grisham novel before I remembered my vow. I did not buy it but can't wait to borrow it from a library or someone else who bought it! (Hint Hint!)
- No lattes yet and not wanting any!! Enjoying my tea.
- Josh's birthday - had a good idea of something to make and Abby came up with a better idea they needed help with (involves something they are buying used and some Badger fabric I already had.)
- Spring clothes are already in the big box stores. Quick glance but no purchases! Actually I don't NEED anything - I have beautiful clothes already (I am talking to myself here.)
- Thinking of summer already and the thought that I needed another set of beds for the little kids. Realized that for the one week that the mega family is here - don't need another set of beds since have very nice blow up bed for them.
- Spring decorations at Trig's - looked and then laughed at myself. Then when I put out my spring decorations saw that certainly did NOT need anything else.
- Spring hand towels and wash cloths for my bath room - wanted something new and pretty - went through my stash of pretty towels and of course found the perfect ones.

Any way - thanks for reading through my little victories and this return to sanity.

Political Thoughts - Update

I have found the comments on my foray in politics on this blog more interesting than the post! What is surprising me is that everyone is assuming that I am a Republican. This is understandable if you look at Bill and my professions I suppose, but it means that we are all painting each other with a broad brush and we need to get below the surface and get to know each other in a deeper way. That is why I have quickly become a convert to "blogging and posting!" Bottom line - I started in life as a Republican since that was what was preached to me at home. I went through the wild '60s at UW-Madison and UC-Berkeley and started rethinking my politics (quietly and privately at that point.) Over the years, I have seen myself as an Independent with Republican leanings - even though many things in the Republican party bothered me. I have tried to be sensitive and compassionate to the issues of poverty and injustice in particular and would swing between neither party having any answers and the voting for the least of two evils in elections. I am now very troubled again by both political parties for the following reasons:

Republicans - I don't agree with their views on gun control. I am very uncomfortable with guns in general and want more controls, not less. I don't like the stance that the government should not take care of those who are disadvantaged - don't agree that anyone who wants to, can pull themselves up in the US by hard work. I do agree with the abortion position as I believe that life begins at conception and know that many girls and women have been traumatised by abortion. I have trusted that Republican economic policies help our country, now I am not sure. I really do not agree with the war in Iraq. I was troubled from Day 1 - that we invaded another country. Now I don't know what the best solution is. I think it will take a long time for our world image to rebound.

Democrats - I still don't completely trust on their spending and taxing - but I know that their motives are good - trying to help those that the Church and families should be taking care of. I don't agree with their position on abortion - but do agree with many other social positions such as gun control and equal rights.

The reason that I am considering voting for Obama (if I vote) is that I think it would be an incredible statement for our country to have an African American as President both for race relations in the US and for our reputation outside the US. Whether or not he can make much difference as President is not as much a concern for me this time.

I am sorry to be so negative, but this election has me troubled and I don't see it getting any better. Please indulge me with my own opinions and I would love to here yours. I like Amy's statement that at best politicians are just people with ideas. Don't know why I expect any more - just another reason to focus on Christ and not man.