Watch out for flying pigs...

I just read an article by Mike Littwin, and I actually agreed with most of it! I'm shocked and a little scared. I haven't done a ton of research on immigration...illegal or otherwise, so I'm not sure I'm ready to sound off on it. One of the big issues I do have is clear through a quote in Littwin's column.

"One person, upon seeing an overturned van, told a Rocky reporter he wondered who would pay the medical bills. That's not exactly how you'd hope people would react to an accident.
But it's the reaction you'd expect when a group of people have been effectively demonized." (emphasis mine)

Hispanohablantes (Spanish speaking people) have been demonized in this country...in this state.

The argument I often hear is--If I moved to another country, I would learn their language. I agree. If I moved to another country, I would do my best to learn the language, but if I found a group of English speaking folks, I'd be speaking English to them. I'd speak English in my home. English is part of my heritage, and I see no reason to abandon it.

So, why are Hispanohablantes looked down upon? Basically because they aren't speaking English. Did you know that people in the world are smart and don't speak English? I learned this lesson in college, and I'm ashamed to admit I didn't figure it out earlier. I was in a speech class with a guy from China. And listening to his speeches was SO HARD. He had not mastered the speaking of our language. I didn't have a good attitude about him...and in his final speech he talked about some very difficult medical concepts. He was Pre-Med!

My biggest issue is just the blatant bigotry. God made people...and at the tower of Babel he created multiple languages. He loves all of us. English, Spanish or Korean speakers. Jesus did not speak English, people!

You NEED Ballroom Dancing and Charm School!

OK, so it seems odd, but I am actually related to a movie producer. My cousin married a great Christian guy who happens to work with all those Hollywood types. He is the assistant producer on Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing and Charm School. I'm really excited to see this new film--it opens on April 7 in Denver. Now the scary part is that it will be showing at the Chez Artiste. I'm not exactly an art film type...but from watching the trailer, this doesn't seem like your typical art film. It is rated pg-13, and it has some big name folks like Sean Astin, Marisa Tomei, and John Goodman. Darren wrote, "It is a fun movie that should be worth the price of a ticket." Now, I haven't seen it yet, but I am hoping some other folks will go see it too. If you are looking for a night out, consider this one.

I'm freaking out!

Roger just had me cut his hair! He got a fancy razor with attachments, and really it didn't turn out bad. Just don't look too close!

Spring Break Dreams

I'm dreaming of a Spring Break where
I get my house cleaned
Have a date with my husband
Read a good book
Spend family time
Talk with my neighbors
See friends
Go to a movie
Reorganize my basement
Get out and do something
And have time to relax.

Getting all of that done is merely a dream. We'll see what is done at the end this week.

My obsession with books

is not compatible with my profession. I got into a novel this week, and although I have not completely ignored my children, I have given them far less attention than they deserve. I love reading...getting into the lives of fictional people and watching them grow and change. Its so much messier to do so in real life...people don't want to divulge all their struggles and mistakes for some reason.

I have now finished And the Shofar Blew by Francine Rivers and so you can be assured that I will be loving my kids better for the rest of the week than I did today.

I miss studying language

My current hankering is for some good old fashioned sentence diagramming! I just need to get out some book and pick a few sentences to work on....or maybe...

hankering	l	is\
\my\current	l		\for
			Diagramming
			\some \good \old fashioned \sentence

Boy, am I out of practice. Today in Marriage Matters we talked a little about verb tenses, and that's when I realized how sad it is that I used to know all the tenses--English and Spanish, and that I'm a little far removed from that now. I need a good grammar or linguistics class to get me back in the thick of it.

Snow day?

Roger is OBSESSED with the current snow storm. He has made a shopping list, so we don't get stuck without something we need, and he has checked the weather already tons of times. He's not just checking one channel either...all the major stations and weather.com. I'm praying for a snow day, just to make him happy. I think it just shows he is really ready for Spring Break.

"I'm feeling

a little....a little...a little as if I don't know how I feel." Winnie the Pooh

Pooh wanders around trying to get someone to help him figure out how he is feeling. And when no one seems interested in helping him, he decides to go back to bed. Then later, his friends come check on him. In the end of this story, Pooh realizes that he is feeling sad.

I wonder if that is how I'm feeling and if so why.

I don't want to be a...

Pharisee.

I was doing my Bible study tonight, and I realized yet again that my biggest struggle living as a Christ follower is that its just TOO easy to follow rules. Christ didn't call us to just do the right things...in fact he chastises and berates the Pharisees and Scribes for being outwardly religious...He calls us to really love Him and love others. I find that I'm making progress in this fight. Let me clarify--HE is making the progress in me. It's a part of my transformation! I've belonged to him for 27 years now, and I'm finally seeing some change. Its my nature to be a peacemaker...not make waves...do the right thing. Now, to do the right thing for the right reason is where I need to go.

Speaking of Children's songs

Bullfrogs and Butterflies
We've both been born again (I'm singin' bout)
Bullfrogs and Butterflies
We've both been born again

Here's the chorus of a CLASSIC children's song...And it has done a lot to fuel my current thinking on transformation. It's funny that I was thinking of that so much recently, then I got B&B and then Pastor Paul talked about it some on Sunday.

Old tadpole in a fishin' hole
Couldn't croak or jump to save his soul
Then one day, the funniest thing
He started growin'...turnin' green
He jumped up on a lillypad
And he's croakin' out a song
Givin' it all he had

When you ask Christ to come into your life, you are born again. This is an immediate change...But the birthing process can take much longer...As does the change of a tadpole to a bullfrog. When the change begins...perhaps this is conversion...but the transformation takes much longer.

Little caterpillar on a blade of grass
She noticed her days going by so fast
She's a lovely little lady
She's looking for a room
She's weavin' and spinnin' out a fine cocoon
Well, it didn't take long til she saw the sky
Spread your wings you butterfly!

The beauty of this illustration is how we are transformed from creepy to beautiful. Personally, I don't like caterpillars much...but but-ter-flies are amazing and graceful. God takes us from our sin and makes us beautiful. Are we transformed in 2 ways...Immediately at our making a decision for Christ, we are transformed. Hebrews 10:14 says that he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. Immediately perfect--one might say our postion is secure--but still in process of becoming set apart and like Him.

Well, I'm still trying to wrap my mind around transformation. This is just a start to my thoughts.

Let's give a little jump!

The "Jump, Jump" song

For a year or more now, my daughter comes from Sunday School and talks about the "Jump, Jump" song. Well, I'm excited to report that http://www.janaalayra.com/music.aspx?n=622725 (Select the Jump into the Light Album)
I have now heard this very important song.

Songs for kids are cool!

Princess at Heart

Yesterday I took Katrina and her cousin Kristin to meet my sister-in-law Renee and her other cousin Nicole to see Disney on Ice--Princess Classics. What a fun time! OK, so everything there was overpriced, but still, the show was great. I was surprised when I got choked up a couple of times. I guess some of these really are classics....at least to the little girl in me.

(That's Jasmine and Aladdin...flying on the magic carpet...hopefully you can tell they are high above the ice)

Do all girls want to be princesses? I don't know about all cultures, but lets look at princesses in these stories that are a part of our popular culture. They are important, beautiful, and they triumph over adversity...usually mean women or sometimes mean men that want to hurt them. They hit bottom...and then everything comes together for happiness and true love! I was talking to my SuperPartyFunTime with Jesus group (no, we aren't sticking with the name, Tyler) and at least one teen admitted that she'd go with us to the Princess show. This desire doesn't stop just because we are supposed to be grown up.

So, since I'm betrothed to Christ and a child of God, the King...I am a princess. He thinks I'm important and beautiful, and He will triumph over my adversity. That true love isn't the kind that is always clearly depicted in these stories, but its better. If only every girl knew that she has that REAL possibility to be a princess for all time...

I am a winner!

I have tried calling into KLOVE many times for different prizes, but I've never gotten through. Recently there was an opportunity to sign up for a prize via the internet--and I won! :D

How fun is that? Now I've got $25 to Family Christian, some CDs of popular and new music, and Simply Romantic Nights from FamilyLife.

Overland...

First let me establish my credibility on the Overland HS teacher issue:
I student taught at Overland...yeah, that means nothing
I'm married to a teacher...ok...so a little more useful
I have actually been a substitute teacher...getting closer

OK, so I was listening to KOA yesterday. I don't do that generally unless I'm in need of traffic info. So, I was driving down I-25 during rush hour listening to KOA as people discuss the whole issue of a teacher spending 20+ minutes sermonizing his political views (LEFT) in his human geography class. Here are my answers to a few of the comments.

Would people be this upset if it were a conservative point of view that was being put forward.
You're assuming that there are conservatives in the public schools ;) --but yes, there's no question...and actually there would probably be more uproar.

People wouldn't be as upset had it been a Christian instead of a liberal
*laughs* You see, Christians in the public schools have to be so careful...they generally are very tightlipped because they know they'll get sued for more money than they can ever make in a lifetime of teaching. Very cool book called Christ in the Classroom for anyone wondering how you can keep yourself out of trouble as a Christian teacher in a public school.

One man commented that he is surprised at the uproar because this goes on all the time...not making it right...but making it very common.
He is right on. The liberals have "owned" the public schools for so long that they think they can get away with saying whatever they want (ever heard of Ward Churchill?). For a conservative, its like a "don't ask, don't tell" in the schools. In the teacher's lounge, liberals spout their viewpoint...and conservatives tend to stare blankly and wish there weren't repercussions for them speaking boldly even to colleagues.

Student Walk-outs--Why do students tend to do them?
A few students really care a ton. And the rest just a) get caught up in the emotionalism or b) see their chance for getting out of class and take it.

I find it refreshing that it is finally coming to light in even a tiny way how a liberal teacher can attempt to indoctrinate his classes. Teachers are given a high responsibility...and they are also people with personal views. Being such, no matter what your political or religious leanings, they are charged with a very delicate balance. How to present facts, teach students, and still be themselves...its no easy task. Teachers who can do it and do it well should be commended. As far as I can tell, Mr. Bennish didn't earn a commendation that particular day.

Need more Cookie Dough!

Children who scream in the afternoon are often tired.
Children who scream that they are not tired, are most definitely VERY tired.

Home again, home again...

We are home! Alex has some swell blue stitches on his red incision. He seems to be keeping food down....now. Mom has a new set of scrub pants. And we're planning on a quiet evening.

Thanks be to God that Alex's surgery went well, and that we had it done. The doctor found that the cyst was bigger than he expected and was pushing into the bone quite a bit. It was a blessing that we took care of it now before it did more damage!

We had a long day with some friendly bright spots. We're looking forward to recovery.