Why I'm so passionate

My last post was a passionate rant, so I wanted to add further explanation.

I'm so frustrated with the level of materialism in this country because I've seen, through another's eyes, what life is like for those in other countries. A couple years ago, we got to know one of our church-supported missionaries very well. She felt a calling to minister in Afghanistan...of all places. Right away, I'm in awe. Here is a young, beautiful, smart, dedicated, blonde-haired American willing to aid and teach others in a country that most of us fear. She was there for about 3 or 4 years and became close with one Afghan family; she essentially became an adopted member of that family. When she married, her dear friend (and mother of this family) came to the states for a month to be a part of the ceremony.

When we first met this missionary, she came to one of our small group meetings to talk about Afghanistan and about her daily life. After that night, I felt compelled to thank her not only for being a missionary in such a dangerous place but also for helping me overcome my struggle with materialism. Hearing about what life is like for the Afghan people makes me thank God every single day that my family has it so much better. They don't have a lot of extras; in fact, they don't have a lot of, what we would refer to as, essentials. For example, electricity is not consistant. Watching television or simply refrigerating food is a luxury to them. The warmer months can reach over 100 degrees, but they have no a/c. So sleeping outside is common, and most of their morning involves packing up the bedding until the next night. The colder months can get down to freezing, which means everyone has to huddle up near a central fire to stay warm. They have to go to the market every day. Decent medical care is not freely available. The average size of their homes is half that of ours (ours is 1100 sqft), and 10-15 people live in that tiny space.

I could go on, but I think I've made my point. In this country, we believe that we deserve whatever we want because we work hard. I would argue that, on average, Afghans work much, much harder, and they have much, much less. This is a common story for millions around the world. The poorest in this country are still better off than the poorest in the world. If you don't believe me, check out statistics published by worldwide organizations like the U.N. or similar.

Materialism still sneaks into my thoughts. There are many things I would like to have; the list is endless on some days. And sometimes I struggle with jealousy over the stuff that others have - things my family may never be able to afford. But I would encourage anyone to do what I do. When I struggle with those feelings of materialism and jealousy, I think about the Afghan family that our missionary lived with. I met the mother of this family and her infant son while they were here. She was so nice, and her beautiful little boy is not unlike any other little boy with big puppy-dog brown eyes. I think about whether they had a good day or a bad day. Did they have enough to eat? Are the children healthy? Did they have to worry about violence in their town?

If all I have to worry about is whether to eat steak or ground beef, then it's a damned good day. Those of us lucky enough to live in this country need to remember that what we possess is not nearly as important as the liberties and freedoms we enjoy. We take for granted that everyone around the world has the same stuff, liberties and freedoms that we have. They don't. One fact I found amazing was that our missionary friend did not know how many people resided in the area of Afghanistan she was located. Why? Because they don't conduct a census there. Duh, that's an American thing.

Maybe instead of spending finite hours working hard to accumulate more and more stuff...and with that, more and more debt....we should be focused on the quality of our lives, the quality of our families, the quality of our marriages, the quality of our relationships and the quality of our souls. I don't think I've ever heard someone on their deathbed claim that they should've bought more stuff or should've spent more time at work.

Apparently, we missed the boat

The home in which we currently reside was purchased by me when I was a single gal. Eight years ago, the banker pre-approved me for a loan up to $150K. I told her that I thought it would be fun to have heat and to eat. So I evaluated my budget and spent many long afternoons hunting for a home in my price range. Is this my dream home? Absolutely not. It was (and still is) in good condition for its age. It was (and still is) in a good community. And it was the best buy of all the homes I saw.

Since that time, I've come to dislike a number of things about the house. For instance, I love to entertain. I like cooking. I like serving people in my home. I like the conversations, the laughter and the silliness. But I'm not thrilled with the size of my kitchen or living room, which makes entertaining difficult...not impossible but difficult. I would love a little more elbow room throughout. I would love modern features and fixtures.

But our finances cannot handle a larger home right now. Period. End of story. Apparently that's not true for some Americans in the past five years.

I'm approved for three or four times my annual income? SOLD! I can get an interest rate that allows me to afford the monthly payment for only 3 years? SOLD! I can get two loans to avoid paying extra fees? SOLD! I can purchase a super-dooper-expensive-home-that-I-can-barely-afford-with-a-tax-abatement? SOLD! Oh wait, I probably won't be able to afford the home after a few years when the interest rate goes up and/or the tax abatement expires? Ah shucks, I'll worry about that when the time comes.

DING DONG - the clock just struck midnight. And now these folks seem to have a bit of a problem. Don't worry; be happy! Here comes the government to the rescue once again. Wow, our government really loves us!!

I'm outraged that Americans can't seem to wake themselves up from this selfish kool-aid induced coma when it comes to materialism. We're manipulated into believing that because we work hard, we deserve whatever our hearts desire. We're brainwashed into believing that because we simply exist, we have a right to anything.

Do you have a right to pursue a lavish lifestyle? Absolutely! But when you get in over your head, do not expect the government (read: we, the people) to pay for your mistakes. The media wants you to believe that this "credit crunch" economy is due to the greedy corporations stickin' to da man. Let's re-evaluate, shall we? I spend way more money than I actually earn, and the blame for that lies with a greedy corporation?!?

The greedy corporations tricked Americans into shady business deals, you say? If you really believe that, then please, please, please do not enter into any legal transaction. Ever. When you sign a piece of paper that says, "I will _____". Then you better darn do whatever you promised. Sure, there are exceptions for those who fall upon uncontrollable hard times. I'm not completely without compassion, and I pray every day that we never find ourselves in that kind of predicament. What we're facing nationwide are the consequences of years and years of blatent materialism and greed...on the part of the American consumer.

And I think that I missed the boat. I should've accept the pre-approved loan for $150K and moved into a beautiful house that I couldn't really afford. Instead of facing the consequences of my decision and loosing what I didn't "own" in the first place, I could just cry "foul" and wait for Big Brother to run to my rescue. The government has definitely taught all of us a lesson though...they will always be there with a handout. That ought to scare and anger you to the core.

And now I'm left to wonder two things. First, if the government rescues those who are irresponsible, how will they reward people like me who are responsible. (Hint: they won't.) Second, I wonder if those who benefit from this "little" bailout truly appreciate the ramifications. The problem hasn't just magically disappeared. It's been spread among the rest of us. THANKS, GANG! I just love, love, love sending more money to Washington.

PS - For those of you who honestly believe the government has done a good thing because it's compassionate and charitable, I have a question for you. When is the last time you gave a significant amount of money to a charitable cause? It's not the job of the government to giveaway our tax dollars...using it's definition of compassion. It's our job to be compassionate and charitable. No one should be forced to do so. If you want to give away what God has given you, please do so! And if you do not want to, that is your right. When the government becomes charity, none of us have a choice. What about my right to be a stay-at-home mom? If the government keeps taking more and more of our money, I won't be able to afford our choice anymore. Apparently, I keep missing the boat.

Call me "Alex"

I hate election year. I am the "Alex P. Keaton" of my immediate family. If you're drawing a blank, Alex was a character played by Michael J. Fox on the 80s TV show, Family Ties. He was the lone conservative member of a liberal family, and that's ME! I don't refer to myself as a Republican anymore, but I definitely slant to the conservative end of the spectrum...not just in politics but in all aspects of life. My family, on the other hand, slants toward the left. Thank God, I found a spouse who shares my political views (most of the time), friends who can have healthy debates about the issues, and extended family members who are of like mind. Don't get me wrong. I don't intentionally surround myself with people who agree with me all the time. In fact, I love having conversations with people who think differently...not because I intend to change their minds, but because I think a respectful exchange of ideas is why our country was established in the first place.

Unfortunately, too many liberals I encounter cry, "INTOLERANCE!" if I don't agree with them. Doesn't being tolerant mean that you give respect to ALL ideas not just those with which you agree? Just because I don't agree with someone doesn't mean I'm intolerant. It means I think for myself.

Love is in the air

Over the summer, Ray learned how to reply when we tell her, "I love you." She always said, "Love you", which sounds more like "lah-voo", but now she replies "Love you, too." Makes my heart melt, and that ain't all. She's been known to break out in song, often times her own tune...that's my girl...and I caught her singing, "I love Daddy, I love baby Jordi, I love mommy...." Awwww!!! And today without prompting, she said, "Love you, Mommy." HOW SWEET IS THAT?! I was nearly in tears.

On a wing & a prayer

Ever since the kids arrived, our prayer life has not been good. We're not blaming them; we just haven't made the time to talk to the big guy. We want to improve because we want our girls to learn how to pray by watching us. Every night this week, we've said a prayer before dinner. Ray has seen us pray before now, so it is not a foreign concept to her. She knows the drill....fold hands, bow heads, close eyes, talk softly. Tonight, she announced that she wanted us to pray a second time, so we told her to say the prayer.

She folded her hands, bowed her head and spoke quietly...using words we didn't quite understand except "Father". After a few phrases, something made a loud noise in the kitchen. She instantly went from soft voice to loud voice and shouted, "What dat?" but then just as quickly returned to her prayer and finished..as if she heard nothing. This was one of those you-had-to-be-there moments to appreciate the humor, but it was the comic relief I needed. I'm still chuckling about it.

I'm still laughing because it reminds me of a friend who once told me that she is sometimes "ADHD" when she prays; her mind tends to wander. When Ray shouted, "What dat?!" in the middle of her prayer, I couldn't help but picture my friend doing the same kind of thing when she was 2 or 3. I'll have to ask her mom the next time we meet. Love ya, B! :)

Holy Applesauce, Batman

A little bunny took up residence in our bushes this summer. We became suspicious after finding half eaten apples in our driveway and along the edge of the bushes. Because of this discovery, we found out the neighbor across the street has an apple tree in his front yard. Not sure why we never noticed it before; we've been here for 8 years. The previous occupant of that house died the year Ray was born, and no one has lived in it since. Recently, we've noticed a gentleman around occasionally mowing the yard or making improvements, but no one has moved in yet. I saw him at the house on Labor Day and asked permission to pick some of the apples, and he said "take all you want including in the back". He also pointed out that one of the trees in the front yard is a plum tree and told us that we could take those too.

The apples were too sour last week, but the one I tried today was just right. I thought I'd check out the other tree in the back before harvesting. To my amazment, "the" tree turned out to be FOUR trees...all covered with pinkish red yummies. The tree in the front yard looks sickly compared to these in the back.

So tonight, hubby & I took Ray apple picking. We gathered about two bushels, and about 5 times that are still on the trees. Needless to say, we'll be supplying the apple needs for a few other families as well.

I know this sounds weird, but we're so grateful that God provides for us in ways like this. It reminds us that He provides for us in a variety of little ways...not just in big mind-blowing ways. And that reminds me that He cares about every aspect of my life...not just the big stuff. We won't save a huge amount of money from this "windfall", but in this economy (where food prices keep rising), I'm GRATEFUL for every bit of savings I can find!

Drama Queen

Ray injured her pinky toe somehow this morning...a small scrape. It looks like it would smart when rubbed the wrong way, but little Miss Drama Queen has been walking on her heel all day long...except when she forgets and doesn't think we're paying attention. Then it magically feels better until the next time she knows we're watching her. What a nut!

Fall Forever!!!

Today's weather has given me "fall fever"...baaaaad! As much as I enjoy summer pleasures, I love everything about autumn. I love the way it feels. I love the way it smells. I love the way it looks. I love cooking meals that can be appreciated only when it's cool outside. I love saving money on the a/c bill. I love the festivals that happen in the fall. I love going to the orchard. I love the fact that I don't sweat through my clothes as I'm pushing the double stroller (at least 15 lbs) with two children (at least 45lbs) up a big hill. I love being able to cuddle with my sweetie without sticking to each other.

Long live autumn!

Bouncy go bye-bye

Jordi isn't sitting up on her own yet, but she rolls everywhere. It's maddening! We've relied on the bouncy seat to keep her contained when necessary, but as of this morning, that's no longer an option. I was getting ready for the day and walked in on her sitting up and leaning out of the bouncy seat to grab a toy she dropped. We have an exersaucer and pack & play to use as alternative corrals. Either way, time for bouncy to go bye-bye!!

More about my Hilary comment

I wrote earlier about how it's funny that Hilary won't be the one to break the White House's glass ceiling, but McCain's running mate just might. Thought it would be appropriate to share more information. My ex-husband was stationed at Little Rock AFB for nearly three years. While I lived there, I could not find one person who either voted for Clinton or would admit to voting for him. Obviously some liked him because he did a 12-year stint as govenor there. Several told me they were glad that he won the election because it got them out of their state. Gee thanks...unleash them on the rest of us.

((I digress)) I found it ironic that he billed himself as the "education govenor" since Arkansas's eductional system was in shambles back then. I moved to Arkansas right after he was elected president.

((Back on topic)) As much as they disliked him, they hated her. No one had a kind word to say. I dislike them both for my own reasons. Combine that with what I heard, and you could say that I am downright giddy that (at least for the next 4 years) she will be nowhere near the top job herself.

The irony of it all

Having worked in the computer industry, I am no stranger to a long work week...especially whenever I was on-call...and I've always said that no one could ever pay me enough money to be on-call all the time.

My husband's great-uncle asked me today if I "get holidays off" like my husband. I chuckled, and then it hit me like a rock. As a SAHM, I'm on-call 24x7, and I'm not getting paid anything.

Is that a cruel irony or what?!

Okay, okay....I get paid in hugs, kisses and memories that I wouldn't have if I wasn't here enjoying this time with my kids. That is enough.

Sensational Stuffed Strawberries

We hosted a brunch for out-of-town relatives this morning, and I made a couple new recipes that I love, love, love. One I'm not sharing cuz I intend to make it a "secret family recipe", but this one I don't mind sharing...especially since it's available via the Food Network website. :) This is a tasty little tidbit that's perfect for just about any occasion.

Stuffed Strawberries
8oz cream cheese, room temperature
1/4 c powdered sugar
1/4 t. vanilla or almond extract
1/3 c. chopped pecans
20 strawberries, washed & dried

Mix first three ingredients together with mixer for about 2-3 minutes until smooth & creamy. Cut a small portion of the strawberry top off, so that it will sit level. Place cut-side down onto platter, and cut a criss-cross into the pointy bottom of the berry. Do not cut all the way through the berry - only about 1/3 to 1/2 down. Fill a pastry bag (including tip) with cream cheese mixture. Flare the criss-cross to accept the tip and fill the hole with the cream cheese mixture. Top with pecans.

Notes: I used (and loved) almond extract. You could also substitute the pastry bag with a sandwich bag (corner cut off), but I would still recommend the use of a decorating tip. The strawberries don't always want to stay open to accept the cream cheese, but a tip will help keep the opening wide enough.