Summer is over...

My, my, what a summer we have had. May 15th-September 2nd. It doesn't get any better than that! Quite honestly, I thought I was ready. I thought the kids were too. But, the last day of summer spent at Schlitterbahn only reinforced how much I really enjoy my kids. How much I love them, cherish them, and want to fight for them. They are fantastic and I am so honored to be their mom.

My cousin Leah has welcomed a new little one in to the world. Annerson Grace! She is BEAutiful! She has Leah's features...you can check her out at LexandLeah@blogspot.com. They are going to be the most wonderful parents. Their nursery is straight out of Restoration Hardware and needs to be the featured nursery in my opinion!

There are lots and lots of baby girls coming into our lives and we are so excited. There will be 5 in our family alone in the next 6 months! Whew! Lots of princesses and pink! My prayers are that they will all be healthy and come to know the Lord, their God with joy and thanksgiving!

So, I added to my list of books over the summer. I was able to read a few more on my list. I am hoping to continue this fall and finish 40 new titles by the end of my 40th year. I have many to go...
The Edge of Eternity by Randy Alcorn
Deadline by Randy Alcorn
Bringing up Boys James Dobson


Okay, I know that there were more. Hmmm...I will have to get back to that one.

Now for the real reason for this post. Yes, I was going to post about back to school and such but, I was drawn to post today, because I am perplexed and I just want to get it in words. Since I am a political news junkie, self described, I have watched with admiration the news about Sarah Palin. I am incredibly thankful that Senator McCain chose her as his running mate. I am also completely dumbfounded by the response about her baby Trig and Bristol's pregnancy. I am amazed that the other side is all right with their boy being friends with the likes of Bill Ayers, Jeremiah Wright and Tony Rezko but is going ballistic with the news that there are two new lives in this world. Yes, two new lives. Bristol's baby is a baby...a life within. Trig is also a life that deserves to be celebrated and cherished. That being said...

There are numerous articles and sound bites that have been written/said about the relationships between Senator Obama and the three stooges above and they (their supporters) seem to think all of that is water under the bridge. Now, they are attacking the next VP and her daughter for having morals and values. As Christians we never claim to be perfect. We do know that, however, God wants us to strive to be like Him. He is the only one who is perfect. We don't strive for perfection, we strive to give Honor and Glory to Him. He deserves nothing less. He already knew all of this was going to happen. He already knew that Mrs. Palin would be asked to be the VP of the Republican ticket, He already knew that there would be a baby named Trig and a baby for Bristol. He has all of this under control and He will be glorified through their lives and through their experience. I am honestly just shaking my head.

I am excited to know that there is a conservative on this ticket. I am excited that there is a woman on this ticket. I am excited to see Senator McCain understand the base of his party. I am excited to see a strong, young woman who is strong because she is the exact opposite of what we have been forced to believe a strong woman should be. I am hopeful that young women everywhere will notice that she is a loving mother, a hockey mom, a lady that hunts and can still wear dresses with heels, a devoted wife who loves her man for being a man, everything that society tells us is "small town!" AND is successful, powerful, running the largest state in the country. She is everything that feminists wish they were. She has what they want and MORE! She has faith, values, morals and she stands by them. She lives them.

Don't you see. We don't have to let go of God and live by the world's standards to be strong women. God loves us and created us to be strong. His strength shines through when we honor Him with our devotion and live our lives to please Him. He knows that we are not perfect and does not expect us to get it all right. He just wants us to recognize Him first and to try. To strive for Him, to give Him the credit and to love one another like He first loves us.

I was a FredHead. I am now a McCainiac and I hope and pray that they win in November. I never thought I would joyfully support Senator McCain. I will now and I believe that there are other women who will do so as well. I also believe that there are men who will follow this lead because they see in Sarah Palin their own wives that they honor and cherish. They are proud of their wives and see her (Sarah) as one of their wives' friends. As a family, we see that we could have the McCains and the Palins over for dinner and know that we share the same worldview. Families are important. Children are important. Our values and moral standards are important and they all deserved to be fought for.