Going on a walk with Mom

Some photos from a walk I took with my little guys:

Nicholas climbs!

Nathan conquers the jungle gym.

The walking trail.

Nathan stops to admire the scenery.

Nicholas ventures out on his own.

Let's go!

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Muffin Tin Monday #1

A few weeks ago, I tried out Muffin Tin Monday with my four children. It was very simple: I just threw together whatever I had that would fit in individual muffin compartments. It was a HUGE hit! Who knew that putting the same ol' food in a different container would make lunch so much fun?

So, this week I decided to do a Valentine's Day theme. I did a little pink and red and added some chocolate. I even did red Kool-Aid (which we don't normally drink).

The menu:

• Red grapes
• Raspberry mini-muffins
• Marshmallows
• Strawberry Applesauce
• Marshmallows
• Mozzarella Cheese
• Chocolate chips

The muffin pans came from various thrift stores. Since I needed 4, I cringed at paying full price for new ones. So the ones I have come in different shapes, colors, and even the number of holes.

If you'd like to see a ton of other awesome muffin-tin menus, click on the link above and join the fun!

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Everything I Need to Know I Learned from American Idol

Not Really. If you've ever visited my blog, you know better.

The following video clip features conservative Fox News host Bill O'Reilley interviewing liberal TV host John Stewart. The main thing that jumped out at me (that Bill O'Reilley didn't really address) is the ironic fear that liberals have.

They are more afraid of Global Warming than they are of terrorists.



What's worse: 99% of celebrities feel this way. And as Hollywood goes, so the rest of the country goes. We are a nation of people who spend the majority of their time working and seeking pleasure. That pleasure is largely found in Hollywood entertainment ( music, movies, TV ). Who doesn't trust their favorite reality star to tell them the truth? Surely someone as handsome as Brad Pitt knows his stuff, right? ( Bleh! )

So where's the common sense? Where are the thinkers? Does anyone stop and say, "That makes no sense at all!"? Rarely.

So, if you scan any media outlet in a 24-hour period, you'll get the idea that Global Warming is a threat to our very lives, while some crazy dictator in Iran is spewing a bunch of nonsense that doesn't affect us anyway. And Cuba has the best culture in the world, the rich are evil, and Americans have done the entire world a disservice just be existing for the last 200+ years.

I've harped on the need for self-education, but can you see the monumental task of educating the masses? How can it be done? How do you convince millions of people to even want to think for themselves?

This is one I don't have the answer to. If you've got one, I'm all ears.

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Where to get your education

There is almost no better source today for current events and how they affect us than Glenn Beck. He is more than a radio talk show host, more than a TV news anchor. He is a student and a teacher of history and current events, and how they are all related. Beware: he's conservative!

He is not a supporter of either the Democrats or the Republicans. He calls himself a Libertarian. He is a student of the founding fathers. He's an ex-alcoholic. And he's a Mormon.

His radio show is the 3rd most listened to show in the country, and his TV show is the highest rated show in it's time slot, not to mention having the 3rd highest in ratings in ALL OF FOX NEWS. He is THE most informative anchor on TV, and the Obama administration hates him. I believe this is all due to his intense honesty.

He has revealed communists in the White House, and ACORN corruption; he has educated the masses on progressives, economics, and socialism. And he does it all with a great sense of humor.

This week he is focusing on education in America, Iran, and the need for Revival in America. While I can catch up on the news of the day by watching or listening to Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity, I actually LEARN from Glenn Beck.

If you haven't taken the time, I highly recommend giving him a shot. His TV show is even suitable for older kids, and very educational. At the very least, check out his website and watch a video clip here and there. I think you'll be impressed.

There's a lot Americans can do for their country. Get educated. Get informed. Read the Declaration of Independence. Read the Constitution. Read Common Sense by Thomas Paine. And if what you hear on the news doesn't seem to go along with the basic principles this country was founded on, DO SOMETHING about it.

"No free government, or the blessings of liberty, can be preserved to any people but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality, and virtue; and by a frequent recurrence to fundamental principles." - Patrick Henry

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Tim Tebow and Planned Parenthood

You've no doubt heard about the upcoming controversial Super Bowl ad in which Tim Tebow and his mother talk about her decision not to have an abortion.

In a society where 'choice' is the buzzword, it's amazing that Mrs. Tebow's choice is not celebrated. In fact, it's demonized. The controversial decision to actually choose life is offensive to Planned Parenthood.

It seems like they just care about women. It seems like they want to help you 'plan.'

If you are under that impression, I would like to share a few quotes from the founder of Planned Parenthood, Margaret Sanger:

• "The creators of over-population are the women, who, while wringing their hands over each fresh horror, submit anew to their task of producing the multitudes who will bring about the next tragedy of civilization."


• "It goes without saying that this woman loses also all opportunity of personal expression outside her home. She has neither a chance to develop social qualities nor to indulge in social pleasures. The feminine element in her—that spirit which blossoms forth now and then in women free from such burdens—cannot assert itself. She can contribute nothing to the well-being of the community. She is a breeding machine and a drudge—she is not an asset but a liability to her neighborhood, to her class, to society. She can be nothing as long as she is denied means of limiting her family."



• "The most serious evil of our times is that of encouraging the bringing into the world of large families. The most immoral practice of the day is breeding too many children."



• "The most merciful thing that the large family does to one of its infant members is to kill it."

As I've stated before, children are a blessing, and God even says that they are a reward. But Margaret Sanger saw them as an inconvenience at best, and a curse at worst. One of her overarching goals was to be rid of the undesirables (to her, that meant the mentally retarded, blacks, and foreigners), but children in general were a hindrance and as such, should be destroyed or prevented.

The current Planned Parenthood:

• If your parents are stupid enough to deny you access to birth control, and you are 18, you can get it on your own. Call Planned Parenthood. (Dallas Observer, January 1986)

There is nothing about Planned Parenthood that advocates 'Planning' or 'Parenthood' today. There is nothing about respect for women or girls, and especially not families.

They define abortion as an "important medical decision" instead of the brutal murder of a helpless unborn baby.

Unfortunately, most women are clueless about the truth about Planned Parenthood, including their own employees. This video features a former director of a Texas Planned Parenthood clinic:



Many people think Planned Parenthood is all about free birth control. But look at some recent statistics:

Planned Parenthood’s income break-down for 2006-2007 fiscal year
*PP clinic income: $356.9 million
*PP Government grants and contracts: $336.7 million
*Total profit: $114.8 million
*Total income: $1.02 billion

2006 Planned Parenthood service numbers*Number of abortions (medical and surgical): 289,750
*Total number of abortions per week: 5,572
*Adoption referrals: 2,410
*Ratio of adoption referrals to abortions: 1 per 120

2007 Planned Parenthood Annual Survey
*Total number of PP clinics: 855
*Total number of non-express clinics: 814
*Express clinics: 41
*Total number of PP clinics that perform surgical and/or medical abortions: 287
*Total number of affiliates: 108
*Number of clinics that started doing abortions in 2007: 55

Other random information*Highest number of PP non-express clinics: 938 in 1995
*Total number of PP clinics in 2006: 859
*Number of states that do NOT give money to PP: 6 according to 2006 ALL study

All of this information can be found by simply looking for it. Let's share it with the large population of girls and women who are championing 'choice' and 'rights' and help them to see that there is SO much more going on here.

Most of all, let's remind Americans that children are a blessing, and they are our future.

If this information is new to you, please visit Focus on the Family for more information and resources.