It's been a few days

It's been a few days since I stood on my soap box- I'm off now and in the words of Forrest Gump

"that's all I've got to say about that."  

I have something to say...

I can't hold my tongue any longer.  I promised I would not get up on a political soap box or anything but I am struggling today as I have for many days in a row and now I must speak! (ok type)  I read lots of blogs and FB and I get lots of email.  These days the contents of these items that I read are politically laced with critical jargon of our President.  Yes he is new and yes he is different but I don't believe he is as evil as some would make him out to be.  I am tired of being told how bad he is.  I am tired of sitting in my nice (albeit messy home) and being told that I need to prepare for the worst.  We have soo many clothes in this house that we can't put them all away when they are clean.  We have yet to borrow money to make a house payment.  We have yet to not eat a meal. (ok maybe we skip breakfast but it isn't because we have to it is because the morning gets away from us).  We have health care and our children are drinking clean water and getting shots to help with diseases that in other countries are running amok and killing precious little ones.  I was married for 3-4 years before I realized that what I was donating (junk to me but precious to others) could be written off as an expense on my taxes.  I always thought you were supposed to give just because it was the right thing to do not because you could make money off of it.  Yet today I was reminded by a dear friend of her frustration of the changes that are being made in the ability to write off certain monetary donations and other things thanks to the new leader of our country.  (Yes, my friend I do understand your frustration that we must must must find a cure)  But right after reading her thoughts I logged on to my email and get to emails re: Obama's closure of Guantanamo Bay.  I was reminded that his first interview in office was with Al-Arabiya.  That he called for an ending to a CIA program that was "crucial" to interrogating terrorists.    I was also reminded about an enormous amount of money that our president 20.3 million according to the email that will be allotted to Palestinian refugees and conflict victims in Gaza.  It was stated that these refugees have ties to Hamas and will be allowed to resettle in the US if they chose.  Ok so this info while public record is something that we are worrying about right now at this very moment while we have families who are losing their loved ones on a daily basis?  While we have homeless in the city of SA that need to be cared for.  We are concerned about what we are reading while there are teenagers giving birth to preemie babies with no idea of how to care for them and no idea of where they will get clothes or money to take care of them?  Do we miss some of the news and pay attention only to what we want to get a rise out of others or is it because he is our new president?  Are we aware that President Bush gave 27 million from the US Emergency Refugee and migration assistance fund to refugees from Guinea, Sierra Leone, Eritrea, and Afghanistan.  In 2007 he gave almost 30 million to Samalia, Sudan, Chad and Gaza (no connections in these countries I'm certain right?!)  Are we aware that the reason the first interview given to Al-Arabiya was to try and consolidate the cease fire and that Obama has extensive experience in the area of diplomatic peace talks.  Are we aware that the CIA was on board with ending the program that kept terrorism suspects in secret custody for months or years all the while being under fire from foreign governments and human rights activists.  By putting an end to these programs it forces the CIA to have to follow the same process used by the military in questioning these suspects.  I have to say if we are going to believe what we hear and see we must make sure we know all sides of everything before we live in fear of our country being turned completely upside down by one man.  Besides all this why are we living in fear if we call ourselves Christians?  Maybe I have a different perspective because I have lived in a 3rd world country and burned nay etched into my heart and my brain are those who wear the same tattered cloth around their bodies day after day- sleep on a mat on the dirt of their tin/grass hut and beg for money on the street corner.  Or maybe I think and feel differently because I have gone to bed at night scared to death that something might happen to a family member because they were out after curfew in a country that was in the middle of a coup.  Or maybe just maybe it is because I know that when the Holy Spirit descended upon me at baptism that I knew then and there that the promise of eternal life would far outweigh the light and momentary struggles that occur today.  When I say light and momentary I am speaking of my trivial struggles that I think I am having on a day by day basis.  This morning I felt like the Grinch with all "the noise noise noise noise".  I just thought I would get some of that out of my head.  Feel free to leave a comment if you would like : )

Rude Awakening

This morning we were soo careful to get the kids ready for school and Jeff was quiet as he got ready for work.  Zoe and Jaxon slept soundly and I was excited that I might get to watch a little of the Today show or maybe even dare to crawl back in bed for a few more winks before getting my day started.  Unfortunately we forgot to disarm the alarm to the house and at 6:58 it went off.  My poor sleeping children had quite the awakening!  Jaxon said, "Mommy I don't like that scary noise!"  He was crawling up in my lap as he was saying this just shaking.  Zoe of course was bawling.  When I went into her room she was sitting but bent in half with her head buried in her blanket.  Bless their hearts!

It's over already?!

It has been a fabulous weekend here at the Babcock house.  Jeff and I have made a new commitment to each other and our family to spend time together doing fun things on the weekend and not focus on school, work or things that have to be done around the house all weekend long.  We spent a few hours on Saturday working together as a family and the rest of the time have enjoyed just hanging out outside.  Between the bubbles, bikes, skateboards, etc... we spent much of our time outside.  We sat together and ate breakfast before Church this morning.  We had a calm enjoyable lunch this afternoon, and after playing outside much of the rest of the day the kids were in bed and asleep by 8:15.  It seemed to go too fast that and it is hard to believe that it is over already.  As I was listening to Jeff say a prayer with the boys I am reminded once again of my blessings!  May your week be filled with wonderful blessings!  God is Good - All the Time!

Be still and Know

Today I went to the funeral of a dear friend and was able to quiet the noise in my head.  Because of the life that she lead I was able to find peace.  I cried for joy because the service was the perfect way to pay tribute to her.  I cried because I will not be able to spend more time in her presence.  I cried because I have spent far too much time lost in my own brain with all the noise in there and not enough time opening my heart to my kids, my husband, and my family as I know I should.  My dear friend Alice helped me today in her death to remind me that I am not to worry about tomorrow but live for today.  In living I am to be a light to as many as I can- actions speak louder than words and Alice spoke through her love of children and her love of God.  I have spent the last few months reading emails, researching websites and listening to people whine and moan about what is going on with our government.  I have heard their fears, frustrations, angry outbursts and the like.  My heart and my head have been arguing with each other about where I stand.  I am not one to get on my political soapbox and I won't do it now either.  I will not worry about tomorrow because tomorrow will worry enough for it's own - that's in the Bible.  My heart whispers that to my head on a daily basis.  I hear the song "Be still and know"  in my head too.  I was reminded today as I sat in the celebration service that our citizenship is in Heaven.   Our citizenship is in Heaven people.  It is not here- we have a path and it includes using our gifts and talents to share The Good News that Jesus paved the way for us to spend eternity hugging, singing, laughing, praying, worshipping as we did today!  Thank you Alice for taking care of those precious girls as Momma Alice.  Thank you for not wanting to keep up with the Jones' and be thankful for what we have.  Thank you for realizing and showing by your actions that our light and momentary trials are just that.  As I drove into the parking lot of the church I was filled with dread- I didn't want to cry or feel today.  Thank you Alice for the joy you spread to that many people - you touched so many lives.  But thank you most of all for the reminder that we will meet again!  I know you are at peace and I look forward to the day that we can all meet again.  To all of you who follow my blog- Our President is just a man.  He can not take from us our destiny.   - Cast you burdens on Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and find your way back to your family and friends and live for today- God has a plan.  Tomorrow we may not be here- In closing there was a song that was sung in the funeral that I will be singing in my heart today and forever.  It is called "I Will Rise".   You can find it on youtube, it is by Chris Tomlin. - meditate on the words and then get on your knees and thank God for where you are, what you have, and for the future that is eternity.  God Bless!

Where have I been?

Do you want the long or the short version?  Short version- I have been wrapped up in myself.- Not in a selfish way - or at least not trying to be - but more of an introspective way.  I've been trying to figure out the whys and whats in my life.  I have spent a great deal of time with Jaxon and Zoe just playing with them during the day and not really paying a great deal of attention to the rest of the stay at home mommy stuff.  I have been working on the days that I am not a SAHM.  When the boys get home from school I have been spending time with them outside or just being around them.  On the weekends, I do some domestic things when we haven't been sick or traveling.  But mostly just thinking about what I am doing with me and am I doing the right things for me and my family.  Jeff and I have been struggling with our relationship.  Not in the sense that divorce looms in our future but in the sense that we are roommates trying to wade through the business of life and how we can best assist our children to live, learn and grow with peace in their hearts.  I have always been aware of how richly blessed I am but during this time of introspection, I have become more acutely aware of how far I had become invested in the "do I have the right clothes, hair, car, etc for me.  For my children are they dressed in a way that others will look at them and go "oh how cute"  - a sort of "keeping up with the Jones' investment.  That is not me at all- I have never cared one way or the other about that sort of thing and I think I lost myself somewhere in all of that mentality.  We are worshipping as a family elsewhere and have come closer to feeling together as a couple than we have in years.  I like it!  I hope to never fall in as deep of a hole as I have in the last 8 or so years and I hope I can use this time of introspection to be conscience of others who might have found themselves in the same hole.  I would like to be able to use my life as I have always tried to as an open testimony that while life is not always picture perfect we are richly blessed and all of our sins have been covered already!!   May you have a fantastically blessed and peaceful day!