Seven Years

This Sunday, May 27th, marks my seventh wedding anniversary to a man I would marry all over again.

I read once that the average marriage lasts only seven years. Seven short years. Married life has just begun at seven years. You've had a few years together as a couple, you might have a child or two and you're just beginning to get into the meaty part of life and marriage...the ups and downs, the struggles and joys, the challenges and victories.

And yet, so many give up so soon. There are a lot of reasons why, some good and some bad, but the end result is the same...a lot of broken marriages and broken hurting people.

I'm one of the blessed ones. I was picky and married a man who was Godly and gentle and loving and selfless and kind and funny and thoughtful and better than I deserved. The first seven years have flown by and yet I feel like I've known him all my life, like he's been a part of life since the very beginning...and in a way he has. I know God had him in mind for me before I was even born (Andrew is a few years older than me, after all!) We were made for each other and when we finally found each other, through a blind date of all things, we knew we had found, quite literally, our better half.

And so on Sunday, we will once again remember and honor those vows that we took and meant and were determined to live by...to love, honor, obey and cherish each other, in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, for richer or poorer as long as we both shall live.

I meant it then and I still mean it, perhaps even more, today. Happy Seventh Anniversary, Andrew! I love you!

Photos: Pictures of pictures by Theis photography

American Idol Gets it WRONG!!

Warning!!! If you watch American Idol and somehow missed last night, this is a spoiler....

Okay, with the warning out of the way, I have to break down and post about American Idol. I usually avoid blogging about tv shows, but I am a fan of American Idol and have been since the Clay Aiken/Ruben Studdard year. I'm a musician...I can't help it.

That being said, I may have to stop watching after this season. Almost never does the American public get it right. Usually the second or third place contestant ends up being more famous than the winner (except in Carrie Underwood's case, and that's saying a lot, as I can't stand country music!) This season may be the most egregious voting by the American public ever. The final three were most deserving...Blake, Jordin and Melinda. I liked them all. Blake wasn't really my style, but what he did, he did well. Jordin is amazing, especially since she's only 17. She will go on to have a great career. I can definitely see her doing Disney voices or something like that.

And then there was Melinda. She was flawless, even in Simon's eyes. She was my pick for the winner from the day she auditioned. The former back-up singer is the real deal. She sounds a lot like a young Aretha Franklin or Gladys Knight. She is phenomenal and probably by far the most versatile, talented, polished and consistent performer American Idol has ever seen.

Last night, Melinda was voted off, leaving Blake and Jordin in the final two. It just isn't right. Blake thought he was leaving. He should have left. It should have been Jordin and Melinda, but it isn't and I am sorely disappointed. My only consolation is that someone WILL sign Melinda Dolittle and soon. She's that good and she has obviously worked hard for the opportunity to be the one in the spotlight.

I suppose I'll still watch the finale, but it just won't be the same. Now I just hope that Jordin wins. She's earned the top spot. Come on America...get it right this time.

Our Big Girl

Well, it's official. We have a big girl now. We moved Emily into her big girl bed and after a little bit of a rough start the first evening, it's going well now. Here are a few pictures of the big girl herself, showing off in her new bed (it's actually on loan from Grandma and "Pa", as it was her daddy's, uncle Peter's and Aunt Katy's beds, respectively.)



And the following two pictures are of Emily and her "twin". (Heaven help us!) Actually, it was a mirror image at the mall play area. She had fun seeing two of herself on the camera.

An Update on Our Crazy Little Life

This post is going to be a bit of a hodge-podge of topics, so please bear with me.

This first picture is from "Big Fun Friday Night" two weeks ago. (Last week we had big fun cleaning the house for Grandma and Grandpa!) Daddy took his "girls" out to buy a new lawnmower (self-propelled this time), out to dinner and then bowling. This was Emily's first time bowling. I think we started too late, because she only lasted about 3 frames before she was pretty much done.

The following picture is of our scores. Emily bowled a respectable 77, I bowled a pitiful 104 (I used to be good, but it's been 3+ years...) and Daddy won with 132.

And now in other news...Below is a picture of our pool and deck. And a duck. I found this guy swimming in our pool last Friday evening. I thought it was kind of funny, so of course, I took a picture and planned to post it on my blog.

And then, the next morning...there were two! A male and a female, just hanging out on the pool deck for hours. I can just imagine the conversation the night before:

male duck: Hey honey, I found a great new place for us to live...the water's clear and there's even carpeting! Now, there aren't any fish, but I think we can make do on bugs....

female duck: Oh it's perfect! I love how my feet look under this nice clear water and the carpet will be perfect for out little ducklings to practice their waddling.

We're pretty sure they tried to make a nest under one end of the pool deck (pretty smart if you ask me) but so far, no eggs. Emily is quite thrilled, as you might imagine. So far, they've made an appearance every day except today...so we'll see what happens.

Anyone Need Lotion?

We've all had some version of a cold recently. Em has an ongoing one, Andrew seems to be "manning up" and fighting his off and I, after one good day, now seem to be heading back in the wrong direction.

So Miss Emily and I were running all over town doing some errands today and stopped for a quick in-the-van lunch of McDonalds. Just after I ordered and was waiting in line in the drive-through this is the conversation we had:

Emily: "Look mommy, I'm putting lotion on my face!"

Me, (knowing she had no lotion): "Where did you get the lotion from?"

Emily: "I got it from in my nose!" (While simultaneously grinning and sticking her finger back in her nose.)

EWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!

We've Lost Our Minds

The world is going to the apes...literally. I wish I were joking. I wish this was someone's idea of a sick joke that ends with "...Gotcha!!" but it isn't.

According to an Associated Press story out of Vienna, Austria:

In some ways, Hiasl is like any other Viennese: He indulges a weakness for pastry, likes to paint and enjoys chilling out by watching TV.

But he doesn't care for coffee, and he isn't actually a person — at least not yet.

In a closely watched test case that could set a global legal precedent for granting basic rights to apes, Austrian animal rights advocates are waging an unusual court battle to get the 26-year-old male chimpanzeee legally declared a "person."

Hiasl's supporters argue that he needs that status to become a legal entity who can receive donations and get a guardian to look out for his interests.

"Our main argument is that Hiasl is a person and has basic legal rights," said Eberhart Theuer, a lawyer leading the challenge on behalf of the Association Against Animal Factories, a Vienna animal rights group.

"We mean the right to life, the right to not be tortured, the right to freedom under certain conditions," Theuer said.

Why, you might ask, is a chimp in need of the status of "personhood"? Apparently, Hiasl and Rosi are both chimps who have been living in an animal sanctuary for the last 25 years. However, the sanctuary eventually went bankrupt, and seeing as how the chimps monthly bills can run upwards of $6800 and the life expectancy of a chimp is about 60 years....well, money was a problem. So what's to be done? Well obviously, the chimps deserve to be declared human beings so that they can be given basic human rights....oh and so they (or more accurately, their caretakers) can receive charitable donations, which is currently illegal.

"If we can get Hiasl declared a person, he would have the right to own property. Then, if people wanted to donate something to him, he'd have the right to receive it," said Theuer, who has vowed if necessary to take the case to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France.

Austria isn't the only country where primate rights are being debated. Spain's parliament is considering a bill that would endorse the Great Ape Project, a Seattle-based international initiative to extend "fundamental moral and legal protections" to apes.

If Hiasl gets a guardian, "it will be the first time the species barrier will have been crossed for legal 'personhood,"' said Jan Creamer, chief executive of Animal Defenders International, which is working to end the use of primates in research."

Ahhh...it's all getting clearer now.


"Martin Balluch, a scientist who heads the Association Against Animal Factories, since has asked a federal court for a ruling on the guardianship issue.

"Chimps share 99.4 percent of their DNA with humans," he said. "OK, they're not homo sapiens. But they're obviously also not things — the only other option the law provides."

So, let me get this straight. They're almost humans, they're definitely not "things", so let's just grant them human, personhood status.

But Stibbe [who petitioned to be Hiasl's legal trustee], who brings Hiasl sweets and yogurt and watches him draw, paint and clown around by dressing up in knee-high rubber Wellington boots, insists he deserves more legal rights "than bricks or apples or potatoes."

"He can be very playful but also thoughtful," she said. "Being with him is like playing with someone who can't talk."

A date for the appeal hasn't yet been set, but Hiasl's legal team already has lined up several expert witnesses. Theuer said they include Jane Goodall, the world's foremost observer of chimpanzee behavior, who revolutionized research on primates during the 1960s when she studied them at close range in Tanzania.

"When you see Hiasl, he really comes across as a person," Theuer said.

"He has a real personality. It strikes you immediately: This is an individual. You just have to look him in the eye to see that."

This literally has to be one of the most insane and frightening cases I've seen in a long time. To put it in perspective, Austria, and apparently Spain and Seattle, are seriously debating the merits of giving apes human status and rights, yet a human BABY can legally be aborted because it's only a fetus...a non-human....a thing....a possession....an object to be tossed away without a thought.

I can't even think straight. More on this later...maybe when I cool off.

How Much Are You Paying for Gas?

http://www.crazy-jokes.com/pictures/gas-pump.jpg

We stopped for gas yesterday, as the van was almost on empty and only filled it up halfway. Know why? That's right....the price. Now, are you sitting down? No? Then you'd better get there quickly because the price will knock your socks off. We paid $3.19/gallon here in northern Indiana. Across the border a couple miles into Michigan, the price was $3.10 and apparently in central Indiana (according to my inlaws) the price was also $3.20.

WHY.....WHY.....WHY.....WHY?????????????

Can somebody please explain why gas is going up this time? It's not yet the summer driving season. Memorial day hasn't even come yet. So should we expect $4.00/gallon this summer? A couple of years ago, that would have been outrageous...now, I wouldn't be surprised.

So what are you paying for gas? How does Indiana compare to your state?

10 Things That Must Get Done in May

I'm finding it hard to believe that we are now in the fifth month of 2007. How did that happen? Where did at least 2 of those months go? Anyone else feel like the year is slipping by?

So I've decided that May is "Get Things Done" month. And now, drumroll please....my top 10 things to get done in May:

1. Paint!! I need to finish painting the master bathroom (it's been partially painted for a year or so now...don't ask) and paint Emily's bathroom. There are other rooms I'd like to tackle, but they would require an Emily-free weekend.

2. Clean out closets. I've done some re-organizing in the kitchen and "found" extra cupboard space, so now it's time for the closets. I need to get rid of lots of clothes and just get things better organized in general.

3. Clean out the basement. Basically, it's a huge third-floor unfinished laundry/storage space. Since it isn't scheduled to be finished anytime soon...it needs to get cleaned. Most of the boxes down there are half-empty and full of junk and have been untouched for the last 3 years begging the question, "Do we really need this stuff?" I'm ready to say "NO!". We need some big storage containers and shelving or something...but first there must be fumigation of all living bugs and spiders. (That's why most of the stuff has been untouched for 3 years!)

4. Visit the BMV. Yes, it's time to visit the armpit of society, the bureau of motor vehicles. Why is it that I feel as though I am risking my life when I go there? And could the people that work there please be just a little more helpful? We have to claim the title to a car and then renew both registrations before May 15th. Fun stuff!

5. Buy and install a new refrigerator. Enough said.

6. Weed and work in the flower beds. Must this really be done every year? Can flower beds be fumigated too? UGH!

7. Visit preschools in an attempt to find one for Miss Emmy in the fall. I can see it now...dragging Emily kicking and screaming from the playing with all the other kids...

8. Get the pool up and running. Hopefully this year, we won't have to wait until the end of July to use it.

9. Start organizing the thousands of pictures of Emily and our wedding (not taken in the order!). Seriously, this could take a while...can I have more than a month, please?

10. Paint the garage door. Not a big deal, but it could definitely use a fresh coat of paint and right now, that sounds like the easiest task on the list!

Hmmmm.....I've got my work cut out for me. YIKES!!!!!!

Now, what about you? What are some things you have on your to-do list? Anyone want to share?

Big Fun Friday Night

Around our house, on Friday night, we have started a new tradition that I thought I'd share. It's lovingly called "Big Fun Friday Night". The evening starts after daddy gets home from work, changes into "going out" clothes (jeans instead of the suit and tie) and reveals his plans for "Big Fun".

We've only just recently instituted BFFN, but some of the adventures we've had have included feeding the ducks in a local park, followed by dining at Cici's Pizza, going to the "puppy store" (aka PetSmart) and dining at Cici's Pizza, walking around Walmart and dining at the Subway housed inside, and my personal favorite...walking around the mall, visiting the pet store and eating "rice" (Chinese) at the food court while topping the evening off with a ride (or 5) on the "Bid Uhstairs" or as the rest of us know it, the escalator.

Can you think of anything more fun?

Here are some recent pictures that I'll share as well. The first is of Emily "helping" daddy install a new kitchen faucet. She has her "heemer" at the ready. The second and third are from today. We are going, along with our extended family, on a vacation to Disney World in June, so I bought Em a bathing suit with Minnie Mouse (her favorite). This is the second try. The first one (a size 4) was too short and small. This is a size 5! The bottom is a little too big and the top could still be bigger. Our 2.5 year old is going to be Amazon woman!

An Emily Update (What Else?)

In my last post, I mentioned that we had an appointment with a developmental specialist to discuss Emily and her speech struggles. Initially I had made the appointment to try to determine if Emily had a disorder known as Verbal Apraxia. I was referred to the specialist (by our pediatrician) sometime before Christmas, when Miss Em was saying only 5 or so single-syllable words. The appointment was this past Friday and it went well. Now that we have a very good speech therapist in place, Emily is making dramatic improvements...to the point where yesterday she said a seven-word sentence more than once. So, while I'm thrilled with the improvements and I felt a little sheepish about still seeing the dev. specialist, I decided to keep the appointment to get a second official opinion.

As it turned out, I'm glad I kept the appointment. It was nice to be able to talk with doctor and get a brand new set of eyes and ears to observe Emily as she talked and played. I found out that, at 2 years, 7 months old, she is 31.7 lbs and a whopping 39.25 inches tall. (This kid is going to be 6 feet tall if she continues growing like this....she's always been above the 100th% for height.) Anyhow, I also got to talk to the doctor about Emily's sleeping battles, her sensitivities to certain things, her persistence (otherwise known as extreme stubborness), her insistence on routines and her speech difficulties. What the doctor had to say was helpful and encouraging.

She started out by stating that Emily was most definitely a very strong-willed child. Now, while this was not news to me, it did sort of reafirm what I have believed all along....and it reminded me that I am not simply a bad parent with poor parenting skills. Instead the doctor encouraged me to keep doing the things I was already doing and to be even more firm at times (like bedtime, in particular). I needed to hear from a professional that it's okay to let Emily cry for a LONG time, if need be at this stage, because this is her strong will coming into play. It's hard, but it's okay and it's what she needs.

Next the doctor encouraged us to continue with speech therapy, as Emily will definitely still need it once we are finished with our current program that will kick her out when she turns three in the fall. Again, this was nothing new, but it was nice to hear that the progress she's making is good, and that the specialists' opinion was the same as our speech therapists'. When I brought up the concern about Apraxia, the doctor agreed that there was probably some component of that at work in Emily. (For more info on apraxia and some pretty accurate representations of what we hear from Emily, visit Signs of Apraxia). Apraxia is a motor planning disorder. It's neurological in nature and a lot is still largely unknown. It is the same disorder that makes it difficult for some stroke victims to speak. In other words, it can be quite serious and difficult to overcome. It also has varying degrees of severity and is often misdiagnosed. In Emily's case, I think the diagnosis is correct and it seems from all accounts that her case is rather mild, for which we are all thankful. Still, it's going to be a long road to travel.

Lastly the doctor mentioned that our pediatrician was concerned about possible Asperger's (related to autism). This was sort of a shock to me as our pediatrician had never told me she had that concern. I knew she had asked me several times about some signs of autism, but my answers had always been no to her questions, so I was a little surprised and concerned that she had not mentioned this to me. I've never been overly comfortable with this new pediatrician, so I'm thinking of switching again. Anyhow, the developmental specialist thought is was a possibility too, but only mildly and it doesn't affect her social skills. (Emily is a little social butterfly 99% of the time.) I don't know how I feel about this diagnosis. I don't really agree, but then again, I think it's also still too early to make a real diagnosis, and the specialist just mentioned it as a possibility, so I guess I'm okay with it for now. Overall, she told us that she thinks Emily will outgrow most of our concerns and that she was a delightful little girl and that we didn't even need a follow-up appointment, so I think for now, we'll just keep doing what we're doing.

So, that's our update. Thanks to all who prayed for us on Friday. Thanks to all who have read through this monster post and stayed awake! I've been trying to process everything and get my own thoughts straight, so I apologize for the slight delay in posting....plus it's really nice outside!

A Few of My Favorite Things...

Emily has been learning to sing some songs recently. Here are some of her renditions of the classics:

1. "Pintle, Pintle dittle tar....how I wonder what you awe." (Heard while Em was "taking care of business" in the bathroom the other day.)

2. "Baa baa back seep, have you enny foow, yessir, yessir, yessir, yessir, yessir, yessir, yessir....free bads foow."

3. "Wheels bus, wheels bus, wheels bus...."

4. "Oh dingle tat, oh dingle tat, oh dingle tat, oh dingle tat..." (This is her own creation, based upon a Christmas book entitled "Jingle Cat".)


These are a few of her favorites, and in case you were wondering what the first three were.

1. Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
2. Baa Baa Black Sheep
3. The Wheels on the Bus

We have got to get this on video!

I'm Baaaccckkkk!!

Yes, I am still here and still alive, though on Sunday, I didn't feel all that lively. I've been sick with a nasty early spring cold, brought on, I am certain by all the crazy temperature fluctuations. Today I feel a bit more human and capable of doing the everyday stuff again. I'm glad to be on the up-swing.

So, although I know that I hardly posted at all last week, don't expect too much this week either. I have A TON (and I don't think that's an overstatement) of laundry to catch up on plus some other everyday stuff to do and an important doctor's evaluation for Emily this Friday at 8:00 am. (That time's gonna be rough for mom and miss Em.)

For my praying readers, keep this appointment in your prayers. We scheduled this evaluation with a developmental pediatrician sometime before Christmas, when Em was barely saying any words. Her progress has been stunning, but she still has a long row to hoe...so to speak. We are keeping the appt. because I still think it's a good idea to get this doctor's more specialized opinion on Emily's speech issues, so I'm excited and hopeful and a little nervous too. It's been a long time coming so I'm curious to see what she thinks of our darling Emmy (as she calls herself these days).

And now I'm off to put some clothes in the dryer....Let the fun continue!

This Easter Week in Pictures

Emily dyeing her first batch of Easter eggs.

Emily wearing the "baabaa ears" that Aunt Kathy sent her.

The egg-dyeing process in full swing.

Below is the view from the front door today.

On Tuesday, the temperature was 72. Today, it's 28 with a fierce wind and constant snow. Is this really necessary?

Cat Saves Family

I know that several of my loyal readers disagree with my preference of cats over dogs and the battles have been fierce, but here is proof that cats are indeed intelligent and worthy of some love.

From Fox News:

NEW CASTLE, Ind. — A cat helped spare a family from death by carbon monoxide poisoning by jumping on the bed and meowing wildly as fumes filled the home, the owners said.

Eric and Cathy Keesling said their 14-year-old cat, Winnie, played a crucial role in saving their lives March 24 after a gasoline-powered water pump in their basement caused the odorless but deadly gas to build up.
About 1 a.m., the domestic shorthair began nudging Cathy's ear and meowing loudly.

"It was a crazy meow, almost like she was screaming," said Cathy, who hesitated to get up until Winnie's caterwauling and jumping persisted.
When she finally climbed from bed, she realized she was nauseous and dizzy and couldn't awaken her husband. Because he had undergone minor neck surgery the previous day, she decided to call 911 but was so disoriented she had trouble dialing.

Paramedics found the couple's 14-year-old son, Michael, unconscious on the floor near his bedroom. The Keeslings were taken from the home in oxygen masks, treated for carbon monoxide poisoning and soon recovered.

Cathy Keesling said Winnie acted similarly last summer when tornadoes tore through the area, 45 miles east of Indianapolis.

So there you have it, folks. Cats aren't all bad...

An Unexpected Honor

When I woke up this morning, I certainly wasn't expecting anything out of the ordinary...particularly not a blogging honor, but one of good internet friends (we still have yet to meet face to face despite living pretty close and knowing each other for several years now) bestowed upon me the "Thinking Blogger" award.

I'm pretty sure that I'm not the most qualified recipient of this award, yet I am still honored that Beth chose me. It's nice (and somewhat suprising) that my semi-weekly ramblings occasionally seem coherent to anyone else out there, much less provoke any serious thoughts.

And now it is my turn to bestow this award to some bloggers who make me think.

First up is Malott's Blog. This blog is one of the first that I routinely read, thus spurring me on to begin my own blog. His posts range from the extremely deep and thought-provoking to the zany and bizarre, but always entertaining. I appreciate his views on life and politics and I appreciate his encouragement here at my own blog.

Second is Skyepuppy. I found Skyepuppy's blog when I first began visiting the links from Malott's blog. I was immediately impressed with her ability to paint with words and to capture such a vivid image and share it with the rest of us. Her love for life is obvious and she is an amazing Christian lady who has encouraged me on quite a few occasions, both in my Christian walk and my new adventures at motherhood. I expect great things from her blogging as she is getting ready to set out on a year-long RV adventure across America with her mom. So if you haven't yet visited her blog...now is a great time to start!

Third up is Bekah's Bits. Rebekah is a dear friend of mine for 10+ years now. We were college roomates and our friendship has lasted even though we don't live quite as close anymore. Blogging helps us keep in touch, but it also allows me (and the rest of you) to know Bekah on a deeper level. Her writing is funny, heartfelt, thought-provoking and real. She has a way with words that can make me laugh and touch my heart at the same time. Her friendship and encouragement mean so much to me and this is the least I can do to thank her for both.

Fourth in line is Janice. Janice is another "find" from Malott's blogs link column. Janice is passionate about politics, among other things, and her updates help keep me informed on what's going on in this increasingly busy world. She has also been a wonderful encouragement to this newer mommy, which is much appreciated.

And finally, I honor Adrienne of Noah Steven's blog. I stumbled across this blog from another blog that I frequent and have been so touched by this young mother who has been through so much lately. I started visiting Adrienne's blog a few weeks before she lost her baby boy. The blog chronicles Noah's and the family's struggles as he spent months in the hospital battling a mystery illness that eventually took his life. It's and incredibly sad story, yet Adrienne has somehow managed to share her story, her faith and her pain in such a way that I have been encouraged and challenged as well. Check it out if you have some time, but be forewarned that you may end up reading nearly a year's worth of posts over several days, as I did, to get the background of this amazing woman's journey. It's not easy to read, but she has some really good things to say.

And so, I pass along this award to all of you, who are much more deserving. Now it's your chance to pass the award along to 5 more people who have inspired you to think.

Thanks to you all!

Links Column Updated - Check out the New Additions

I finally had a few minutes to do a little updating today. So, if you haven't already noticed...take a few minutes and check out some of the new links. I tried to separate them into more personal blogs and those that are affiliated with an organization of some sort. Some of the new links under the "Favorite Blogs" title have some really good (but tough) stuff relating to personal tragedies, yet they are uplifting and encouraging at the same time, so I wanted to share them with my faithful readers.

Enjoy!

So Disturbing I Hardly Have Words

Fox News has a story on their website today that just makes me sick and outraged and terrified and furious and speechless. Here is the story (it's a little long, but it needs to be read by every parent and decent human being out there).

SEATTLE — A Web site created by a pedophile is a virtual "how-to" manual, complete with the best places in western Washington state to see little girls, and tips on how to avoid getting caught by the police.

The site, titled "Seattle-Tacoma-Everett Girl Love," has been around for a few years. The police know all about it, yet they say they can't shut it down because the site is legal.

"As disturbing and offensive as we find this, there's no evidence of a crime, or even suspicion of illegal activity," said Rebecca Hover of the Snohomish County Sheriff's Department.

The man who runs it, 45-year-old Jack McClellan, has never been convicted of a sex crime, which means he can attend any family-friendly events where children are present, and take all the pictures he wants for his Web site. He also lives close to a school bus stop.

McClellan says his purpose is to promote association, friendship and legal, consensual hugging and cuddling between men and pre-pubescent girls. He admitted to FOX News that his "age of attraction" is between 3 and 11 years old.

"I guess the main thing is I just think they're cute, a lot cuter than women. I admit there is kind of an erotic arousal there," McClellan said.

"It makes me happy simply. Like I said, I think girls are cute, beautiful, just children in general make me happy ... being around lots of them. ... I'm doing what anyone else would do with a hobby. If someone's into birds they're taking pictures of birds. I'm convinced that none of these images are illegal."

McClellan wants to bring pedophiles out of the closet and give them a way to get some relief, by going out and being around little girls. He suggests a number of places, such as plays at elementary schools, parks, swimming pools and libraries.

"I really think a lot of this pedophilia hysteria is overblown. I think there are a lot of people like me. They have the attraction but they're not going to do anything physical because of the laws. It just makes me happy to attend these events."

McClellan said that for pedophiles, just being around children is almost like a "legal high" that makes them happy.

But "I can understand the fear," he added. "I hope that what I'm doing is setting myself up as an example that it is possible to have these attractions and not be out of control."

But he said while it's OK to look, it's not OK to touch, given the many state laws in place to protect children against that.

"I know it sounds kind of crazy, but there's kind of a code of ethics that these pedophiles have developed and what it is ... the contact has to be completely consensual, no coercion, if you're going to do it," McClellan said.

Parents are understandably outraged. FOX News spoke to the mother of an 8-year-old girl whose picture appeared on the Web site. The picture was taken at a dance recital.

"I needed to get those pictures off of there. I didn't want the pedophile community having any visibility to my daughter or her friends or any of the children that were on that site," said parent Ann Cialoa. "Whether it's a physical threat, a perceived threat, whatever threat it is. It's our jobs as parents to protect our kids from threats, and he is a threat, and people like him are a threat."

Some legal experts have said the best course of action for parents who see their kids' pictures on sites like these, is to get a temporary restraining order against McClellan and demand that his Web site be taken down.

"You have one in your face and you can't do anything about it because there's not a law to protect them from that," Cialoa said. "It's scary, and the fact that we're going to wait around for him to violate before we do something."

Neighbors of McClellan's say there's a man who rides his bike around town at night and peeps into others' windows. They believe that may be McClellan.

"You'll notice that every single person in this neighborhood has very large attack dogs," said neighbor Melissa Henry.

The Web site was taken down by the Internet service provider after FOX News called the company about it this week. The company is investigating whether any material on the site is illegal.

At least one area school has sent McClellan a letter saying if he comes onto school property or attends their functions, they will consider it trespassing and will have him arrested.

Police and prosecutors are watching him closely to see if he crosses the line. A handful of state legislators are looking at drafting a new law to deal with such Web sites. But until they do, McClellan is free to continue pushing pedophilia.

There is something horribly wrong with this being legal and with the police and parents having their hands tied to do anything to help keep innocent children safe from such terrible people as this. I really don't even know what else to say...

Who Will Lead Us?

It seems like just yesterday that the mid-term elections were being held, yet already, the field is thick with candidates vying for their spot in the 2008 Presidential campaign. I haven't been around for all that many elections, but I am fairly certain that the campaigning has rarely started so early and with such vigor. It seems as though a war is being waged for the hearts and minds of the American public and only one side will come out ahead. Whichever side wins will weild more power than ever before and yet at the same time be held responsible for whatever happens in an increasingly dangerous world.

To say that the job opening is huge is an understatement. I certainly don't want it, nor do many other well-qualified people and who can blame them? It is an often thankless job that ages a person prematurely, places the weight of the free world on his shoulders and expects him to never make a mistake in judgement, both professionally and personally. To say that this job is for the weak of heart, weak of character, weak of stomach and weak of mind is also an understatement. Very few candidates meet the standards and even the ones who will make it to or through the primaries will not be perfect. The task is daunting and choosing the right candidate to vie for the Presidency is of the utmost importance. So who will lead us?

Thus far, as a Christian conservative Republican, the choices are underwhelming. So far, there are several contenders, yet none have really ignited the interest of the conservative Republican base.

John McCain is too cozy with the press and the liberal left on important issues to be a good staunch conservative candidate. Many true conservatives have a great deal of discomfort with McCain and with good reason. He cannot be trusted to represent the Republican base.

Rudy Giuliani is a proven leader. He led New York city to a lower crime rate and then, on the single most catastrophic day in American history, Giuliani led amidst the chaos of the terrorist attacks on September 11th. He is brave, well-spoken, likeable, well-known and firm on his stances, yet many Christian conservatives struggle with his much more liberal domestic policies on abortion and same-sex marriage. He would certainly be a strong voice in the war on terror, which is hugely important, but to many (myself included) the war on traditional Christian family values is equally important.

Next in line is Massachusetts governor and former 2002 Winter Olympic CEO Mitt Romney. Romney first made news when he eliminated a $379 million dollar operating deficit and successfully organized the Salt Lake City winter olympic games mere months after the terror attacks of 9/11. Clearly, he seems to be yet another strong leader, and it would seem, he also has a strong financial sense. However, his Mormon religion might be a stumbling block to some and he is still somewhat unknown, at least compared to the powerhouse names McCain and Giuliani.

California Representative Duncan Hunter has also announced his bid for the presidency. Hunter has an excellent voting record that Christian conservatives can (and should) cheer, but he is relatively unknown, associated with some scandal and largely considered a long-shot.

So far, no one really sparks a huge interest among those currently in the running for President. However, a small sizzle seems to be starting among the base surrounding former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson. Although he has not yet announced a bid for the presidency, many speculate that he will and if he does, he may be the candidate to watch.

I have to admit, I know little about Thompson, but I have heard bits and pieces of interviews and most of an interview yesterday with Laura Ingraham, and thus far, I am impressed. Thompson seems to know where he stands on the issues, he can communicate his ideas effectively and he seems to interested in serving his country rather than simply power-hungry. It could be interesting.

In the meantime, I plan on keeping an eye on the race and all the candidates, both Republican and Democrat. America's future is too important to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear on all that is transpiring around us.

The Many Moods (and faces) of Miss Em

Why are you interupting me from watching Clifford, mom?

Emily "worting" on her "beasel".

Uh-oh...what did I do?

Em, showing off her new spring haircut. She was very brave!

Emily, showing off her "bob" from the back.

What a Week it Was

Last week was one of "those" weeks. The best thing I can say for it is that it is finally over.

It began last Sunday with a trip to the pediatrician to find out that Emily had pneumonia. So, we got the prescribed antibiotics and hoped for the best. Since Miss Em was boycotting taking any kind of medicine (a new twist for us), upon the advice of the Dr., we tried to mix the first double dose of medicine into her applesauce. It didn't even begin to work, so right off the bat, we had wasted a dose of medicine. So we forced the antibiotics in her for the next couple days, but then ran out. So two phone calls to the Doctors' office and two phonecalls to the pharmacy, plus one more trip there, and $20 extra dollars later, we had enough medicine to last the final two days. Thankfully, other than a persistent cough and hoarseness, Emily is doing much better.

Then on Wednesday, I finally broke out of the "sick house" to go to a late-night worship band practice at our church. This church happens to be 30 minutes away, but I didn't mind the drive...I was free for a while! Around 9:30 or so that evening, practice ended and I walked back out in the dark parking lot and climbed into my van, put the key in the ignition, turned it and....nothing. No lights, no radio, no sound whatsoever from the ignition. I quickly walked back up to the church where I discovered that all the doors were locked from the outside. I pounded on the doors and prayed that the few remaining band members would hear. Thankfully, they did and I explained my car troubles. So the consensus was that we should try to jump the battery. And we did...and nothing happened. So, the worship leader and his wife offered to drive me home because of course by now, it was after 10:00pm and I had the van with the carseat, meaning Andrew couldn't come get me since he was home with Emily. So I moved the stroller and carseat into their car and got home about 10:30 or so.

Now of course, this isn't such a big deal really, except that we had spent Tuesday and Wednesday trying to figure out if we could swing a pretty substantial paycut that would result if we accepted a new job position with a private firm here in town. It was going to be uncomfortably tight, but before church, Andrew and I had pretty much decided we were going to give it a shot. An unexpected car repair was not a welcome thing.
So Thursday rolls around. Andrew went in to work to resign and I called the tow truck and dealt with the car repair issues. Around noon, I talked with Andrew and long story short, we turned 180 degrees on the job situation due to some new information. (really the details are boring, but we really believe God was answering prayer here, just in an unusual way). I then spent the rest of the afternoon switching cars with Andrew, taking him back to work, waiting for the tow truck, consoling a very upset Emily (who missed her nap), meeting the tow truck and driving back home. Fun stuff.

Friday was filled with haggling over car repairs (none of which, of course, were covered under the extended warranty). Nearly $600 later...we all felt like we had been through the ringer. But Saturday was coming...a day for something nice and relaxing.

Andrew watched Emily on Saturday while I got out of the house for a while. I went to the mall to do a little therapeutic shopping and pampering. I needed to do something about the highlights in my hair, so I took care of that while I was there. I told the lady that I wanted something very subtle, I wanted to get rid of the out-grown highlights and I wanted something a little richer and warmer...but very subtle. I'm a natural dark blonde, by the way.

At this point, I think I'll let the pictures do the talking. (I hate almost all pictures of myself, by the way, so this is humbling, but I think it must be done to prove a point.) So here goes:

Before:

After:

The beautician swears this is a shade of blonde, and while the pictures don't really do it justice, this is NOT any shade of blonde anyone, male or female, has ever seen. So now I'm living life as a rather dark brunette. I'm not sure if I'll keep it or not....