Issues

What issues are people focusing on when they cast their vote for a certain candidate? I know that many people focus on economic conditions. My main focus is how a candidate views those who are growing and developing (and have a soul), but have not been born yet. It brings a verse of Scripture to mind.

"What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" Matthew 16:26

It saddens me that the president of our country has chosen to reverse an order prohibiting the federal government from funding abortion overseas.

Wii Want to Play

We now have a Wii gaming system. For us, this is a big deal. We are not ones to run out and get the newest thing being offered in the stores. We still have an analog TV, our cars are old, and the only video game system we had up until now was a Nintendo 64 (and we got that when Nate won it during summer school years ago).

So why did we buy a Wii when we could have spent that money on other more important things? My hope is that it will encourage interaction among us as a family, or at least between father and son. Tonight I watched my son "box" and it was funny. I hope it is only the beginning of great times ahead.

Friends For a Season

I am participating in the Librarians' Reading Challenge. That means reading juvenile/young adult books and keeping track of how many pages I read. The library system with the highest average number of pages read will win a trophy and some bragging rights. I don't think the Mid-Continent Library system has ever won.

So far, I've read the Friends For a Season series by Sandra Byrd. I had read two of her adult books and really enjoyed them, so I decided to check out the books for younger readers. There are four books in this series - Island Girl, Chopstick, Red Velvet, and Daisy Chains. Each book features a friendship developing between two girls who come from different backgrounds. Even though it has been many years since I was a young teen girl, I found these books to be very interesting and I would highly recommend them.

A Birthday

Five years ago today Nate accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. Each year we celebrate that decision with a card and a gift. Saturday he and I went to the Family Christian store to find something that could help him grow as a Christian. He decided on a Bible handbook that has information to help him understand the Bible better.

Looking back on 2008

We have many things to be thankful for as we look back on 2008. We have good jobs and good health. Our families love us (we hope). I have made some really good friends this year through working at the public library. Nate is doing well in school. We are thankful for Steve and Stephanie, Stella, and Audrey. And our extended families, too.

One huge blessing this year is that we are almost out of debt except for our house payment. A few years ago we began using the Total Money Makeover plan by Dave Ramsey. It has been a hard road at times. When the economy really seemed to be going down the the drain this past fall, I realized that all of that wasn't worrying me because we had eliminated much of our debt and that wouldn't be hanging over our heads if something happened. More importantly, though, we know God is in control and that He will take care of us.

We have so much to be grateful for, even in the minute by minute living of each day. My prayer is that we are aware of how much we are blessed.

Money, Money, Money!

Today my husband, my son, and I went to the Money Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank.

They have a coin collection that spans the period from George Washington to present day that is on loan from the Truman Library. It was interesting to see how the coins have changed through the years. Also, there were coins I didn't know existed, like the 2-cent piece and the half dime. How much is an eagle or a double eagle worth?

We got to see the area where the Federal Reserve workers could be seen doing their jobs. I wonder if knowing they will be on "display" makes any difference in what they wearor how they groom themselves.

We each got a free sack of money before we left - about $164 each. It was shredded, of course. Can you imagine the security measures the employees go through? We had to have our belongings scanned and walk through a detector to get in, then show a driver's license to obtain a badge.

It was a very good exhibit and I would recommend it highly. Check it out at www.KansasCityFed.org/MoneyMuseum

Post Number One

I have decided I would like to blog. Maybe someone else will read this, maybe no one will. It will be a place to put my thoughts on different things.