A Parent’s Right To Raise Their Children

A parent’s right to raise their children as they see fit is a time-honored American tradition, but today it is being threatened. The Supreme Court’s Troxel v. Granville decision in 2000 undermined a 75-year heritage of Constitutionally-protected, fundamental parental rights, which 8 of the 9 justices abandoned. At the same time, a growing body of international law fuels activist judges to legislate foreign standards from the American bench, while treaties such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child would subject parental decisions to government oversight and international review.
Rep. Pete Hoekstra (MI-2) has proposed HJR-42, the Parental Rights Amendment, to stop the erosion of parental rights in American courts while simultaneously defending our laws from international invasion. Please, visit parentalrights.org to learn more about the Amendment, and to join their email network by signing the petition to protect parental rights.

Do Not Be Ashamed

I find it interesting that a high school principal can see the problem, but not our society.

This is a statement that was read over the PA system at the football game at Roane County High School, Kingston, Tennessee, by school Principal, Jody McLeod"It has always been the custom at Roane County High School football games, to say a prayer and play the National Anthem, to honor God and Country."

"Due to a recent ruling by the Supreme Court, I am told that saying a Prayer is a violation of Federal Case Law. As I understand the law at this time, I can use this public facility to approve of sexual perversion and call it "an alternate lifestyle," and if someone is offended, that's OK."

"I can use it to condone sexual promiscuity, by dispensing condoms and calling it, "safe sex." If someone is offended, that's OK."

"I can even use this public facility to present the merits of killing an unborn baby as a "viable means of birth control." If someone is offended, no problem."

"I can designate a school day as "Earth Day" and involve students in activities to worship religiously and praise the goddess "Mother Earth" and call it "ecology."

"I can use literature, videos and presentations in the classroom that depicts people with strong, traditional Christian convictions as "simple minded" and "ignorant" and call it "enlightenment."

"However, if anyone uses this facility to honor GOD and to ask HIM to Bless this event with safety and good sportsmanship, then Federal Case Law is violated. This appears to be inconsistent at best, and at worst, diabolical."

"Apparently, we are to be tolerant of everything and anyone, except GOD and HIS Commandments. Nevertheless, as a school principal, I frequently ask staff and students to abide by rules with which they do not necessarily agree. For me to do otherwise would be inconsistent at best, and at worst, hypocritical. I suffer from that affliction enough unintentionally. I certainly do not need to add an intentional transgression."

"For this reason, I shall "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's," and refrain from praying at this time." However, if you feel inspired to honor, praise and thank GOD and ask HIM, in the name of JESUS, to Bless this event, please feel free to do so. As far as I know, that's not against the law----yet."

One by one, the people in the stands bowed their heads, held hands with one another and began to pray. They prayed in the stands. They prayed in the team huddles. They prayed at the concession stand and they prayed in the Announcer's Box! The only place they didn't pray was in the Supreme Court of the United States of America- the Seat of "Justice" in the "one nation, under GOD."Somehow, Kingston , Tennessee remembered what so many have forgotten. We are given the Freedom OF Religion, not the Freedom FROM Religion. Praise GOD that HIS remnant remains!

JESUS said, "If you are ashamed of ME before men, then I will be ashamed of you before MY FATHER."

Thoughts on Inauguration Day & President

Everyone who knows my family and me knows we were very opposed to Obama. Not because of his skin color, but because of his policies on several issues like abortion, homeschooling etc. Things that were close and dear to my heart and to families around the USA.

One of the things that really bothered me about this election was the fact there were many people who voted either because of the fact they wanted to get out from under the republican/Bush administration or "It is about time we have a black man/woman as the President of the USA". I had 4 people in my life that said those exact word to me. After talking with them I found out a funny thing....these people also called themselves Christians. Now, am I saying a Christian should not have voted for him, no! I am saying that there was no prayer involved. They voted from the head instead of from the heart of God. Would praying about it change their mind when voting? Who knows.

The other thing I am really not liking that I am seeing on some peoples blogs is the out right vindictive words that are being said towards out new president. I may not agree with what he has to say or what he is about to do. I may have my very own opinions on what I think will happen to our country over the next 4 years. I have no problem voicing those opinions. HOWEVER, to outright call him the devil or the Antichrist or that he is going to make our country go to he...l. Are your words Christ like? Are they helping the situation or harming it?

Instead of voicing you ideas in such a hateful way, how about teaching your children how to dis-agree in a Christ like manner. This is, after all, the president of the USA! He deserves the utmost respect and support. Could you REALLY do his job? Yes? Then why didn't you run for office? How about praying for this new president to act in a Christ like manner. Pray that all the death threats are just words and that those beautiful girls of his will have a dad to walk them down the isle at their wedding. Pray that what he says about his faith is Jesus Christ will show through in his action as President. Another words...Pray for our President instead of calling him names and making everyone around you hate him. He does not need our hatred he needs our support.

I am not an extreme political person. I do not claim to know all that is about to happen to our country and I certainly can not see the future, neither can you! Lets keep in mind that the actions and words we take and speak about our upcoming president are being heard not only by the president, but by our children. If your child were to repeat what you blog about to someone at church or about a family member, what would your reaction be?

President Obama, if your people are reading this, here is what I have to say to you in short...I do not agree with everything you are about to do or the things you have said you will do, but I will support you and my family and I will be praying for you and your family diligently every day for the next 4 years! Congratulation on becoming the President of USA. May God be with you and your family!

Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act

Just a few minutes ago I was on my review teams blog and I read about this new Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. This act was signed into law in August but will not take effect until Feb. 10th, 2009.


What this law basically says is that items that come in contact with a child who is 12 years old or younger, has to be tested at a government approved testing facility and have a certification placed on it.

Clothing, handmade toys (like those cute bibs people sell made out of towels), blankets, even books and DVDs will fall under this law. So a crib could run into the $1000's just to be tested. If someone wants to get a book tested it could cost them $500.00. It's not written very well and it was written in regards to the imports from China however, you know how these types of laws go, it applies to the USA or anywhere the item was made.

This would include those of us who make gift items for baby's or children, the grandma who sells her cute little knitted sweaters for a few bucks, Amazon.com, used merchandise like Salvation Army or Goodwill, who I have heard has decided to no longer sell children's stuff in their stores, even Amazon.com will not sell any books, used or new, that was made prior to 2009. And you know all those reviews you have been reading? A lot of them are Ma and Pa type businesses. Come on they can not spend $500.00 on 1 book to have it tested, so most likely they will end up closing their doors or have their product tested and we will have to absorb the cost. And all the curriculum that we do not use...we can not re-sell it!

I got some links of interest off of Learning at his Feet, Shanna's blog. She is on the review team with me. So thank you Shanna for doing this research.

**A pdf file of the actual act. Very loooooooooooong.
**Here is a link to another article interesting article which provides you with the address for the
Consumer Product Safety Commission.
**Here is a link to an article interviewing a homeschool mom of 13 who will have to close her
home-based used book business.
**Here is a link that has lots of information about how this will effect the "Homemade" industry
as well as a button that you can put on your blog.
**Here is a Face-group site working to fight against it.
**A Petition to sign if you do not like this new law.
**Here is what the LA Times had to say.
**Here is a link to the list of The Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer
Protection.
If any one of these Representatives are YOUR representative, PLEASE call & email
them to voice your concerns about the provisions in the law as they affect you and the
children's products industry in general:**Please read this article by Heather Idioni from the Homeschool Newsletter for parents titled, "The Sale of Children's Books to be Banned"

PLEASE write your congress person here... and your Senator . Also contact the CPSC about the CPSIA.


Here is a very simple letter that Shanna put together for her representatives......

To (name of Representative)I have recently read about the new Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act and I am deeply concerned. I am a mother of six young children and know what it is like to worry about the safety of the products and toys that they are being exposed to. That being said, I am also a consumer of many small businesses that would be put out of business due to this law being passed. I could not count the number of books, toys, curriculum, and other products that we currently use and love that would literally disappear as a result of this law...products from small businesses that have been used in our home and others for many years without any safety issues. I have come to trust these companies to provide safe and quality products for our family.I am writing to tell you that I am opposed to the new Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act as it is currently written and urge you to change it before it goes into effect! I have no interest in seeing the American home-based businesses that I know and love and the children's consignment shops, not to mention America's entrepreneurial spirit, vanish from this great nation.Sincerely,Shanna (last name)Address**UPDATE: As of today...there may be relief for resellers of used items:http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09086.htmlStill nothing for home-based businesses marketing new products.**

While I appreciate the government looking out for the welfare of our children, and love the idea that of having some more stringent laws on imports, all to often, these types of things end up being more about the profit an individual or company makes at the expense of good hard working people like you and me.

And like all new laws, please make sure you do your research. Never take what some else has written as whole truth until you have looked at all the side of it yourself!

Again I want to thank Shanna for all the time she put in researching all those links. You can visit her blog and see what her thoughts are on this matter.

The Future Belongs to Our Children

OK, so I know there is this continuous battle between the public school Christians and the Homeschooling Christians. A lot of times the public school Christians feel like us homeschoolers are calling them bad parents or bad Christians for putting their children in the Devils path. And the homeschooler feels the public schoolers are calling us stupid by throwing our un-socialized children in a bubble.

There are sooooo many reasons for people to continue public school even thought it is a publicized fact to be a broken system. Money, who has the money for private Christian school? Time, there may be reasons that both parents must work full time jobs both during the day and maybe evening too and so on. But patience is not one of them. Do you think I was born with patience enough to homeschool? NO! I learn everyday about patience and pray that God will continue to be oh so graceful in giving me an abundance of it!

There are also a lot of public school Christians that also believe that their school is full of christian teachers and that their school is still built on a christian value system. So their children are safe from all that stuff we hear has come to California. Well, I have to agree with the fact there are some schools that do have a lot of teachers that profess to be Christians, but I will say that a teacher can only teach what their superiors allow them to teach. If they say no Noah, then No Noah! As far as the school being based on Christian values. You have to ask yourself these few questions about your school before you can say that for sure. If the answer is yes to any of these questions, then really is it a Christian value system?

1. Does your school teach about creation or evolution? Now if they teach both, great. That means they believe in free will. To put ALL options on the table for the children to decide. But if they teach that evolution is a fact and never bring up any other option of where we came from other then a money or cave men, then you have to ask yourself if that is a fact you are willing to have your child drilled in his/her head for the next 12 years.

2. Does you school have a policy in place to increase awareness and acceptance towards different groups based on race, age, gender or Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals or Transgender persons? Another words, "Amy Has Two Dads", Gay Pride Day, "My Daddy Wears a Dress", During the health class they could possibly discuss sex change operations, or how about the whole Gay Pledge Card thing http://nutbugs.blogspot.com/2008/11/gay-pledge-cards-in-calif-schools.html. Is this something you want your child to have drilled for 12 years in their heads?Does God says it is OK to have a sexual partner without marriage and of the same sex?

3. Does your school have a policy in place for discrimination against, gender, races, age, disabilities, immigrations status, occupation, religion stereotyping of Gender Identification or Sexual Orientation? Not to say we should discriminate against them, beat them or hurt them however we certainly do not need to teach about the choice people make in sexual acts in school or give them any special place or privilege in our schools. What, should we start teaching about people who like to be whipped during sex or beastiality. Those are choices too. Right?

4. Does your school have a family planning policy? Another wards for the school to have free family planning available to pregnant children or some that are wanting to know about how to have sex, counseling and free condoms. All without parental consent? Or have the birds and bees discussion to your child without your permission. Who knows what Mr. Joe's view is. Could be a view of the birds and the birds or the bees and the bees or the birds and birds and bees. Get it?

5. Do you know for sure the answer to all of these questions?

OK, I know your saying, "Kristin aren't you being a little paranoid?" YES! I am raising up the future generation. That means the future president, first lady, congress men, senator, mayor or maybe just a future voter etc. So if I don't like the way the world is going today and I do not take control of what my children learn and how they are being raised, then how can I complain? I am not doing anything to change the future of our world.

Look, I know I can not possibly keep any of this stuff completely away from my children. And I would be a fool to never explain any of it to them. But at 1st grade? Or 4th grade? No! Let the kids be kids for a while. We throw movies like Hanna Montana or High School Musical at our 6 year old and expect them to stay 6? No way right? Then why would we throw sexual preference at them at 6 or 8? Why would we throw condoms at them at 6 or 10?

Please let me make it very Crystal Clear. I am in NO WAY saying you are a bad parent, a terrible Christian etc. because you choose to put your child in public school. I am not trying to make you change your mind either! I just want you to be aware that if your child comes home asking Questions or telling you there is NO God or Mommy, did you know that an ape is our cousin?, you know where it might be coming from.

I pray all the time for my friends children. Homeschooled and public schooled alike. I pray that each one will grow up with a fear and love for God like no other! And I pray for you that God will be there protecting your children from the evil ones hands! Whether you homeschool or public school, just remember your child could make a difference in the future of our world with what you teach them today!

Gay Pledge Cards in Calif. Schools

Now I know allot of my friends are saying...Oh I am not worried about this homosexual thing coming to my school. I have Christian teachers. Or worst yet they are putting on the rose colored glasses and thinking it will never come to the schools here in the O.C. we are pretty conservative here in the Tustin, Orange etc. Unified School District. Well, I have news for you. It is coming down our way. It started in San Francisco (or there abouts) now it down past Sacramento and next will be LA and we are just 30 miles away from that. And this is all in less then a year!

I just read this article on Fox News.com regarding a kindergarten teacher who had her kindergarten class sign gay pledge cards. Yea, you read it right...gay pledge cards. What these kids are pledging to is to be an ally to the gay community. Now I ask you...how can you have a 5 year old sign a gay pledge card and not explain to them what being gay is or what a sexual preference is? So the next question is what on earth does a gay pledge card have to do with learning or school or how to read, write or do math?

Watch out..it's coming faster then you think. Check out the article at Fox News.com

Prop 8

So here I am once again writing about politics. For those of you who have known me for most of my life, you know this is not me! However, this year is so important to our country not only who we vote for but on several of the propositions. So instead of preaching about prop 8 and giving you my opinion, which I am sure you know by now what it is. I have decided to give a link to a video. Watch it. It is only a few minutes and I think you will be shocked that jail time for us parents could possibly be in our future for those who have children in public school. Shoot me a email or post a comment on what you think about it! Prop 8 Video.

Bill A3123

Our state Assembly has put forth bill A3123, which seeks to highly regulate homeschoolers. We will all pay higher school property taxes if the bill passes.
A3123 will force every homeschooling family to be evaluated as to whether their education is appropriate. However, "appropriate education" is not defined in the bill. We know from experience that poorly defined bills lead to extensive, costly litigation. Result: Higher property taxes.

The state commissioner of education will have the power to mandate courses and content if this bill is passed. This means that each district will have to hire an administrator to examine the educational program of resident homeschoolers. More employees equals higher taxes.
Some parents will not be up to fighting this new bureaucracy and will enroll their children in the public school. These parents have been saving taxpayers money every year by paying out of their own pockets to educate their children. Now you will have to pay for their "free" public education, to the tune of about $15,000 per pupil. Again, this will increase property taxes.
Please call or write your Assembly members and ask that they vote against the bill. It will take significant freedom away from thousands of responsible parents in New Jersey, and will take even more money out of your wallet. The ones who will benefit by this bill are the educational bureaucrats, and I think we've seen that they're already doing quite well.

Politics

Ok, so I am not that savvy on politics. Never have been! But I really think this year is soooo very important. Now most of you know I am very conservative so obviously I like McCain. He is a TRUE American. He LOVES our country and will lay down his life for it. Well, he already has laid down his life for us. When he is asked a question he answers it with a simple yes or no and then proceeds to explain his answer. I like that. However I am not extremely happy with his choice of vice pres. A couple of things. One she is a woman. I know weird coming from a woman. Two she has not had too many years experience. SO that worries me a bit since McCain is older. But I am sure she will do a fine job.

I have such a huge problem with Obama. First when he is asked a question he evades the answer by giving a song and dance. So by the time he's done you really are not 100% sure what the answer is or even remember what the question was. Just say Yes or No Obama! I don't like him because....
1. He is for gay marriage
2. he is for abortion throughout a pregnancy. That means if you are 7 months prego you CAN abort. Can you say murder!
3. He want to raise taxes
4. He is going to give illegal aliens MY social security. Ok, maybe not mine, but our current parents. With that we for sure will not have any for us when we get older.
5. He is against making English the official language of the USA. Come on we live in USA, not Korea, Mexico, Turkey or where ever. I am not saying that those who speak a foreign language can't speak it, but at least try to learn English. My friends mother is from Japan. In 9 months time she can hold a conversation with me never speaking the language before she moved here. Not that commitment. Go girl!
6. He has never served in the military of the USA. 22 years for McCain. True lover of America. That should be something all presidents have to do...serve in the military for at least 3 years.
7. He has only been in the senate for less then a year. If I am not mistaken I think McCain has been for 20 some odd years.
8. He want judges to make the laws instead of interrupting it as written in current laws. The law is the law. If we allow just anyone to make new laws as they see fit, then why even have voting.
9. He does not want to drill for oil here in USA. Does he not pay for gas?? Guess not!

So those are just a few reason I don't like Obama. I really could care less about skin color or race or gender. Who cares. If you can do the job then race or gender does not matter. I want in office an American that will stand up for our country, make the changes that need to be made so us middle class people are not loosing 1/2 our paychecks to the government. That believes in wearing the AMERICAN flag, who Will say the pledge of allegiance. I can not see a president up there in office who does not believe in America. Now I do not know Obama and what goes on in his head or where his heart is, but from some of his action....Well, lets just say, actions speak louder then words!

As for now, I will pray that God puts the right man in office. The man who will better our country, not take it down the toilet and make all the other countries laugh at us. Well, I need to step down off my high horse now.

Are Rising Prices Scaring You?

Are Rising Prices Scaring You?



I haven't decided if I should just laugh or start tearing my hair out. First everyone panicked over the price of gas... then it was the price of apples, then milk and now rice. What I find so amusing about the whole thing is a lot of those same people who are in a panic are still using their gas to go to the movies, to go on vacations, to travel for sports activities, to go shopping and to go most any place they want to go.


So many people complain about the price of gas when it costs $4.00 a gallon but don't bat an eye when going to Starbucks to pay $4.00 for one cup (8 oz. or 1/8 of a gallon) of coffee that they could have made at home for pennies. Despite all the fuss, most Americans have not substantially changed their lives because of gas prices.


Then there is another whole group who complain about how they "aren't like other people". They don't spend a penny on anything and they still have nothing and, because their lot in life is so miserable, they have a right to be afraid of what is happening in the world and in their lives. They have a "What about me?" attitude all of the time.


The Bible says that God does not give us the spirit of fear but of power and love and a sound mind. Even if you aren't a Christian, I want you to really think about those words because they apply to human nature in general.


We are living in a world that is crazed with fear and because of that we have lost power over ourselves, our lives and our circumstances. Because of that fear we have very little love for anyone. When you love someone or something your main thoughts are focused on that person or thing that you love. What do you think about all the time? --Your spouse, your children, joyful things and happy things or do you focus on yourself and on how these terrible prices are going to affect you?



Do you know how powerless you become when you give way to fear? When you're constantly afraid, you can't function properly at work which leads to not getting a pay raise or worse yet, getting fired. You can't get your mind off of that which you fear and it filters into every area of your life.
You become short and angry with your family when they try to talk to you, ask you something or want to spend time with you because they are interrupting your focus on your fear. "How am I going to get some rice (or gas, or milk or apples)", "If there's a shortage of rice now, I'm sure that is going to lead to a shortage on ALL food", "If there is a shortage of food, that will mean I can't go on vacation this summer or buy that new car."
You say but that's silly and doesn't even make sense. No it doesn't and that is where the sound mind comes in. Where there is fear there is total loss of rational reasoning or what I call "common sense".


When someone isn't of sound mind (not using common sense), they think there is going to be a shortage on rice and they panic. They tell everyone they know. The word spreads and then everyone panics and runs out to hoard rice. All that fear has a snowball effect which then creates a shortage of rice where there wasn't one.


If people had not given over to fear and had been of sound mind (using common sense) they would have thought, "No big deal, we'll have pasta instead or just do without rice for now." They would go about their daily business without giving it another thought and focus on more important things like how to be a kinder more loving spouse or parent.
When people aren't consumed with fear they can think more rationally, which helps them make wiser and more practical decisions. When fear is gone they have peace and joy and patience and most of all they are more loving.


Think about it. How much of your life is ruled by fear? If you filter back through most negative emotions, most of them begin with fear of something. Do you buy things you can't afford because you are afraid of what people will think of you? Do you spend more on gifts for your friends and your children's friends because you fear that people won't love you?


Take a serious look at the things you obsess about. Do you obsess about them because of some kind of fear? I don't know how to tactfully and gently say this but lately I have seen quiet (and sometimes loud) fear in a new thing called "becoming green and saving the environment". This is really just another form of fear. When people become obsessed and overcome, it is usually out of fear and not out of rational thinking.


I'm not saying you shouldn't try to save the environment if you think that it needs saving. I'm simply saying don't let things that stem from fear of something control your life in such a way that you lose all of your life's joy and your capacity for reasonable and rational thinking.



Excellenty written by: Tawra, Living on a Dime