The Day After The Vote

Alright, I'm going to type a few thoughts on the healthcare vote, because you all know I have them! I've spent the day reading the Facebook postings and blogs, and trying to lick my wounds from last night. What happened is a scary thing, for sure, and I think the next few months will be interesting to say the least.
I am most broken-hearted about the abortion language. To make me participate in an act that I find morally reprehensible by using my tax dollars to fund abortions is... well, there just aren't words. I certainly don't have very many nice things to say about Congressman Stupak tonight.
"But at least the government option didn't get through!!!" Yeah, let's look at that. The bill prevents insurance companies from denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions. It's an issue that certainly needs to be addressed, but what's to stop healthy people from dropping their coverage and opting to pay the minimal fine, since they can be covered at a moment's notice should something go wrong with their health?? That will drive prices out of reach for most Americans (you think they're high now???), and private insurance companies will go out of business, or morph into the government option pretty quickly.  (If anyone has any estimates on the time frame for this, I'd be interested to know).

I spent a lot of time yesterday praying that God would intervene and send an "attack of conscience" to those who were prepared to vote "yes" on this bill. As we know the bill passed - 2 weeks before Easter. In my opinion, it's a horrible, unjust, cruel bill, and the exact wrong thing was done last night that will have horrible, horrible consequences for our nation. I am outraged that my "elected leadership" used my tax dollars to buy votes for a bill that I want no part of with no regard for what the American people want, not to mention the enormous rule-changing that took place.
And then I remember that this isn't the first time that a horrible, unjust, cruel, exact wrong thing was done by a government. In 12 days we are going to celebrate "Black Friday" - a day when a government leader listened to the loud cries of a very wrong and unfair crowd and let a murderer walk free while the perfect, sinless, Son of God went to die the most horrible, unfair, cruel, exact wrong death - perfectly line with God's plan for His Son and our world. I imagine that Mary, the Disciples, and a few others watched in disbelief, shock, and disappointment in their leadership, and many of their fellow citizens, as our Messiah was beaten and hung to die. And as a result of that terrible tragedy, God brought immeasurable good as only He can.
No government decision, no matter how despicably crafted, will ever be as unjust and far-reaching as the decision made on Black Friday. This healthcare bill pales in comparison to the wrong that was done to Jesus during His last days on this earth. Although I don't think the healthcare bill resembles anything close to the Christian principles that this country was founded on, I do believe that God can and will bring good out of it and that like all things, it falls perfectly in line with His plan for our world.

It still stings a little today, though....

A Family Update

Good evening! The kids are in bed at a decent time tonight, and before I do the happy dance and call it a night, I thought I'd better make sure my oldest child doesn't escape from her room 10 times, as has been her recent pattern! So, I figured I'd blog with this time.

We're doing well, as always, but the past week has been a bit challenging. We went to San Antonio for my college roommate's wedding last week/weekend and had a blast. The kids did great on both flights, and I was really glad that they aren't old enough to sense my fear on airplanes. Christa loved it - even the very bumpy ride back and thought it was a fun ride. I informed Cline that we're never flying again (as I have sworn for our last 3 trips :) I wish I wasn't scared of flying - I enjoy the thought of traveling to exotic lands. But I worry for weeks leading up to the flight, and the actual experience is torture.

At any rate, the wedding was beautiful. I was honored to be the Matron-of-Honor and quite pleased to fit into my dress (although I was hoping it would be a little big by now, but that's another rant for another day)! The kids did great, but it was a long trip for them. They got wayyyyyy off of the nice sleep schedule we were starting to establish. Christa went for several days without a nap and a late bedtime, and today is the first day she's napped and gone to bed without a 2 hour talk about going to sleep since we returned home. To add to that, poor Abby Kate flew back home with a fever and was diagnosed with an ear infection (and probably a virus or two on top of that) on Tuesday. She seems to be doing better now, with the help of some antibiotics, but she's still not eating wonderfully.

Needless to say, it's been a hectic and exhausting week for us. I'm hoping the girls sleep well tonight and that by tomorrow I can officially declare us back on schedule! I'm really looking forward to some warmer weather and hopefully sunnier days. I am very much over the rainy winter and want more daylight hours.

Well, I'm off to surf Facebook for a little while before I decide that Christa is actually going to bed :) Have a great night!

No Time For Words...

... but thanks to my wonderful mother, who is watching my children right now, here are some pictures for you to enjoy! Unfortunately, I can't figure out how to put them in order, so I'll just tell you what's going on and about when they were taken.

Abby Kate is 6 months old!! (March 2, 2010)

She's scarily close to crawling - she has no teeth and can't sit up, but she's starting to scoot on her hands and knees - HELP!!

This picture was taken sometime a couple of weeks ago - my girls still love each other so much, although we're having to explain to Christa that it's not OK to hit or kick even if it's just a game.

Winter trip to Gatlinburg in February!

Snowball fun!

Sweet sisters!

Cline and I went to an auction recently - I'm not actually as "busty" as I appear here - I guess it was the dress.

Abby Kate is 5 months old (February 2, 2010). Christa wore this outfit that a sweet friend handmade with room to spare at 6 months old. When I put it on Abby Kate at 5 months, it was already a little snug.

Gotta run - don't want to take advantage of the help :) Thanks mom!