Mix equal parts of narcissism and hubris

"I am absolutely certain that generations from now," Barack Obama said the night he won the Democratic Party's presidential nomination in 2008, "we will be able to look back and tell our children that this was the moment when we began to provide care for the sick and good jobs to the jobless; this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal." 

And then came five years of the lies, exaggeration, the narcissism, the snooping, the power grabs, the distain for Americans, and now he looks ridiculous.

Planned Parenthood’s disgusting parody of the 12 Days of Christmas

Tim Welsh, President and CEO of Pregnancy Decision Health Center writes:

“The twelve days of Christmas have a lot of meaning to me.

You see, I was raised in a rather conservative Catholic household and all eleven of us children knew what the twelve days meant. We knew it went from Christmas to (what Catholics refer to as) the Feast of the Epiphany and represented a celebration of the infancy of our Lord.

Indeed, my father (now almost 90 years old) is proud to say that he was born on the Feast of the Epiphany, traditionally observed on January 6th.

So it's painful to write about what the Arizona affiliate of Planned Parenthood did this Christmas season.

They changed the words of the traditional Christmas carol, "The Twelve Days of Christmas", to promote the abortion industry.

It's disgusting.

They call it "The Twelve Days of Christmas (the contraceptive version)".

In their version, instead of your true love giving you turtle doves and gold rings and drummers drumming, you're given condoms, birth control pills, and a box of Plan B. Instead of piping pipers, swimming swans, and French hens, you'll get Depro-Provera shots, diaphragms, and NuvaRings.

This is true love?

I don't think so.

True love is kind. It's patient and not jealous. It does not brag, nor is it arrogant. It does not represent a quick fix and it lasts forever.”

I’ll be making a year end contribution to PDHC, and I hope you will too, or help a similar organization in your city or county.

Pregnancy Decision Health Centers | 665 E. Dublin-Granville Rd. | Suite 120 | Columbus | OH | 43229

Which is the future of America?

"I've noticed that there are lot of commercials on television this Christmas season by groups asking for help to stop the euthanizing of animals in animal shelters. They have actors holding pets and photos of abused animals all designed to get you involved in saving the life of an animal. However, I haven't seen one commercial asking for help to save the lives of unborn children. I haven't seen one commercial that shows what unborn babies look like when they've been ripped apart as they were sucked out of their mother's womb. I'm all for helping animals. I love animals, especially Siamese cats and Weimaraner dogs. But, I'm more concerned about saving the lives of unborn children who are even more defenseless than pets. What have we become as a people, a nation, when we see a higher premium placed on the lives of animals than on the lives of human children? Are animals the future of America or are children? Maybe you can answer that question for me." - Mychal Massie (http://mychal-massie.com/premium/category/massiedaily/)

Friday family photo—the George family

           

My mother and aunt used to go to the cemetery in Ashton, Illinois, to place flowers on Memorial Day.  Before them, my grandparents did this.  Now my brother and his wife do this.

     

In a series of Job-like disasters, David George's wife, three of his four adult children, and two of his grandchildren preceded him in death. Willy died of diphtheria in 1877; Martha George Sanders and her baby daughter Grace died of childbirth complications in 1888; Susan Reed George died in 1898; Ira George died in 1907 of blood poisoning from a farm accident; and Mary's son Oliver died at birth in 1908. Only Mary lived to an old age, just like her father.

Did sequestration matter?

“While the sequester is an imperfect mechanism to reduce spending, as the brunt of the cuts falls disproportionally on defense, it only amounts to a 2.5 percent reduction in spending over 10 years. This hardly lives up to the President’s warnings that the cuts would be “harmful” to the economy and would decimate government services. As you can see, the U.S. has a long way to go to rein in its growing spending.”

http://blog.heritage.org/2013/12/27/money-pictures-top-5-charts-2013/

Did you notice that the sequester and the government shut down actually helped the third quarter?

Salvation Army is pro-life except when it isn’t

Makes exceptions for disability (over 90% of Down Syndrome babies are aborted); health of the mother; rape or incest. We pulled our check out of the pile today and tore it up.

The position from their website:

The Salvation Army believes all people are created in the image of God and therefore have unique and intrinsic value. Human life is sacred and all people should be treated with dignity and respect. The Salvation Army accepts the moment of fertilisation as the start of human life. We believe that society has a responsibility to care for others, and especially to protect and promote the welfare of vulnerable people, including unborn children.

The Salvation Army believes that life is a gift from God and we are answerable to God for the taking of life. As such, The Salvation Army is concerned about the growing ready acceptance of abortion, which reflects insufficient concern for vulnerable persons including the unborn. We do not believe that genetic abnormalities that are identified in an unborn child who is likely to live longer than a brief period after birth are sufficient to warrant a termination of pregnancy.

The Salvation Army recognizes tragic and perplexing circumstances that require difficult decisions regarding a pregnancy. Decisions should be made only after prayerful and thoughtful consideration, acknowledging the tremendous pressures that occur during an unexpected pregnancy. There is a responsibility on all involved to give the parents of the unborn child, particularly the woman, appropriate pastoral, medical and other counsel. The Salvation Army believes that termination can occur only when

• Carrying the pregnancy further seriously threatens the life of the mother; or

• Reliable diagnostic procedures have identified a foetal abnormality considered incompatible with survival for more than a very brief post natal period.

In addition, rape and incest are brutal acts of dominance violating women physically and emotionally. This situation represents a special case for the consideration of termination as the violation may be compounded by the continuation of the pregnancy.

The Salvation Army affirms and supports professional people engaged in the care of pregnant women who feel on religious, moral or ethical grounds, that they cannot be involved in any way with the procuring or undertaking of an abortion.

We can’t blame Obama for this one

“Beginning January 1, 2014, the federal government will ban the use of 60-watt and 40-watt incandescent light bulbs. The light bulb has become a symbol in the fight for consumer freedom and against unnecessary governmental interference into the lives of the American people.”

Although we know from other power grabs and 20+ changes he’s personally made in the PPACA law, he could have stopped this.  The “energy efficient” bulbs are made in China in coal fired factories, belching black smoke.

"A subsidised and enforced worldwide replacement of unprofitable patent-expired simple, cheap, well known, safe, and easily locally made bright broad spectrum light bulbs in an odd coalition between global capitalist manufacturing executives, left-leaning governments, and environmental organizations." http://freedomlightbulb.blogspot.com/2011/11/deception-behind-ban.html

Coconut oil for skin care

Perhaps one of the best, and cheapest tips circulating the internet is to use pure organic coconut oil for skin care. I had a jar in the cupboard for cooking, so I squished some (it is solid but melts with just skin heat) into an unused pill container and put it in the bathroom. This stuff is amazing. I'd had 2 stubborn spots on my face, and after using it for both removing make-up and a moisturizer under make-up, they just disappeared; last night I slathered it on my hands and put on cotton gloves, and this morning my hands feel like summer; and there is no water or alcohol or chemical lab list to worry about. There are lots of new babies in the family and I see it's good for stretch marks http://coconutoilcooking.com/coconut-oil-blog-posts/top-10-uses-of-coconut-oil-for-skincare/

                                    

I've only used it once for cooking, so have a lot on hand. It seems expensive for shortening, but when compared to a mid-price brand of lotion or moisturizer of a few ounces with all the unpronounceables on the label, it's a bargain.

Just three decisions will make a life time of difference

Just three decisions can change the course of a life time and family. None depend on party affiliation, race or religion.

"Consider three decisions that young people make: at what points to stop their education, begin work, and marry and have children. Brookings Institution calculations of census data for 2009, a deep recession year, show that adults who graduated from at least high school, had a job, and were both at least age 21 and married before having children had about a 2 percent chance of living in poverty and a better than 70 percent chance of making the middle class — defined as $65,000 or more in household income. People who did not meet any of these factors had a 77 percent chance of living in poverty and a 4 percent chance of making the middle class (or higher)."

http://www.brookings.edu/research/opinions/2012/03/29-middle-class-myth-haskins

There is no transfer of wealth or invasive, snoopy government program required for this vast difference in poverty between the married and unmarried, the employed and the unemployed, the high school graduate and the drop out. It won't close the "income gap" between you and the President, who is a millionaire and actually did these 3 things, but it's almost a guarantee with God's blessings that you won't remain at the bottom.

"The average cohabiting union lasts about two years, with roughly half ending in marriage. Once married, formerly cohabiting parents have a much higher dissolution rate than couples who did not live together prior to marriage." http://www.clasp.org/.../publications_states/files/0086.pdf

Thursday Thirteen Christmas season 2013

Christmas  these days seems to begin around Halloween when Christmas themed merchandise appears in the stores, although for some retailers it’s even earlier and you see craft and decorating items stocked in strategic places.  This year Thanksgiving was the latest it could be and so the festivities and shopping had one less week. Our holiday season was saddened by the death of brother in law John Sterling, whom we had visited in October in California. He died the Sunday before Thanksgiving.  For us, Christmas more or less began at Thanksgiving when we began to discuss how we would do the holidays.  Usually our daughter has Thanksgiving dinner, but her father-in-law who lives in  Cleveland and who has been ill, was unable to travel, so they needed to be free “just in case,” so we had dinner here, and decided that I would host the family on Christmas Eve, and then we’d all go to our daughter’s for Christmas Day. I fixed a huge turkey, and we’ve had leftovers off and on since.  So beginning with Thanksgiving, we all went to church together at the Lytham Road campus of Upper Arlington Lutheran Church at 10 a.m. where we had worshipped when the children were growing up (began attending in 1974 and joined on Palm Sunday 1976).  Pastor TJ Anderson, our new senior pastor, gave the sermon. At this service we bring sacks of groceries to be distributed by the Lutheran Food Pantry. Our location of UALC has a traditional style worship with hymns and organ; Mill Run has contemporary style worship with praise songs and communion.

1.  On Wednesday, December 4, we attended with our neighbors Tom and Joyce the annual Conestoga (friends of the Ohio Historical Society) Holiday Party at The Boat House at Confluence Park. It was a lovely venue with views of the river and the downtown skyline lit up for Christmas.  Conestoga has 203 individual members and we learn about Ohio history, travel around the state together visiting historical places, and have fund raisers.  All the money supports the Ohio Historical Society. Our current endowment is about $66,000.

2. Mid-week day time Advent services are held on Thursday at the Lytham Rd. location, and we served communion on December 5.  Wednesday evening services are held at our Mill Run Campus. Usually serve at all these Thursday services, but this year we had conflicts on the other two dates. These services are followed by lunch in the fellowship hall.  Generally, it’s an older crowd, and follows the Thursday morning Bible study.

3.  On December 7, the combined choirs of Lytham and Mill Run presented a wonderful Christmas Concert on Saturday evening, “Glory, Peace, Joy” with conductors Brian Carlton and Michael Martin, with an orchestra. Members of our pastoral staff gave the readings from Isaiah, Colossians, Luke, and Matthew. I sat with the other women of our SALT group—our husbands were at home watching the OSU-Michigan football game, and they missed a beautiful concert.

4. On Sunday December 8, we attended our own service (8:15) and the 9:30 Celebration Service at Lytham, so we could participate in the installation of Pastor Thomas J. Anderson. Pastor David Wendel, assistant to the NALC Bishop performed the installation, with Pastors Brodie Taphorn and Buff Delcamp participating. Pastor TJ follows Pastor Paul Ulring who ended his service with the church in September. Pastor TJ said, “My primary mission is to kick you out of the nest.”

5. We were thrilled to have our friends Martti and Riitta Tulamo of Helsinki, Finland with us December 11-13.  We did some touring of the OSU campus where Riitta was a student at the veterinary college in 1978-80.  We spent a lot of time together in those days, so our children remember them well, and we had a dinner here on Friday night before taking them to the Brens where they would enjoy a few days, then going to the Rigolli home in Worthington before returning to Finland. We attended Advent services on Thursday and then stayed for a very nice lunch of lasagna and salad.

6. On Saturday December 14 our church’s Mission ministry had a pot luck at the home of the Camerons to meet with our missionaries Dave and Pam Mann who teach in Haiti and are home during the month of December.  It was so good to see them, and hear about what is happening at the school and clinic.

7.  On Sunday December 15 members of Conestoga were invited to a buffet and program at the Ohio Historical Society.  We went with our neighbors the Rieslings. The theme for this fall/winter has been the 50s—and there is a Lustron on display, so it was decorated with the much more simple décor of the 1950, including an aluminum tree and plastic poinsettias.

8.. Party with Faith of our Fathers study group Monday Dec. 16 and my  first training session with the Pregnancy Decision Health Center on Wednesday Dec. 18 where I hope to continue volunteering.  This is a Christian ministry that saves lives—of babies, but also mothers who may be in great distress with a pregnancy

9. Party for condo association hosted by the Thompson and Rieslings on Sunday Dec. 22.  The Thompsons had their twin 18 month old granddaughters with them, which really enhanced the environment. Joan and Joyce put out a beautiful spread of of wonderful food, and I think I gained back all the weight (6 lbs) I’ve struggled to lose during the fall.

10. We had a get together after exercise class at instructor Christine’s home on Monday December 23, and will have a 2 week hiatus.

11. We hosted our family for Christmas Eve for dinner—ham, roasted squash, potato salad, mixed fruit, cookies. Then together we attended the  UALC  9 p.m. service.  On  Christmas Day, we opened gifts at home after a leisurely morning, then attended church at 10 a.m. where we served Communion, and then went to our daughter and son-in-law’s for a lovely Christmas dinner and more gifts. Such lovely thoughtful gifts, and my daughter spiffed up my wardrobe, something I always look forward to.

12.  Friends of ours are hosting events in their homes in the next week, on Saturday December 28  the Sloughs, and on Monday evening December 30, the Zimmers.

13.  We will attend the New Year’s Eve Jazz Concert and Worship with Communion at our Mill Run church on Tuesday December 31 beginning at 5:30 for music and 6:00 for worship.

Obama’s obsession prevents him from doing his job

“Virtually all of the data cited by the left to decry the supposed explosion of income inequality, as Lee Ohanian and Kip Hagopian point out in their seminal paper, "The Mismeasure of Inequality" (Policy Review, 2011), use a Census Bureau definition of "money income" that excludes taxes, transfer payments like Medicaid, Medicare, nutrition assistance, the Earned Income Tax Credit, and even costly employee benefits such as health insurance.

Thus the data that is conventionally used to calculate the so-called Gini coefficient—the most commonly used measure of income inequality—ignore America's highly progressive income tax system and the panoply of benefits and transfer payments.”

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303773704579269990020773098?mod=trending_now_4

Income inequality?  There’s a huge gap between the Obama household and the Bruce household. And Oprah Winfrey and the  Obama household. And George Soros and Oprah Winfrey. And Bill Gates and George Soros. Good luck Mr. President in making us all equal.

Phil Robertson preaches it

Preaching in California for our eternal health care.

A beautiful day

How to destroy more entry level jobs—get the unions involved

Requirements for entry level

“Many fast food workers are high school students because the industry doesn't require much in the way of formal education or experience, and offers plenty of part-time positions. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that around half of food service workers were employed part time in 2010. Some employers have strict dress and appearance codes, while others provide more leeway. However, a neat, clean and polished appearance during the application process gives a good impression and can help you land a job.”

The job also requires adequate communication skills (pronunciation, grammar, ability to make eye contact, etc.) arriving on time, and not chattering with co-workers or reading smart phones while on duty. Good manners are a plus.  Workers are on their feet a long time.  The worker must be able to follow directions without getting mouthy or arguing.

I love cabbage—this looks so good

Garlic Rubbed Roasted Cabbage Steaks

This is a simple side dish worthy of a dinner party and couldn’t be easier to make. Four ingredients, a couple of minutes to prepare and toss in the oven for an hour.

Ingredients

• 1 (approximately 2lb) head of organic green cabbage, cut into 1″ thick slices
• 1.5 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 to 3 large garlic cloves,
• smashed kosher salt
• freshly ground black pepper
• spray olive oil OR non-stick cooking spray Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400F and spray a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray. Pull outer leaf off cabbage (it’s usually dirty and nasty looking), cut cabbage from top to bottom (bottom being root) into 1″ thick slices. 2. Rub both sides of cabbage with smashed garlic. 3. Use a pastry brush to evenly spread the olive oil over both sides of the cabbage slices. 4. Finally, sprinkle each side with a bit of kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper. 5. Roast on the middle rack for 30 minutes. Carefully flip the cabbage steaks and roast for an additional 30 minutes until edges are brown and crispy. Serve hot and Enjoy!

Copied from Jodie Strickland’s FB page, who got it from Skinny Body Care with Greg.

Not everyone has snow

But this is a lovely, if stylized, memory of Christmas as it probably never was.  I saw it at Flyover Culture on Facebook, which has the most beautiful photos of our country.  And promotes the conservative values and culture which I admire. We do have a light dusting of snow this morning and I’ll be meeting with friends of 30+ years for coffee.

Yesterday we got a note inside a Christmas card updating us on a small family we haven’t seen since Christmas 1965.  They were renters of the apartment in our duplex where we lived in Champaign, IL.  When we waved good-bye to them and their little daughter, I didn’t know we’d still be in contact almost 50 years later.  Except we aren’t. Until this year, the card simply had a signature.  Somewhere along the way the husband’s name was dropped from the card, then we got one photo card years ago with mom, daughter (now grown) and her husband.  The note reports the daughter’s daughter has just graduated from college.  However, the note which updated us, was intended for someone else and got in the wrong card.  Sigh.

Monday Memories—listening to the Christmas story

Some children may have learned the Christmas story from TV cartoons, but I can remember sitting on the interior stairs of our school in Forreston, Illinois (12 grades in one building) while the principal, John I. Masterson, read aloud the story from Luke 2.

January book club selection

"There are as many species of socialism as there are species of insects, and Thatcher loathed them all. I use the word "socialism" here as a shorthand for a system of government in which property is largely owned or controlled by the state, rather than by individual citizens, and in which wealth is redistributed to create a more egalitarian society. Equality is the ideal, coerced redistribution the means, and state the agent." Claire Berlinski, "There is no alternative; why Margaret Thatcher matters," (Basic Books, 2008)  the January selection for our book club.

                           

December 22, The American Prohibitory Act

“On December 22, 1775, the Parliament of Great Britain, under Lord North, First Lord of the Treasury, decided that sterner measures would be taken to subdue the rebellion now underway in the 13 American colonies. To this end, they decreed a blockade against the trade of the American colonists by passing the Prohibitory Act. “All manner of trade and commerce” would be prohibited, and any ship that was found trading “shall be forfeited to his Majesty, as if the same were the ships and effects of open enemies.”  The goal of the Act was to destroy the American economy by making it incapable of operating by means of prohibiting trade with any country.”

It became a declaration of war.

The Founder’s  Blog

A sweet card

I didn’t know there was an Equine Cancer Society.

The Equine Cancer Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to the education of all horse owners on equine cancer. ECS also helps to raise funds for equine cancer research. Cow's Cause, named for Scout aka "Cow" the inspiration behind ECS, raises funds for the veterinary care of horses fighting cancer.