I came in via the frontpage today to see what others are posting about.  I saw several posts that were intriguing so I attempted to go read them but each time was met with a blank white page.  No "sorry can't open that" page or plain text maintenance looking page, just stark white.

I did manage to get one blog to load up for me and it had a link to a free ebook for frugal, quick meals.  I wanted to leave a comment regarding the ebook, as I downloaded it and looked it over.  I wasn't able to leave the comment; kept trying to submit it but it just wouldn't go.

Is anyone else having difficulties?

"Terri Irwin has hit out at critics who accuse her of pushing eight-year-old daughter, Bindi, into the media spotlight."

-snip-

"She said Bindi, who is home-schooled and lives inside the family's Queensland animal park, Australia Zoo, had an easier lifestyle than many other children.  Every child is an individual and every parent needs to approach it uniquely and individually," Irwin, explaining the way she raises Bindi, said.  Bindi, who finished year 3 last year, was an A-grade student, she said.  I wouldn't say Bindi has it easy, because I have to make her go to school," she said.  She doesn't always want to go to school.  But, when it comes to extra-curricular activities I don't have to make her sing and dance.  She asks to.  Certainly I want to help encourage her in whatever direction she wants to take."

-snip-

"I think Bindi's schedule is a lot easier than a lot of children's," Irwin explained.  "...There's a lot of kids who have soccer practice, piano lessons, dance lessons and parents start feeling like a chauffeur and kids start feeling overwhelmed.  Bindi is certainly not like that.  Our evenings (at home in Queensland) are together as a family and we are really blessed to be able to be in a situation where we can take time off like that."

-snip-

Full original article here.

Oh, man ain't that good news!  If you say you've never seen a miracle then think about things that happen on a daily basis that we often don't accredit to the miraculous workings of God.  In finding a little boy that was abducted a week ago authorities also found another boy who had been abducted over four years ago in the same general area!  Ain't that good news - yes, yes, that's good news!  Praise God, Ben and Shawn both are returned to their families!

Ben & Shawn both come home!

Now, if that isn't enough to make you think you've heard of a miracle - an amber alert went out in the last couple days for two sisters in the Dallas, TX area; believed to have been taken by their non-custodial mother.  Both girls were found and returned home safely!

Monica & Mercedes both come home!

As has been said a few times on the news... sometimes the good guys do win!  Of course they do!

In the case of all there should be prayers of thanks.  I feel in the case of Shawn Hornbeck particularly prayers for his emotional well-being should continue to be offered fervently.  If anyone remembers Steven Stayner and his and his family's ordeal (including the aftermath and Steven's brother Cary's problems (and crimes) as well) you will understand what I'm meaning.  There is most likely a ton of emotional baggage to be dealt with in the Akers/Shawn Hornbeck househould and they'll need all the prayer and support they can get.  God bless them.

I remember posting a day or two before Christmas and having a hard time figuring out how to get to all of the account areas but I had not noticed how different things were here at HSB.  I notice today that all of my feeds on the right side column are defunct or just gone in the case of the weekly menu.  Not that the weekly menu was serving me of late, lol, because I haven't had much time to check in here.  But still... I need to investigate where the heck did my code go?!  I certainly haven't been editing my template since I haven't been in so... does it have to do with the HSB changes?  Odd.  Just as odd, I am now noticing that my site meter is also gone.  What gives?!

I did check for the codes within the template and guess what, they are there!  So why aren't they showing up... the daily verse, the daily quote, this day in history, and the weekly menu should all be showing in the right side column.  Anyone else notice any similar disappearances... any suggestions?

Oh grief, just noticed also that my right top corner banner "I stand with Israel" is also gone!  hmph

edited to say:  Never mind!  I found in the archives of the main page that there was an "upgrade" and javascript use has been eliminated here.  That solves that.  I don't find this account navigation to be the easiest, that combined with my java doodles gone, this, for me was not a good upgrade.  More like a downgrade.  Who am I to complain, I don't pay to be here.

As the 25th of December approaches I find myself rather disgusted.  This season of shopping irks me more and more each year.  This year - like never before.  I feel rather ashamed for the hedonistic ways of the majority of my fellow americans.  As I said, each year the disgust has been building.  This year I know why I have such an unsettled, nauseated feeling about it. 

It's the origins of this "holiday" Christmas.  The day Christians chose to slap Christ's name upon and claim as their celebration of His birth.  I've know for a long time what the origin of Christmas was, and many of the traditions.  Last year at this time (and even a few months ago) I was all caught up in the bruhaha over the "banning" of the word Christmas in advertisements and promotions.  I was just as angry as the next Christian that Christ was being dismissed by businesses in favor of saying "happy holidays".  The way I saw it, businesses make their fourth quarter profits off of Christians for Christmas purchases, how dare they not say "Merry Christmas" in return.  Sure, they make a profit off of Chanukkah gifts too, I suppose, and maybe even some Kwannza items??  But, by and large, it's Christmas purchases that make the quarter.

Praise God, He corrected me!  Just as two wrongs don't make a right, calling a pagan holiday by Christ's name cannot change it's origins and purpose.  Oh, of course we can honor and celebrate Christ - any day of the year, why not every day of the year!  But a pagan holiday it started and it is no less pagan today.  I'll probably offend some but I like to say what I feel led to say:  Christians haven't changed that holiday - that holiday has changed Christians.  And we are worse off for it! 

I'm no longer in agreement that businesses should put Christ in their advertising.  I don't want them to say Merry Christmas.  I don't want them using my savior ever again.  As far as celebrating Christmas, I must admit, I'm very torn.  I love the lights, the decorated tree, "that" feeling.  I know the origin of the tree and I feel guilty for putting it up in my home, tho it's decorated with angels and little things that say "Jesus Lives" and "He is risen", little glass birds, and old fashioned glass ornaments.... I still have that nagging feeling that the tree itself is wrong.  This year I can hardly look at it without the word "groves" coming to mind.

I'm talking to God about it and studying.  I'm awfully glad that I know Jesus as my savior.  I'm eternally grateful for that gift.  I pray that you know Him and love Him too. 

Anybody remember Elián Gonzalez?  The little boy who, in 2000, came with his mother and several others across the waters from Cuba to Florida on a small boat -- whose mother died (as well as 10 others) during the crossing.  The little boy who was traumatized not only by the death of his mother but by the tug-o-war game played by his Florida relatives and the federal government.  The little boy who now lives, once again, with his father in Cuba.

It's always a child that grabs our attention to these matters.

Saul Arellano, an American-born citizen of an illegal immigrant mother, is the latest posterchild for the debate of what to do about the illegal population in the US.  Saul's mother, Elvira Arellano, walked across the border with Mexico illegally in 1997.  (Twice - once caught and the second time was not caught.)  She's used a false social security number to work in Chicago.  She was convicted for this crime and served three years probation for it.  She was to appear at the immigration office in Chicago.  Rather than do this, she and her son have been living in Chicago church since August 15th, claiming sanctuary.  Legally there is no provision for this in the US and authorities could take her into custody whenever they felt like it but they've opted, so far, not to do that.

Elvira's 7 year old son, Saul, was sent to Mexico (without her) to speak to the Mexican congress -- asking for help in getting the US to allow his mother and other's in the same situation (illegal parents/legal children) to stay in the US legally.

Of course, Mexico's government is all for this.  They have called for the US to suspend Elvira's deportation and any others like her.  An article states that this would benefit more than 4.9 million children living in the US as legal citizens whose parent(s) just happen to be illegal.

Rock and a hard place?  This is why deportation laws should not be hampered by red tape, paperwork, and lack of detention facilities throughout this country.  Had this particular woman, Elvira, been detained when it was first noted that her social security number was false we might not be hearing about this, if in fact she's been using it since she first got here.  It is extremely likely that when her son was born it was known that she was illegal.  The US consistantly absorbs the cost for hospitalization and medical care to low-income illegal women giving birth and the cherry on top of that marvelous sundae is that the child is born a US citizen... and they will not seperate and deport at that point in time.  Yep, this a rock and hard place... all over the place.  (Personally, I've never understood why citizenship is automatically granted to these children.  Having lived on the border for many, many years I've known of countless numbers of children born to illegals just this side of the border for the sole purpose of creating this conflicting scenario.  And it works!  Those children are then eligible for every right a citizen has coming to them, including but not limited to:  WIC, foodstamps, free education, free healthcare, etc.  It's hard to look at those little children and think of denying them those things... but it's the planning on the illegal parent(s) part that makes this tax-paying American citizen's blood boil regarding it all.) 

What do you do with these laws that the government doesn't have the backbone to enforce?  Because they don't have the backbone to enforce them does it mean these laws are not good/workable laws?  Laws are meant to serve and protect the citizens of this country.  Laws stating that illegals should be deported may not be warm and fuzzy kinds of laws but they serve a purpose.  Without them, anyone can come here and do as they please, like Elvira.  Oh wait, even with them anyone can come here and do as they please.  So what do we do?  Enforce the laws, finally, and say pbthth to the brotherhood of man... or don't enforce the laws, as usual, and live with the problems that come with being lax. 

You know, somehow, I think if all the politics were stripped from the matter it would be far easier to figure a solution.  People, for the most part, are willing to help others.  It's the sneaking in and using false documents and such, along with the various country's demands of how their citizens should be treated on our soil that make it into you're being taken for a ride.  I don't mind helping someone out if they ask me for help but I don't take kindly to someone helping themselves to the contents of my wallet and then telling me I should be kind about the theft, know what I mean?   

Finally, a most creative and fitting memorial for a man most deserving!  I wish this ceremony had taken place... and the memorial had been built before Mrs. King's passing.

"The memorial will occupy a four-acre plot on the banks of the Tidal Basin, near the Potomac River. The Jefferson Memorial is across the Tidal Basin, while the Lincoln Memorial lies to the northwest, near the river.

The design is based in part on King's 1963 "I Have a Dream" speech. Before repeating the "Let freedom ring" refrain, King told the crowd, "We will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope.

"Visitors will pass through an entryway cut through a massive stone symbolizing the mountain of despair and once inside, will come upon the missing section marking the stone of hope, bearing a carved profile of King. It will be ringed with walls chiseled with King's words that may eventually be the base for a waterfall."

Full article here.

Let me start with the baseball and get it out of my head.  I love baseball.  Youth ball, local ball, regional ball, farm league ball, minor league ball, major league ball.  I love baseball.  October means baseball, baby!  I follow a few major league clubs with great interest during regular season.  Sometimes we're fortunate enough to see them play in person.  Early on in the Spring training season I had a hunch this year was going to be a terrific year for the Mets.  I was not disappointed.  They dominated.  I was excited and hopeful they'd make it to post season.  I was shattered when they lost to the Cards in the final game, in the 9th inning of the NLCS.  So shattered that this baseball lover is not watching the WS.  I can't muster two hoots for either the Cards or the Tigers.  In truth, I was hoping for a Subway Series but the Yankees fell apart earlier on.  Ah well, I'll be over it in a minute and besides... there's always next year!

Other October stuff:  fishing, school, fishing, fishing, school, karate, fishing, a grand jury summons, fishing, school, fishing, and, uh, fishing.  Did I mention fishing?  My dear son has perfected his casting with a new rod and reel, learned the fine art of grabbing his catch and removing the hook himself, catching his own bait, etc.  He's like a madman about fishing.  His father has had some vacation time this month (use it or lose it) so when they weren't sleeping or eating they were fishing.  I'd tag along because it always turned into late night before the excursions were over.  Out at the bay I could stargaze and hopefully catch Comet Swan (which I so far haven't).  On some of these vacation days my husband had a bike rally on SPI he took part in so what did my son and I do while he was gone?  Fishing, of course.  Of course.  We've eaten a bit of fish this October. 

Father and son are now enjoying Tae Kwan do together.  Son is a belt (almost two belts) ahead of father.  Son takes a wee bit of pleasure in this fact.  It's good for them.  It's very good for them.  Both of them are soon to "belt up" - son to orange and father to yellow.  I'm fairly certain son will be orange before father is yellow.  They are also working hard at demo team drills... bo staff, nunchakas, board breaking (a feat all boys and men seem to relish accomplishing), and forms.  I smell a tournament coming up.  Speaking of tournaments...  My husband also has a final shooting tournament coming up.  Being in LE he takes his ability to shoot quite seriously, and well he should.  All LEOs should.  He came out of his academy over a decade ago as a "distinguished expert" marksman, with awards and accolades.  He rather impressed us all.  I'm proud of him.  He's attained a great deal in his career regarding these extra efforts kinds of things.  Being a firearms instructor is only one of them but I think it's the one he's most proud of himself.  Next month I expect to add a silver buckle to the 30 or so plaques and trophies lining the shelves.  I am proud of him but he needs a cabinet to display these things... the dusting is tiresome.  Meantime, our son is excited to add some tae kwan do trophies to sit beside his baseball trophies and plaques.  I hope he gets some, too!  You know, I've never gotten a trophy or plaque for a thing in my life but it sure seems to make them happy.. maybe I've missed out on something!

I'll tell you something I haven't missed out on though.  Summons'.  Jury summons'.  I've been requested to appear more times than I can really remember.  Many of those times I was either no longer in that state or happened to be out of the state on an extended trip so there was no way I could appear as requested.  (They loved it when I said "I can't be there.  I won't be home for a few months."  I don't think they believed me but it was true.)  When my son was still in diapers and shortly after we had moved from one state to another, and practically immediately after having the old state request my presence, the new state requested to see me too.  Diaper-clad baby in arms I presented myself.  They didn't need me that badly.  Skip to a few Sunday nights ago, 9 p.m., there's a knock at the door.  Who would be at the door at this hour, it's already dark, and it's a Sunday night?!  Why the local sherrif's deputy... serving me a summons for grand jury service.  How uniquely interesting... on a Sunday night.  Sigh, at least this time it was more interesting... it was for grand jury duty.  When the day came to present myself - what's a homeschool mom to do - I pack my homeschooler in the truck and downtown we go for a learning adventure!  (At least this time he was not in a diaper!)  I give him a dollar for a soda while he waits in the hall and I seat myself with about 50 or so other people.

They were all clamoring and happy to be there for the most part.  Guess this is the big difference between regular and grand in jury service! LOL  (The daily pay is also higher, lol.)  The judge enters and is very friendly, humorous at times even.  He explains the whats, whys and wherefores and gets to the weeding out process.  One man is excused because he spoke no english, one woman is excused because her cousin is also present in the potentials and relatives may not serve on the same jury - he agrees to stay and she gladly goes.  Eventually, the judge says something that I was not prepared for at all.  He said, "Is there anyone here that has children (these children must be your own, you may not borrow your neighbor's children for this... he really was friendly and funny) and you feel you should be at home with them instead of being here?"  Knowing that if selected you're called to convene regularly for a period of 6 months and having children is an equation that could lead to some hecticness... but I wasn't prepared for the judge to say what he said how he said it.  It was in his tone... the part about being at home with your children instead of being there.  I looked around quickly to see if others raised their hands... plenty of mom/dad age folks... no one had their hands up.  I felt convicted to raise my hand.  I almost felt I had to, if only to defend the position that at least one parent should be at home with their children instead of being anywhere else.  Before I fully realized what I had done, it was done.  The judge called me up to him and asked for my paperwork, asked if I had children at home - to which I said yes.  He looked at my paper quickly and probably spotted that in the "occupation" area I had written:  "mother, homeschool teacher, homemaker".  He looked up at me, looked me in the eye, smiled and said "thank you for your time, you are excused"... I said "thank you" and left the room. 

Upon meeting my son in the hall it dawned on me I had been complimented.  All mothers in that room had been, really, but I think only I took the compliment.  That judge appreciated the fact that a parent should be home raising and nurturing their children... so hopefully they never have to stand before him being tried for a crime.  

Grand Jury duty sounded awfully intriguing... way better than pronouncing someone guilty or innocent... I honestly do not feel it's my place to do that - not even in the capacity of a citizen serving the community.  But Grand Jury duty is different - you basically convene to decide if there is enough evidence to bring a potential case to trial.  Having worked for a time in a law firm and having a federal agent in the house... legal stuff is interesting to me.  Maybe when my son is older and I have more free time on my hands but right now my time is quite taken with nurturing my son, seeing to his education, baseball, fishing, tae kwan do and taking care of my own LE guy.

Oh, and school-wise... heavenly... just heavenly.  I'm blessed!

I was recently in the position of sending out invitations to local and national businesses to contribute a donation (of any kind, at their choosing) for door prizes to be awarded to U.S. Border Patrol agents at their annual sector Christmas party.  The letter is rather generic and I see it as an invitation to those businesses to show their appreciation to those agents for their hard, and sometimes dangerous, work.  I don't know how the businesses see it but out of 150 or so letters sent we've gotten immediate and pleasant replies so far from many.

One immediate response recieved back was from walmart.  It was not pleasant, in my opinion.  It was a letter informing us that walmart corporation does not donate/sponsor such things.  I didn't expect them to, really.  I sent the letter to them only to see what response they would have, if any, and figured it would be a resounding "no thanks".  I wasn't disappointed - only more sure of what walmart is.

Go here to check out some of the events at Boise State University's diversity week.  Some of the insane things on tap, that walmart is sponsoring, are:  Gay History of Idaho, "how to recoginize heterosexism and how to deal with it", "the decline of American values and ethics", and a dance for those 24 years old and younger. 

Perhaps if I had said I was one of the drug smugglers or people traffickers walmart would have been more generous to us.  It does seem they appreciate deviant behaviors far more than honorable behaviors!

Even people who've never seen Veggie Tales know what Veggie Tales is - that's what an impact it's had!

NBC has decided to capitalize on the Christian series' popularity by running it in their Saturday morning lineup.  Only there's a hitch... of course there's a hitch. 

From AFA:

"NBC anti-Christian bigotry continues. This time NBC censored Bible verses and expressions of Christian love from the children's cartoon Veggie Tales being shown Saturday mornings on NBC.

NBC says comments such as "God made you special and He loves you very much" were offensive and censored them from the show.

In response to the outrage over the allegations that NBC was ordering the removal of any references to God and the Bible from the animated series, the network first issued a flat denial. As reported in Broadcasting & Cable, NBC said they had to "clip off the beginning and ending tags, which are Bible verses, but they were also arguably the easiest cut to make."

The creator of Veggie Tales, Phil Vischer, said NBC's excuse for censoring the Bible verses was not true. Vischer said, "Well, that's kinda funny, because as the guy required to do all the editing, I know that statement is false...The show wasn't too long, it was too Christian. The show was already cut down to the proper length, so timing had nothing to do with it."

NBC then backpeddled: "NBC is committed to the positive messages and universal values of Veggie Tales. Our goal is to reach as broad an audience as possible with these positive messages while being careful not to advocate any one religious point of view." Evidently NBC considers not being truthful as one of their "universal values."

Vischer said had he known how much censorship NBC would exercise, he would not have signed on for the network deal.

Censored were comments such as: "Calm down. The Bible says we should love our enemies." And "the Bible says Samson got his strength from God. And God can give us strength, too."

NBC says using Bible verses or referring to God is offensive to some non-Christians. But NBC doesn't hesitate to offend Christians by showing Madonna mocking the crucifixion of Christ. Neither do not mind offending Christians in their new program Studio 60 with a segment called Crazy Christians. (Please read the review.)

This will seem a strong statement, and it is: The real reason the religious content is being censored is that the networks are run by people who have an anti-Christian bias. I noticed this anti-Christian bigotry and spoke out against it over 25 years ago. I'm sorry if someone thinks that is too harsh, but I must speak the truth as God leads me to see the truth. (Please click here to read excerpts from a speech I gave to a group of TV officials in September, 1981—25 years ago.)"

I don't know the ins and outs of contracts but if I were Vischer I'd tell NBC to take the program as it is or don't air it at all.