Reality Pause

Ethan turned 3 on Saturday. Just a few random pics of the day.

Seven years ago today the twin towers were brought down in an act of aggression. Seven years ago this nation lost many good and courageous men and women. Seven years ago, we as a people lost the greatness that this nation once stood for. The terrorists won in a very real sense.

We now have a big government tracking its citizens. We now live in a world where honest citizens are searched simply because their name matches or closely resembles the name of a suspected terrorist. We have lost the freedoms that our ancestors fought and died for. Our government is telling our heroes that everything they believed in was worthless.

The biggest calamity that we have suffered is the single greatest thing that this nation was built upon. Our nation was fathered and mothered by people from all nations. Immigrants from around the world learning to live with one another. Instead of accepting these people, our government is rounding them up, and kicking them out. Our government is tearing families apart, and we as a people are letting them do so. Shame on us for letting it happen.

Our nation was founded on some very simple truths. The greatest of these is “In God WE trust.” Yes, we believe in equality. Yes, we believe in tolerance. But there is no place for religious intolerance, and no place for atheism in our government. Catholics, Baptists, Mormons, Lutherans, Muslims and every other religion should be able to peacefully pray with one another. All of these beliefs teach tolerance and love for our fellow man. Why do we not follow these beliefs?

The New Colossus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch whose flame

Is imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

“Keep ancient lands your storied pomp!” cries she with silent lips.

“Give me your tired your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

Emma Lazarus (1849-1887)

Well it was bound to happen, and it did. I told Keagan at the beginning of the school year, “You have to remember to get your sister every day.” ‘Well what if I forget?” Oh believe me, you will only forget once. I got a call today from the school at about 2:25. I was thinking it was probably the kids because I told them if it was raining to give me a call and I would come get them. So the phone rings, and no it’s not the kids, it’s the office at school.  It seems Natalia is in the office, pretty distraught, because her brother left her at school. I load up Ethan and Daelin, both screaming mind you, and head over to the school. About half way there, I see Keagan walking down the street. I ask him if he forgot anything, and he says yeah my sister. I told him to finish walking home and I would be back in a few minutes with her. I get to the office; she is looking pretty sad and worried sitting there. I can tell that she has been crying. She was in a pretty grumpy mood, why is she taking it out on me; I wasn’t the one who forgot her. I ask her what happened; she said she couldn’t remember where Keagan’s classroom was. Ummm, it’s in the same hall as you just down at the other end. It sounds like they were both looking for each other and probably crossed paths a few times. So needless to say, Keagan couldn’t play with friends today, drove him nuts, drove me nuts, let’s just hope he has learned and he will not leave school without his sister again.  

It’s been almost a week since pack meeting; I think I can finally blog about it. It was Keagan’s first pack meeting and he had to be there early for flag ceremony. We get to the stake center pavilion, and it’s just chaos. There are kids running everywhere, including walking on top of the tables and jumping from table to table. Yes I know that they are boys, and boys can be wild at times, but come on parents people are going to be eating there, and I personally don’t want a foot in my potato salad. The leaders are up there trying to talk and get things under control, it’s time for prayer and the kids are still being loud, but they say the prayer anyway. HELLO!!!! How are the kids ever going to learn to be reverent if parents aren’t going to teach them how to be? The parents are off talking amongst themselves, paying no attention to what their kids are doing. Of course the kids are going to run wild if the parents aren’t even going to attempt to corral them.  I know my kids aren’t perfect, but I was so glad that Keagan was sitting there listening while they were attempting to hand out awards. He even went and tried to help with the contest they had. They split up into two teams to see who could put a tent up the fastest. Chaos as well, Keagan’s team, the tent was missing pieces. The kids didn’t do much besides stand there, while the adults attempted to put the tent together. Needless to say, I was glad when it was over and it was time to go home. We had to give the kid a HUGE pat on the back for not walking on the tables, listening, and not running around like wild animals, even though they are most of the time.