Taxed Enough Already! (FOR THE LOVE!)

Me, Dirt, Louise and Leigh in the back of the T.E.A. party, Montgomery, AL edition!

I LOVE people getting their kids involved! And their signs were SO cute!!!

University Church of Christ representing!

Again, I LOVE the kid signs!

If that didn't make you laugh out loud.............

Dirt and some of his patriotic co-workers!

Yeah! Party like it's 1773!

Just hanging out with a couple thousand of my most patriotic friends!

So, this is a little late but on April 15th Leigh, Louise, Dustin, and myself all went to the T.E.A. party on the front steps of the State House in downtown Montgomery. I have recently decided that all the things that I hate about what America has become is my fault and probably yours too. I HATE most of the decisions that our congress, house, and presidents have made in the past few years. So, what can I say that I have done about it? Let's see... well, I voted. Yeah, that's it. I haven't written, e-mailed, or called my congressman, my senator, or my president. I haven't ever demonstrated or in any way shown my displeasure for the decisions our lawmakers have made. Persecute me for believing in and worshiping my God and what will I do? I'll vote! That'll get them.

I'm not downplaying the importance of voting at all. I have only missed one vote since I turned 18 and I DO consider it very unpatriotic NOT to participate in that right. However, that is not enough! One of the speakers said at the T.E.A. party said, "I keep hearing people say, 'How did we let all of this happen?' Well, the answer is pretty simple. 'WE' were at work!" Pretty true. I can honestly say that I feel like between my two jobs, church activities, ect. I don't feel like I have time to be a political activist and I'm sure you feel the same way. But, the truth is, that it's going to take, those of us who "don't have time" to get up and start getting involved before it's too late!

50 years ago who would have thought that killing babies, killing the elderly, getting pregnant just to use the stem cells that are grown during pregnancy and then "disposing" of the fetus, and gays marriage would be legal? And, who would have thought, 50 years ago, that praying before a ballgame and carrying a Bible in school would be ILlegal? What, then, will be legal and illegal fifty years from now? Who is OK with paying FORTY-TWO PERCENT in taxes, while over FIFTY PERCENT of the country DOESN'T even pay taxes?!?

What is going to be the last straw for you? I kind of had a few straws fall at one time, so it was hard to tell which one was the actual last. One of the straws was when I sat down and figured out that I paid more in taxes in 2008 than I MADE at my THIRTY HOUR A WEEK part time job! That means, I am working a entire SECOND job just to START paying my taxes!!! Another "straw" was when president Obama lifted the ban on spending OUR taxpayer money on abortions, OVERSEAS(http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/01/23/obama-lift-ban-overseas-abortion-funding/)! Does that even sound remotely right to ANYone? The last proverbial straw was when he went over to Europe and APOLOGIZED for America. I wanted to shout on TV all over the world, HE ABSOLUTELY DOES NOT SPEAK FOR ME!!!

So, (I'm getting ready to step off of my soapbox) I am announcing that I AM not standing by and being persecuted any more! I AM getting involved more and I really urge you to do the same! This T.E.A. party was just the beginning for me. I HATE the response to this by the main media (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6G3fvNhdoc0 and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IeRxVMpyDg if you haven't seen these, you REALLY have to) who blames Fox News but for anyone who is interested in the truth, this is where it actually started (on CNBC, how funny is that!) you can watch it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEZB4taSEoA

Last but not least, the TEA party was so fun and SO refreshing! Sometimes when you are surrounded by stuff you see on TV, read on the internet and in newspapers/magazines, you think that you are pretty much by yourself in your beliefs but I was assured on Wednesday that I wasn't! And, I LOVED the signs!

These guys!

No real reason to post except to say how funny these guys are I work with! I am about to be laid off for three months and yesterday and today these guys have had me rolling! Being around boys on a regular basis is such a different experience. Their point of view is SO different from mine and, might I add, usually so misguided!

Lately our conversation has revolved around one of the guys that is getting married in June. It is HILARIOUS to listen to his expectations from marriage! I can see why so many marriages fail....because boys are CRAZY in what they expect! It's a good thing he is marrying such a good girl!

The other thing that has occupied most of their/our time has been some kids stole some of our golf carts and took them for "joy rides", wrecking them, and tearing them up. Well, we have a camera out there but since it was dark, it was real hard to make out the kids. So, for two days the guys and the security guys were all crowded around my computer, watching the video feed. My little regular detectives :^) I wish I had been able to take a picture or better, a video, so ya'll could have heard them figuring it out. Which, I am proud to say, they did.

I really love this job and wish that it was a more permanent thing. Now.....I am off to create memories for my next blog.....The TEA Party!!!!

Happy Easter

Kristen working hard dying the eggs!

Our supplies are prepared!!

It's hard to believe that just one week ago I was telling Magiboo and all of my friends in the Philippines goodbye. Yesterday, as I was walking through Target looking at the Easter stuff I saw a small little Easter toy that just unexpectedly brought tears to my eyes. The thought came to mind that Magiboo has never had a Easter basket and most likely never will. The tears came with a smile though, just thinking about how much he would love all that candy :^)

Yesterday I went Easter shopping at Wal Mart as soon as I got up. I also picked up my pictures and 127 pictures later and hour had past with me just standing there looking at them. I then came home and went to bed so I could get up early. I got up about 5 and me and Kristen, who is my only family member in town this weekend, went to the salon to get pedicures. How it needed mine was from those weeks walking all over Luzon in flip flops! Then we cam home and dyed eggs! It was SO fun!

When I got to work last night, my secret sister had left me an Easter basket with some of my favorite things inside! I'm am ABSOLUTELY embarrassed to tell you that I ate an ENTIRE bag of mini Snickers! On top of that we had Easter dinner there and I had two helpings of lasagna and of course only one small one of lasagna! Either I am totally glutenous or I REALLY missed good old American dishes (please ignore the fact that lasagna is Italian!)

This morning I came home and made Kristen, Leigh, Louise, and Dirt Easter baskets. Fun stuff. Now I am about to get ready and go to early service with Kristen and then we are going out to eat for Easter dinner! I hope that all of you have as wonderful an Easter as I already have with your friends and family!

Home Sweet Home

Well, as of about 1:30 this morning I am officially home. Started off my first day back by oversleeping, running late for the Dr, finding out the hard way that someone left the shower on so when I turned on the water I got sprayed with freezing water, getting in the car and finding it on empty and a bad case of road rage with a VERY rude driver! Have I mentioned that my stomach decided that the 12 hour plane ride where I was in the THIRD of FIVE seats would be a great time to start acting up. Yeah, you gotta love multiple trips to a plane bathroom, crawling over people who are sleeping and eating to even get to the aisle!

I decided after the Dr appt (no lice....YAY!) to start my day over. I went home and took a bath and visited with my new roommate (and cousin :^) Kristen for a little while before headed into work about 1:30. The guys were pretty happy to see me, I have to say. Now I have caught up on e mails, am working on our phone messages, and about to go to the chiropractor before Weds night service. I guess real life doesn't break for long in the USA. I must give a shout out to Leigh though, she did make up my bed and put fresh flowers on my nightstand, and even turned on my heater (knowing that I would be freezing!) for me.

I really miss my kids and friends and have teared up many times today talking and thinking about them but it is good to be home. I hope I can remember on long work days, days when I oversleep, and driving with the terribly rude Montgomery drivers, how good I really have it. Thanks so much to all of you who supported us and prayed for us. We couldn't have done it without any of you.

The day of "konnichiwa" and "sayonara"

These buttons are on the side of the toilet! You can even control how loud you want a flushing sound (that can be used even when you're not flushing!). But, my favorite icon is the spray one!
These Japanese think of EVERYTHING!


There are electronic sidewalks all the way down the VERY long terminals. Also, there is NO sign of any trash or even dust for that matter!

This is the hand dryer. It is SUPER powerful and has a "blue light" that kills germs!

Another view of the toilet! Beware though: stay away from anything labeled "Japanese style toilet" Google it if you don't trust me.

Well, after what, at best, could be described as a rough nights sleep in Manila we headed for the airport at about 7am, local time. Our plane took off about five minutes late and arrived about 15 minutes early. Good thing there are no speed limits in the sky! We are now sitting in the very nice Narita airport waiting for our 5:35p.m. (local time) departure. We should arrive in Chicago about 3:25p.m. (local time) on the same day. It's pretty weird traveling backwards in time.

On the flight I watched 'Frost/Nixon' and it was pretty good. I only watched 'Marley and Me' on the way over here so I am aiming for being awake for two movies on the trip back :^) Here is a weird thing. Daddy had the window seat and me the middle of three seats on the plane ride here. The guy sitting in the isle seat was already there when we boarded. He is a older (like 70's) white guy and I was just happy it wasn't a kid. When we sat down he said, "Didn't I sit next to you last time?" What? Really he did! Last year when I was traveling home by myself he sat next to me! He is a Canadian married to a Filipino woman (half his age) and they have a 2 year old. I found out on this flight (the guy was a talker) that he also has a 50 year old, a 43 year old, and a 39 year old and a FIVE year old GREAT grandson! I don't know which is weirder, his family situation or the fact that out of all the millions of people who make that flight we have now sat by each other on the same flight twice!

Other than that there isn't much to report here beside how much I miss my friends and kids back at the compound. There was a little Asian baby boy sitting across the aisle from us and I spent a lot of time thinking about Magiboo. He is so enthralled by just riding in the PTC van, he would just die to ride an airplane! It's really weird how much I miss him and the other kids. Please keep us in your prayers.

P.S. April 6th marked two years since Adam was killed in action in Iraq. Please keep his family and all of people who have lost loved ones to protect our country in your prayers and also the ones who currently are deployed. We would be nothing without them.

Manila Day

Well, we were picked up at 9:20 this morning by Brother Roger, his wife Lisa, and Josie. It is about a six hour drive. In Tarlac (about half way between Dagupan and Manila) we stopped and ate at Pancake House (their version of Huddle House, IHOP, ect.) and I had a a really good club sandwich. For dessert we all split this thing that was vanilla ice cream, that had nuts and m and m's in it, it was then wrapped in a waffle and covered in chocolate syrup. It was really good and it was my first meal with no rice! Consequently, we had KFC for supper and they asked what side and I was so happy to answer "mashed potato's!" Joke was on me. They gave you an option of sides but that was in addition to your side of rice! The KFC is connected to our hotel, which is the airport hotel. We are just hanging out in the one room with NaNa and PaPa. We are watching Fox and Friends and I helped open NaNa and PaPa a facebook account! Me and NaNa have been having so much fun looking for people she knows! They will leave here about 9:30 and go across the parking lot (they will take a cab, not walk like we had to when we got here!) to airport, they fly out at midnight. Their route is Manila to Seoul, South Korea to Dallas-Fort Worth to Atlanta to Valdosta. They will arrive at 9:30p.m. local time, Tuesday, Lord willing. We will leave here at about 7a.m. local time tomorrow and fly out at 9a.m. Our route is from Manila to Tokyo to Chattanooga.We will arrive home Tuesday night at about 9p.m., local time Tuesday.
Not much to report today except that I really miss my kids. Magiboo would really love everything even the ride to Manila and especially, the Pancake King and KFC! Boy, that kid loves to eat! Please keep us in your prayers as we travel. I will try to update again from Tokyo.

Manila Day

Well, we were picked up at 9:20 this morning by Brother Roger, his wife Lisa, and Josie. It is about a six hour drive. In Tarlac (about half way between Dagupan and Manila) we stopped and ate at Pancake House (their version of Huddle House, IHOP, ect.) and I had a a really good club sandwich. For dessert we all split this thing that was vanilla ice cream, that had nuts and m and m's in it, it was then wrapped in a waffle and covered in chocolate syrup. It was really good and it was my first meal with no rice! Consequently, we had KFC for supper and they asked what side and I was so happy to answer "mashed potato's!" Joke was on me. They gave you an option of sides but that was in addition to your side of rice! The KFC is connected to our hotel, which is the airport hotel. We are just hanging out in the one room with NaNa and PaPa. We are watching Fox and Friends and I helped open NaNa and PaPa a facebook account! Me and NaNa have been having so much fun looking for people she knows! They will leave here about 9:30 and go across the parking lot (they will take a cab, not walk like we had to when we got here!) to airport, they fly out at midnight. Their route is Manila to Seoul, South Korea to Dallas-Fort Worth to Atlanta to Valdosta. They will arrive at 9:30p.m. local time, Tuesday, Lord willing. We will leave here at about 7a.m. local time tomorrow and fly out at 9a.m. Our route is from Manila to Tokyo to Chattanooga.We will arrive home Tuesday night at about 9p.m., local time Tuesday.
Not much to report today except that I really miss my kids. Magiboo would really love everything even the ride to Manila and especially, the Pancake King and KFC! Boy, that kid loves to eat! Please keep us in your prayers as we travel. I will try to update again from Tokyo.