Splish Splash Just Takin' a Bath

I don't think that Broooklyn would forgive me if I didn't put a post up about her taking a bubble bath with her cousins. She waited the entire trip to be able to take a bath with them. They had all taken a bath when they were in California at my granfather's funeral and she has been so excited to get back together with them so it could happen again. She had a blast in the tub and then all the girls stayed over at grandpa's house for a slumber party. So here we go...

July 4th

Here it is July 21st and I am just now posting my July 4th happenings. Things seem to be so incredibly crazy for me. Really they are not, but nothing seems to go right or maybe I am just so completely out of things right now that nothing seems to get done. I think John would probably agree with the second - sorry babe!

So for the 4th of July we went down to Texas to visit my family. All of my mom's family also came down - sort of a family reunion I guess. Of course from my previous post you can tell that we did a little Roller Derby. We of course had to go and eat at Spring Creek Barbeque. There is nothing like some real barbeque...and no you don't get the real thing here in North Carolina. Sorry all of you Carolina people, but this is not real barbeque and if you want the real thing you need to head to Texas, now that is some good stuff right there. We actually ate there twice on our trip, as soon as we got off the airplane and then when all of the family arrived.

One of our normal family traditions is to go to Grapevine Lake for the 4th. We usually ski, tube, picnic, lay out on the beach, and whatever we can think to take up time until the fireworks start. Well this year, we ended up going on the 3rd so we could avoid all the busy crowds of people that would be there. We had my dad's boat and then we rented 2 jet skis and a party boat. The best part of the lake for me was riding on the jet ski. We had rented jet skis before, but I was pregnant the last time we did it and therefore unable to ride on it. Oh my gosh, what a blast!! The first time I went out on it I went with my cousin Erika. She was as scared as I was, but I let my inhibitions go a lot quicker than she did. I don't think anyone got picture of us, but it was a ton of fun. I did manage to get John to go out with me, of course I had to nag him to get him to go, but I know he would have to admit that he had a lot of fun. He was making us fly out of our seats, jumping wakes, and just having a blast. Thanks for going with me John, it was fun!!

For the actual 4th of July, we all participated in another family tradition that we have, well we have had it for 2 years now, but oh what fun! ROCKET LAUNCHING!! We all have to build a model rocket and then we go to a park and launch them. We are then awarded prizes based on or rockets, launch, style, flight, landing, etc. So we all did our rockets launches and they were a lot of fun to watch. I must tell you about my rocket however. Well, my rocket actually did well. It was me that did not do well. So I go to the launch pad to set off my rocket. It takes off into the air and does not go very far because I had a larger rocket. I start chasing after my rocket to catch it before it lands on the ground (I was trying to be as cool as my older brother). My rocket is starting to heads toward the parking lot, so I do a "graceful" leap off the curb and fall flat on my face, into the asphalt. It was not a pretty sight. My hands got scratched up majorly (full of dirt and rocks), luckily I had longer shorts on, so my knees were ok. My insulin pump got damaged, thank goodness it still works though because it was not cheap. So anyway, after the launching we headed back to my dad's house and then got ready for fireworks. We went to one of his friends house and set off a ton of fireworks in front of her house. The kids enjoyed it a lot.

Roller Derby

We just came back from visiting my family out in Texas. Our second day there we went to my Father's volleyball gym which he rents out for different events. This particular night was Roller Derby - Dallas Derby Devils vs Angel City Derby Girls. This was our first experience at anything like this, and we were confused most of the time with everything that was going on. I guess the funnest part was watching the wicked spills that some of these ladies would take - now is ladies an appropriate word for an event like this...I don't know?

My sister-in-law Cheryl tried out for a team but shortly became pregnant so she is unable to skate right now. Therefore she helps out at the events and whatever else she can do.

At the starting line

Around they go...

and go

John, my sister-in-law Cheryl (dressed up like a Dallas Derby Devil), and myself.

Brooklyn, Austin (nephew), Cheryl (sister-in-law), Charlotte (niece, Cheryl's daughter), one of the volleyball coach's daughters, and Chase (nephew).

The Bios Life Slim Challenge

Today we started our test of Bios Life Slim. Kristen and I learned about this and other products offered by Unicity, from my brother Dan. Because of the success that members of his family have seen, we decided to start our own franchise. Here is some information about Slim:

What is Bios Life Slim?
Bios Life Slim is a revolutionary fat burning product; providing the first scientific breakthrough in fat-loss in over 30 years. Containing natural, proprietary ingredients, Bios Life Slim helps your body naturally regulate the amount of fat stored.

How Does it Work?
Drinking Bios Life Slim at least twice a day with your meals trains your body to burn away excess fat forever—without the jitters, hunger, or confusion of other weight-loss products or programs—creating a slimmer, more active, more attractive you.

How Long Will it Take?
We want you to slim down—and stay slim. A “diet” is something you do to your body; Bios Life Slim is something you do with your body. You’re gradually training your body to burn fat, not store it. It usually takes about three months for this process to become permanent. Most users of Bios Life Slim begin “feeling better” within days, and report that a reduction in size starts less than 30 days later.

We will keep you posted on our progress. If you would like more information about this and other products, or if you would like to take the 90 day challenge, please just ask us or e-mail us at jkhbusiness@yahoo.com.

The Republican Party Has Left Me Behind

Most of the time, Kristen maintains this blog. On occasion, I too will post something.

This years Presidential Election has proven to me that the GOP is no longer the party of true conservatives. I have left the GOP and joined the Constitution Party. While I disagree with Dr. Chuck Baldwin on the war in Iraq, I do find him to be the best candidate in the 2008 Presidential Election. Dr. Baldwin will be on only about 40 of the 50 State ballots due to State bylaws that protect the two major parties. Here in NC, I will have to write him in on the ballot in order to vote.

Here is an example as to why I support Dr. Baldwin for President:

My wife Connie and I celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary yesterday. Outside of the decision to trust Jesus Christ as my personal Savior, my marriage to this wonderful woman was the best decision I ever made in my life. Connie has given me three terrific children, and they have given us six spectacular grandchildren. None of our kids has been hooked on drugs or alcohol. They have not been arrested or jailed. (Although, with the way our government is passing laws contrary to the principles of liberty and decency, it is getting increasingly more difficult for any of us to stay out of jail.) They are polite, respectful, and courteous Christians. Our daughters-in-law and son-in-law are absolutely magnificent. We are all as close as any family can possibly be. As far as I am concerned, no matter what else I achieve--or fail to achieve--in this world, the family that God has given me makes my life a success. Anything else pales in comparison.In addition, it seems to me that far too many people in our country overlook the importance of child rearing. Many seem to feel that just about everything else--job, career, money, "success," etc.--occupies a higher priority than raising honest, God-fearing children. However, Connie and I decided years ago that raising our children would be a priority in our lives, and boy, we are glad we did!I'll say it straight out: it does not take a village to raise kids; it takes loving and courageous parents. Parents who are not afraid to discipline their children (yes, Martha, I mean old fashioned spanking: applying the board of education to the seat of knowledge); parents who are willing to spend time teaching their children right from wrong; parents who will take--not send--their children to church; parents who will pray with their children; parents who care more about truth and right than they do about being well-liked or politically correct; parents who will teach their kids to say "Yes, Sir," and "Yes, Ma'am"; parents who are not afraid to say "No" to their children; dads who think it is more important that they be a father to their sons than a"buddy"; and moms who would rather their daughters had pure hearts than popular friends. How is it that when it comes to leadership expectations, most people ignore a man's leadership at home? It is almost as if parental leadership is a complete non-factor in judging a person's fitness for anything. Now, please do not get me wrong: I am not suggesting that bad children cannot come from good homes. Goodness, no! I have seen very vile young people come out of some of the most righteous homes, and likewise, I have seen some of the most wonderful and Godly young people come out of the most wretched homes. I am only saying that real leadership is established and proven in the home first. Yet, it does not appear that too many people give parental leadership a second thought anymore. Perhaps this explains much as to what has gone wrong in our society.Yes, I am aware of the various and sundry political and societal attacks against marriage and parenting. I see the many battles in the "culture war." I see the attempts to redefine the meaning of marriage, to wrestle control and authority of the home away from the parents, and to bombard our children with ideas and philosophies that will ultimately ruin their lives. And, yes, it could come to a point that decent families will be forced to make the same kind of choices that our Pilgrim forebears had to make.That said, however, the power of marriage and parenting is still the greatest force in the world. Good families can stem the tide of humanism, socialism, fascism, globalism, or any other "ism" that seeks to enslave us. Good families can preserve liberty and independence, fight off totalitarianism, resist corporate elitism, and promote faith and virtue. Good families are the backbone of our country's greatness, and the lack of good families will be the cause of our country's fall from greatness.Greedy, power-mad politicians are no match for a generation of strong marriages. Young people with character and courage trump purveyors of pretension any day. One principled champion--trained and equipped by strong, stalwart parents--will put a thousand moral weaklings to flight.

While Pharaoh built his monuments, a humble Hebrew mother taught and nurtured her son, a little boy miraculously drawn forth from the watery reeds. That little boy became the deliverer of his people. It was a Godly mother and father that produced the prophet who would anoint the greatest king of Israel. It was a Spirit-filled mother and father who produced the forerunner of the Messiah. And it was a virtuous, principled mother--not a government agency, educational institution, or commercial enterprise--whom God chose to bring the Savior of mankind into the world. Furthermore, while the potentates and governments of the earth gazed steadfastly upon the might and power of the British Empire, no one noticed the humble homes of Colonial America, where mothers and fathers worked by the light of hearth and candle to discipline, teach, and inspire a generation of patriots unlike the world has ever seen.Strong, committed, principled parenting has done more to change the course of history, depose despots, promote righteousness, protect virtue, and secure liberty than all of the colleges, corporate boardrooms, and presidential palaces combined. And who knows? At this very moment, mothers and fathers across America could be nurturing and training the next generation of patriots who will rise up and restore the principles of liberty and greatness to our land? I will tell you this: if parents do not do it, no one else can.

This column is archived at http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/c2008/cbarchive_20080603.html

Where are we headed?

12-Year-Old Grounded for Too Much Internet Use Gets Punishment Overturned in Court
Thursday, June 19, 2008
A Canadian court has overturned a father's punishment for his daughter after she refused to stay off the Internet, his attorney said Wednesday.
The girl, 12, took her father to Quebec Superior Court after he refused to allow her to go on a school trip for chatting on Web sites and then posting "inappropriate" pictures of herself online using a friend's computer, AFP reported.
The punishment was for the girl's "own protection," according to the father's attorney, Kim Beaudoin, who is appealing the ruling.
"She's a child," Beaudoin told AFP. "At her age, children test their limits and it's up to their parent to set boundaries. I started an appeal of the decision today to reestablish parentalauthority, and to ensure that this case doesn't set a precedent."
Otherwise, she continued, "Parents are going to be walking on egg shells from now on."
According to court documents, the girl's Internet usage was the latest in a rash of disciplinary problems. But Justice Suzanne Tessier, who was presiding over the case, found the punishment too severe.

John is Appointed to Serve on the Town Council

John is now a member of the Indian Trail Town Council. On June 10, John was appointed and sworn in to replace Lee Godwin as a Council Member for Indian Trail. He felt honored to receive this opportunity and is looking forward to all the service he will be able to provide the town and the growth that he will get from it. I know that he will prove that he is a good person and will only do what is best for our town.

Strawberry Pickins

We got together yesterday with a couple of ladies from the ward and their kids and headed out to a strawberry patch not too far from home. I was amazed to see how red and pretty the strawberries looked. Josh enjoyed running up and down the rows and Brooklyn had fun picking anything that red, whether it was a good one or not. After getting over 3 lbs of strawberries I told her that it was enough, but she was having too much fun to stop.

Brooklyn has been chowing down on them for the past two days and I decided to freeze some too, so we will have to see how those turn out.