Blacktie-Pittsburgh | PREMIERE EVENTS

Blacktie-Pittsburgh | PREMIERE EVENTS

A daddy daughter night on the town.

Why the cloud???

It's election day +7 and there is still a cloud of melancholy that's hanging over me. I've tried to shake it, to stay positive, to remain hopeful, but then I think about the ramifications of our country's choice, and I fall back into despair.

I question myself: Why are the election results so important to me? Why do I give it so much power over me? Why, when I am blessed beyond measure with beautiful kids, a loving husband, and loyal friends, do I allow my thoughts to continually return to uncertainty and fear.

Then it occurs to me: it is for the sake of my children, primarily their future, that I grow dismal.

I have always been taught to be proud of my country. My parents instilled in me a hope for tomorrow and the knowledge that in America, anything is possible if you work hard and set your course right. You will be rewarded for your hard work, protected from injustice, and ultimately succeed in achieving the American Dream. But the American Dream is looking more like a mere shadow of its former self.

The results of this election aren't just numbers from a ballot box. They aren't just citizens choosing one candidate over another. More ominous, the results are America selling its individualistic soul to the gods of collectivism, humanism, and immoralism.

If you think I'm overreacting, then I challenge you to read the Global Poverty Act, a bill filtering through the senate and sponsored by Barak Obama. This bill "has been surrounded by some controversy because it also has stipulations that could infringe on the Constitution of the United States". Yes, the same US Constitution that Obama views as fundamentally flawed. And yes, the same constitution that has given Obama the freedom to reach the pinnacle of his political career. And yes, the same constitution that ironically on January 20, he promises, with the help of God to preserve, protect and defend.

"The Global Poverty Act would make U.S. law on issues ranging from the 2nd Amendment to energy usage and parental rights all subservient to United Nations whims".

So, according to this bill, that Obama says "we can - and must make a priority on day one" the law will ultimately strip away our second amendment rights making them subservient to the U.N., place our parental rights under the power of the dictator-infested world body and paralyze our economy in order to meet the stringent global emissions standards set forth by the Kyoto Protocol.

So many naieve folks have mocked this bill thinking that it will never pass. Really? What's stopping it? Our country is now lead by the most extreme left leaders of the democratic party. Pelosi, Reid, Biden and Obama have all come out in support of the Global Poverty Act. And if I am to take Obama at his word "Together we can change the world", then why would I not believe that this is the means he will take to achieve this end?

"The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism. But, under the name of 'liberalism,' they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program, until one day America will be a socialist nation, without knowing how it happened."
- Norman Thomas, U.S. Socialist Party presidential candidate 1940, 1944 and 1948

Onward and Upward...

I Timothy 2:1-2 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

Isn't it interesting that every four years Christians give great credence to this verse? But while we recite it regularly in November, do we practice it in July? And what if we did, what difference would it make?

It's easy to pray for a leader who seemingly represents your own worldview but much more challenging when you fundamentally disagree with the leader God has put in place.

Here's some verses that help me along this path of healing and obedience:

The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes. Proverbs 21:1.
I love this verse as it clearly demonstrates that God is sovereign and will use whoever in whatever position to accomplish his will.

Place yourselves under the authority of human governments to please the Lord. Obey the emperor. He holds the highest position of authority. (1 Peter 2:13, God's word translation).
We as Christians have the choice to place ourselves under government's authority and the end result?... we please Him! What better motivation is needed?

Every person should obey the government in power. No government would exist if it hadn't been established by God. The governments which exist have been put in place by God. Romans 13:1.
This gives more comfort to those of us questioning the future direction of our country. God is in control and has already sifted tomorrow through his hands. And as long as it is morally sound to do so, we are to obey the laws of our government.

One last thought...even with all its faults, we still live in the most free and most prosperous country ever known to man. Although we may not agree with the implemented policies, we have the right to dissent, debate and even protest. In fact, it's interesting to consider that our country was founded on dissention.

But as Christians we must not be frivolous in our protest. We should always hold our leaders to account, but we must not become just another noisy voice in the airways of dissention. Our voice must hold the clear and distinct conviction of God's principles which will ultimately guide our country's worn rudder back on its original course of being "that shining city on a hill".

Here's a copy of an email I sent to my friend this morning:

Today is my day of mourning. I feel like our country just sold it's soul and it was bought and paid for by Obama's $700m campaign. I'll be crying most of the day, but I've determined tomorrow will be better.

Tomorrow I'll rally. Tomorrow I'll get back on track with school and focus on the next generation who will unfortunately be the ones to clean up this mess. Tomorrow I'll begin giving my time and energy to the para organizations who work so hard to defeat liberalism in the arena of ideas - Focus on the Family, Republican PAC, AFA. I think I might even pen a letter of thanks to Sarah Palin for all she's gone through for us. Gosh, I'm gonna miss seeing her.

But today I'm absolutely devastated. And even though I keep reciting that verse from 2 Chron. 20 - Give thanks to the Lord, His love endures forever - I'm still feeling so sad. I guess that's how it feels to praise him in the storm.

Anyway, I'll be mourning right along with you today. But tomorrow we have to pick ourselves up and get back in the battle.

Introducing our family to hers.

Sarah et al getting off the bus and pointing to Julianna

Meeting Sarah...

Two days before the Straight Talk Express came to town, I had little if any desire to take advantage of the VIP tickets my husband managed to snag for the rally. However, when McCain announced the fiesty Sarah Palin for his running mate, I quickly changed my tune. I knew, before even attending the rally, that this woman is going to make history and I wanted to be front and center to witness it. And front and center I was...

With my 6 month old in tow, Olivia, Nolan, Tim and I managed to secure our spot right next to the stage entrance. It was a gamble, given that we would never be able to see the stage from that spot. But if my instincts were right, we'd be able to see all the action happening off stage.

After waiting for 2 hours in the hot summer sun, (which was made more palatable by our small conversations with notable guests like singer John Rich and Governor Ridge) the Straight Talk Express finally rolled onto the scene and stopped right in front of us. McCain, leading the way, stepped off the bus to the roar of a crowd numbering in excess of 10,000. He was followed by Cindy and his family and Sarah Palin and her family. I admit I was slightly star struck when Governor Palin stepped down and in the most uncontrolled teenage fashion I yelled out "We love you Sarah!". What a huge thrill for me when she waved at me and pointed out my baby to her little girl Piper (who by the way, is just a doll).

After the speach, as they were getting on the bus, and were surrounded by secret service men, a few in the crowd who had the ear of the Governor, asked if he could possibly get McCain over to our side to shmooze with the crowd. Well, Gov. Ridge did one better. He took Governor Palin by the hand, brought her over to the crowd and proudly declared "I want you all to meet the next Vice President of the United States".

I shamelessly planted by little kids right near the ropes (politicians always like kids - right?) and baited her with my baby. Sure enough Sarah made a beeline to Julianna and like two moms at a local park we struck up a conversation about our kids, their ages, babies, etc. And in predictable fashion, while we moms "chatted" our husbands also made small talk.

Tim managed to capture some of these moments on his Iphone. The crowd was pressing in so much that I couldn't manage to turn around and get us all in a photo. Still you can see the tip of my hat and I love the photo of Sarah talking sweetly to my Julianna.

It was a great day and one that I know my kids will remember forever - Their first campaign rally.

TEN YEARS AGO TODAY!

My Life in Numbers...

If you have kids then you understand how your life suddenly becomes measured not in years, but in months, even weeks.

10 rapidly passing years ago today, I entered the wonderful world of parenthood. Until that moment, life was being lived out at a leisurely pace with little regard for days, months or even years. But once my little girl entered the world, suddenly there was the 2 week checkup, the six week checkup, the 3 month milestone, the 6 month photo-op. Like all new moms, I was often asked her age by the random stanger and felt obligated to give an answer down to the precise hour!

As the years have progressed, I no longer describe my daughter in terms of how old she is, but more by her accomplishments and her character - she's a budding soccer player, an energetic 5th grader, an exquisite dancer, a loyal friend and wonderfully integral part of our family.

Still as a mom, I can't help, on occasions like today, to consider how quickly my sweet, new-smelling 7 lb. little baby has grown into a lovely young girl. The pace of it all reminds me of one of my favorite bible verses:

Teach us to number our days aright
that we may gain a heart of wisdom - Psalm 90:12

In other words..life goes by fast, make it count.

So today as I pause to consider how much I've been blessed by this young life so full of potential, I look expectantly toward the future in anticipation of all that God has in store for her.

If you can't go to Holland, Holland can come to you...

This weekend we had a great time hosting two young girls from The Netherlands. Renske and Marjoleine are touring the US with the organization Atlantic Bridge and needed a place to stay during their stop over in Pittsburgh. We were thrilled to oblige.

I was amazed at how quickly they bonded with my kids. Jonah, especially, was just smitten with the attention bestowed on him by these two teenage beauties. Olivia was intrigued by their fashion-sense and their love of shopping. In fact we accompanied them to the malls two days in a row. They really loved Urban Outfitters at the SSW.

During their stay, Renske and Marjolein were introduced to bagels, corn on the cob (which they didn't like), frozen blueberries (a family favorite) and Star Wars. We, in turn, were introduced to a little bit of culture from the Netherlands. Who knows, maybe someday we'll get to visit and experience it all first hand.

A beautiful day biking the Burgh

Rested. Restored. Reminded. Ready

Tim and I had a great week with the older kids away. We got to embark on adventures that no longer avail themselves to a family of eight. However, being down to just two children, we decided to conquer the world. OK, maybe not the world, but certainly the Greater Pittsburgh area.

We started the week by biking downtown, beginning at the South Side Works and making our way over to the North Shore. All this while pulling two little girls along in their bike trailor. The afternoon offered the best summer weather that Pittsburgh has to offer and we relished in it as we took in the sights of downtown. Charlotte, in all her three year old enthusiasm loved the "ginormous" fountain at the Point, and Julianna, true to form, was a perfect angel throughout. The day ended with a late lunch at the Cheesecake Factory - mmmm.

Wednesday was another bike day, except this time we chose a little less adventurous trail, biking along the Youghiogheny River. All would have been well, had I not just gone running 6 miles earlier that day. By evening time I was exhausted.

The next morning we left early to drive 90 minutes to our friends lake house. We spent another gorgeous day outside, only this time it was boating, waterskiing and tubing. Three days later, my body is still recovering. I don't know if it will ever be the same.

God blessed us with a much needed time of fun and relaxation. And although we weren't completely away from home, we kept our chore time to a minimum. Even Tim fought every compulsion to check his email on an hourly basis. By the time we brought all our kids home this weekend, I felt rested, restored and ready to be Mom again. I was also reminded of how much I love being needed by so many little ones. As much fun as I had without them, I didn't feel complete until they were all safely back at home.

Raising good, little Republicans...Jonah walking in the July 4th parade with our County commissioner (I think he ate as much candy as he passed out)

A Happy Homeschooler riding the schoolbus for the first time.
VBS 2008

My House is Too Quiet...

After several very hectic weeks (so hectic in fact, I've had little time to write an entry), I've finally found some time and some solitude...a rare, but welcome mix. Four of my six children have been farmed out for a few days while Tim, the little girls and I enjoy some much deserved down time.

So what have we been up to? Three weeks ago our church had their annual VBS. My three oldest children attended and had a fantastic time. My oldest, Olivia, was particularly thrilled since her camp was offsite and she got to ride, for the first time in her life, the big yellow school bus. A homeschooled child is thrilled by such simple pleasures.

After VBS, my big sis Sharon and her son, Alex, came north from South Carolina to stay with us for a week. They primarily came to meet Baby Julianna (who incidentally is now an obscene 4 and half months old - where does time go?). Our house served as home base for them as family members came here to visit, which gave me the opportunity to play hostess, a role that I delight in. They also enjoyed a "Pittsburgh Day" where my sis introduced Alex to the highlights of the Burgh - Heinz Field, the Strip District, Primantis. French fries on sandwiches?... we Pittsburghers are a strange breed, what d'yunz think?

After my southern guests left, we were invaded by family from the North...Tim's brother Jeff and his family stayed for a few days and we got to meet their newest member, Baby Alyssa. It was great having all the cousins together. And although Nolan and Jonah love their two girl cousins, they were most smitten by Uncle Jeff's Wii. (Guess what Santa will be bringing next Christmas).

So that brings us to this week. The two older ones away at Church camp, the middle children being spoiled at Grandma Dee Dee's, and the two youngest girls sound asleep in their beds. When's the last time my house has been so quiet AND clean for such an extended period of time?

Tim is taking a few days off to spend time at home. And although we would have loved to vacation somewhere just the two of us, a nursing baby makes that nearly impossible. So we'll be staycationing at home, enjoying those activities that we rarely come by with six kids in tow - trail biking, dining out, shopping, and visiting friends. And yes, even enjoying the loud silence.

Early Mornings - A love hate relationship

I love a beautiful, peaceful, summer morning. Sipping coffee in a quiet house just as the sun is rising but before the children do. My ideal morning consists of a 6 am get up, a 30 min. exercise routine, my first cup of joe while having quiet time with my Bible, seeing my hubby off to work, and not hearing a peep from the upstairs bedrooms until at least 7:30.

Sigh...some days idealism is so far from realism. With six kids asleep in the house and 4 of them sharing a room, my mornings never quite go as planned. Often times, just the mere sound of footsteps from the room above is enough to start that adrenaline pumping and those teeth gritting. "Don't those kids know that this is my time with the Lord? Darnit, when will they learn that mom needs her morning silence!" (note to self: tomorrow morning study the Fruits of the Spirit).

The tone of the rest of my day is often determined by whether or not my morning routine goes just as planned. It's a struggle, I readily admit.

How ironic that just this morning, during a very rushed quiet time with the Lord, I discovered that Jesus himself suffered from quiet-time interruptitis.

Mark 1:35-39

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house
and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went
to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: "Everyone is looking for
you!" Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else-- to the nearby villages-- so I
can preach there also. That is why I have come." So he traveled throughout Galilee,
preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

Not that I'm comparing myself to Christ - I'm sure he got up much earlier and more consistently than I do. But, just like me, he too got interrupted by his children. "Everyone is looking for you". Boy, does that ever sound familiar. (Do you ever notice that kids are always looking for you when you're on the phone or in the bathroom? Ok - I digress.)

I find Jesus' response so amazing. No irritation, no words said in anger, no sighing or rolling of eyes. Just a pure and humble acceptance of the task at hand - go somewhere else to preach the word - that is why he came.

So tomorrow will be my test. When I hear that first child's voice calling me, even if it's before I've finished reading my Bible passage or offering up prayer requests, I will accept my task at hand. That is why I'm here.

So why this blog name?

After giving it some thought, I've settled on a blog name: Justabout Us. On the surface it sounds mundane and uninspired. But this title actually has a significant double meaning.

The name of the road where my hardworking husband built our home is named Justabout Rd. You can imagine how many times I've been asked to clarify that address to customer service reps. The name itself has a history to it, the details of which I'm not certain, but I do know it has something to do with race horses.

But it is a name that we, as a family, and I, as a mom, are living up to. Consider the many times a day that I say the words "justabout". "Is dinner ready yet, mom?" "Justabout". "Are you ready to take me to soccer?" "Justabout." "Are we almost there?" "Justabout". "Can I be done with my dinner now. You know I hate these red things." "You're justabout done". And of course there's the house that's always justabout (but never completely) clean.

Although grammatically speaking, just about are two seperate words. But for as often as I repeat them, they've morphed into one, sort of like "y'know" or "don'tcha". Those are words, right?

So here I am, with a nine year old daughter who's justabout 10 (going on 15) , a seven year old boy who's justabout the sweetest little boy you can imagine, a six year old boy who's justabout reading, a 4 year old red-head daughter who's justabout the most affectionate and passionate 4 year old there is, a 2 year old daughter who's justabout 3, and a 4 month old baby who's justabout sleeping through the night. And of couse my husband and I, who living with all the ordered chaos, are justabout to be institutionalized.

Thankfully we serve a loving God who despite our flaws and mess ups promises to mercifully mold us into his likeness. And he's justabout finished...

Philippians 1:6
being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

There's always something of interest going on in our house...stay tuned.

First Blog Entry

My sweet hubby set it all up for me...so here I am.  Ready to record in writing all the musings of my crazy everyday blessings raising six children under 10, homeschooling 3 of them, and of course loving on my faaaabulous husband.  Hopefully I'll have more success blogging than I did scrapbooking (so sorry Creative Memories).