So here's the situation.  I'm student teaching in a bastion of liberalism, also known as a public school.  So far, I've been informed that President Bush nearly killed public education (and wouldn't THAT be a tragedy), abortion is totally a legitimate "choice," Planned Parenthood helps children, parents are the enemy, and some kids are just stupid.  Really.  And they say conservatives hate children. 

You know, it's funny how everything the liberals do is "for the children."  I mean, we're supposed to save the planet "for the children."  And we're supposed to raise taxes "for the children."  (to pay for their mediocre education, or, the brainwashing of a four-year-old).  And the really ironic one - we're supposed to support abortion "for the children."  Yeah.  I bet the children getting killed every day really appreciate the sentiment. 

So I do a lot of shutting up.  I know what you're thinking.  "yeah right, Leah."  But really, I do.  And you thought I couldn't do it, didn't you.  But I feel the need to share.
Some people have told  me I'm a hypocrite because I'm teaching there but I don't plan to put my kids in public school.  Well, here are my reasons, from what I have now seen in person.

I saw a guidance counselor yank the rug out from under parents to their child's face. 

I have seen a teacher mock Christianity and a child who carries a Bible to school.

A teacher told me a child was "too stupid" to be in school.

I have heard sixth grade kids discussing macro evolution (which is scientifically invalid, btw)

I don't want my child in this situation.  I don't want them to hear Mama and Daddy tell them something about how God lovingly created us and then go to school and talk about how we came from a slime pond.  That weight should not rest on the shoulders of a child. 
I don't want my baby to be called "stupid" behind closed doors.
And I certainly don't want to know I'm getting verbally cut apart in the "guidance" office in front of my little girl. 

That's not to say I haven't seen some good in it.  But it doesn't outweigh the bad, and there's no way I'm putting my babies in there.  I'll illegally homeschool first.  Because here's the bottom line.  God gives children to parents.  Not to governments.  And if I am so blessed as to have the houseful of kids I'd love to have, God will have entrusted those precious souls to me and my husband.  Not the government. 

I just felt the need to rant a bit.

What do you think?

Pray for America.

Leah

A guy friend of mine sent me a book (Ron Paul's "The Revolution") and signed the card "with love."  Maybe I'm really old fashioned, but I feel like between guys and girls, if you're not family, engaged, or married, you should stay away from the L word.  Partially it's because this guy is a serial flirt and has been trying to get me to flirt back for three years.  Partially it's because I've never told a guy outside of my family that I loved him, and I plan on saving that for my husband.  I know it's kind of weird.  My thinking is, the longer your "no big deal" list is before marriage, the shorter your "very special" list is after marriage.  I want my "very special" list to be as long as possible


I read "The Revolution" and I think Ron Paul is the most honest politician (an oxymoron? maybe) in this generation.  He's the only Republican I know of who really is pro-life (meaning he'll actually DO something about it) and the only politician I know of who truly cares about the Constitution they're all supposed to defend and uphold.  I wish he were president instead of stinkin' Obama.

I decided that I spend too much time doing things that don't matter.  So.  I'm putting together a list of books that I plan to put on my kids' reading lists when I homeschool them, and making sure I've read them all first.  "The Grapes of Wrath" doesn't make the cut, if you were wondering.  "The Autobiography of an Ex-Coloured Man" does.  You should read it.

I just started reading Thomas Sowell's "Controversial Essays" collection.  It's pretty good. 

I also just finished two quilt squares for a friend of mine.  I love sewing.

My sister is almost six months pregnant!  I'm seeing her next weekend and I'm SO excited.  I'm excited to see her belly  I'm going to (try to remember to) take a picture with my face by her belly so it's the first picture of me and my niece or nephew!  Hah!  I'm pretty excited.

My whole family minus my dad is sick.  I hope we all get better before I see my sister.

I'm sick of Christmas music.

My dad loves my new dress

My younger sister is vastly more talented than I will ever be.  I admire her so much.

I'm going to grad school!  Not for another year and a half, but I'm going!



And that's all I can think of for now!  Pretty random, eh?

Leah

This morning I was thinking about my family.  This weekend I'm going home, and one of my friends up here is going with me, because he, my brother, a friend from our church at home, and I are all going to see an orchestra performance on Sunday.  Anyway, I was thinking about how much I love to have people come home with me and be with my family.  Sometimes I go over to someone's house and I'm very aware that I'm the "guest."  It's uncomfortable!  But our house is never like that - everyone's family.  A couple years ago, my older sister was married, and her husband just joined the family.  It wasn't like we lost her - he just became part of our family.  And yes, they do live 800 miles away, but I just love him! 
Thinking about all of this, my thought process shifted to how thankful I am for such a family.  I'm so thankful for parents that love each other and love God.  I'm really thankful that I'm friends with my brothers and sisters, and not just related to them.  I know a lot of my friends here don't have family like I do, and I'm thankful for mine.  I'm thankful that my family always eats supper together (that's dinner for you yankees).  I couldn't even begin to explain how much of what I think was shaped by our conversations over supper.  We talked about everything from politics to homeschooling, from marriage to the Bible to building a house, all without the ultra-spiritual "we're-going-to-have-a-talk-now" vibe that some parents get when they try to talk to their kids.  It was all part of life together.  I'm thankful that my parents love me enough to shut me down when I'm wrong, and encourage me when I'm right.  I'm thankful they trust me enough to let me live on my own for eight months out of the year.  I'm so thankful for my sisters.  They're my best friends (when I was ten, I never thought I'd say that), and I'd take a day with them over a day with anyone else. 
So I started thanking God for all of this, and it made my morning go better  Even with the boys downstairs blasting their rap music, LOL. 


Thank you, Lord, for my family.

What are you thankful for?

Leah