The Final Countdown - #9 - Obama's Image Around the Globe

Let's be perfectly honest, America isn't well loved around the world these days. Immediately following 9/11 the vast majority of the world rallied around the USA. There were newspaper headlines saying "We are all Americans" and people the world over were praying for us and ready to join us in the battle against terrorism.

The current administration took that good will and squandered it on an ill-waged war in Iraq. Now before some of you call me a hater - let me be perfectly clear that I am grateful for our men and women in uniform. I am supportive of our troops, I am not supportive of the war or the administration that (mis) led us into it. I know several military folks personally who are supporting Obama because of how the current administration has handled Iraq and Afghanistan.

So here we are 7 years post 9/11 with much of the world thinking we see ourselves as the world's police, that we can and will have our way regardless of the validity of our reasons. The absence of WOMD in Iraq has compromised the integrity of our "intelligence" and the maverick/cowboy quality of GWB has compromised the true nature of America.

John McCain is more of the same.

Obama is loved around the world. His recent European trip gathered crowds that were reminiscent of Kennedy's from the 60's. We have a chance here to restore our standing in the world...at a time when I believe that is critical. America is still the most powerful nation in the world and if we wish to maintain that status then we have to have allies that like us for more than our money.

To the folks out there who believe that an Obama presidency opens us up for another terror attack I can only say that if there are those out to attack us they will do it regardless of who is in the White House. Hate is timeless and opportunistic. I happen to think that if America's standing in the world is restored that the evil that lurks in the hearts of terrorists may think twice before coming after us again.

The Final Countdown...#10 - An Inspirational Leader

Ten days from now is the presidential election. So from now until then I will list my top 10 reasons for voting for Barack Obama.

Number 10

Barack Obama is an inspirational Leader. He leads and people follow. He has the largest grass roots campaign in our nation's history. He has broken all kinds of records for fundraising, without taking a dime from PAC's, lobbyists, or the government. People from all different backgrounds believe that he is the man that can finally lead our country in a new, more stable direction after the failed domestic and foreign policies of the past 8 years. He has assembled a coalition that has broken down barriers - racial, economic, social, educational, ideological - all of them have come tumbling down.

People write Obama off as all fluff, a good speaker with nothing to back it up. But even the most casual perusal of his website (linked to the right) will dispel that falsehood in a moment. His policies are realistic and they reverse the trend of making the rich richer and forgetting about the poor. People talk about "spreading the wealth around" like it is a bad thing!!??!! For me, as a Christian, it's all about giving my neighbor my shirt when all they ask for is my coat and walking the extra mile with those in need. If I have it, I want to share it, I don't want to hoard it. I have no problem with people making over a quarter of a million dollars a year paying higher taxes. Did you read that? A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS. Yes it is a liberal economic policy, I'm good with that. In 1960 JFK said the following:

What do our opponents mean when they apply to us the label "Liberal?" If by "Liberal" they mean, as they want people to believe, someone who is soft in his policies abroad, who is against local government, and who is unconcerned with the taxpayer's dollar, then ... we are not that kind of "Liberal." But if by a "Liberal" they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people -- their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, and their civil liberties -- someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a "Liberal," then I'm proud to say I'm a "Liberal." [September 14, 1960]

I'm proud too.

Clean Sheets

Thanks to simply chic blogs for my new duds!

Charter Schools and Education Reform

So the girls have been in a more traditional school setting for about 7 weeks now...I say more traditional because though it is definitely more structured than homeschooling it is a very progressive and exciting environment. It isn't at all like what I hear some parents or kids describe when they speak about school.

Annie and Lucy have truly enjoyed making new friends and taking the bus and jumping rope at recess. All of those thing sound a lot like what I did in school way too many years ago. But they have also enjoyed have Frick Park as an extension of their classroom. They go into the park on a regular basis for a wide variety of educational purposes. Lucy's class took a 1.5 mile hike to the Frick Nature Center for a class and both girls participated in a "stash the trash" project cleaning up the park and the neighborhood around the school. They have an Environmental Science class twice weekly in addition to their regular science class and they are doing several projects that specifically involve using materials that they already have rather than buying new things.

The Charter School movement was started not only to give parents greater choices for their children's education but also to push school districts to make necessary changes by upping the ante so to speak. When school districts lose students to Charter schools they also lost the funding that goes with those students. That money is given to the Charter school. In order to not lose students many districts are learning from charter schools how to better meet the needs of students and parents pertaining to education and making some changes. It is a slow process but it is a beginning.

Charter Schools are not wholeheartedly embraced by School Districts - which is unfortunate. For example, our school is a City of Pittsburgh Public School...we are subject to their testing guidelines and accountable to them on a variety of levels. BUT you will not find our school on their website, or any information that would lead you to our school or any of the other city charter schools. It seems to be another example of not really wanting the best for our children and their educational process.

It is obvious by national data that the USA's educational system is in need of reform. Locally the same is true in a big way. Charter Schools are just one way for reform to happen and changes to be made.

School Days, School Days...

Well it's over, the first day of school that is. The girls had a great time. We got off to a rocky start when their bus didn't show up. Alex and I had planned on follwing the bus anyway and attending the morning meeting (they meet each morning as a whole school). So we hopped in the car and drove to school. We made it in time and both girls were greeted with big hugs from their teachers. (we had gone to meet the teachers on Monday so they weren't strangers)

We sat through the meeting and then they were off to their classrooms. They were excited and smiling - it felt great. I shed many tears in the car on the way home - even though I am confident this is the BEST thing for our family, I will miss those two. The house was quiet today...Jack and I played many rounds of Bingo and Go Fish. We all have to get used to this new paradigm and it will take some adjusting, but it feels so right and that gives me great peace in my heart.

Here is a picture of my gorgeous schoolgirls...

Can I Get An Update???

I can't believe it is August 22nd. As I sit here with my mouth wide open, astonished at the pace the summer has flown by at, I'm feeling really blog-lazy. I haven't been here nearly enough and I haven't kept you updated nearly well enough.

There are so many things to tell all of you that I feel a little overwhelmed - okay a lot overwhelmed! Well I'll try to take them one by one and see how far I get before I'm called away.

1. In 6 days Annie and Lucy start in a brick and mortar school for the first time. I have been homeschooling them via the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School for the past few years. But finally, a charter school that we have been following the progress of for more than 2 years had it's charter approved this past February and is opening it's doors next week. Annie will be in third grade and Lucy in first grade at The Environmental Charter School at Frick Park. It is a city of Pittsburgh public school but it is run by Imagine Schools one of the nation's only NFP charter school companies. The teachers and administration are employees of Imagine Schools and though they are accountable to the city and state for test scores the majority of their accountability lies with Imagine and also the parents of their students. This year it will be limited to grades K-3 and they will add a Kindergarten class each year until they are K-8. (So Annie will always be in the oldest class!) It is housed in the old Regent Square School building and the transformation that has occurred there over the summer has been amazing. We have been attending events all summer long designed for the kids to get to know one another and the staff and we will attend the Grand Opening on Monday and the girls will meet their teachers and see their classrooms for the first time.

I'm thrilled for this opportunity for them - it seems to me like a perfect mix between public education and homeschooling. Part of the Imagine vision is lots of parent involvement and satisfaction so I'm confident that my voice will be heard and listened to. Also they had over 300 applicants for less than 50 positions so they were able to hire the best of the best for their staff. Everyone I have met so far has been incredible and I'm excited to see how they year unfolds.

Of course I have my reservations - how can any teacher know my child and their learning style better than I can? How will my kids fare with a more rigid schedule and less flexibility? Will they fall prey to all of the potential hazards that exist for young kids in school today...bullying, trying too hard to fit in...etc? And, to be as transparent as possible, I will miss them horribly. I know that after I drop them off the first day I will shed lots of tears...my eyes are welling up writing this. But in my heart I believe this is what is right for them and for our family right now. I don't think my homeschooling days are over...we may have to revisit that issue come time for high school but that is 6 years away. (OMG - Annie will be in high school in 6 years?!)

2.Wyatt is only 9 days away from being 5 months old! Yeah, I have no idea where that time has gone. He is AWESOME! He is rolling over both ways and laughing and grabbing onto everything he can and getting it into his mouth as soon as possible. He is mesmerized by his siblings and saves his biggest smiles for them. He had some extended time with his daddy on vacation and they are developing a strong bond. I'm happy to say though that he still prefers Mama over anyone else! Our CPU is being worked on right now but when I get it back I promise some updated pictures...he looks EXACTLY like Jack did at this age...it's actually a little freaky.

3. Speaking of Jack...he is already dealing with the fact that his "sissies" (sisters) are going to be gone for much of the day this fall. He is sad because the three of them are a little pack, traveling everywhere together. Along with that comes the good - and the bad - but for the most part they are super close. He will have a tough adjustment but he is also very close to me and I hope that he and I can have some special time together this year because next year he will be in Kindergarten...and sending him off to school is sure to break my heart in two.

Okay that is all for today - I still want to write about our house and vacation...but that is all I can muster for today!

Well...DUH!

Researchers have published findings this month that say when a woman sees her own baby smile it stimulates areas in her brain that trigger feelings of happiness.

What a shocking revelation!!! Read the whole article here.

Stop The Madness

If you have daughters please read the following article before allowing them to receive the Gardasil vaccine. It hasn't been proven safe and real young women are dying after getting the vaccination.

Click here for the article

Click here to read a blog about a young girl who has been irreversibly harmed after receiving the vaccination.

The information on the commercials regarding this vaccine are misleading. If you aren't convinced by these articles then do your own research. See how fast this vaccination was pushed through the channels...see how little research was done in comparison with other vaccines...and see how the drug companies pockets are being FILLED with three shots in the series at close to 300 bucks a pop.

Allow your daughter to be ONE LESS getting this vaccination.

Of Smiles and Coos

I have to admit that I am unashamedly soaking up every single minute of Wyatt's life. I am cuddling him, holding him LOTS, responding to every little noise he makes and loving on him at every turn. I'm sure I don't love him more than my other kids but I am enjoying this stage of his life more than I did with the first three. Why? Because, like others, with my first I was a touch neurotic...and then the other two came in such close succession that I never really got to enjoy the newborn and infant stage all that much. I was so busy caring for other babies and toddlers that I was too crazed to appreciate it all.

But now??? I am giddy with each and every smile. My heart leaps at the sound of even the smallest coo. I am so grateful for this chance to experience a baby without the anxieties of the first child or the busyness of having children close together. Annie, Lucy and Jack are all fairly independent and they are so awesome to indulge their crazy mama while she stares at and holds onto the littlest one among us. They love him too, they sing to him so he'll smile, they kiss his toes and his head, and they want him to do everything with them. "Mama just put Wyatt on the bed while we jump, he'll have fun!"

I'm just amazed once again at how God has expanded my heart to accommodate the vastness of love I have for Wyatt. It's always hard to imagine how much your heart can hold...I'm so glad God had the confidence that I could love Wyatt well. I cannot imagine my life or our family without him.

Watching History Unfold

I was so aware as I watched Barack Obama win the democratic Nomination that we are all witnessing moments of extreme historical significance. For the first time in our nation's life a black man is the nominee for the presidency. I'm so proud and excited.

PS - I sure know how to pick a winner! And that post was all the way back in July of last year!!!