Stop the abortion mandate

I love the United States of America. Our Constitution affords us incredible protections. Despite the current economic turmoil, our nation enjoys tremendous prosperity. I agree with Ezra Taft Benson that "people who have created their government can give to that government only such powers as they, themselves, have in the first place. Obviously, they cannot give that which they do not possess... What powers properly belong to each and every person in the absence of and prior to the establishment of any organized governmental form?"* Here I concur with Frederic Bastiat, the French classical liberal theorist, politcal economist and member of the French assembly. "Each of us has a natural right--from God--to defend his person, his liberty, and his property."** Ergo, I'm not a fan of government thumbs in everyone's pies.

I have flared up in fury over each new bailout. However, the Obamacare plan takes the cake. It positions ambiguous language to be interpreted to include abortion in its full range of reproductive benefits. I'll admit that I want nothing to do with a national healthcare plan, but at the very least I don't want to be forced into underwriting the abortion industry. I've urged my Representatives and Senators not to accept any reform, proposal or bill that does not clearly exclude abortion from the benefits.

I always give myself a little test when it comes to proposed tax spending. I ask myself if that group, cause, project, etc. came to my front door asking for money would I give it to them? I definitely wouldn't have given GM a dime. They've been a mess for decades. If a woman came to my door asking for money for an abortion would I give it to her? There are lots of things I would offer this woman including compassion, concern, my love, my testimony, suggestions of alternative solutions to her larger life concerns, access to thousands of post-abortive women trying to heal emotionally from their abortion experiences witnessing that it is not an 'easy out', pictures and stories of my adopted nieces and nephew, but I wouldn't give her any money. If you don't want your taxes underwriting the abortion industry visit StopTheAbortionMandate.com to learn more about this issue and how you can help.

Mother Theresa:
"America needs no words from me to see how your decision in Roe v. Wade has deformed a great nation. The so-called right to abortion has pitted mothers against their children and women against men. It has sown violence and discord at the heart of the most intimate human relationships. It has aggravated the derogation of the father's role in an increasingly fatherless society. It has portrayed the greatest of gifts -- a child -- as a competitor, an intrusion, and an inconvenience. It has nominally accorded mothers unfettered dominion over the independent lives of their physically dependent sons and daughters"
And, in granting this unconscionable power, it has exposed many women to unjust and selfish demands from their husbands or other sexual partners. Human rights are not a privilege conferred by government. They are every human being's entitlement by virtue of his humanity. The right to life does not depend, and must not be declared to be contingent, on the pleasure of anyone else, not even a parent or a sovereign." (Mother Theresa -- "Notable and Quotable," Wall Street Journal, 2/25/94, p. A14)

*(The Proper Role & Improper Role of Government by Ezra Taft Benson & Elder H. Verlan Anderson)
**(The Law, p. 6)

Validation

You, my blog friends, have completely validated me. My sister, Plainbellied, posted this on her blog a couple of months ago. It's worth sharing and gives an indication of how much your comments have encouraged me this week. Thank you! YOU are awesome!

Inspection

For the past several evenings I've played witches and evil queens who come to inspect the children's after dinner chores. The silverware must be dry and orderly in the drawer. The tables and counters cleaned smooth from dried food or glue and so on. My children are inspired by the impending inspection, anxious to see my costume and curious how I will behave in my new character. We finish clean-up more quickly than usual, notwithstanding the time it takes to dress up and inspect each chore. Afterwards, they rush to get ready for bed in time for the "reading fairy" who will simply pass by to the next house without giving them a bedtime story if they don't have their jammies on and teeth brushed. It's another costume, another voice, another attitude. As is often the case with people, slow is fast and they are actually getting to sleep earlier.

I know it sounds like silliness, what else could it be? We got the idea from Betty Macdonald's famous Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle. I've learned a couple of things though. The first is that my children want their work to be inspected. They like to know they will receive legitimate praise for a job well done. They also appreciate the refreshing, playful element of surprise. I've learned that I don't like being the bad guy. I've heard actor's say that playing villains is the most interesting. I don't like playing the disappointed witch or selfish queen. Tonight I was the almost-Empress inspecting all the preparations for the upcoming wedding party. My seven year old dried the dishes happily once I explained she was really shining the gold and silver for my royal banquet. They especially loved the kowtows and "My deepest regards to the carpet lady." It was much more fun looking for things to praise lavishly. Later, as the genie-of-work-and-reading, I read aloud while they took turns sorting laundry. Nobody had to work for more than 3 minutes at a time and I got to wear another fabulous costume. ;)

I don't have the energy or inclination to do this every night. But it's delightful to sprinkle it throughout the week. In between, I'm learning to inspect their work and follow-up with judgement. I let them know if improvement is required, but usually I can just praise their thorough work and cheerful attitudes. I have to write about this now while it's still fresh and working. Who knows what next week will bring in the adventures of parenting?

Rockonference

After General Conference on Saturday, my nine year old showed me the list of talk topics and hymn titles that she had written. My favorite was the closing hymn of the second session: Now We Sing at Party!

It did feel like the very best kind of party to me and I'm looking forward to more celebration of goodness today.

Party on!

Uncertainty

Last night My Hero said, "I wonder when all the uncertainty will end."
Yeah, I would like to know too so that I can write it on my calendar in big red letters, "End of Uncertainty," and a brief note underneath reminding me that from thenceforth, "all answers will come when I want, how I want."

Family Boundaries

I've seen and heard about soap operatics occurring in families that live "too close" together. Everyone is in everyone's business and giving their unsolicited advice. My mother could truthfully quote me saying, "I will live far away from you and never bring the grandchildren to visit." Essentially that's what is happening since we live in New York and my parents live in Utah, but my heart changed over twenty years ago.

With brief exceptional intervals, I have lived apart from immediate family since I left for college. All of my siblings attended the same university so we overlapped here and there living near each other, but never as roommates. We married and graduated, usually in that order, and settled where the work was.

People talk about living near family but not too near. The general consensus is an idyllic hour or two apart. Isn't that just substituting a geographic buffer for emotional wimpiness? If we can respect each other's individual family needs, differences and personal boundaries we can keep communications open and let the fun flow.

I love, respect and admire all the members of my family. More than that, I miss them. Today my friends announced that they are moving to family. In their case that means Sacramento, California which isn't too shabby! As dreamy as the weather in California is, I would happily live in Montana if that's where my family was. I happily live in New York and I don't have any family here, but I long for my family. I wish for aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents on a regular basis.

We've passed the halfway mark with Star. She'll probably move out in the next 5-7 years.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Nothing says celebration like potatoes and cabbage!

How do you commemorate St. Patty's Day?