It's not racial profiling.

Lately it seems like everyone and their mother is up in arms over the Arizona immigration law. I'll just throw it right out there - I love it. I think every one of the 50 states ought to do the same thing. Not that Massachusetts ever would, but I can dream. But everyone seems to be concerned about the same thing - are we going to be racially profiling now? Horrors! Not in tolerant America! Here's the big fat problem with that.

Hispanic isn't a race.

Webster's online dictionary gives this definition:

His·pan·ic   [hi-span-ik]
–adjective
1. Spanish.
2. Latin American: the United States and its Hispanic neighbors.
–noun
3. Also, Hispano. Also called Hispanic American, Hispano-American. An American citizen or resident of Spanish or Latin-American descent.

It's simply not a race. It's an ethnicity, which is differente. So by nature it cannot be racial profiling because it's not based on a race. That said, if we ID'd based on skin color I'd object to that because it's more or less the same thing. But that's not what will happen. We'll ID everyone. "But . . . but . . . America will become a 'show me your papers' country," opponents splutter. Folks, we already are. When Social Security was established, the American people were promised that our number would never be used as identification. So tell me, what do you have to provide for your driver's license, passport, college application, and doctor's visits? Why, your Social Security Number. We already get ID'd all the flipping time, so we might as well get rid of the illegals that drive up crime rates and take jobs. Don't bother challenging that claim or I'll bury you in statistics. And I have personal experience with both.
So what do we do with them after we arrest them? Because I, for one, don't want to clog the jailhouses with the buggers. Easy solution: fly them to Mexico and tell them we'll shoot the next one we see coming to the beach in an inner tube or jumping the border. And do it. Sounds harsh, huh? But the cold fact is that these people are criminals. They have no respect for our country or the rule of law. If they did, they'd get in line like they're supposed to. But they're selfish and lawless. So they do whatever the heck they want without regard for our people or country.

Get them out.


What do you think? Why? Personal experience?


Leah

P.S. I don't hate hispanic people. My roommate for two years in college was hispanic and she was the bomb diggety. I love her to pieces. But she's legal.

Oh, Padre.

My Padre is so funny sometimes. He gets so upset when I don't leave the keys to my car where they're SUPPOSED to be (on top of our dog's travel crate/bed) but does he ever leave his keys there? Why, no, of course not. This morning was the second time in a week he's parked behind me in the driveway and then not left before me like he usually does. So I have to move his car. But he doesn't tell me this. So I leave on time, but - oh, gotta move the car. Except I can't find the keys. He can't remember where they are if he leaves them on the dog's crate. But when he's looking for MY keys, he knows exactly where they are. And if I leave two minutes later than I normally do, I get stuck behind a school bus on my two-lane road that goes all. the. way. to my school. *grr*

THAT MAN.

Thankfully, I have a mother who not only knows where he leaves his keys, even though it's in a different place every time. And helped me move the car this morning.

I love Padre. But sometimes I would like to grab him by the ears and ask him, "DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE LIKE??"

*sigh*

I'm going to find his keys NOW, before I have to leave in the morning.



Leah

No, You Don't Love Him

K so I have this friend. More like acquaintance. And he's really friendly and nice, but never lets anyone get really close, like close enough to be a real friend. It's really weird. And he's a good-looking guy, young (23) and rides a motorcycle, does all the young-guy stuff, etc. And he's single. And there are all these girls who post on his facebook all the time saying stuff like "Oh hey honey how are you?" "Miss you babe!" "Love you handsome!" And all this other stuff. Combined with the fact that they have trashy pictures of themselves up there . . . well it really bothered me. This guy claims to be a Christian. But honestly he doesn't do a thing to act like it. It's more than the girls' comments. But that's just what's getting to me. Seriously what right do they have to say that to a guy? It's so weird! I guess he just has different convictions than I do about it. If guys were talking to me like that I'd delete them off facebook in a heartbeat and never talk to them again. They do NOT have the right to say "I love you" or call me "babe" or "honey." Those are things my husband and ONLY my husband gets to say to me. Otherwise it's not special. It's just something people say. I don't ever want "I love you" to be just something people say to me. And plus, THEY DON'T LOVE HIM. Would you take a bullet for him? No, it'd mess up your bikini tan. Ok. You don't love him. You love how he looks. You love the fact that he rides a motorcycle. You love that he's friendly. Great. But you don't love him.

Grr. Girls make me mad sometimes.



Leah

Groovy Saturday Tunes:)

I have recently discovered Andy McKee. If you don't know who that is, he's a finger-tapping acoustic guitar player. Along with his personal invention, the harp-guitar. Basically the coolest thing ever. And to sum it all up, I LOVE his music. It's very expressive without being over the top, and very . . . musical is the best way I know to say it. Just beautiful. It's like jazz only way better. Classical only cooler. He's a great talent.

Take a listen. Tell me what you think.





Leah

I mean this in all sincerity . . .

Praise Jesus for Saturdays.

Random thoughts in random order

1. I am so tired this morning and my teeth hurt. Weird.

2. I'm reading the book of James in the Bible twice this week to get ready for our study in it in Sunday School, but I feel like I'm not studying it well enough. Saturday morning I'm studying hard:)

3. I love coffee.

4. 57 days till Hong Kong 2010.

5. I feel like all I do is pray lately. That's good I guess:)



Leah

Excitingness!

I just got all the specifics for my trip to Hong Kong AKA the kids on the team, how many etc., travel dates and details, country/project outline and specifics, and OMGOODNESSSOFLIPPINGEXCITED!!!!

Does your God get you this excited?




Leah

Out of the Mouths of Babes

I've been thinking a lot about how great kids' songs are. I mean there are so many good things taught to children through the little songs they sing. Like this one:

Jesus loves me, this I know!
For the Bible tells me so
Little ones to him belong
They are weak but he is strong!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so!

Think about that. Isn't it profound? Jesus loves me. Wow. That's awesome. Or this one:

My God is so great, so strong and so mighty
There's nothing my God cannot do!
My God is so great, so strong and so mighty
There's nothing my God cannot do!
The mountains are his, the rivers are his
The stars are his handiwork too!
My God is so great, so strong and so mighty
There's nothing my God cannot do - for you!

Do you still believe this about God? Sometimes I think we get so stuck being adults that we forget that God is still great and strong and mighty and there's nothing he can't do. I remember thinking when I was little that God was even stronger than my daddy, and that was really strong! Do you still have that little-kid admiration for God? He's pretty great isn't he? Here's one more to think about today.

Twelve men went to spy on Canaan
Ten were bad and two were good
What do you think they saw in Canaan
Ten were bad and two were good
Some saw giants big and strong
Some saw grapes three clusters long
Some saw God was in it all
Ten were bad and two were good!

So which side will you be on? I'm going to try to see God in it all. Want to join me?



Leah

A Question for Consideration

After church Sunday night some of the young adults and older teens went out to Starbucks to hang out and talk, and drink coffee, of course. :) A couple of the ladies got to talking about the daycare our church runs, who's working there in the summer, hours, etc. I was sitting by a guy friend, and during the conversation he turned and asked me how I felt about putting my kids in daycare. I immediately shook my head and said I'd never do it. Here are my reasons.
First of all, it's unnatural. If God wanted kids to be in daycare, he wouldn't give them to mommies and daddies. I mean, doesn't anyone find it odd when two-eary-olds spend more time at a daycare than with their parents?
Second, the parents don't control the situation. Kids and childcare providers get to influence my kids and I have no control over what's going on. That's ridiculous. God trusted me with the kids and I'm just going to let someone else tell them anything? Uh, no.
Third, it's not safe. You just can't trust anyone. There are creeps everywhere, even in "christian" daycare centers and schools. In fact, I'd say especially there, because no one's suspecting it. We expect those places to be safe. And they should be. But they aren't. When I was little I didn't understand why I wasn't allowed to spend the night with my friends. Now I understand it and I completely agree with my parents. It's just not safe. Schools and daycare centers are no different.
When I'm a wife and mama, I will have teeth and claws to protect my babies. And for me, protecting them means keeping them with me as much as I can. It's what God intended, in my opinion. So there are my reasons. What do you think? Why?



Leah

It is now 65 days till I leave for Hong Kong. I'm SO FLIPPING EXCITED.

Oklahoma!

I watched Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical Oklahoma! (yes the exclamation point is part of the title) last night. Elijah, brave man, made it through almost half of it with me. I love that movie! The music is awesome, the lines are fantastic, and there's a singing cowboy (baritone . . . amazing) - Gordon MacRae. That man can SING. Or could, as it were. That was back when it was politically correct for the father of a young woman to say to a frisky young man:
"Shut your face or I'll fill your hide so full of buckshot, you'll be walking like a duck for the rest of your life."
I love it. Another of my favorites is,
"I don't say I'm no better than anybody else . . . but I'll be danged if I ain't just as good!"

Oh wow. I love musicals. I'm such a nerd. But I enjoy it.

Do you like musicals? What's your favorite movie?




Leah

Leah's Amazing Cinnamon Bread

This may actually be the best cinnamon bread on the planet. Make it and you decide. It's my favorite, and my family's as well.

Ok this is based on a recipe we got from allrecipes.com, but I've changed a couple or ten things in there. This is my version.

1 1/2 C milk
1C warm water
1 1/2T yeast (I guessed on this . . . I use a regular spoon to measure mine. Just experiment till you get what you like with the bread.)
3 eggs
1/2C white sugar (I haven't tried it with brown sugar but I'm sure you could use it)
1 tsp. salt
1/2 C butter, softened
1C raisins (optional. I never use raisins)
8ish C bread flour (you can use regular flour but the bread isn't as good)
2-3T butter for the tops of the loaves

Filling:
2-3T butter, melted (you can also use milk for this)
3/4C white sugar
2T ground cinnamon



Warm milk on the stove till it bubbles. Cool to lukewarm. Dissolve yeast in warm water (I do it in the mixer bowl) and sprinkle a little sugar in for the yeast to eat:) Yes I'm serious. Let it sit for about 5 min. or until the yeast is frothy. Mix in eggs, butter, sugar, salt, and raisins if you want them. It helps if you break up the butter before you mix it in - otherwise it tries to slosh out of the bowl everywhere. Next, stir in the cooled milk. Add flour gradually to make a stiff dough. Now mine's not really "stiff," it's just springy and not sticky, so just eyeball it. I usually get about 6 cups of flour in while it's in the mixer, and then I turn it out onto the floured counter and knead it until it's springy and not sticky anymore. So it might not take all 8 cups. Put the dough in a large, greased bowl, turn to grease the surface of the dough, and cover with a damp towel. Set in a warm place to rise until doubled - mine usually takes at least an hour, sometimes more. Punch down the dough and roll it out in a big rectangle on a floured counter. You can grease the counter instead of flour if you want. Roll out until it's about 1/2" thick and brush melted butter all over it. Combine the 3/4C sugar and 2T cinnamon. Sprinkle the mixture over the buttered dough, and then roll it up tightly so it makes on long roll (roll it toward you on the counter). Cut it in three equal parts, and tuck under the ends. Put the loaves in three greased 9x5 bread pans, and lightly grease the tops of the loaves. Let rise another hour. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until the loaves sound hollow when you tap on the tops. Remove from the pans and brush the tops with melted butter (I usually just cut 2-3T off a stick, take off the wrapper, and rub it over the tops. Works just as well). The original recipe said to let them cool before slicing, but let's be real, who's going to do THAT? Enjoy:)


Leah

This Week's Random Dozen

Labels: Random Dozen



1. Define a great relationship.

I'm going to take the man-woman relationship vein here. It's one that's based on knowing each other's character, trust, and above all, a love for God.

2. Why is it called a "drive-through" if you have to stop? (Real question: What was the last food/drink you purchased at a drive-through?)

Because the same person named driveways, where you park. And the last thing I got from a drive-through was Chick-fil-a fries, I think. Delish.

3. As I type this, the Butler Bulldogs are getting ready to play in the NCAA championship game. Every Hoosier is hysterical about this except me. So in honor of the Bulldogs ... what is your favorite breed of dog? (I tried.)

Scotties or Yorkies. Scotties are less yappy, so that's what I think I'll have. Actually it's always been a dream of mine (since I saw Lady and the Tramp at age 6) to have a Scottie and name it Jacque. It's happening someday.

4. If you had to move to a state besides the one you currently live in, where would you move?

South Carolina, Alabama, or Texas. They're all warm and have good food and good music.

5. If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what would it be?

I would make my parents not forget the stuff they used to spank us for when I was little. My little brother gets away with EVERYTHING.

6. Who's the funniest person you know?

My sister Abbie. She's like a 20-year-old Lucille Ball. That child can make me laugh any time of day or night. Take her latest facebook status: "I hate math with the burning passion of a thousand suns."

7. Did you get enough sleep last night?

Nope. Stupid sun insists on coming up at 6 even during spring break. The nerve.

8. What's the first thing you thought about this morning?

How to shut off the alarm.

9. Grilled or Fried? --HONESTLY

Fried. Heck yeah.

10. Are you afraid of the dark?

"When shadows fall/And the night covers all/There are things that my eyes cannot see
I'll never fear/For the Savior is near/My Lord abides with me!
How can I fear?/Jesus is near!/He ever watches over me
Worries all cease/He gives me peace/How can I fear with Jesus?"
- Ron Hamilton

11.When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was four, I was going to be a ballerina. Then when I was ten, it changed and stayed the same - a mommy/missionary/superhero. I just gotta find Superman now.

12. If you had one word to describe yourself, what would you choose?

Passionate.


C'mon now, join me. Do the Random Dozen.



Leah

Go God.

I just won a new violin case on Ebay for $29!!! And I really needed a new one because the zipper on my old one was dying a slow and painful death. And this new one is finished leather on the outside, plenty of space on the inside . . . and I hope it's light too:) I'll post pictures after it comes in the mail!



Leah

South Carolina, Day 3

Tuesday was day 3 of Hope and Leah's Epic South Carolina Road Trip. I had two GA interviews, chapel, observed a violin lesson, and then we went to orchestra rehearsal. Let's break this down.

Two GA interviews . . . nuff said. All I have to say about that is I am not doing custodial work, but I'm going to accept the other one. It lets me do at least a little music at my job.
Chapel was a lot like Monday. I wish that people who don't believe the Bible would just stop pretending. I mean really, I don't SPEAK greek and hebrew, so what the heck is the point of telling me all that stuff? And if you haven't studied the history of the Scriptures enough to know that modern greek manuscripts are corrupted, well, I don't have much respect for you. I'm never going to be a preacher but I know that. If all you're going to do is go through and correct a holy, righteous God, then why don't you just sit down, shut up, and let those of us who actually believe God read it for ourselves. GRR!
*sigh* I'm done. For now.
The violin lesson was pretty cool to watch. It was with the teacher I'm going to have next year so I was interested to watch her teach. I think she's exactly what I need:)
Orchestra rehearsal was AMAZING. They're playing one of my all-time favorite pieces - Mein Vaterland (My Country) by Smetana. I. LOVE. THAT. MUSIC. Hope played my instrument and she was almost bursting she was so excited. Then we came out of the rehearsal and were packing up/talking about it, and who should come down the stairs but the gentleman who the fine arts building is named after! Ah! He stopped and talked to us for a little bit - that's how we found out who he was. Plus I went to undergrad college with his grandson, so we had something in common, haha. Hope and I felt like we met a celebrity LOL.

And then yesterday we drove home, stopping along the way to eat lunch with The Artist. Good times. I'm glad to be home though. I need a couple mornings in a row without setting an alarm:)


Leah

South Carolina, Day 2

Yesterday was day two of the trip. I got up early and had a campus tour with The Mumbler (our affectionate nickname for my admissions counselor), and then had two GA interviews. They both went pretty well, although the first guy I interviewed with was kinda weird. He was honest with me though. And I appreciate that. I also visited a choir rehearsal, and sang with them - sightsinging - very fun. I also met the lady who will most likely be my violin teacher this fall. It was kind of cool because she was my teacher when I came to the University for violin camp a couple years ago when I was in high school. Good times. She's just as nice as I remember and doesn't look a day older - quite an accomplishment, when you're about to hit 60.

Beyond the fact that I LOVE this University, it's just so different. Like how there's chapel every day. And every class opens in prayer. Or how there are Bible verses that apply to everyday life carved into the walls (on purpose) for everyone to see. How people pray before they eat here. I hope these kids realize the privilege that they have, going to a school like this. Like how you can walk around campus all day and never hear anyone swear, or take God's name in vain. Do they realize how awesome that is? I mean don't get me wrong, I loved the college I went to. It was a ton of fun and I met my two best friends there. But there were some definite downsides to being there as a Christian. It was hard sometimes. Now, looking back, I can say without doubt that God brought me through it with a greater, deeper faith in him, a better trust, and a more mature Christian life.


But it's still kind of nice to not have to use my iPod all the time to drown out the cursing.


Did you go to a secular or Christian school? College or grade school? What did you like or dislike about it?




Leah

South Carolina, Day 1

So yesterday we drove down to SC, about 8 hours. Including the leisurely 45 minute picnic lunch we had at a rest station along the way:) When we got to Janna's house (the lovely friend with whom I am staying - Hope's staying on the U campus) we made dinner, and then drove downtown. We walked to a GORGEOUS park with a waterfall, lots of winding paths, random porch swings (minus the porch of course), beautiful flowers . . . it was amazing. I'll load pictures when I get home, because genius me brought the camera but not the cord to put the pics on the ol' Mac here. So. Then we came back to the house and hung out with Janna's wonderful fiance, Andrew. He's a great guy:) We like him:) The Mother Ship calls him The Boy Wonder. Which he secretly loves, I'm convinced. She's really excited that there's a Mrs. Boy Wonder coming in June:D

Then today Janna and roomie got up early for Easter sunrise services (love these pagan holidays), which Hope and I slept in. The church we wanted to visit didn't start till 9:45 which was really nice after driving all day yesterday. And silly girls that we are, we used MapQuest to find the church. NEVER use MapQuest. GoogleMaps, kids. After an unexpected exploration of the city, we finally found the street we were looking for, and were only ten minutes late. Sunday School was a little . . . random. It had many stories. Seemingly pointless, but the man always found a way to (sorta) tie it in to his point. But the regular service was awesome! Great singing - or rather, enthusiastic singing:) Which to me, matters far more than sound quality. The preacher preached it hard today, although he screwed up Romans chapter 6 like all of them do. People. We DO NOT have a sin nature. You sin because you choose to. I'm going to get off the soap box before I write a whole blog about that. Anyway. Other than that the preaching was awesome and the people were very friendly. They were shouting "amen!" back at the preacher the whole time, haha! It was like a preaching contest there! It's a lot like the churches I remember going to when I was little - you know, back when people believed the Bible instead of giving you that Greek/Hebrew garbage. Pretty cool. I think I'm going to visit a couple others when I come for school in the fall, but Janna says only visit around for like a month and then pick one or you'll be visiting for the whole two/four years you're here! So I will. Pick one, that is. Not visit for two years:)
This afternoon we went to Andrew's aunt's house for Easter dinner. They were very kind and the food was AMAZING. And then I took Hope over to the University to her friend's room (who she'll stay with till Wednesday) and wandered a bit. Then I went to my Uncle Jared's house. He and my Aunt have two kids, Gus and Helena. They are ADORABLE and pretty obedient kids, for the most part. I tried to teach Gus how to whistle on grass but he gave up. And we ate an awesome dinner and then I read Gus stories for a while. Helena had to go to bed earlier, which Gus was very excited about, haha. Gus is only four, and Helena is just under 2. They're pretty cute. I'll post pictures of them too, when I get home.
More to come! Stay tuned!



Leah

T-minus one day

Tomorrow begins the Epic Road Trip of Hope and Leah. No doubt it will indeed, be epic. Blogs shall be posted. Inside jokes shared. Possibly even pictures.


Leah

And now, for your viewing pleasure . . .

I love conservatives.



Leah