Not a Happy Indian

For the past 3 weeks, Caden has been practicing CONSTANTLY for the Thanksgiving concert he had this afternoon. In the car, in the tub, at the table...Caden has been singing, "Hi-ya-ya-ya-ya, Indians help the pilgrims, show them how to grow, give the sign of friendship, many years ago. Hi-ya-ya-ya" over and over and over again.
Today was the big day.
Unfortunately, prior to the children's appearance on stage, one of Caden's little friends accidentally tripped him in the hallway, causing him to fall down and cry. Seconds later he was out on the stage in front of a room full of people. As you will see, he was not in the mood to sing his new, favourite song.
He just stood there. A very quiet and reflective little Indian. he did great considering the circumstances. Afterwards he came and sat with us. He began to feel much better and proceeded to eat a Thanksgiving feast of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with his friends :)

Happy 28th Birthday Melissa!

Happy Birthday Melissa! Wish I could be there to buy you an icecream cake and watch Mom trying to cut it. Good times.

My Little Irishman

Our friend Jon gave Caden a tin whistle the last time we were in Newfoundland. Here he is rocking out "5 little monkeys". Brace yourself for the talent.

Caden's New Brother

No, I'm not pregnant :) but the Stock Family is happy to announce that we adopted a sponsor child today. His name is Chrispine and he is from Zambia. He was born on the exact same day as Caden so they are the same age, to the day.
We introduced Caden to his new brother this morning and he was very excited. He pointed to him and yelled, "NEW DEND!" (which means, 'new friend' in Caden language) and then he asked, "Can Caden kiss dend?"
He leaned in and planted a huge kiss on the computer screen. Caden is usually not touchy feely with his 'dends'...in fact he gets down right angry when the huggy kid at school tries to embrace him every morning, but it seemed as though he knew that Chrispine was a new and very special part of our family.
Definitely a moment I will remember and treasure forever.
Before finding Chrispine, Jay and I were reviewing our money situation, which is never a fun thing to do. We're faithful givers and although we could definitely find someways to cut down on spending, we live pretty much within our means. Still, the stress of mortgage payments and bills was weighing heavy on us this morning...it's funny how instead of freaking out completely and hoarding our pennies, we were drawn to the World Vision website to do something we'd been talking about doing but have never gotten around to doing...sponsoring a little brother for Caden. A financial advisor probably would have slapped us for spending money we don't have, but it just felt right.
After seeing the faces of so many kids who truly know what struggling is, we were incredibly humbled and reminded, once again, of how great we have it.
I tried to copy Chrispine's picture from the World Vision website, but for the protection of the kids, they don't allow you to do that...which, I understand completely, so I copied down his information to share with you all so that you can join us in praying for his little life:

"Chrispine lives with his parents, 3 brothers, and 1 sister. His parents struggle to provide for the family. His father is a farmer. Despite their efforts, it is difficult to meet the family's needs.

Chrispine and his family live in a community severely affected by the HIV/AIDS crisis. In some communities, AIDS affects the entire social structure as a generation of hardworking adults is being wiped out. Frightened children and exhausted grandparents rarely have money for food, school, or medical care.

Chrispine is not in school at this time. He likes to play with toys. He helps at home by being good. He is in satisfactory health."

So, to everyone who keeps asking if we're going to give Caden a brother or sister, the answer is 'yes, we already have.' :)

"I'll be home for Christmas..."

For the past 6 years, this song has made me cry at least once every Christmas season. When you grow up in the north, the south never truly has a Christmasy feel to it.
Songs like, "I'll be home for Christmas" and "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas" and even "Jingle Bells" pull slightly on my heart strings each year and make me homesick for my winter wonderland.
Ok, ok, I know I have a select memory here....I am forgetting the pain of having to shovel snow, trying to navigate around St. John's when the snow has completely taken over the side walks....the icy chill of winter that lasts from October till June...trust me, I don't mind living in Florida...but when it comes to Christmas, there's no place like home.
My happy Christmas memories are many...the school play, singing at the church candle light service, breakfast with Santa at the Lion's club, the Green's Harbour Christmas parade...a fire in the fireplace on Christmas eve...the big snow flakes falling outside of the window onto the coloured lights and evergreen boughs. The smell of a real Christmas tree mixed with the aroma of mom's famous tea rings coming out of the oven...Mmmmm...Christmas at home.
On Christmas morning we would wake up, open our gifts, eat breakfast, and then while mom cooked dinner Dad would take us and our friends to the skating rink where he worked, for a day of skating on the big rink, all by ourselves. We'd get to ride the zamboni while he cleaned the ice and then we'd make our own hot chocolate in the stadium canteen.
In the evening, we'd head to Jacqueline and Renee's house to see what they got for Christmas (which usually included a new board game) and we'd play while eating their mother's chocolates. On the snowy days of winter break, we'd go sliding or have snow ball fights...we'd climb trees and jump into snow drifts and skate on the frozen pond.
I have not experienced a Christmas at home in 6 years. Since Jay and I got married, we've always either worked in retail or for the Salvation Army...two industries that keep you crazy busy during the Christmas season...there was never any time to travel all the way to NL.
This year it's a different story...all 3 of us have 2 full weeks off this holiday season, so a last minute plan fell together, made possible by my mother's insane collection of air miles, and WE ARE GOING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS!
Suddenly, the music that use to make me weepy has made me insanely cheery! In fact, as someone who use to be dead set against Christmas music prior to December 1st, I am already listening to it! Caden and I have been listening and singing along to 'Frosty the snow man' and 'jingle bell rock' everyday on the way home from school.
Now when I hear, "I'll be home for Christmas," I get ridiculously giddy....because it's true! I WILL be home for Christmas!
The flights are horrendous due to how expensive the good flights are this time of year, but I'm praying for the best and focusing on the fun Christmas in Newfoundland will bring.

"I'm dreaming tonight of a place I love even more than I usually do
And although I know it's a long road back I promise you
I'll be home for Christmas, you can count on me..."

Retro Boogie Dance Party

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Bad Day

I'm having a bad day. Everyone has one every now and then, and there's no reason why we shouldn't be allowed to talk about it...pretending is far more exhausting than just being honest.
I did something brutal to my neck while holding Caden at the fair...as you read yesterday...but today, it is SO much worse. No rubbing, heating or medicating is seeming to do the trick. I wish I lived in Canada so I could buy muscle relaxers over the counter...but I know that's not the answer...I'm hoping to research a cheap massage therapist who can fit me in today.
My morning was miserable, trying to get Caden dressed, in the car and out the door...all the while running late because I spent about 30 minutes trying to figure out how I was even going to get out of bed. I used that 30 minutes to pray. I'm happy to say I prayed for everyone and everything. I prayed prayers of thanksgiving and love....I asked God to go before me and make me a woman after his own heart...that I would face the day in the name of the Lord..I felt quite good about my prayer, then I proceeded to fail every test God placed in front of me, miserably.
Being in pain makes me super crabby. I won't lie...because lying is a sin and I've used all mine up for the day.
My playful little boy tests me sometimes..especially when he plays his new game of, "You can't put pants on me if you can't catch me!" and "My legs don't work all of a sudden." Not cool, especially when I can't move my head down or from side to side.
As much as I love record-breaking cold mornings in Florida, this was not the best of days to have to scrape frost from my windshield...I did however take a second to breathe the air deeply which made me feel a little better.
Caden has another game called, "Random high pitched squealing in the car" which scares the poo out of me, causing me to almost drive off the road when he decides to play. I couldn't turn my head today to check my blind spots so I was in no mood to play Caden's 'super fun' game. After the first surprise squeal I said, threateningly, "If you scream like that again, I am going to pull this car over and spank your bottom!"
3 seconds later he let out a short, high pitched scream with a big smile on his face, taunting me. I hit the brake, pulled off the road and introduced Caden's bottom to Mrs. Wooden Spoon (we never leave home without her:)
Needless to say, the screaming ended and we made it to school/work safely. We talked about everything and Caden agreed that screaming in the car is 'bad news.'
Where I was running late, I grabbed a microwave dinner from the freezer but I am currently very sad about my meatloaf lean cuisine...when I'm this crabby, I need to medicate myself with food...starches and sugar and chocolate tend to be the right prescription.
I doubt I'll be able to go to parenting class tonight, again...last week it was the flu, this week it's paralysis of the head and chronic crabby pants.
Jesus and I have already talked about it and I've, once again, asked him to clean up my heart even though I so quickly dirtied up before 11 am...Time to start over...I can't promise that I'm not going to find joy in starches today but I will at least try and be a nicer me :)
Hope I was able to use my misfortunes to bring a chuckle to your day...after all, some good should come out of a bad day, right?

Mrs. Roboto

I made the mistake of holding my toddler far too much when we were at the fair on Sunday. Caden has an annoying habit of just collapsing when he doesn't want to walk anymore...not cool. So when he would get tired (which I know he had to be, stomping around the fair grounds for 6 hours with no nap) I would hold him on my left hip.
Yesterday my left arm felt like I had lifted free weights all night long. Good for definition but I think I had better work on my right arm in order to not end up lop sided...
Today, I woke up with an incredibly stiff shoulder and neck on my left side, no doubt from holding my big boy on both my hip and my shoulders (what!? he had to see the sea lion show!) at the fair. Oh fair...you were so fun...I had no idea you would make me feel 90 in the days following you. Stiff necks are miserable! Is there a massage therapist in the house? When I have to look down or to the left, I have to manipulate my entire body...which makes me feel a bit like a robot woman.
Nothing a warm bath and a Jason neck rub won't fix, but both seem very far away at 11:26am....

Sweet November

So, I was online today, trying to order some Christmas things and I saw something that said "Pick up your photos by 12:30 on November 17, 2008!"
At which point I thought, "That's awfully late in the month. I'm going to need mine before then."
Then I realized, THAT IS TODAY!
Holy moly, where did this month go!?!! I swear, I thought we were still in the first week of November. This is insanity!
I don't think I've ever felt so confused in all my life...I know I have memories of the last few weeks..I just had no idea it flew by so fast! Wasn't it just Halloween?
I guess time flies when you're having fun, and I (aside from being sick for the past 9 days) have been having a great November. Caden is in a remarkable stage of life right now, and I have been enjoying every second of it. He's grown into a little boy who uses the toilet and can carry on (usually hilarious) conversations. We play pretend, make crafts, sing songs and have a pile of fun, everyday. I've really been enjoying my time with him and focusing on making it quality instead of being sad there isn't as much quantity as their use to be. He's happy, we're blessed and there's no room for self-pity.
Jay has an awesome job that gets him home at 5:00 in the afternoon. That has been a FABULOUS change in the Stock house. We have weekends! WEEKENDS! He sometimes works long after getting home because it's hard for him to believe he's actually off and can relax! It's been amazing and a huge answer to prayer.
0 bites on the house since getting a realtor, but whatever. It'll sell when it sells. I want to move like crazy, but I don't want to do it 'till it's right..and right now, I am thankful for a beautiful home.
I guess November has been good because I've chosen a better attitude. I've always known happiness is a choice, and that regardless of the circumstances, there is always some good to focus on...a silver lining to every cloud...and so far November has been much more silvery than cloudy.
Yesterday, Caden and I joined some friends from my small group and went to the North Florida fair. It was SO fun. Caden did great. He would have ridden every ride in that place if the height requirements hadn't of been there :)
He has no fear.
He would point to the craziest, spinning rides with screaming people being flung around on them and say, "Caden's turn!"
After many hours of rides, funnel cake, petting zoo's and merry-go-rounds, we headed home at 7pm. Caden fell asleep in the car and he kept on sleeping until 7 the next morning. The fair wore us out.
So today is November 17th...which is still mind boggling to me...I guess I had better get back to planning for Christmas, since it's right around the corner!

Cookie Making Frenzy

Kathy, The Red Nose Mama

I am not a fan of the common cold. The way your nose becomes blocked as if filled with rubber cement. The chills and sweats brought on by a mild fever. The sore throat and throbbing ears...and all the sinus pressure....not to mention feeling like you want to sleep for the rest of your life, but not being quite sick enough to stay home from work...grrrr, cold. Why have you attacked my family?!
Caden started with it, as usual, and graciously shared it with us. You would think that as adults much larger than a 30 pound toddler, we would be able to kick this thing as quickly as he did, but no. He gets over it in less than 48 hours and we spend all week nose blowing, sneezing and drinking more Nyquil than is probably legal, without an end in sight.
Even though we have red noses and sound like geese, we've been happy to have a chill week and spend more time with each other. We've been coming home in the evenings, eating dinner in and resting up. Sometimes being knocked off your feet is a good thing.
On Tuesday, (inspired by my friend, Julie) Caden and I made Christmas cookies from scratch. I had no idea how they would turn out, but they turned out great! We even made icing from scratch! I was amazed with how much he enjoyed baking! Last night he helped make his own pancake for dinner and he was so excited to eat something he had made himself.
Mama burned her arm pretty good on the stove, but still had a great time with Chef Caden. (pictures to come)
In other news, Caden has not only mastered the art of the potty, but spent the majority of yesterday standing up to pee, like a big boy. I assume this means my bathroom floor will be less than clean for a little while, but he seems to be catching on quickly and as long as I'm not having to shell out a million dollars a month for diapers anymore, I'm not complaining.
It's nothing a Clorox wipe can't fix.
Sometimes I look around my home and imagine what 4-years-ago-me would think. If 4-years-ago-me would have teleported into the future to see present me, what would her reaction be? What would she think about the ride-on Clifford toy and the potty seat and the racecar bed? What would her immediate reaction be when she saw her son at 2.5?
I think she would have been freaked out, completely.
4 years ago me had no idea that she was a mother in waiting...she had no idea that her family was missing a Caden, and that when he would arrive, life would be so much sweeter than it ever was before. 4 years ago me had no idea how strong she could be or what an amazing husband she was married to. She had no clue that football underwear, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and rubber frogs in the tub would soon become a part of everyday life. She thought that children who threw tantrums in public were the result of bad parenting...sometimes, I want to go back and slap 4-years-ago me...
I've always been painfully aware of how quickly time passes. Even when I was a little girl, I would take a moment in the midst of something I was really enjoying and realize it wouldn't last forever...that at some point, it would end...and I would close my eyes and listen to the sounds, sniff the smells, to make the memory last as long as it could.
Everyday I feel that way about Caden. He is growing up SO fast, and although there are many things about 2.5 that I won't miss, there are many more that I will. I will miss him saying 'Good Morning' or 'See you Monday!' to everyone, no matter what time or day of the week it is. I will miss his little voice in the bathroom, coaching himself on by saying, 'Come on, Poop! You can do it!' I will miss him asking for kisses, asking to play ring around the rosie for the 11-millionth time and asking to pray at random time of the day...I will miss hearing him say, "I wuv oo, Mama."
The wonderful thing about kids is that one beautiful stage is replaced by a different, equally beautiful one. When he was first born, I wished he would stay small forever...then when he turned 6 months, I wanted to keep him that way. When he turned 14 months I thought, 'It can't get better than this!" And now that he is 2.5, I just want to freeze time.
But Caden's job is to grow and my job is to help him do so in God's way. As he grows and changes into the man God has called him to be, future Kathy can bask in that moment and say, "Thank you, Lord."
And when he turns 18 and leaves the house (I assume he will, because if he's anything like his parents, he'll be signing his first lease asap) I will greatly enjoy sleeping in on the weekends. Ah...see, there's good in every stage of life!

Prayer 11.10.2008

Father God,

Thank You for this day You have made. Thank You for Your greatness. Thank You for seeing me and loving me in spite and because of myself. Thank You for creation. Thank You for giving me the ability to come before You, the Maker of Heaven and Earth.
I pray that I never spin the word of God to justify my sin. I pray that if convicted I will change. I pray that if approached in love and kept accountable that I will respond in a Christ-like way. I pray I will have the courage to keep others accountable, even when it doesn't go well. I pray that when hurt, I will respond as Christ would. I pray that if I ever feel wronged, I will not use gossip as my shield. I pray that I will never hide behind the name of Jesus, but would instead, embrace it. I pray that I will never tire of doing what is right. I do pray I would tire of doing wrong. I pray that even though the enemy can use God's own to hurt me, I will endure. I will fight the good fight. I pray for a Spirit of discernment so that I may protect myself and my family from what may appear to be harmless or even good. I pray that eloquent words will not entice me down a path that is wrong for me. I pray against guilt and shame when doing right in the name of the Lord. I pray for forgiveness when I royally mess up which I regret to say, is frequent. I pray I can forgive when needlessly hurt, time and time again. I pray that I will not question my motives when I know they were pure and Godly. I pray that I will question my motives when I know, deep down, they were not of You. I pray I will become stronger and better and deeper as I grow older, instead of just getting old and stubborn. I pray that I will not just learn the words to say, but I will live the word of God. I pray that I will be Christ-like, when in secret and when in public. I pray that I will not use any power I have over people in a negative way. I pray that what is done in secret will be brought to the light. I pray that as iron sharpens iron, so shall we one unto another. I pray that I will deal with things, regardless of how difficult they will be. I pray that I will not wrong my brother or sister by gossiping about things best kept private. I pray that I will not cut others down to make myself feel good. I pray that Christ will define me so that I don't have to be defined by anyone or anything else. I pray that the church will be the church. I pray that when I give, I will do so in secret so as to avoid the arrogance that comes from man's praise. I pray I will give as giving to the Lord. I pray that I will do my job to the best of my ability even though I don't enjoy it. I pray that I will be convicted about everything Christ says is wrong for me...coarse joking, bad relationships, gossip, unforgiveness, resentment, arrogance, pride, anger...keep me on track, God. I pray that Your light will shine through me, not just on me. I pray that I will never foolishly think my talents and abilities are my own. If I become arrogant with what You've given me, take it away. I pray that I will use what I have for good. I pray that I will hear the cry of those around me. I pray for those I've hurt, because I'm human and I know I have. I pray for those who have hurt me, regardless of whether they know they did it or not. Help me forgive as you forgive me, regardless of whether I have the right to be angry...such rights are not worth clinging to. I pray that you will give me boldness to speak when I should and the common sense and self control to remain silent when I shouldn't. I pray for everything I need, not everything I want..because I know that all too often I ask for a stone when you long to give me bread. I pray that you will be with me as I wait. I pray that I would not confess love in an unloving way. I pray that you will attack-proof my marriage and my home. I pray that you will make me a Proverbs woman. I pray that I would be the wife, mother and woman of God you have called me to be. I pray you will take away my victim mentality. I pray for the inability to make excuses. I pray for a clear mind, a kind heart. I long to be open minded when I need to be and close minded when the truth leaves no room for discussion. I pray that you will remove my constant desire to be liked, affirmed and vindicated ...for I know it is contrary to scripture to be a people pleaser, in fact, it's toxic. I pray that when I give, I will have the right motives, otherwise it is meaningless. I pray that I will hear Your calm, still voice in situations that are chaotic, loud and confusing. I pray that I will be able to point out the flaws in myself before I see the flaws in others, and that if when I see those flaws, I will address all things in love. I pray that what is best left in private will be dealt with between me and You and no one else. I pray for divine appointments when I need them. I pray that my desires and temptations will not give birth to sin. I pray against the ability to be self-promoting, passive aggressive and vile. Don't ever let my damage, damage others. Take away my hurt so I won't hurt other people. Don't let me bask in my brokenness even though I thank You for it, because it is the starting point of holiness.
I pray that you will never take Your Spirit from me...that my emotion will not dictate my faith. I pray that when my flesh and Your word differ, You win, every time. Never allow my relationship with You to be all about me feeling good. Help me withstand the Refiner's fire.
I pray for Your guidance, I pray for Your strength. I pray for Your courage to be the Christian You've called me to be in scripture, whether it reflects this culture's version of 'christianity' or not...I pray You will constantly be with me. I pray You will make me clean and new. I pray You will tackle my recurring demons so that I can become better, not bitter and in all of this I pray that I will know You and make You known.

I pray Your will be done.

In Christ's name,

Amen

From Horse to Hoarse

On Friday, Caden had cowboy day at school. He woke up on the wrong side of the bed so he was pretty cranky all day...but he did put his attitude aside long enough to put on his cowboy hat and ride a pony. I attended school with him, because honestly, who doesn't want to go to cowboy day?!
All in all it was fun, we left just before lunch, he fell asleep in the car on the way home meaning he did not get a nap that afternoon and ended up falling asleep while on his hands and knees throwing a tantrum in his room at 6:30pm. He still slept till 7 the next morning, so I guess he just needed some extra shut eye.
Meanwhile, Jay was in Panama city all day, doing some networking for WAYFM and he ran across a coffee shop in crisis. They were having an event the next day on behalf of the Women's Pregnancy Centre and their band cancelled. Jay volunteered my services and so I got busy, writing up lyrics and practicing songs.
On Saturday the family, Amber and myself, loaded up the cars and headed to Panama City for the gig. It was fun. They paid us in food, which is always awesome, and we got to meet some great people. It went well, and I'll be returning in December to do some Christmas stuff for them. It was great exposure. I've been wanting to play coffee shops in Tallahassee but have never had the nerve to get out there and make it happen..I'm a little braver now after this weekend's events.
Sunday I got up at 5am and headed to church. We sang our butts off and had an amazing time in the Lord. Loved it. My voice is completely demolished from all the singing, but it was worth it. Hence the title of this blog. Haha. Get it?
Right now, the whole fam is dealing with the sniffles...I have a slight fever...but we're all relaxing after an insane weekend, ready to hit the sack early.
With all the craziness of the weekend, I forgot to give a shout out to my parents who celebrated their cabillionth wedding anniversary on Saturday. Thanks for having a great marriage.

Parental Guidance Required

The family and I went to the first night of a new parenting class at church called, 'Parental Guidance Required'. It was really comforting and refreshing to sit with other parents and hear the truth: We all have no idea what we're doing, we're all a touch messed up but we love our kids and want to raise them well. The topic of last night's lesson was making sure our kids are relationally rich. Often times we over fill our children's lives with busyness and activities. Soccer, football, ballet, band, music lessons, swim meets, drama team, even church activities fill our child's schedule to the point where we don't spend quality time one on one with them, making them experientially rich but relationally poor.
I struggle everyday with guilt about not being home with Caden while he's little. I am thankful to work for a great company that has been very accommodating to me. I have a good salary, great benefits and fun co-workers...but honestly, my position is less than challenging and quite unfulfilling...I'm a writer and a singer and a musician at heart, disguised as a collections agent. Talk about a fish out of water!
Even so, I wake up each morning, thanking God that I have work when so many don't, thanking Him for Jay's new job and big-time thanking Him for Caden being in such a wonderful school. As a working mother, I couldn't ask for a better scenario...Caden goes to a Christian daycare that he loves and a close friend of mine (Amber!) is with him daily. She calls and texts midday to let me know how he is, and I LOVE that. I use to miss Caden and also wonder if he was ok. Now that he is in his new school, I just miss him...and that burden of anxiety for his safety has been graciously lifted from my heart.
Nonetheless, I always have this voice in the back of my head, reminding me of how precious time is and how I'm wasting it. How my child is growing and learning and changing everyday and I only get to experience an hour of it in the morning and 2 hours of it in the evening. Most nights I hate putting him to bed because I just want to be with him for one more hour.
It's hard to know whether this is the call of God to trust Him (even though the numbers won't work out) and leave my job or whether it is an unhealthy voice that I should ignore. My prayer has been that if God is calling me to be at home with Caden full-time again, he will be involved with the swift selling of our house, putting us in a less stressful financial situation that would give us more options. So far, no bites...so I'll keep making collection calls and trust that He's got this. Jeremiah 29:11.
Jay reminds me daily how great school as been for Caden, and I can't ignore that. He is healthy and happy and potty trained! There are serious benefits from him being where he is...in fact, the majority of my feelings are completely selfish. I miss him. I want to be with him....but only God knows where he needs to be in order to shape him into the man he is suppose to become. Maybe starting school at such a young age is going to give him the confidence he needs to be a positive and influential leader later in life....who knows? Maybe as an only child, school will give him the relationship he needs with children his own age, and he will learn about sharing and respect in a practical way. I rest in knowing that God sees the whole picture and not just the immediate situation...and as my dad reminded me the other day, "Sometimes what happens within us while we wait is more important than what we're waiting for."
In the meantime, I intend on making the few hours I get with Caden, saturated with love. The important thing is that we take our limited quantity of time and make it quality.
I'm excited for next Wednesday's class!

Well....

He won. After all of the vicious attacks from both sides, the constant misrepresentation of two men, the twisting of their words, the accusations of what is 'christian' and 'non-christian' voting...the praying, the waiting, the CRAZINESS, and (most obnoxious of all) the signs ruining the esthetics of our streets, we finally have a new leader.
I think the majority of people are excited about that...regardless of who that person ended up being...at least it's not the same guy it has been!
I, personally, am quite pleased with the outcome.
What I'm seeing today is a national sigh of relief mixed with disappointment, mixed with fear, mixed with excitement. There is some outlandish talk about our freedoms being revoked, how America will never be the same, we're all bound for disaster...etc. Then there is a sense of national pride from people who weren't sure for a while whether they were proud to be Americans, but now are...a refreshing of their faith in government doing what government is suppose to do (not to be confused with our faith in Christ...just a confidence that government will finally start doing what it was designed for and that things will get better)
Regardless of what side you find yourself on, Barack Obama has been elected leader of the United States of America and he will be the President of both the red and the blue. A man with a very unAmerican name, a very unconventional story and some fresh ideas is our new face in Washington. Don't be afraid of him. Pray for him. Don't focus all of your energy and attention on his faults, but be glad for his positive stances. America isn't set up in a way that any one man can single handedly destroy it anyay...if he gets too crazy, you guys will just revolt and impeach him :) so don't be so concerned with the doom and gloom messages of communism (which people are calling socialism without truly knowing the definition of either) and death. This mass production of fear is not biblical. It will be ok.
Now, I know that I've written a few of these notes which have sparked debate, ruffled some feathers, challenged thinking and sparked curiosity...my Christianity has been challenged, my morality has been challenged, my sanity has been challenged.
But here's the reality: I did my research. I prayed for direction. I listened with an open mind and a guarded heart to all view points and opinions and I am confident that the best man, out of the two, won...not that I had anything to do with it because I can't vote anyway..but being a non-American, I believe it was easier for me to form an opinion based on the facts...not based on the mindset passed down to me from generation to generation...because my generations aren't from here...and don't really care what happens here. No offense, but let's be honest, you (America) don't really care what happens up there either :)
I was able to form an unbiased opinion from scratch and I can confidently say that I am glad about who won.
Barack Obama supporter + Canadian citizen + sold out Christian = Kathy Stock. What a conglomeration! Some think it isn't possible, but I'm living proof.
I urge those who call themselves Christ followers to refrain from being vicious, ignorant, hateful and impatient even though you are angry and scared about what happened last night...regardless of whether you are standing for Christian ethics and ideals, we need to speak ALL things in love...otherwise, you have missed the point, you've added to the negative stereotype and you have embarrassed Christ. Repent of it and spend time in prayer asking God to ease your spirit and protect our new leader....all of this buzz is stirring up craziness and we don't want fear and hatred to drive dangerous people to do stupid things and hurt this man. Don't contribute to that.
For those of you happily rubbing the results of last nights election in the faces of the opposing side, please stop. People are legitimately concerned whether they should be or not, and I'm seeing a massive lack of respect. I'm happy right along with you, and by all means, express your excitement and personal victories, but don't be ugly. Remember: They had just as much hope for their candidate as you did for yours and they are greatly disappointed today. Pray for them.
Most importantly, my son is potty trained and I am going to get back to blogging about subjects like that, which really matter. :)

Wise Words, Not Written by Me

Thank you Sarah Clark for referring me to this blog.
This is one of the best blog posts I've read in a long time. Quite interesting...I didn't quote it all, because it's very long. You can read the entire thing by clicking on the title below:

My Journey from being a Reagan Republican to an Obama Democrat
by Don Miller

"I grew up in a Southern Baptist Church along the Gulf Coast in Texas. It was a suburban church nowhere near a bus line, protected as it were from most demographics that didn’t have our common interests. Those interests were embodied in the Republican Party, then led by President Ronald Reagan. Reagan captured our attention with an anti-communist, anti-atheist message, that was easy to understand, emboldening the American people against a clear threat , that of nuclear war and a godless communist regime. Reagan rode that same horse his entire career, even as an actor while President of the Screen Actors Guild, taking stands against blacklisted actors and directors thought to be sympathizers with communist ideology. The Democrats, on the other hand, were squishy, hard to understand, and believed life was complicated. They sounded intellectual and suspicious.

We were told that if Democrats were given power we would certainly be destroyed by nuclear weaponry, indefensible by our weak military. We were told that, if a Democrat lived in the white house, we would become a socialist nation and you would not be able to choose your own profession, drive a car that you wanted or attend a school of your preference. The government would make those decisions for you, we were told. We were taught all sorts of terrible things about the Democrats. We were told if a Democrat ever came to power the government would launch legislation that would mandate ten-percent of all public-school teachers be homosexuals. But when a Democrat came to power, none of that happened. Instead, the average family’s base-earning went up by $7,500 per year and we operated under a balanced budget. And we didn’t go to war against an enemy we couldn’t exactly find and certainly didn’t understand.

Our theology insinuated that shortly after original sin, once Adam and Eve at the apple, they registered as Democrats and went on with their lives, trying to create large governments that would enable lazy people through expensive social programs. We believed we were right and they were wrong, our ideas were Biblical and their ideas were pagan. And we did not know, exactly, who “they” were. Our church wasn’t on a bus line, and our church programs catered to a slim demographic, and so “they” didn’t come to our church. We were all of the same race, the same theological disposition. Our conservative, moral ethos transcended politics.......

We didn’t like Bill Clinton. We listened to Rush Limbaugh, who told us not to think, that he would think for us, and so we bitterly groused against large government and our supposedly growing welfare state. He was a pro-choice candidate with a feminist wife who belittled women who only wanted to “stay home and make cookies.” Those were our women, we thought. And they made very good cookies........

.....I was shocked to find out abortion had decreased by 18% under President Clinton, and another 8% under George W. Bush (a significant slowing) and the pro-life lobby had largely ignored the economic factors that contribute to unwanted pregnancy. Bill Clinton won me over, in part for the unbelievably harsh things my Christian friends would say about him after the Monica Lewinsky scandal (and in part because the original investigation that unearthed the Lewinsky case found the President innocent of all white-water charges), but mostly because he spent the last year of his Presidency traveling to the most poor regions of America apologizing for his failure as President to help those he referred to as “the least of these.” ......

Having met the enemy, I discovered the enemy wasn’t who I thought they were. They were flawed, even as we were flawed, but they were no less patriotic, and no less good. And what’s more, they weren’t out to get us like my conservative friends had told me.....

Since then, I’ve received more than my share of e-mails containing the most absurd lies. Barack Obama is a Marxist, a terrorist who trained with Al-Qaida, that he has a pet dragon he flies on nights when there is a full moon and that if we vote for him all the computers will stop working at midnight on new years eve. I wondered how simple a person would have to be to believe such lies.

I voted for Barack Obama (we vote early in Oregon) because I think he is right on healthcare (his plan will allow 27 million more Americans, including young, pregnant mothers to be cared for) and he is right on responsible fatherhood. I voted for Barack Obama because he will keep George W. Bush’ Faith-based Partnerships Program in play, only increasing it’s funding. I voted for Barack Obama because he has the respect of world leaders, which will be necessary to deliberate an American agenda around the world, and I voted for Barack Obama because he had the judgment to oppose the war in Iraq. I’ve taken some blows from the conservative right on my stance, but, even in public debate against McCain representatives, have not been deterred. I will not be guilted, shamed or controlled. I am not going to vote for one candidate because I have been made to fear the other. I support Barack Obama because he has beat back the dark hour of cynicism and irrational fear, and provided hope to a country closing in on itself. I believe there are great days ahead."

I hope this can bring comfort to those who voted one way but saw things turn out a very different way...and mostly I hope it can bring unity to Christian Americans who can have a tendency to be quite vicious with one another, missing the boat on the greatest commandment..

'Love the Lord your God with all Your heart....and Love your neighbour as yourself.'

CADEN ' 08!

In joking around with my friend Desmond, I realized that my 2.5 year old son would make an awesome President.
As President, Caden will provide free pull-ups for all...and not just any pull ups...the ones with the easy open sides!
He will also institute mandatory nap and snack times at all work places and schools across the nation...and he will end the fuel crisis by providing huge, plastic tricycles for everyone.
There will be no more war under Caden's reign, because he will join all nations in the singing of 'if all the raindrops were lemon drops and gum drops' until they forget why they were so angry in the first place.
The abortion rate will plummet to 0% due to a 4-8 year ban on sexual activity...because according to Caden, everyone, regardless of their gender, has a 'bird' thus, making reproduction impossible anyway.
Medical care won't be an issue because Caden will ensure the availability of gummy vitamins and unlimited kisses for boo-boo's. This will create jobs for millions of American mothers, who will be the boo-boo kiss providers. American Fathers will be able to obtain mass employment as super heroes.
Caden's campaign colours will be blue, red and orange..because they are really the only colours he knows/cares about.
He will implement strict policies such as, "we don't hit, we don't bite, we don't pull the cat's tail" which is sure to win him at least the feline vote.
He will fight for the rights of every American citizen because regardless of sex, race, religion, gender, age or economic status, Caden considers everyone he meets to be his 'dend' (friend)
It isn't too late to cast your ballet
CADEN STOCK '08!

Ramifications

I posted yesterdays blog on my facebook page, and so far there are about 30 comments about it, a lot of which are mine defending my view points as not to be misunderstood, but there's been a lot of feedback on (what I thought to be) a very neutral writing.
I was/am simply asking Americans to make an educated decision, based on nothing but the facts and above all else, prayer. My hope is that the issues and stances we're clinging too so tightly are God's and not our own.
As the hours count down quickly to the final votes, people are taking very deep, passionate stances on the issues that matter most to them. Anti-socialism, anti-abortion, anti-war, anti-tax increases, pro-health care, pro-tax relief, pro-life, pro-change...There are a million, kazillion issues flying around and everyone is holding tightly to their ideals, ready to strike like a cobra at anyone who opposes them.
Being divided on every major issue is not something America is foreign to. It's been this way for a long time...and if anything, the response I've seen to my writings(although not indicative of my popularity :) is comforting, because it shows that people care. They care about morality, they care about the direction the nation is headed, and although there is division on the issues, America is unified in it's common desire: to see the best come out of this whole thing.
I'm excited for tomorrow. To see who wins, to see where the country is headed. If John McCain wins I will be excited to see if he is able to overturn Roe Vs. Wade and decrease our dependence on foreign oil...if Barack Obama wins I will be excited to see if he is able to safely but quickly end this insane war and tackle the health care crisis to help the sick and deprived get the medical attention they need to live. Like I've said before, I've never lived in an America not governed by George W. Bush, so I'm excited to see if fresh change will come with a new face in Washington.
I'm going to try and back away from this now and pray/observe over the next day, that God's hand will be on this nation and the direction in which it is going. That's much more powerful than any words I could type.
God bless America. Literally.

To Those Allowed to Vote:

I'm a Canadian citizen living in the USA as a legal, permanent resident. Although I am allowed to work and live in America with my greencard, I can't be drafted for war, I can't take advantage of some government programs and I can't vote.
My friend Lance recently said, "For someone who can't vote, you're awfully opinionated!"
Can't argue with him there.
I honestly don't have a Presidential Candidate preference. As much as I like to challenge the thinking of traditional republicans :), there are things I enjoy and greatly admire about John McCain.
What he went through as a P.O.W is not something to scoff at, and he seems to have a clear head and a good heart with respectable views.
In the same breath, I think Barack Obama would make a fine President as well. Being Canadian, I greatly enjoy his ideas for socialized medicine and tax cuts for the middle class. He is a fantastic and charismatic speaker who reflects an air of change I know the country is longing for. In the words of my kid, I think he's a 'cool dude.'
My 'political' posts of the past have not been in favour of one candidate or another, but more about the issues...this particular post is the plea of someone who can't vote, urging those who can to spend the next day and half researching, praying and making an educated choice, whatever that choice may be for you.

Please do not vote based on attack ads. These are done to scare and intimidate and should have no place in the process. Contrary to some popular beliefs, I don't think Obama is the anti-Christ and I don't believe John McCain is George Bush the 3rd...attack ads and propaganda will lead you to believe some crazy things.

Please do not be a one-issue voter. In the case of abortion, (and trust me, I am without exception anti-abortion) if a candidate claims to be 'pro-life', find out if they believe in the death penalty for criminals. Can someone really be pro-life if they are willing to take the life of an adult who made a poor choice? Murder is murder. My prayer is that someday abortion will be illegal because I believe wholeheartedly that it is currently legalized murder, but if a candidate uses this issue to sway Christian votes without having a plan to change things once in office, the point (although very important in the grand scheme of things) is moot in the political process. Trust me, I too was mortified when I heard Barack Obama say that he wouldn't want to "punish his daughters with a baby" if they accidentally got pregnant before they wanted to, but make sure if voting against him that you believe John McCain is not just all talk, but action as well. I will be overwhelmingly happy if Roe Vs. Wade is overturned but I still urge voters to view ALL the issues, and make sure pro-life means exactly that...pro-life for EVERYONE.

Please do not base your vote on the media. Barack Obama has become what I like to call, "the trendy choice". There are a sea of young Americans who have jumped on the bandwagon to vote for him because it is the 'in' thing to do. Don't get me wrong, Barack Obama has done a great job of marketing himself, but this isn't about advertising, it's about knowing the issues and voting based on them. Like my friend Kristy wrote in a post a few days ago, don't vote based on what you've seen on Saturday Night Live, facebook, TMZ or Entertainment Tonight. I understand that coffee shops, macbooks, funky clothes, recycling and indie music is 'cool' but refrain from voting for Obama simply because he seems like the trendier choice.

I urge you to not be blindly sold out for the "left" or the "right". Don't hold so tight to your personal agenda that you reject to see the truth for what it is.

Above all else, pray like crazy for direction in the voting process.

If anyone would like to donate their 'i voted' sticker to me on Tuesday, I hear you can get a free donut by showing it at Krispy Kreme :)