Tiny Dancer

Lily was the cutest dancing doll in her ballet school's Nutcracker performance.  We were so proud of her for going up on stage and doing the routine with her little class.  Four year olds in tutus...nothing cuter.  My Mom was town at the last minute as a stopover while heading to Southern California, so she was able to come see Lily perform.  We sure do love our little Lily Bean. 

Sutters Mill

California State Parks had an #OptOutside initiative for the day after Thanksgiving.  Select parks were free that day, so we took advantage and visited Sutters Mill, where gold was discovered in California.  It was a beautiful park, with so much history attached to it that my geeky little history heart was overjoyed.  We had such a good time; I'm glad Lily is a little adventurer and loves to explore with us.  She's an awesome traveling buddy. 

This is where the Trump campaign has taken us

Whenever we hear Donald Trump speak, it is always filled with hate and fear-mongering.  Those who are different than him (Muslims, Mexicans, Syrians, etc.) and disagree with him, are denegrated and beaten down, talked about as if they were less than human.  He whips his crowds and supporters up into a frenzy, having them believe that spewing such hatred is normal and acceptable.  He talks about shooting people, beating protestors up, incites violence, and does it all with the attitude that he is unaccountable for his actions.

Yesterday, two women pushing their babies in strollers down the sidewalk in Brooklyn were attacked by another woman who pulled their hijabs off them, striking them in the face and body, and then pushing the strollers over, with the babies inside.  All because the two women happened to be Muslim.  Apparently, this is "the United States of America, and [they're] not supposed to be different from us."

In Oklahoma last year, in October, a man ran a woman over with his car and tried to flee the scene.  He was their neighbor and for years had hurled racial slurs at them and anyone who visited them.  When he bonded out of  jail, he continued to harrass them.  Finally, in August of this year, he was threatening them with a gun.  The police were called, but left without speaking to the man.  He came back out of his house, and shot their son, Khalid, in the chest while Khalid was standing on his parents porch.  This man did not care that his Lebanese neighbors were citzens or Christians.  He called them "Aye-rabs" and "dirty Moos-lims," because of how they looked.  He had no provocation to shoot and kill this man besides blind hatred.

These are only a few of the stories that have struck me in their overwhelming viciousness.  I see these hate crimes becoming more prevelant since the Presidential primaries have started, mostly because of the overwhelming hate I see coming out of the Republican party, with Trump as the standard-bearer.  People might have hated before, but they feel empowered in their actions when someone who is running for President of the United States of America stands at a podium, and tells them that we should hate our Muslim neighbors.  That Mexicans who come to this country are horrible people that deserve to be deported en masse (we're not even going to get into the issues of legal vs. illegal and the immigration process--this isn't about that issue).  They see a presidential candidate who feels that it is acceptable to mock someone because they have a disability.  Who thinks that sexual assaults in the military are just a result of putting men and women in the same place, instead of addressing the rape culture that is so prevelant in our county.

But this is where Trump has brought us as a country. He is spewing hatred and vitriol.  This isn't representative of the values of our country.  We are a nation of diverse individuals who are better and stronger when we love our neighbor.  This isn't what Trump and his supporters are showing.  Hatred is what comes from that camp.

I don't care what your political affiliation is.  When you vote for Trump, you are not voting for what the Republican party should (and most Republicans do) stand for.  You are voting for hatred, for a person who tears the country apart and does not bring it together.  Don't blindly vote for a person because they are attached to the political party you identify with.  If you don't want to vote for Hilary Clinton, fine.  Johnson/Weld is a valid choice.  If you don't like them, write in Mickey Mouse.  I don't care.  But when you vote for Trump, remember the viciousness and hatred that you are supporting.

I love my country.  I love the ideals that our founding fathers espoused and the ideals that we strive for.  But what I see today are not those ideals.  It is a giant step backwards.  We have come so far as a country in the 240 years since it was established.  But that is being lost.   If you believe that we are a nation founded under Christian values, then remember what Jesus taught: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." (Matthew 22:37-39).

Love your neighbor as you would yourself.  Don't let hatred and violence win the day.

A Little Bit about Lily

Just a few questions I asked Lily the other day.  I'm pretty sure my favorite thing is something other than putting her in time out, but we'll see what she says next year.  

What is your name? Lily
How old are you? 4
When is your birthday? August 4th
How old is Mama? I don't know
How old is Daddy? I don't know
What is your favorite color? Blue
What is your favorite food? Mac & Cheese
Who is your best friend? Farren
What is your favorite show? Paw Patrol
What is your favorite movie? Frozen
What is your favorite song? Ice cream
What is your favorite animal? Pigs
What are you scared of? Shadows
What makes you happy? Mama & Dad
Where is your favorite place to go? Park
What do you want to be when grow up? Ice cream
What's mama's favorite thing to do? Put somebody in time out
What does love mean? When you hug somebody and they make you happy!

Celebrating with Friends!

Lily turned four on August 4th, and had a little party with her friends a couple days later.  Her little buddies came over and played, ate lunch, played some more, and had a pinata and cake.  The girls glommed onto the dress-up, while the boys stayed outside with the trucks.  It was pretty funny to watch them divide and play.  These kids that Lily is growing up with are all amazing.  I can't wait to watch them over the years and see how their friendships develop.  

One of the girls decided to be a doctor and give check-ups to all
the princesses.  It was a princess clinic and it was the cutest thing ever. 

Lily Turns Four!

My parents and Aunt Jan & Uncle Jordan were in town on Lily's birthday, so we had a little family party for her on the actual day, rather than just the usual celebration with the three of us.  A couple of her cousins were at Kevin's parents house that day, so they joined in on the fun, too.  Lily loves a party, attention, and most of all, opening presents.  Best of all, the weather has been incredibly mild for August, so eating outside was incredibly pleasant!

My dad made Lily a jewlery/accessory case that is
pretty amazing.  It came with a bunch of my mom's old
costume jewlery, so Lily is in heaven.

There is a secret compartment, too.  Grandpa Ken
is pretty talented. 

lily lately

lounging on a sunny, spring day.
with milk and strawberries, of course.

lily, ren, and soren.
these three are such good buddies and i love it!

mismatched shoes are the latest in travel fashion.

pretty in purple and ready for the day.

i don't get kids, sometimes.

"mama, i'm ready."
what i heard while i was in another room.
what i found when i walked out to see what she was ready for.

the force is strong is this one.

she's wild, crazy, and all mine.
i'm grateful to be her mama.