Simply A Musing Blog

Hi. It's me again. Stepping back up on my soapbox to talk to you about yet another bill up for approval in Congress. I'm talking about the HealthCare Reform Bill, or H.R. 3200—“America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009” . Folks, this bill is dangerous for many reasons, including the abortion on demand mentioned here. It also allows the "federal government to fund home visitation programs, where government officials would enter homes and monitor children and instruct parents in how to raise their children." In addition to all of that, there is actually a clause that states people who choose not to carry insurance could be subject to FINES. What is happening to our freedoms, Americans? If you believe this is an egregious wrong, as I do, please contact your senators and congressman as a concerned citizen. I know not all of us are politically active; but I just have to pass this on to you and ask you to pray about how God would want us to act and to pray. More detai...

One of my clients informed me a couple of days ago that her blog was nominated for "Best Eye Candy Blog" for the 2009 BlogLuxe Awards. I'm really wanting to help her win (by the way, if she wins, I win in a way too, since I designed it) - so I'm asking you, my dear faithful readers (all three of you!) to go here: BloxLuxe and look for the "Best Eye Candy" Category. Then, you'll want to look for "She Takes on The World" - which is currently second! You can vote once a day every day if you like...but seriously, we would just LOVE your vote! Look on the bright side! Subscribe via my RSS feed.

Have you heard about Creation Science Evangelism's new website called "Creation Minute"? Creation Minute is an exciting series hosted by Eric Hovind that explores the creation worldview using cutting-edge visual effects and digital technology. Each episode challenges the evolution theory and gives evidence of the Bible's historical and scientific accuracy. It's not just a website for homeschoolers, although if you DO homeschool, I highly recommend this as a resource. Click on over and check it out...it will help me, because I'm trying to win an iPod touch for my husband and they are running a contest! :) Thanks bunches! Look on the bright side! Subscribe via my RSS feed.

Look what I won on Lisa B's blog! Tickets to the online conference "A Woman Inspired Event"! I'm so excited. :) Here's a little preview of what is in store for me next week. If you're interested, the tickets were on sale through April 1st for only $12.95 for the whole four days. I checked today and the cost is STILL only $12.95 through paypal...but it could be going up soon. Look on the bright side! Subscribe via my RSS feed.

"Give me liberty or give me death..." "I have a dream..." "Ask not what your country can do for you..." Highly impactful words spoken during times of great need in our country. Words spoken that, in many ways, changed the course of history and altered the lives of even the men that spoke them. They each had a unique vision, and their passion was evident not only in their actions, but also in their spoken words. Much like these leaders, I have a great desire to serve and make a difference. I too, have a voice that is longing to be heard. While I am quite sure that I will not be another Patrick Henry, Martin Luther, or John F. Kennedy -- I do know that the reason I was put here on this earth was to encourage and inspire other women through my service in women's ministry. I am sure of that. I want to be as Isaiah and say "Here am I, Lord, send me." Use me if you will, imperfections and all. We are living in turbulent times -- banks and investmen...

Representative Pete Hoekstra (R-MI) is as passionate as we are about the Parental Rights Amendment, and he has committed to introducing the bill in the House again this year. Unlike last year, though, we are introducing it this year with the intent to get it passed. (Rep. Hoekstra introduced the bill last year with the intention of beginning discussion on parental rights issues.) Therefore, Rep. Hoekstra wants to have 50 co-sponsors by the time he presents the amendment bill in the House. Fifty is not a requirement, nor a magic number. But it is a significant number. Enough, we hope, to communicate to the committee and to the entire House that we are serious about this bill. As of today, we have 31 co-sponsors committed to joining Rep. Hoekstra. We need 19 more to reach our goal and introduce this bill in the House of Representatives. Today, we need your help to reach that goal. Please check our list of sponsors and take the appropriate action: 1) If you live in the district of a repr...

Ahem. From time to time, I get up on a soapbox proclaiming with zest over something I am passionate about. I usually make every attempt to thoroughly research before doing so. That said, on the subject of the CPSIA, there is so much MISinformation circulating the internet, that I am afraid I might have gotten caught up in the moment. My dear sweet friend, Jeanette sent me a link from Snopes regarding the CSPIA post I published yesterday. In effect, it says that it will not affect used children's clothing, etc, etc, etc... I now return you back to your regularly scheduled blog reading, albeit with a redder face. ;) Look on the bright side! Subscribe via my RSS feed.

When I started seeing the "Save the Handmade" signs pop up on the internet, I thought, "how cute" - let's all save handmade. I had no idea that there was an actual law that had passed placing a ban on items created for children under the age of twelve. I am not sure exactly when I became aware of the law, but I do wish that I had known sooner. If you stuck me in a court of law, I don't think enough evidence could be found to ever convict me of being any kind of activist - not because I don't care, but I'm usually silent on controversial matters. However, I feel so passionately about this because the law is so far reaching and affect so many different aspects of how we will be allowed to raise our children. As I've researched this new law out, I have grown increasingly concerned about a number of things. Shannon from Rocks in My Dryer has posted an informative interview with Heather from Blessed Nest as to how the laws will affect the cottage...

I received this email on a homeschooling site and wanted to pass it on to those of you that might not be aware that there is a possibility of the fact that we will no longer be able to resell "used" Children's books for homeschooling. I am in the process of researching this out and found the CPSCIA link regarding these items and this is what it says: Does the new requirement for total lead on children's products apply to children's books, cassettes and CD's, printed game boards, posters and other printed goods used for children's education? In general, yes. CPSIA defines children’s products as those products intended primarily for use by children 12 and under. Accordingly, these products would be subject to the lead limit for paint and surface coatings at 16 CFR part 1303 (and the 90 ppm lead paint limit effective August 14, 2009) as well as the new lead limits for children’s products containing lead (600 ppm lead limit effective February 10, 2009...

It's the day before the election and thus far, I have been mostly silent on the issues of the election and have managed to avoid the mudslinging that is circulating on both sides via the internet and tv campaigns. Mostly, it's because I'm not that good at voicing my opinions and thoughts as eloquently as Shannon or Dana , but even more so, I think it's because in my heart, I'm a peacemaker, and I don't like conflict. At all. However, since today is the day before the election, I felt it necessary to speak about something. I have heard many Christians say that they will not even vote this year because they don't like the choices that have been presented to them, which is shocking to me for many reasons. If you are a Bible-believing Christian, you should realize that whether we like it or not, these are the candidates that God has chosen for us. Yep, God chose them. He's allowed them to get this far - and the rest is up to us. In Genesis 1:28, the Bible s...

Okay, y'all. I have a huge favor to ask of you if you have the time. {insert big grin here} My dear, sweet, beautiful niece, Brooke VanOoyen, needs your help. She is a senior this year and is up for a $1000 college scholarship photo contest on this site . It would be a tremendous blessing for her to win that scholarship - it would pay for her books for the first year of college, and I know her mom would really appreciate not having to pay that out of her own pocket (what mom wouldn't?) The problem is, she only has 26 votes! The top person has over 700! I only have about 438 folks subscribed to my blog at this time, and I know that not everyone will even see this or much less read it. But I'm asking that those of you who DO see it and read it, just click over to this site and find her name "Vanooyen, Brooke" and vote for her. Really? It takes about 20 seconds. What's 20 seconds out of your life? Unless you're a snail...then I suppose it would be a lot. Tha...

Hi there! My name is Karen and I'm your hostess for tonight's BlogHop '08 here at Simply Amusing Blog. Phew! You caught me with my hair still in curlers and my face unmade! I've been working on blog designs all day and haven't even had a chance to make anything super-fab for us to eat - and I'm famished, how about you? Let's see...I've got some queso and chips...that's about as good as it gets in my house on the spur of the moment...I'll throw em in a bowl for us to share. Want some Diet Dr. Pepper? It's either that or sweet tea, I'm afraid. There's a lot of partying going on tonight - so why not just subscribe to my feed and then you can have me delivered right to your inbox in the morning? Go now! Visit our fellow bloggers! Look on the bright side! Subscribe via RSS.

My blogging buddy Robin from Pensieve cooked up a very special get-together for those of us not attending the BlogHer conference in San Francisco this week. Now, I don't know about you, but I am determined to be oh so happy for everyone who actually gets to go this year -- there's always next year for me. Right? :) But this Blog Hop has been designed to encourage us to get out of our funk and get funky! Did I just say get funky? Seriously? I did, didn't I? To join in the fun, and for all the details - go to Robin's place by simply clicking on the 50's sock hop girl to the left -- she'll take you right to the post! So grab the button and help her promote it - she'd love to see a ton of us there! Here's the code, courtesy of my good pal, Megan of Fried Okra : <a href = "http://pensieve.typepad.com/pensieve/2008/07/bloghop-08-your.html"><img src = "http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b381/mamabean/bloghop08.jpg"></a> See...

This is the final installment of the Cancer Awareness series, answering the rest of the questions (with the exception of one that required more detailed information and got help up, but I will try to get it added later today) (it's in there now!) from y'all regarding breast and cervix cancers. If you missed Part 1, you can go here to read the answers you asked about skin and other types of cancer. I have been amazed by the response to this campaign and I'm happy to say that I feel so blessed to have been a part of it. I have yet to meet a woman who doesn't know at least one other person who has or has had cancer. We just learned last week that my MIL's aunt has relapsed and is now in her third round of chemo treatments for pancreatic cancer, which has a poor survival rate. Very few victims live longer than five years beyond initial diagnosis - my MIL's mother lasted just under 6 months. Cancer is a thief. I hate it - and with that being said, I am so thankful ...

I am so thrilled at the response to this campaign to help raise awareness and promote early detection for cancer in women - there were more questions than the oncologists expected, so they have asked if we could divide them into two segments, the first of which you see today, covering skin cancer and some other types. The next set of questions will be posted next Friday 5/30, so if you don't see your question - bookmark this and come back next week! I'd like to take just a moment and introduce you to one of the Doctors that will be answering questions so you know who you're dealing with and to thank her for her time. If you live in the Dallas area Dr. Jessica Hals,D.O. - a medical oncologist with Texas Oncology, specializes in medical oncology with a special interest in colorectal cancers, lung cancers, and head and neck cancers, as well as palliative care and end of life care issues. Dr. Hals is board certified in medical oncology and internal medicine. She received her d...

**This is a sticky post and will remain up top until Sunday 5/18. Please scroll down for new posts!** Cancer. It has to be one of the ugliest words in the English language, if you ask me. It is no respector of persons and will take them whether they are young or old, short or tall, skinny or plump, male or female. Almost every woman I know has had someone stolen from them by cancer. I specifically chose the word "stolen" because that's really what it is. Most cancer is treatable, if not curable , if detected early enough. But we don't take the preventative measures because we think it can't happen to us, or we're too young, or we don't have the money, or a million other excuses. I've heard them all and even used them myself. But no longer. You see, I can't afford not to be screened. I have three children. All under the age of 12. How could I possibly face them and tell them that they just aren't worth the extra money or inconvenience that it m...