If this doesn't get you thinking...

This was sent to me by email, and I had to share.

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.

My confession:

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees... I don't feel threatened... I don't feel discriminated against... That's what they are, Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, "Merry Christmas" to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu.. If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we sent to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her "How could God let something like this happen?" (regarding Hurricane Katrina).. Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said "I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government, and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?

In light of recent events.. Terrorists attacks, school shootings, etc.. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbour as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem. (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about.. and we said OK.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with "We reap what we sow."

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through email and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing yet?

24 Weeks, 4 Days

It's a thrill that everything that I'm experiencing now with this pregnancy is a new experience! I am officially past the scary 23-week mark, and it feels great.

Life has been a whirlwind for the last couple of weeks - that also feels great. It's been a really nice distraction getting all moved & settled into this new place; I think that was divine timing, to keep my mind off of what might happen at 22-23 weeks into the pregnancy.

Our baby is almost constantly assuring me that all is well in there - he/she is moving so much, and I can't get enough!

There isn't too much new otherwise. Winter is on its way - we got our first snow today, and gave our furnace a good test! I stayed warm & cozy all day in our house. We'll see what happens as the weather gets colder & colder!

D.

21 Weeks, 6 Days

Wow, so I completely failed at doing 30 posts in 30 days. Life has been busy - to say the least. So here's an update - maybe I'll get to the rest of those 30 posts eventually.

Here I am at 21 Weeks and 6 Days - 22 Weeks tomorrow! Healthwise, all is well. I saw the midwife yesterday, where we went over the ultrasound results, and everything looks great. She says Baby and I are growing beautifully & everything is where it should be, in terms of "cervical length" (too much information? I apologize). In fact, it's well above normal at this point... phew! My midwives have been incredible, and are so willing to do whatever they can to help keep my mind at ease as we get closer to that 23 week mark, which is the point where we lost the twins. Not too long now, and we'll be past that scary week - I think getting past that will be a huge milestone, and I'm hoping it helps ease my mind a lot.

The fears come and go - I have to say, I'm not at stressed as I expected I would be at this point in the pregnancy.. I guess I just have to trust that it's going to work out this time, or at least, convince myself that I can trust in that.

This baby has been moving like crazy! I've noticed so much movement especially in the last week or so. It's so exciting to feel that again, I just love it! I feel like I can just rest in knowing our baby is doing well in there - and just enjoy every moment that I feel kicking & wiggling. I'm doing my very best to just simply enjoy it, and not compare to last time around.

Here's another exciting tidbit about our lives! We have officially bought a house! I haven't been too quick to "advertise", because we've been disappointed a few too many times, when we thought we were buying a house. But we're 4 days away from the possession date, the papers have been signed - I don't think anything can stop us now! The house is 107 years old, and has been renovated & kept up very well - everything major (well, except for the old windows) has been addressed - new furnace, foundation has been inspected & is in good shape, roofing is new. We are SO excited to have found this place, and cannot wait to get in there!

Needless to say, our minds & lives have been occupied - moving is a lot of work! But boy, we feel blessed. There have been so many indications that God is just working this one out. He is amazing.

D.

Day Four & Day Five combined!

Oopsie... so I'm not keeping up. I'm home at my parents' place for Thanksgiving until Thursday, so this may happen again before then!



Day Four *Favourite book - has it changed since our loss?*

My current favourite book... I really don't read much, and I certainly don't have a book that I read over & over. Currently I am hooked on my "Your Pregnancy, Week by Week" book! It's interesting, I would answer this question a bit differently than you would think. The actual book hasn't changed since our loss, but the way that I read this particular book has sure changed since our loss. Every time the book tells me how big our baby is, and what is developing in our baby, I can't help but think, "we've been here before" ... and compare the size of this baby to the size that the twins were when they were born. It's a bittersweet experience following the growth of this baby, and I don't think it will be truly sweet until we get past the 1 pound stage.



Day Five *Favourite quote*



My favourite quote is pretty timeless - I would have listed this as one of my favourite quotes before our loss, and it's definitely still up there. I'm sure it always will be.



Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

D.

Day Three

*tv show that helped me get through the loss, or that moves me*

For a very long time after we lost the twins, I could not watch this show, but have recently started watching it again. A Baby Story. I can hardly get through an episode without crying & imagining the joy I will feel when I'm handed my slimy crying baby! I can't wait.

D.

Day Two

*a movie that jumps out at me after our loss*

The only movie that reminds me of our loss, or jumps out at me after our loss, is Cool Runnings. Very random, I know. The reason, is because my family was here after we lost the twins, which was also around the time of the Winter Olympics. We got talking about the Olympics when they were in Calgary, and then got talking about the fact that a lot of the movie Cool Runnings was taped here in Calgary. The night before my family left to go back home, we all watched Cool Runnings together. I remember feeling a bit guilty enjoying myself, and laughing at the movie, but it was a good break from all of the sadness.

D.

Thirty posts in thirty days: Day One

Day One: A song that reminds you of your child(ren), or one that you can't listen to anymore and why.

It's difficult to name just one song that reminds me of Michael & Gabriel in the strongest way, but the first song that pops into my head when asked this question is, "When it's all been said and done" By Robin Mark. We played this song at the end of the funeral, and it really puts life, and Faith into perspective. I haven't listened to it in quite some time, but when I listened to it today, it gave me an overwhelming sense of God, and what's important.

"... I will always sing your praise, here on earth & ever after..."

D.