I'm so PROUD of Hubby!

Every once in an while we'll get an email from someone in Dh's family supporting their religious/political/ignorant ideals. Well yesterday's took the cake. I told hubby I was tempted to shoot of an email to SIL to the effect of please quit sending this ignorant, hate spreading smut to my house, but in the cause of family peace I did nothing, and just took a few deep breaths. Today hubby composed the following email and sent it back, reply all! Sometimes I just love that man.

Without posting the original (long email) it was entitled "Can a good Muslim be a good American". The text of it went on and on about how "logically" no they can't so we need to be suspicious of any Muslim living in our country. Plus there was an add on on the bottom entitled "Allah or Jesus" and it made the argument of how Islam leader's say all non-Muslims need to be killed, but how the pope wouldn't say such a thing. Um, how long ago was the Spanish Inquisition??????

Here's Hubby's reply. So much more thought out then mine would have been, and no parts that would need to be bleeped out on prime-time TV ;-)

It is amazing the ignorance people have to excusing hate. "Can a good Muslim be a good American"? I think the proper question would be "Can American's justify themselves as good Christians?"

America was founded on the basis of religious and personal freedom. Basing whether or not a person is a "good american" is irrelavent on their religous beliefs. Some of the most patriotic people of this country - who would give their lives for this land - are also members of the KKK. Are they "True blooded Christian American's"?

I know several muslims. They are kind, hardworking, loyal to this country - Americans. They would give you the shirt off their back to help ANYONE in need. They would also die for this country if it were called. Judging an entire group of people for a few radical's actions is assinine. If that were the case, American's should be judged as the most perverted, immoral, murderer's of the world. Basing this on the social and political "leaders" we have had: George Bush, Bill Clinton, David Koresh, Kenneth Lay, Jimmy Swaggart. Are all American's guilty for the sins of these?"

Call it what you wish....it's still the truth." It is amazing what 'truth' is. Is it what is actually there? Or what you want to believe is true. There is enough hatred in this world. Do we need to go looking for more? Not so long ago, it was the communists that all who were to despise. Now its the muslims. Who next? Those who disagree with the George Bush?

Christ COMMANDED "Love your neighbor as yourself". He didn't say "Love everyone except muslims, communists, and homosexuals". Just because I don't agree with their beliefs does not excuse the right to hate nor question a person's loyalty to this country.PGT

**notice the bit about homosexuals??? In case you don't know or forgot. SIL who sent this IS one!!! For the record, I don't have a problem with it, or think it's immoral, or a sin. DH does, but that's one of many places our belives differ. I just like the little passive aggressiveness of it. The "reap what you sow" mentality.

Random memories and thoughts from vacation

Ok, there will be no order to this, or really a serial logic since I'm SO NOT ORGANIZED yet, so I'll just hit the high (and low) points of our 2500+ mile drive through IN,IL,Iowa,NE,SD,MN,WI, and back through IL, and IN again. Plus the visit with both sets of family.

---IL sucks. The speed limit when driving or towing any kind of a camper on the freeway is 55 mph. And it's a BIG state.

---Why do the kids always behave the worst when you need them to behave the best? They were really good for the most part except at DH's friend's parents house (although they love kids and were wonderful about it), DH's sister's house (She and her "roommate" don't have kids, never did, and I don't think even like them. Plus they have tons of breakables, and cats that also hate kids), and while we were meeting an online friend for a night of camping and her family grrrrr.

---Hubby insisted on WAY overpaying the dog sitter. I couldn't figure out why till he said that he use to get paid more then double what we did pay for FARM sitting...umm little bit of difference babes.

---I really like my online friend in person, and her hubby seemed nice. Wish I had more then just a couple hours to spend with her, or lived closer to her.

---My sister told me a big revelation her and her DH had about me and Hubby...We don't know what we want in life, and that's why we bounce around so much...Really??? I'd have NEVER guessed that one.

---Hubby and I *think* we are starting to figure it out a little bit. I *think* we want to settle down on a hobby farm somewhere between family's. Hubby's voting for SD, I'm thinking western or southern MN. No we have NO idea when or how this could happen. Unfortunately there aren't alot of jobs for computer geeks in the middle of nowhere (and to clarify we MUST be within 30 minutes of a town big enough to have a walmart, although I'd probably try to support the town's businesses.) I'd like to be 3 hours from my family...hubby wants a town 5 hours away, where there may just be a few computer geek jobs. I might be able to handle that.

---No I haven't lost my mind I've always wanted a hobby farm since I was a kid, just never thought of it as a possibility because I'm too outspoken for a small town, but if I can stand KY I can stand any small town.

---I might even consider moving near DH's family if his friend's parents wanted to leave us their place in their will or something...Yes the thought crossed my mind, no this would never happen since even though their son (Dh's friend) died last year they have other unofficial kids....Plus their step-grandson. And mainly they sold that half of their farm, but the people who currently own it "asked them" to live in it so it doesn't become a meth lab. Must be nice people to let them stay in their home rent free. My understanding is most farmers would burn it for the "crop land" which would be a huge shame. Anyway Hubby and I LOVE LOVE LOVE their house, and hubby took pictures of it so if we were to ever build or anything we could try to re-create it...With a few modern amenities...Like a new kitchen, a shower, more then one bathroom, and a foundation that's not crumbling. I might post a few if I can get them off hubby's computer.

---It's really sad visiting the parents of a friend who died. No one in their 30's should die before their parents and when their step-son they were a SAHD for a while too is 11, and at an age they need their dad. I only met him and the kid once, but she said the boy is taking it really hard. Hubby started bawling the minute he walked in the door, and even I almost did. The mother shouldn't be the one comforting people.

---BIL sprung on Hubby that he might have 3 more grown children, 1 for sure, but he's not sure if the twins are his. Both mom's (yes different mom's) were engaged to other people at the time they got pregnant. The twin's hubby died when the kids were little so she wanted to keep the possibility of them being BIL's hush hush so she'd get the SSI money....ok...I'm not touching that one with a 10 foot pole, but really I'm not surprised. I "think" I got that story right. I was just trying to think of a reply so I may have heard some of it wrong.

---MIL and other brother's wife are worried about above mentioned BIL's 4yr old. They kept saying autism, and I kept thinking they were over reacting. They're not. Hopefully it's nothing more then a more serious language problem then #1 has, but I think a high functioning autism is not out of the question given my qualifications that I have a friend who's son is Autistic (and yes her and I were laughing about my MIL wanting me to diagnose niece on this point). The parents keep saying there's no problem, just a little speech and social delays from being raised alone on the farm...She'll catch up in school...Um Yeah. I tried to stress to them in a non-threatening normal conversation how in my research on #1's issues I found Language delays can impede schooling if not delt with early enough. She starts pre-school this year. Hope the parents will listen to the school

---Life around my family is chaotic. I'm not use to the noise any more

---Now that we're home #1 is asking when can we go on vacation to see everyone again. #2 is throwing MAJOR Tantrums ( I understand you people who say 3's are hard now) and I have piles of laundry patiently waiting for me in the basement....yipee.

Not vacation but today at Aldi's (a very tiny grocery store with 1 clerk) I got to be the mother that can't control her children all the old people glare at. It started out great. Both kids wanted in the cart, wow, then #1 accidentally dropped a carton of eggs he was holding oops embarrassing, but it was an accident. At the checkout #2 had a MAJOR tantrum because I put the carrots in the bag instead of letting him do it, I didn't know he wanted to do it. I put him down to put the bags in the cart and he picked up the gallon of milk and threw it on the floor busting the side out of it. Needless to say the boys are drinking pwd. milk today, and I stopped for an Iced Mocha on the way home. I did apologize to the lady at the coffee place drive through for the screaming coming from the back seat, and gave her a big tip.

I also figured out that if you tie DS's door knob to the bathroom door knob it effectively works as a lock on his door while he's in time out and I'm drinking my coffee regaining my composure so I don't kill the child. Luckily I remembered my sister's locking me in the bathroom after my shower...of course they also swiped all the clothes and towels as well.

Oh and next week we get to start potty training so hopefully #2 can go to school this year. I'm SO looking forward to that ! NOT!

I'm waxed, dyed, plucked, and painted

No it's not a hot date with Hubby. I'm off on vacation we leave early tomarrow morning for the exciting destination of the IL's in NEBRASKA>>>>>AHHHHHH....ok, it really isn't that bad. I'd just like to some day take a real vacation.

Anywho, from there we're headed to see my family in MN and then meet an online friend in WI for a night of camping. Yay. It will be nice to put a face to the name. Plus her #1 is #1's age.

So unless I find somewhere to get my fix. I'll be back in 2 weeks.

Climbing up on my soapbox

I'd urge everyone to check out and join Stopglobalwarning.org It not only is drawing awareness to the very real problem of global warming, it also gives some very simple ideas on how everyone can make a diffrence, even with the small things they can do.

Ok, I'm getting down now.

Fighting over girls has already started

Last night we went to fire works at our local government center. They have a nice display every year with a bunch of vendor tables, music, fire trucks, face painting etc. #1 ran into his girlfriend "L" from his park program, and asked her to come sit on our blanket (I know awww how cute) So #1 and his girl were sitting next to each other, and #2 kept trying to squish between them. I was relieved that when L ran back to her mommy #2 plopped RIGHT down next to #1, Whew he's jealous of #2 giving someone else attention and wasn't trying to steal his girl

#1 and L are so funny We see her and her mommy at our 1 hour a week sports class, but before class for some reason they like to chase each other, and play tag. He's obnoxious and she's shy in a flirty sort of way. I really do think it's his first crush...and yes he's only 5. He's also been saying he needs to find a girl to marry and seems quite adamant about it.

So yesterday. It was nice quiet day over all. My sister and her family left in the morning. We just had a lay around do nothing day. After the boys naps we went out to dinner at a new Indian restraunt. Really good, but slightly too fancy for the boys. Then we went to the city center for the 4th of July celebration, despite the occasional showers. Luckily it cleared up enough for fireworks or we would have had one VERY disappointed little boy.