Keith Urban

We went to see Keith Urban last night, (me and Pooh, Brad had to work) at the Opry here in Nashville. It was great! The neat thing about the Opry is that they will let you come to the stage at anytime and take as many pictures as you want. So the whole time he was performing I was doing just that. I got some really good shots. He is an amazing musician.

What fun!

Why do we need a jungle gym when we have a Dad?

I cherish moments like this when the fun and the laughter take over and the worries of the world fade away.

Yum....

This was too cute not to share!

WARNING....A LONG RANT

This is nuts. I'm outraged! It seems as if the world has lost its mind, so to speak. I look around and it just seems that everything is falling apart. People have lost all common sense.

For to long I have been apathetic. I've just sat by and watched the world fall apart and not done anything about it. I have to make a confession. Until two weeks ago, I stood against abortion. One might think that is a good thing (and it is), but I didn't stand against it because I was informed. I stood against it b/c it was expected of me in a sense. I am after all "an evangelical christian". But on the inside I was almost sympathetic to the other sides argument. Babies growing up without homes, unwanted, unloved, often times abused by those who didn't want them in the first place. Wouldn't it be better to just end the life of the child before it had to experience the horrors of what was ahead? At least that is what I told myself, trying to give the other side some compassion and understanding. Yea, well no more! I'm informed. I watched a video on abortion, abortion procedures, clinics, nurses...you name it. The video was not biased. It didn't play sides, it was just informative. After seeing it, I'm truly disgusted by those who think this treatment of unborn children is ok, or that it is a "right". I feel like screaming at the top of my lungs "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU PEOPLE THINKING". The video showed (at each stage of an abortion, including 40 weeks gestation) what a baby looked like after it was killed. OUTRAGE, I tell you. People who think this is the "right" of the women to choose are cold blooded killers. Brains are sucked out, while the baby is kicking uncontrollably, limbs are torn off and thrown in the dumpster as waste, and much more.

So this is my new position: If you don't want a baby don't have sex! It's really pretty simple. Be a responsible member of society. Even in the case of rape I don't think you should be allowed to take anothers life because someone violated yours. If you don't want a baby, can't love the baby, give it up to someone who does have love to offer.

Then I read this blog on Dr. Mohler's commentary (President of Southern Seminary) and I'm sitting there with my jaw dropped going "Really, now this".....Now its ok to kill the old people too. My friend and I were just talking about this yesterday. It's scary to think that people are really pushing this kind of agenda on the general public. A link to the article is below. I know....after reading this longggggg....rant you don't want to read another one, but its worth it. We should be informed of the things headed our way.

http://www.albertmohler.com/blog_read.php?id=2542

WhewWho......

Brad is back at work today. He has been off since July 16th for shoulder surgery. God has used this time to teach us both many things. To many to mention in a blog. None the less we are very thankful that Brad returned to work today. Three weeks earlier than most shoulder surgery patients.

I am home with two sick children today (Neal & Brennan) and one child (guess who) that is very upset that her brothers are sick and what that means for her. All day at home! No church and no church picnic to go to. Maybe we'll go outside, do a bible lesson and have a snack. Think that will be church and a picnic for her????

New Info. (my mistake)

OK....so I admit I didn't do my research very well. Totally my fault. I trusted Oprah, seriously I should know better! I mean come on, anyway. There is a ton of wasteful spending attached to this bill 1738 and there are no plans to give it any funding next year. It's just a political game, as with most things in Washington these days. Apparently, there is another bill introduced by John McCain that has no wasteful earmarks, pet projects, and anything of the sort included. It is called S.3344 Protecting Our Children from Internet Exploitation Act and the SAFE act. It is basically the original bill without all of the "extras" added by Democrats. Like 10 million to study the DNA of apes....please. Bill S. 3344 passed in the house only lacking 2 votes, but was killed in the Democratic Senate as to not give any credit to McCain for offering an alternative bill with a better budget and better policies. I guess bill 1738 is my only option thinks to the Senate's poor leadership in this area. As of today, I still support it b/c you have to start somewhere. I would rather be moving towards something than continuing to not move at all on this issue. Hopefully, McCain/Palin will be our next leaders in this country and will keep their campaign promises to "reform" Washington. Although, system is so corrupt at this point it will be next to impossible. But I will hold out for hope none the less.

So...sorry for the confusion. I am passionate about this cause, and I firmly believe there should be more government legislation to combat the millions of abused children in this country. Children who as young as 1 month old are being brutally attacked, video taped and sent around the world to be seen my millions. I could continue to rant, but I won't.

Get the facts, and not from Oprah (learn from me) and get involved to save our children.

Make a call....PLEASE

OK....so I'll try and make this brief. I promise.

When we moved to TN I joined a group called PROTECT (www.protect.org) They fight for government change to make laws tougher for child predators and child molesters. The group is VERY bi-partisan and the only social issue they engage in is speaking for the rights of the victims of sexual assault and/or exploitation. It is their main focus and purpose to change the laws in this land to reflect an attitude of accountability and justice of those who prey upon innocent children.

Recently, Camille Cooper, who is the director of Legislative Affairs has proposed a bill to the Senate that would allow more government funding to monitor and bring to justice these types of criminals. In the bill, detectives would be assigned to do nothing but track down and bring charges against pedophiles. As of now, most law enforcement offices do not have the resources to provide that kind of staffing. The bill would make that possible. OK.....I am not in the habit of telling people to watch Oprah (yes, its a cult, no I don't subscribe), but this time I am. Officials from Protect will be on the Oprah show Monday Sept. 15th. If you want to be more informed you can watch the show, or go to the Protect website and find out more info. on the bill.

The best thing you can do is call your State Senator office and request that they pass this bill. If they get enough calls, they'll pay attention. DO NOT be apathetic (please) and think that you can't make a difference.....to quote a great document....'We the people'.....yes you can make a difference, so please do.

I've taken the time to give you the phone numbers and address of your State Senators so that step is done for you.....you'll just need to pick up the phone. This is a great organization to work with/for if this cause is a passion for you.

Blessings your way, and much love from me.......Brandi :)
The name of the bill is Protect Our Children Act S. 1738, Biden-Hatch

TN

Lamar Alexander
455 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
202.224.4944

Bob Corker
185 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
202.224.3344

KY

Jim Bunning
316 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
202.224.4343

Mitch McConnell
361-A Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
202.224.2541

kids say the darnest things

I took this pic of Baylee the morning of her first day of school. She has NEVER been a morning person! She likes to sleep in and she is the hardest person to wake up on the planet. This morning Brad went upstairs to get her up for school. She turns over and pulls the covers back up over her and says, "leave me alone while I'm in my natural habitat"......that alone is proof enough that she is my daughter!

This evening while putting her to bed, we were reading her devotional for the day and it was about Jesus dying. I asked her, "honey, do you know why Jesus died", she says....."so that we could live"......I remember the verse, "and a child shall lead them"....I so needed to hear that today. He died so we could live, AMEN, Baylee. As my best friend, Erin would say, "preach it, sister"

awe....

When I leave in the morning with the kids I usually stop at the door while Brad and Brennan send us off. I'll kiss Brad and say "have a good day, babe" and I'll kiss Brennan and say "love you, buddy".........this morning we were running a bit behind schedule, the kids and I were in a mad dash out the door when Brennan comes running around the corner (he had been in the bathroom trying to brush his hair....lol), just in time to catch me and says, (I kid you not)...."ha uh goo da"......can't get much sweeter than that!

New things

Brennan is in full toddler mode these days. We went to O'Charley's for lunch one day and he is big enough to order his own plate. He looks thrilled about it, and he was.

Baylee's new favorite thing is her cowboy hat. She wears it all the time. Its so cute.

Neal is not into anything new these days. He has read five separate chapter books since school has started. And he has told me that he and his friends are starting a rock band together. We can't wait to hear the music. His latest favorite band is Guns N Roses (ok....only those songs that have been approved from Mom and Dad first....Paradise City and Knockin on Heaven's Door is about all they like, Baylee likes Sweet Child of Mine too)....anywho....

Thats all for now. No new updates on the adults. Brad gets to go back to work in three weeks (hopefully, if all goes well), and I am slowly getting used to the new work schedule for me. I work with really nice people, and that helps a lot. Brennan and Brad have had lots of male bonding time at home while I'm at work (that means they've wrestled a lot....ha) and I like being right next door to the kids school. I have some extra time in the morning to hang out with them at school before the day starts and they really like that.