Wednesday, January 28, 2015

American Sniper review



I have decided to make sure that my facebook wanderings primarily incite the positive in my life. For this reason I don't click on the links, or take part in the arguments. Most of my posts are of my children for the sake of my loved ones. However sometimes a facebook craze is so persistent and baffling that the debater in me cannot help but to take up the torch in an attempt to bring clarity and perspective to the far swinging pendulum of the "Right and Wrong".  I should also add the disclaimer that this post is directed at self proclaimed Christians. Those that claim to strive for a Christ like existence, as it is with these people that I am most baffled concerning this particular topic. 

I am not going to waste my time looking at this movie from a "parental advisory" perspective. Even though I would hope that at least 70 F*** words, torturing children with screwdrivers, and scenes with severed limbs (content courtesy of IMDB) would be enough to deter most Christians, I do understand that many people are calloused to such graphic language and images.Therefore I will move on to the truly morally damming message that is being exulted by the reverence and respect of Chris Kyle's life. 

Without having to read the book, or watch the movie there is one glaringly simple fact that should be ringing though Christendom and is instead being stifled by the overwhelming "hoohaa" of bastardized patriotism. This fact is so glaring that you can read it without even turning a page. "AMERICAN SNIPER. The autobiography of the MOST LETHAL SNIPER in U.S. military history." Interestingly enough I typed that title EXACTLY as it was written without adding my own capitalization to emphasize the most infamous part.   

To cut to the chase. Why exactly are Christians praising the works of a man that are the antithesis of the Christ they claim to devote their life to?  In Jesus's own words...

"43Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." Matt 5

How then do we justify brandishing the deaths of a countries enemies with all the grotesque pride of a warrior wearing his trophies of severed  body parts? As Christians we are not called to praise the murder tally of our earthly residence. We are called to win souls and save lives for our heavenly home. There was a time in my life when I was a thief, lair, adulterer, and murderer with all the potential of evil that is expressed in any radical terrorist, murderous dictator, or cereal killer. And even in my utter filth God reached down His hand to me, washed me, renewed me, and change my very spirit to one that would be compatible with His beauty. Knowing this about myself how could I willingly deny that chance to another human being by supporting this deplorable example of lives sacrificed? We should weep for every life lost in the pitiful conflicts of this broken world. Just as Christ cried though the blood choked gasps of his last few breaths...  "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do."




Thursday, January 8, 2015

Highlights (October 2014)


We experienced something that I think every new busy mom should experience while her children are still small. When life feels like a chaotic whirlwind of sleep deprivation, time out enforcement, and blown out diapers its so easy to lose track of the preciousness of those little critters that are consuming your every waking moment.

For a few weeks we had all four of our nephews staying with from the ages of 7, 6, 3, and 10 months and let me say when the dust cleared from that visit all I could think of was how many moments with my babies had been swept under the rug in he midst of dealing with "life" and the loss pained me. When I said before that they consumed my every waking moment I meant that in all of the wrong ways. I had totally neglected enjoying the gift that God had given me through their beautiful lives. So in an effort to recapture the moments Aria and I went on a date. Nothing big. Just a few moments to call ours.

The day was a balmy 70's treasure in the middle of October and so we took advantage of the local play ground one more time before winter set it. All of the lady bugs were gathering, slightly annoyed at the heat wave disrupting their hibernation. I had to painstakingly pick the ladybugs off the slide lest Aria have the traumatizing experience of squashing one on her speedy dissent. I'm not sure she would have recovered from such a tragic event. The fallen leaves however were definitely the highlight and after being trapped inside for the last few weeks Aria enjoyed romping like a wild child.
Wait for it...

Yipee!!

Common, with the little belly sticking out.. <melt> 

What did she find?...

One last clover defying winters inevitable reign.

We couldn't have a proper date without getting one last "smurf" cone before the ice cream shop closed for the season.


Totally expecting for have hordes of trick-or-treater's knocking at my door I figured I had my excuse to attempt some pulled taffy. I ended up having zero visitors that night but I wasn't entirely bummed and I could now scratch one thing of my "to try" list. Strawberry, buttery, chewy, deliciousness!! Here's the recipe if you're feeling adventurous! Or if you missed "Arms day" at the gym.  

INGREDIENTS: 
1 cup white sugar 
1/4 cup light corn syrup 
2/3 cup water 
2 tablespoons butter 
1 tablespoon cornstarch 
1 teaspoon salt 
1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
2 teaspoons strawberry extract red food coloring 

DIRECTIONS: 1. Butter one 8 inch square pan; set aside. 2. In a 2 quart saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar, corn syrup, water, butter, cornstarch and salt. Mix together well and bring to a boil. Heat without stirring until a candy thermometer reads 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). (I boiled longer until "soft crack" temp) 3. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla, almond extract, almonds and food color. Pour into pan. Let stand until cool enough to handle. (Taffy should be lukewarm in center as well as at the edges.) 4. At this point, fold, double and pull the taffy until it is light in color and stiff. Butter hands lightly if taffy begins to stick. Cut taffy into pieces with scissors and wrap the pieces with plastic wrap to maintain shape.

Beings as we are talking candy...
Next fall you must go out and find these little season beauties. Caramel Apple Candy Corns rest my case that all other Candy Corns should not exist and should stop trying. Yumo!

And here are some highlights especially for Grammy :)

First food



First crawls








My little beauty after hr nap





Aria is a great photo bomber


Shes also a fantastic helper