I Have Never Done This Before,

but there's a first for everything, right?

I protested today.

When you watch(ed) the news tonight, you might see TEA parties there. There were some already being covered at lunch today. I was at a TEA party - Taxed Enough Already. We were protesting excessive taxes with excessive spending by our federal government. We were protesting federal government programs designed to take the autonomy away from individuals. We were protesting federal government infringement on states rights.

I was woefully unprepared in my first ever protest, except for my camera. No home made sign, no American flag, no bull horn, no American Revolution-era costume. Just my body, giving silent support for those who did come prepared.



We were set up right across from the post office in a little community not far from where I live. There were approximately 70 people in the parking lot when we got there, which was late. Very late.

We saw upside down American flags, being waved and wielded by young children.

*side note: Upside down flags mean distress. Whether on a ship, in a state, or waved by a child, it means distress.*

We saw multiple home made signs, decrying one or another government program meant to make us safer, healthier, happier, but that will ultimately be burdensome to the American people, and infringing on our personal rights.

We saw people with newspaper cameras there, but no news crews.

We saw many, many people drive by and yell words of encouragement or support. The community was obviously in favor of this particular protest.

And what protest would be complete without John Phillips Sousa playing in the background? I can't make this up.

Apparently those of us who protested in any state, in any way, were classified as right wing extremist radicals, according to a report out today from Homeland Security. I am now a terrorist, I guess. Middle class, tax paying, law abiding terrorist. It's a label I've not had before. I'm not sure I believe it, but it was on the radio. It's got to be true.

My friend (who went with me) called her husband to let him know we were protesting. He gave us 3 rules: 1. No violence. 2. No cursing (that's so like us) 3. No breaking the law. (I added 4 and 5, No calling him from jail, and No television cameras, respectively.)

My friend's husband also gave us our sound bites: We're interested in protecting the city and state government from infringement by the federal government. We're here to draw attention to the message that the American government cannot just print more money to fund its projects. There must be accountability and transparency.

So that was part of my afternoon today. You can go here to see what another local community did yesterday as a part of their TEA party, organized much differently than ours was. You can also go here to see where ongoing protests near you are taking place.

I never saw myself as a political activist. But there's never been something that's been so big to me. Please keep our government covered in prayer. That's being an activist, too. And God can affect change in sweeping ways we cannot even imagine.

The Wedding

This weekend was the wedding.

We did this:

and this (My mother -in-law made the wedding cakes)

Not much of this:

Lots of this: (My sister-in-law was the wedding photographer)

Late nights doing this: (I was asked to help make the party favors. I conscripted Bill.)

FINALLY, this!

Then more of this.

Update on J's grandmother. She was to go home from the hospital yesterday for a few days, then fly out to Seattle on Sunday. We have not heard anything different.

My bosses wife had some bad news yesterday. She had a scan done and there are more spots on her liver and lungs where the cancer has spread. We are all beseaching God for healing and wholeness for her, on this side of heaven.

Now, for two of my favorite photos from the wedding.

Please be in prayer

More news. . . Just talked to J's mom. Sounds like J's grandmother is having a congestive heart failure exacerbation* and is hospitalized in Amarillo (or Lubbock, we're not quite sure where). We don't know much else at this point, and will give updates here when we get them. J's brother is getting married in 9 days, so we've all already got full plates. Please pray for that situation.

Also, my boss found out today that his wife, who has a history of breast cancer, has a brain mass. The plan right now is that they will try to do surgery early next week. We are assuming this is a new metastasis from her breast cancer. She is in her 50s - much too young for this.

I have not heard back from biopsies done on Tuesday. Things here are status quo.

I will post more about our comings and goings later, but I wanted to give you a chance to pray for others.

Thank you!

*J said I needed to translate that into "words the rest of us know." His grandmother sounds like she has water around her heart and lungs. It's a chronic condition that has gotten worse suddenly. This is all translated through non-medical people translated back into technical jargon and back into non-medical people language. We might have lost something in the translation.

Please be in prayer

My college friend's husband passed away Feb 5 after a brief and sudden illness. Please be in prayer for Jennifer and her family as they go through this difficult time. Praise be to our Lord who assures us that death is not the end, but only a brief seperation from those we love.

Hug your children. Tell your spouse of your love. Time on this earth is short, and our days are numbered.

Lord, come quickly.