Election is over....YAY!!! The last few days pre election made me go back on my words that I was done with arguing politics. I couldnt help it though...I got set off. I am a pot stirrer as my near and dear family and friends like to say so when someone stirs the pot for me I typically cant let it slide. I have to start stirring as well, but it tends to always be stirring in the opposite direction. Anyways...it is over. Hope prevailed... character prevailed... and now we can move forward. On to new things.

My vacation is 2 months away and I can just jump out of my skin just by thinking about it. I have not been on a real vacation since my honeymoon which was by far my best vacation ever and next to a few trips to Wisconsin, a couple mission trips, and a family trip to Florida in eighth grade really my only vacation I am looking forward to going somewhere so special with some of the most beloved of my family. It is going to be a blast. After the last two years with Isaiah's health issues and our major financial troubles, I am just looking forward to doing something that I can truly say is not for any other reason than to make memories...good memories. I know that with allof this anticipation it will be over in a blink but I just want to make the best of our blink that there could possibly be. Thanks Old R's. I dont know that a thank you can even come close to appropriate but since we are broke, it is about all I can offer at the moment. I will make it up to you though. My love and affection will have to be enough until Billy makes it big or my BFF Barack offers me a job on his staff. Hey anything is possible now!

Another thing is that I really like my Avon business but I am running into a few problems....I hate sales for one, and for two, I will not end up with a profit if I continue to buy things from them. Now I have bought many samples to sort of build my business and since it is all tax deductible it makes sense but it is the other things.... I really like their skincare line and I have tried several different kinds and have not liked anything as much as Avon skincare. I also like their makeup and some of their seasonal knicknacky things. This is the issue. I do not want to work to put the money back into Avon. I think the novelty will wear off but I have to figure out that balance. I am looking forward to seeing where it goes. I have to get better at sales and stop feeling so self concious. I am the same girl who wouldnt trick or treat cause I hated the idea of going door to door in a begging sort of way. If I can't get the free stuff due to my fear of rejection, how in the world will I be able to build this business! Luckily I have a few solid customers which will make my selling worthwhile at least for a few extra dollars but the potential of what it could be if I "grew a set" would be unbelievable! The profit really is unreal for Avon if you have a good client base.

Ahhh...isnt it nice to hear something from me that is not deep and contemplating lifes (I have no apostrophe key so bear with me) greatest mysteries. I tend to get really profound in my blog posts. It is that love for stirring the pot I guess.
My kids are hanging off of me literally right now so that typically is my clue that they need some attention. Gots to go!

MY passion for November 4th

OKAY THE FOLLOWING IN ITALICS IS NOT MY WRITING BUT ACTUALLY SOMEONE WHO'S EMAIL WAS FORWARDED TO ME TO "MAKE A POINT." BELOW THAT IN BOLD IS MY WRITING "THE GOOD STUFF" AS I LIKE TO CALL IT. IT IS A LONG POST BUT SERIOUSLY WORTH GETTING TO THE BOTTOM. I WOULD LOVE FEEDBACK GOOD AND BAD.

http://www.onetruemedia.com/otm_site/view_shared?p=7030bd098cca768e72d111&skin_id=701&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=image

http://www.americaschoicenow.com/

Hello everyone,

I have never written an email such as this before, but after these two videos were brought to my attention, I realized that it would be wrong of me to remain silent. Those of who you know me are probably pretty much aware of where I stand politically and on the pro-life/pro-choice issue. If I am sending you this and you don't know where I stand, shame on me for not standing up more emphatically for what I know to be true.

Well, election day is fast approaching, and this time around, I have become more aware than ever of the complacency of Christians in America. So many of us have compromised politically and tried to justify it. Well, you say, don't we all have the freedom of choice? Of course we do, it's America. However, as Christians, when we asked Christ to enter our hearts and lives, we fell under His authority and His guidelines. Our opinions and plans did not matter anymore! Why? Because He knows what is best for us and has plans so great for each of us that we can't even comprehend them. The whole purpose of Christianity is to die to ourselves so we may further His kingdom!

I am not here to toot the horn of a particular candidate. Frankly, I was not overly impressed with any of my choices this election (except for Fred Thompson, bless his heart). I am here to toot God's horn. We have been told time and time again to vote according to our standards and what we believe. Horse manure! When will we as Christians vote according to GOD's standards and what GOD says is right? This election, it goes beyond the candidate; it goes to the party that candidate represents and the types of laws and policies that will be enacted. The truth is, Republicans have for years supported policy that is more in line with God's Word than the Democrats. Issues such as abortion and homosexuality are shaping the moral climate of America, and that, my friends, is more important to me than the economy. If America returns to God, I firmly believe that God can fix all the financial woes! Plus, the state of the economy right now is directly related to greed and corruption, other symptoms of our moral decay.

I am not saying that all, or even most, Republicans are godly, as we all know that politicians are smooth talkers and have a tendency to be untruthful at times. However, it needs to get beyond that. Our Christian focus needs to be on turning this nation back to God! It is a God-given right that we can vote, so please vote according to God's principles and not society's. I encourage you to view the two videos whose links I have posted at the top. I have always been pro-life, but after hearing about some of the policies that Obama wants to implement once he is office, I grew fearful for our country. If I can't trust him to protect the lives of the most innocent, my unborn babies, how can I trust him to protect my money? I truly worry about the spiritual battles my children will have to fight when they are my age.

God bless all of you and remian in prayer for our nation, for it is a great nation.


Here is my passion for November 4th
I find it offensive that the thought that I would vote Republican just because I am a Christian is ridiculous. I will make it plain and simple. The only thing that seems to align value wise in the Republican party is the pro life issue. That seems to be the only thing holding some Christians in the Republican party. Recognize that Roe v. Wade has yet to be overturned even under our current "Christian" president so if you are voting thinking this is going to change than you will likely be waiting a looong time. History shows that the Supreme Court does not have a large record of overturning major cases as this.

So this is the single issue that seemingly makes sense to vote Republican? Oh wait, and then there is the issue of homosexuality. What ever happened to love the sinner, hate the sin? but if you believe in this country you should also believe that the constitution is entirely written on the basis of freedom. I do believe that marriage is designed for one man and one woman. How about divorce? Is anyone fighting that on the consitutional front? No and why is that? it likely has alot to do with the fact that the divorce rate is nearly at half and there are more Christians divorced than gay Christians. Or could it be that as Christians we see it as more tolerable to be divorced but we are sickened by the thought of a homosexual....sounds more like intolerance and hate than love for what is right to me.
No doubt my job is to LOVE unconditionally and let my life be witness in order to bring those who need it closer to understanding love of Christ and be freed from sin. That is what I will do. Homesexuals, liars, cheaters, thieves, even those of you who might have...gasp...done something dishonest in your lifetime as WE sinners do. I dont hear anybody running to say I think we should take away my rights since I (_____(fill in sin here)___. All sin is created equal. Your sin is no worse than mine and mine no worse than yours. Homosexuals no worse than heterosexuals....we all are condemned to death without Jesus. Lets fight that battle. Not the battle of whether we can stop a gay person from seeing their loved one in the hospital because they do not have the right or whether they are entitled to be on the same health insurance policy. Fight the battle on the right front people! That war isn't going to be one with anti gay rallies and conversion retreats. Put 1/10th of the energy used fighting the gay people and their rights and try loving them and you might be surprised by the results.
Other than that, although I don't see this as the best way to look at it, lets talk about just the big issues which seem to drive the Republicans for Christ. Tell me at what point is gun rights a Christian view? The right to use a weapon that is single handedly used to kill or severely and permanently damage life? We are so concerned about life and apparently the value of it and yet we have no problem with allowing normal everyday people the right to a death device. Do you believe Jesus would have been walking around shooting animals for sport or carrying a gun just in case he needed to defend himself. Doubt it. Also another issue that tends to get alot of attention is that of the environment. I do not claim to understand it all and I leave that to the scientists, ecologists, environmentalists...whatever. But what I do know is that the democratic party seems to be majorly more concerned with the environment and the longevity and sustainability of the beautiful creation that we call Earth.
So I appreciate your effort to align Christians with the Republican view because we need to "stand up for what is right!".
I am no less Christian because I am ready for change in Washington. I am no less Christian for loving the idea that we could be voting in a president who represents more Christian family values than a man who has divorced his first wife to marry his mid life crisis.
I swore I was done defending my belief. I have continued to receive ridiculous emails about everything from Barack Obama being the antichrist to Obama killing babies and seriously I am at wit's end. I have been prayerful and making a point to educate myself on ALL the issues, but it is at this point that I need to defend one last time before tomorrow. My passion for November 4th isn't that Christians will get a grip and stop voting out of fear and vote for what makes sense. You may see this all as my "opinion," and that's right, as Christians we shouldn't have an opinion (I constantly forget this). I really hope that you can correct me on anything that is unbiblical in what I have said. I am open to understanding things better. I pray that you can be in search of truth as I am.

I will also remain in prayer for this great nation.

If there is nothing more that happens in the next 3 weeks, please let this elections be over. Honestly it isn't just the unrelentless ads and signs via mail, neighbors yards, tv, radio etc., but more so I am really tired of hearing people's opinions on the matter....myself included. I am tired of defending my candidate of choice. Don't you ever get the feeling of being sick of hearing your own voice. That is where I am at. I don't have any fire under me to continue to have the same conversations and same "friendly" arguments. I dont want to see people use their facebook as a way of communicating this. I made this error once and never again mainly because it seemed to be one of the first that I noticed and it just went downhill from there.....as bad as people talking about Obama killing babies! I am just done!
I am also finding that as hard as I try I tend to view people a bit differently based on who they are voting for. I know I shouldnt but it just seems natural when you believe someone as a moderate or even liberal and find them highly conservative and viceversa. Just messes with my formed opinions and apparently I dont like it.
Bottom line is when the election is done whomever ends up Commander in Chief I will respect and my prayer is the same for everyone else.
I am really just counting down the days.

Is it a "sign" that we need another??

So really dont worry as there will be no more little Reimers anytime soon but....lets just say that we have been getting some hints from Emma that she is not nearly as patient as we are.

The conversation which went on after church on Sunday went as such:

Emma: "Mommy, I want to have another baby in our house."
Mommy: "Do you? I dont think it is time yet?"
Emma: "Yes it is. I want a girl....a sister."
Mommy: "Oh"
Emma: " I think she needs a name. How about Cheese?.........(thinking) no Cheese is not a right name?....(thinking)......I know!!!! StopSign!!!!!!"
Mommy: "Stop Sign???"
Emma: "YEAH! That will be good!!!"
Mommy: "So...StopSign Reimer?"
Emma: "Yep...We have to tell Daddy."
Mommy: "Yeah I think we do"

I found my camera cord!

Just some of the fun I have with my kids! I thought I would share this oh so funny but oh so pathetic picture of my son when we decided to put Emma's dance class costume on him. The picture speaks to the fact that this was not a pleasant experience for him. Poor boy!

Whats in a dollar? Not just 100 pennies.

You always hear the biggest cause of divorce is money. Today after having a heated "conversation" with my husband and him leaving the house without the conflict resolved I just sit here wondering what is it about money that literally divides so many couples??? Really we are talking about a thing, something that helps acquire stuff and obviously pays for the necessities but what is it that we are really getting at when money is the cause of the fight. Billy and I have what I would say was a decent relationship. I wouldnt lie and say it is perfection but I definitely know it gets worse than this. We can fight about little things such as household chores, kid related arguments, and what not but nothing seems to get more rage than money. Im so frustrated because I always told myself I wouldn't fight over money. It was dumb and just a thing that wasn't worth our precious time. I grew up in a house where money was always scarce and as a result many mornings I woke up to a screaming and yelling match going on until I pretty much left for school that day. It directed how I felt the rest of the day, made me not want to go home, so when I say I swore off money argument let me tell you I meant it. It seemed like an easy thing to to denounce when the first 4 years of our marriage we had enough to pay our bills and then a little extra.
Yet today, the argument stemming from not having enough money has left me really wondering how can something so stupid lead to such hurtful division in a marriage?
I dont know at this point I am conclusive on anything so if you are reading to get an answer I have little to offer. This is what
My guess is that money is symbolic, it symbolizes different things for the husband than it does for the wife, it has different meaning for people with different economic backgrounds, it means something different for people who grew up in different faith backgrounds and their understanding of God's provision. Those differences have no need to be revealed until there is not enough money. That is when the differences become clear, the expectations are revealed and the fights begin. I've done enough marriage studies and read enough marriage books to know that the cause of all arguments boil down to having expectations.
I could break down and explain how our argument goes but the reality is that to tell the detail only reminds me how ridiculous most of the arguments are.
If I get to the base my faulty expectations are that I expect that my husband will provide for his family without fail. I become frustrated when he can't and in turn try to take over and take away his ability to lead. Leadership does not equal financial stability...I am learning. I also have the baggage of growing up in a home where money was always scarce and there are some times that we went without even the bare necessities. A horrible feeling...an anxiety that sits in the pit of my stomach to even remember some of these times. When those memories start to run parallel with my current life I start to get all sorts of panicky. I say things that I would typically refrain from saying out of fear and angst. I then am reminded that although I believe God is alive and well in me and in my family I tend to take finances and try to manage that situation on my own, not allowing God to enter in to this part of my life. Im getting better at this, much much better, but know it is not natural. It is not what I was brought up to do. If things weren't going well than you do anything in your power to fix it. Prayer was never thought of as an option.
So this is the way I think.
My husband typically on the defense of this has not only expectations for me, but his perspective is much different. He comes from a family of financial stability, not wealth but not intense financial worry. He comes from a Christian home where prayer was not foreign. He also has the added difference of having to succomb to not being able to financially provide which has caused him to lose some of his drive for leadership. You can only get knocked off your horse so many times before you have trouble getting up. I tend to not help him get up and sometimes even am the one sideswiping him and knocking him down. I admit this and am working on it.

So this is my recipe for a nasty all out yelling match, complete with name calling, cheap shots and ultimately cold shoulders.

We are nowhere near divorce and likely when my hubby comes back home we will be okay again but it does make me sad that a relationship where I can honestly still say that God ordained and that we are soul mates, that we can get so caught up in something as dumb as money.
It does make sense why it is said money is the root of all evil. Money masks so many other issues. Who would of thought a green piece of paper with an old guy and a serial number on it could have such an impact?

Oh and the whole kid fight thing. I dont remember fighting with my siblings so young. I likely did fight as young as 3 but I just choose to not remember, maybe for the sheer reason that I likely started it...selective memory I guess. If I can ever find the cords for my camera I will post video. I do my best to turn each one into a teaching moment and breaking it up as necessary but sometimes while saying no I just have to laugh at these kiddos. Emma plays what I like to call Whack-a-Mole on Isaiah's head. She makes it a point to hit him nowhere else but right smack dab with an open hand on the top of his head. It is premeditated and thought out. Isaiah just looks up at her and makes it a point to hit her back but typically it follows up with him krinkling up his eyebrows and saying in his deepest voice "NooNoo!" Not as funny written out but definitely humorous to watch. Let me work on that camera.