Samantha Pierce

Today I am thankful for/that: All of that rain wasn't snow. I'm not quite ready to be buried up to my knees in snow just yet. Cuddling on the couch with the kids. Bedtime peace and quiet. Baby antics. What are you thankful for?

Today I am thankful for/that: Friends with whom I can disagree without having my sanity or salvation called into question. The fall colour is ON this year. The yellows are more yellow, the reds redder, the golds more golden, the burgandys richer, the oranges more orange, the bronze and copper brighter and stronger. I love it! Good neighbors, in the biblical and worldly sense. Prayer. Jobs for those who still have them or have just gotten new ones. Patience (not that I have as much as I would like but I'm a work in progress). Self control (see above).

Kids have already died because people are afraid to vaccinate their children. A lot more are going to have to die before people put aside their paranoia about childhood vaccinations. An Epidemic of Fear: How Panicked Parents Skipping Shots Endangers Us All Consider: In certain parts of the US, vaccination rates have dropped so low that occurrences of some children’s diseases are approaching pre-vaccine levels for the first time ever. And the number of people who choose not to vaccinate their children (so-called philosophical exemptions are available in about 20 states, including Pennsylvania, Texas, and much of the West) continues to rise. In states where such opting out is allowed, 2.6 percent of parents did so last year, up from 1 percent in 1991, according to the CDC. In some communities, like California’s affluent Marin County, just north of San Francisco, non-vaccination rates are approaching 6 percent (counterintuitively, higher rates of non-vaccination often correspond with high...

A justice of the peace in Louisiana refused to marry an interracial couple because he thought life would be too difficult for any children they may have. Interracial couple denied marriage license in La. A Louisiana justice of the peace said he refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple out of concern for any children the couple might have. Keith Bardwell, justice of the peace in Tangipahoa Parish, says it is his experience that most interracial marriages do not last long. Bardwell said he has discussed the topic with blacks and whites, along with witnessing some interracial marriages. He came to the conclusion that most of black society does not readily accept offspring of such relationships, and neither does white society, he said. "I don't do interracial marriages because I don't want to put children in a situation they didn't bring on themselves," Bardwell said. "In my heart, I feel the children will later suffer." Lets set aside t...

I've got two weeks worth of thankfulness saved up. So today I am thankful for/that: I had all of my sisters with me. Fall foliage. The sun came out in time for Little Big Girl's birthday party at the park. One little kid smile and you suddenly feel like a super hero. The message of salvation really is simple enough for a child to understand. Girl talk. Sunshine. All of the men who invented labor saving devices for the sake of their women folk. All of the women folk who inspired the fore mentioned men. Nap time! Even better, bed time! It has been going swimmingly the last couple of weeks. The freedom to speak my mind. The often put upon defenders of freedom, the ones who regularly get shot at and those who don't. One person, one vote. Central heating. My shop vac. Wish I'd gotten one sooner. What are you thankful for?

Today I am thankful for/that: Forgiveness. Starting over. Joyful music. Good food. Good friends. Sincere compliments from friends who don't know just how much they mean. Patience. Someday I will have enough. The kids reading to each other (after a whole year of drama over reading for homework). What are you thankful for?

Putting aside my issues with the usual portrayals of "The Left" and "The Right" the footage of Barbra Boxer in this video is supremely cringe worthy. Racism Revival: How to Be A 21st Century Bigot Really ma'am? Oh sorry, senator . She worked so hard for her position so I guess I better use her title rather than the universally recognized honorific ma'am . Back to matters of substance though. Boxer's dismissive attitude of the gentleman attempting to converse with her was appalling. I'm not not even angry about. Boxer clearly doesn't know any better. She seems to be operating on the principle that there is an "official" Black View that is handed down to the little people by "official" Black Groups like the NAACP. the dear woman seems thoroughly confused when presented with someone with a view that is different from what she thinks the official one should be. Racist? I don't know. Foolish? You betcha. Hat tip Instapundit .

Today I am thankful for/that: We haven't had to turn the heat on yet. Although I was tempted once or twice. Birthdays! (See I didn't forget.) A walk in the woods, even though certain enthusiastic individuals came close to getting us lost. The tantalizing beginning of autumn colour. Honest and thoughtful biblical exegesis . A good toe tapping song. Amusing friends. What are you thankful for?

Anne Althouse commenting about former President Carter's remarks about the supposedly racist nature of objections to current President Obama's plans: Lots of people who voted for Obama believed that his election would reflect the extent to which Americans had moved beyond racism. That was part of why some people voted for him. Little did we realize that it would turn every criticism of the President into an occasion to make an accusation of racism. Racism is revolting, but so is the notion that we aren't allowed to criticize a President! Emphasis added. Among the many reasons that I did not vote for Obama one was that I didn't think voting for a black man for president to prove how not racist America is was a stupid reason to cast a vote for someone. Stupid and naive. It was clear that the charge of racist was just too good a cudgel for some people to pass up. It should have been obvious that the potential existed for the situation in which we now find ourselves where...

Today I am thankful for/that: Our family doctor. He always takes the time to chat with us about our concerns and is always patient with Bubba J's anxiety at being in the office. Last check up he let Bubba J sit in a regular chair and hold the stethoscope so he wouldn't be as scared. Modern medicine. Friends. Patience. A good home cooked meal. What are you thankful for?

The Senate dealt a blow to ACORN Monday evening, voting to deny the Department of Housing and Urban Development from granting funds to the community organization. Sen. Mike Johanns’s (R-Neb.) amendment to the appropriations bill providing funding to the department passed in a bipartisan, 83-7 vote. It’s the latest in a series of recent setbacks for ACORN, which has come under increasing fire from conservative activists and lawmakers. Over the last several weeks, the organization has seen employees in Florida arrested for allegedly taking part in voter registration fraud and has watched as the Census Bureau decide to sever its ties with the group. And in an embarrassing turn of events, Acorn employees were caught on hidden camera divulging advice to actors portraying a prostitute and her pimp on how to file tax forms. Note that ACORN employees have been caught on tape doing this FOUR times now. The makers of these apes claim to have even more. But about those seven who voted against the...

This is one of my fave signs from the 9/12 protest. Find it and more here.

Interesting how the President chose to be elsewhere as so many Americans turned up on his door step to protest his plans (or lack there of) for health care reform. Attempts to sabotage and minimize the tea party protest seem to have fallen flat. Cool time lapse of aerial photos. This quote from the first article suggests that somebody is a) not doing their job or b) lying through their teeth, "The White House on Friday claimed it was unaware of the planned rally. 'I don't know who the group is,' White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters with a shrug." ACORN has been caught, on tape, not once, not twice, but THRICE , trying to help people posing as a prostitute and her pimp set up a brothel (for underage girls no less) and evade the law. How many tapes have they got and when is ACORN going to be raided by the feds? This headline gets it a little bit wrong (from my perspective anyway), China: U.S. tire tariff sends "wrong signal" to world . Forg...

Thousands Pack Downtown D.C. To Protest Spending . While the story is pretty straight forward and doesn't go in for much editorializing the comments are predictably brainless and awash with stereotyping. Here's another story about the protests. The AARP adds that popped up with it were amusing. With thousands of American coming to his home to speak their minds the President nonetheless contrives to find himself half way across the country once again making claims that those who oppose his vision for health care insurance reform want the "status quo" . Mr. President you say you are not going to back down on health care insurance reform but you should be aware that the American people aren't going to back down either. Not after the stimulus. Not after the bailouts. Not after the government take over of private companies. Not after TARP. The "bickering" will continue in grand American fashion. Seriously, are the American people expected to just roll ove...

My sister shared this with a friend who thankfully did not lose her life on this day eight years ago. Psalm 91 (English Standard Version) My Refuge and My Fortress 1He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 2I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." 3For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. 4He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. 5You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. 7A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. 9Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place— the Most High, who is m...

I will never forget the images of policemen, firemen, and everyday people rushing through the streets toward the danger. I will never forget the dust covered survivors grimly making their way toward the danger looking for people to help knowing that they had lost many friends and colleagues. I will never forget those who flocked to New York City to bring supplies and encouragement to weary rescue workers. Even in the midst of the horror birthed in the minds of men we saw the courage, the goodness and the heroism that can be borne in our hearts. I can never, will never, look away from the images of that day from New York City, Washington D.C. and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Through tear filled eyes I will look and remember those who died, those who sacrificed and give thanks for those who lived. It's not enough to merely remember on this day. We must remember every day. We must teach our children to do better than the black hearts that planned that day. We must live lives worthy of ...

Today I am thankful for/that: Two lives made one. Survivors. Freedom. Those who rush into burning buildings to save others and stand between the innocent and the terrors that are birthed in the minds of men. Life. What are you thankful for?

I know it's not Thursday but still, today I am thankful for/that: Enough food to eat. The clothes on my back. The freedom to speak my mind. Those who stand to protect me and my family from those who would do us harm. Wisdom. Laughter. What are you thankful for?

Today I am thankful for/that: A cool breeze. A good night's sleep (when I can get it). Baby Girl is a year old already. She's already said "no" and escaped the house on many occasions. Trying to break big brother's record I suppose. General good health. Friends who have pools and are happy to share them. Yarn! I should be in YA: Yarn-ophiles Anonymous. The chorus of crickets in the night time. What are you thankful for?

I'm a bit late to this party but my first response upon hearing that the powers that be in the White House finally got a clue and closed up shop on their fishing for "fishy" information my first thought was simply, good. My second thought was, didn't anyone on the President's staff see what a bad idea the whole thing was in the first place? As aggravated as the American people are why would anyone think it a good idea to ask them to inform on each other to the White House? The terms tin ear and tone deaf are coming to my mind as I contemplate the whole thing. For the moment the White House seems to have gotten off lightly. Commenting on the first post I wrote about President Obama's attempts to utilize the internet to interface with citizens I said, "As far as the Obama admin. utilizing web tech now I think they're setting themselves up to be mauled by the tiger they're trying to ride when they try stunts like this." Flag@whitehouse.gov wi...