Random thoughts

I have finished my first leg of travels for the rest of this year.  I am home for two whole weeks before traveling again!  It's good for me to have a change of pace, especially when I'm home with a toddler most of the time, and  Brandon is so busy with school.  But, I like to just stay put sometimes too and get into a routine.   I have learned that flying with a toddler is never a good experience.  It is worth the extra money to buy them their own seat!  

I'm starting to get into the holiday spirit.  I feel like I have to decorate weeks before the holidays to enjoy it b/c we are never actually here to celebrate!  This will be the last Christmas that we have a whole 2 weeks off to visit family.  Next year we'll be moving to Raleigh (woot woot!) over the break, which with a 2 1/2 year old will probably take forever! 

I am in the mood to make creative things for gifts this year.  Sometimes I can be sort of crafty.  If someone shows me exactly what to do, which I guess isn't super creativeness on my own, but I like doing stuff like that.  I have a couple ideas, but if anyone reads this and has any ideas let me know!  I would rather make something for people b/c it's more meaningful  (and cheaper!) than spend X amount of money on a gift card.  

In a couple weeks Maddie goes for her 18 month checkup!  I can't believe she's getting so big!  I love listening to her babbling with random coherent words thrown in.  One of these days I'm going to go into the Apple store so they can teach me how to put my videos on the computer!  We have an issue with compatibility between our camera and computer. 

I am thinking about going to Haiti in February with Hopegivers.  Shaun and Melissa just got back from a busy 4 day trip, and hopefully I can convince them to go back with me!   I'm not really excited about visiting Haiti, never really been on my top 50 places to go, but the idea of being able to be a part of the Hopegivers ministry and loving some orphans without flying halfway around the world to India is amazing.  Sam (the Pres of Emmanuel in India)  really challenged us this summer to not only fall in love with the kids, but to fall in love with the ministry.  If anyone is interested in going on a trip click on the website, or talk to me!  It's only 4 days and it will change your life!

Only about 8 more months in Memphis! Woohoo!  Anyone know where we can live in Raleigh next Christmas?

A semi-political post

This will be my one and only sort of political opinion post.  Mostly because I am so fed up that I just need to vent somehow.  I admit I do not have a whole lot of knowledge about either candidate and I'm not the most eloquent writer.  

 I watched 12 whole seconds of anything election oriented last night because I pretty much knew how it would end.  I don't watch a whole lot of commercials thanks to Tivo, but I don't recall seeing many negative adds about Obama.  I remember in years past that's all adds were.  I've heard plenty of negative things about him in every day conversations with people who know more about him than I do, but why were there not any on tv?  I saw one on Monday that was about the church that he went to and that was the first one.  Is this because the media was so enthralled and captivated by Obama and him being black?  I know there's dirt on him, but I guess I'm just surprised that it wasn't  brought up much.  And again, there may have been more out there, but I didn't go looking for it.  

So anyway, the thing that I am most angry about is from the whole 12 minutes of coverage I've watched today.  Any interview or any scene on the news showing Obama fan's reactions obviously conveyed happiness and in my opinion way to much emotion over him getting elected.  I understand it's historic because he's the first half-black president, but is he going to do any good for this country?  What makes me so angry is that it seems that these people only voted for him because he's black.  Everyone is going on and on about that, and it seems as if they have no idea if he's actually a good candidate, or if he has a good plan for this country.  He is a very good speaker, but you need more than that in a President. 

It seems that so many people were blinded by the color of his skin, and regardless of what he said or did people would vote for him just because they want to see a black president.  How is that not racist?  I really don't care what color of skin our President has, but I'm not going to vote for the first black schmuck that runs just because he's black.  I would be really curious to see what percentage of people who voted for Obama would say they voted for him mainly because of that reason.  

That's the end of my ranting. I don't care if anyone agrees or disagrees.  I didn't blog about this to start an argument, it's my place to write my opinion, so there.