More Random Thoughts

That other post was so long, and yet my brain is still racing....


Today was the first day of school for the boys. J7 was excited. He made some new friends, and he liked his teacher. :) T12 is more apprehensive, unfortunately. I mean, 7th grade is a big deal. He's finally feeling it. He was stunned to see his Texas history book, lol. I just smiled as he looked at me so incredulously when he told me how thick that sucker is. Yes, T12, I remember taking Texas history. Also, that wasn't the ONLY hunk of book I had to carry around, almost every single day, to school AND back! Who needed weight-lifting class when I carried a backpack w/ a history book??

There are also "new" discipline issues that blow his mind, such as punishing the whole class over one or two disobedient students. This is one of those things I thought nothing about b/c I experienced that when I was in junior high. Thing is, we had a couple of absolute jerks (keeping this as G as possible, lol) who made classtime disruptive, and the entire class paid for their misdeeds. Growing up, I became aware of this use of discipline in the military...which sometimes has an amazing ability to straighten out the trouble-makers...I ain't talkin' 'bout the disciplinary action itself, I'm talkin' 'bout the resulting PEER discipline, if you know what I mean! I do remember that, like the military setting, after a couple of rounds of class discipline, the trouble makers didn't think it was quite so cool to upset the rest of the group, and there became no need for punishing the entire class for misdeeds of a couple of others.


Little prayer = little power
More prayer = more power
Much prayer = much power

There are a few things I've tried to teach my boys. Life's lessons, if you will:

Say what you mean, mean what you say. (side note~~J7 used to say it this way when he was a toddler: "Mean say! Mean say!!" It brings a smile to Hubby's and my face when we heard it. :) )

Don't tell secrets, and don't tell lies.

If someone is talking badly TO you about someone else, they'll talk badly ABOUT you to someone else, too.

Words have a nasty way of coming back to haunt you. An apology is not always enough.

Think on these things before you speak:

T~~Is what I'm thinking something thoughtful? or is it careless?

H~~Is what I'm thinking about something healing? or is it harmful?

I~~Is what I'm thinking about inspirational? or is it destructive?

N~~Is what I'm thinking about necessary? or is it hurtful?

K~~Is what I'm thinking about kind? or will it cause someone pain?

I don't claim to be the perfect mom. I'm just not. I don't even really consider myself a "good" mom. What I do know, however, is that I love my boys like I love no one else.

I don't claim to be the perfect wife. I'm just not. I don't even really consider myself a "good" wife. What I do know, however, is that I love my husband like I love no one else.

I don't claim to be the perfect daughter. I'm just not. I don't even really consider myself a "good" daughter. What I do know, however, is that I love my parents like I love no one else.

I don't claim to be a perfect friend. I'm just not. I don't even really consider myself a "good" friend. What I do know, however, is that I love my friends like I love no one else.

I don't claim to be a perfect person. I'm just not. I don't even really consider myself a "good" person. What I do know, however, is that my Lord loves me like no one else does. For THAT, I am eternally grateful. : )

God's love for me enables me to love the people around me in ways I'm too personally ignorant to know and show. It's God's love in me that enables me to treat others the way I'd like to be treated. God's love toward me enables me to forgive myself when I falter~~He sees me for me in the times I see myself as an unworthy failure. God's love lifts me out of myself and kicks my hind end to be with someone else in far more real dire straights than I imagined myself to be. His instructions are not grievous, tho they may feel grievous~~feelings don't matter here, the heart is deceived when it relies solely on emotional feelings. He chastens me because I am His daughter, and He loves me. I have become a much better person because of His love. I've still got a loooooooooooong way to go, but I'm excited about what my future holds for me as He shapes me into His appropriate vessel.

I am looking forward to my church's focus for next year. :) I have attended this church for nearly 3 years now, and every church focus we've studied has been a great blessing to me and those around me. :) We are currently studying Extreme Love; the extreme Love that Jesus showered us with, how to understand that love more deeply; and most importantly, how to express it toward others. It's been an awesome experience. :)

So much to do...so little time to do it. I guess it's a good thing all of us have the same amount of time, but there are times I'm sure we'd like just a liiiiiiiiittle bit more? "Please, Sir...I want some more." : } I'm sure there is even more that I can say because there is more that I think, but I think I'll wrap this up for now. It's been a loooooooong day today.

RANDOM THOUGHTS

There are just so many thoughts running through my head, none of them particularly coherent, just there. Some of them results from emotions, some experiences, some dreams, something someone said, something I've read, some from lack of sleep, some just simply exist.

School starts for the boys 8/23, just a week away from my start of writing this post. I'm saying the word "just" a lot. No telling where this is gonna go. Anyway, the boys are kind of excited, kind of dreading it. Me? I don't know. Sometimes I'm ready for the daily school grind, other days I'm not.

This has been a HOT summer. Too HOT. I realize we've not had "THE" hottest summer ever by any means, but this summer is HOT. I really can't wait for the cold snap of 97 to kick in. What day are we on....16? 17? 18 days straight of OVER 100-degree days??? I'm not interested in being reminded of the oven of 1986. I'm well aware that was the hottest Texas summer in all my Texas existence.

I'm so proud to call myself an American. I thank God, my family and my friends who served in the Armed Forces to protect the freedoms I enjoy here in America. I can't take those brave souls for granted. Maybe that comes from being a military (Army) daughter.

John Hagee has said: "You must USE your freedom to DEFEND your freedom or your LOSE your freedom." Awful lot of truth to this. :( It's a sobering thought to realize that our freedoms are NOT "free"~~sacrifices have been made, people have died, livelihoods have been lost for our very sacred privilege that doesn't exist in any other country.

Freedom OF religion does not mean freedom FROM religion. Right now, evangelical Christians are under fire. Unfortunately, so are radical Islamists (radical Muslims). Whether they want to be or not, Jews are back on the forefront as we have a terrorist prime minster who wants to wipe the Jews and Americans off the map. Unfortunately, Jews are no strangers to wars against other nations, that's been the majority of their existence. However, just as amazingly, the Jews are a peculiar and special people in God's eye, and it would behoove us (Americans) to take note and not abandon her in her hour of need. Not necessarily that manpower will save them, because GOD is sufficient to save them~~AND HE WILL SAVE THEM, but if we are so stupid as to turn our back on Israel (which I pray would be MANY generations later, but fear that's not at all the case), then our fate will fare absolutely no better than any other nation. If we do not defend Israel, God will not see fit to defend us. Many Christians recognize this...all eyes are on Israel.

I am NOT a "homophobe" because I believe the Bible when it says homosexuality is an abomination. I do NOT wish evil or harm to anyone who is struggling or content with homosexuality. Far from it. Some of my friends are gay. I see homosexuality as sin. So is lying. So is murder. So is stealing. So is gluttony. So is witchcraft. So is anything else that God calls sin. However, I don't believe these sins DEFINE the whole person. We ALL have some kind of sin in our lives, if we are ugly and technical about judging ourselves. Christians after God's own heart are FORGIVEN sinners. I believe Jesus truly meets us where we are when we call to Him. Sinners who are deepest in sin enjoy the greatest sense of forgiveness, and I've found they are usually the easiest to forgive others.

I don't understand why certain Muslims are wanting to build a mosque so close to ground zero. I am beyond irritated at Speaker Pelosi for wanting to "investigate" and find out WHO IS FUNDING those of us who DON'T want the mosque there. What???? IT HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH "FREEDOM OF RELIGION" or even about TOLERANCE BUT ABOUT honoring the sensitivity of Americans who have lost loved ones from the terrorist attack on 9/11/2001. Just because you "can" do something doesn't mean you "should." Paul tells us that all things are LAWFUL (unto him--now us) but not everything is EXPEDIENT. Sometimes it'd be better if we didn't participate in what is otherwise "legal." Today, it seems that the envelop is constantly being pushed. There is little respect for common courtesty anymore. Instead of it coming naturally, or being understood, people need to be reminded about why something may or may not be "acceptable" or "respected."
Most of those of us who oppose the mosque being built so close to ground zero DO NOT OPPOSE a mosque built at all, we just farther away, a respectful distance, from the site of ground zero. That is all. What is so difficult about understanding this??? lol, saw a line I think is apropos: "I'm not trying to argue with you, I'm just trying to explain why I'm right!"
I understand why some of my Pagan friends seriously mock Exodus 22:18, "Thou shalt not suffer (allow) a witch to live." The OT was taken literally and physically and actually killed anyone deemed a witch or otherwise involved in witchcraft. However, upon reading 1 Samuel 15:23, "For rebellion is as the SIN of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry", we get the sense that God does not intend so much for us to literally KILL the body of those who participate in witchcraft, but for Christians to PRAY for the spirit of witchcraft to be removed from that person's life. From Galatians 5:19-21, the works of the flesh are sin against the Spirit of God and manifests itself in adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelling, and such like...none who participate in these shall inherit the kingdom of God. Jesus forgave a thief on the cross. Jesus forgave a woman caught in adultery. Jesus forgave Saul, who murdered Christians. Jesus cast out demons, allowing the person to live and fulfill his mission in them. Some of my friends have been delivered from the powers of witchcraft and are now enjoying the fruits of the Spirit in their lives.

It's time to study American history. What we have learned in school has been quite distorted~~and what's being taught in schools today is even MORE distorted! I'm almost glad that I flunked AH. Well, I didn't flunk it, but I only got enough out of it to regurgitate it back onto some nationalized test. Schools don't have time nor the means to dig into history as we should. As Glenn Beck said on one of his programs, GET TO THE SOURCE of whatever quote you're trying to learn~~get the CONTEXT of what is going on back in those days. Develop an understanding of the time, the people, and the land of the people.

I canNOT sing Come Thou Fount. It is one of THE most beautiful of all hymns to my soul, but at the same time, I cannot bear to hear it. I develop a SERIOUS case of Niagra Falls syndrome whenever I hear that hymn. The verse that opens the floodgates is: "Jesus sought me when a stranger, wandering from the fold of God; He, to rescue me from danger, interposed His precious blood." To me, that makes His atonement for me extremely personal and at the core of my heart/spirit.

I have sooooo much cleaning to do!! ((speaking of sin/spirit of uncleanness! lol)) Cleanliness has been put on the back burner this summer. I'm looking around my house and find it's TOO MUCH chaos!! It happens sometimes! ;) My boys will be in school soon, and I've made myself quite a list. Wonder how long it'll take me to get it done...I'll be done much sooner when I get off this blog! :}

This post has taken me a full week to write. It's been a busy week last week, and I'm MAKING time to see its end.

Speaking of making time for something, the Lord provoked me last night via my 7yo son. My J7 got my attention last night. He actually asked me if I could read the Bible in an hour. Oh, my!! Bless his heart! :O I had to honestly tell him that I've not even accomplished reading it in a YEAR, much less in an HOUR!! I asked him if he wanted to try to read the Bible in a year, and his response was a very enthusiastic NOD and yes. Wow. I will get him a 16-month calendar (need to refresh mine, too) and we will post on the calendar when we read together. For all my spiritual fumbling around with my boys, I must be doing SOMETHING right! :}

Saw a bumper sticker on a Hummer last week that said: "Yes, this is my truck. No, I won't help you move." Maybe he gets that a lot? ;)

A black kitty has adopted us. She's been with us for a couple of weeks now. She is extremely affectionate. She can sit on laps for hours if we let her! She makes for great difficulty in typing on computers, tho. ;) She seems really attached to every one but T12, he's too nervous around her.

Let's see, first wave of forms are filled out, lunches are packed, clothes are laid out. Gas is in the truck (you'd be amazed at how important that is, even when the school is only a few feet away!), and here I sit at 1 o'clock in the morning typing away like a fool. :} Six hours will pass waaaaaay too quickly!!

I'm looking forward to the day when I can buy QUALITY clothes for myself for greater QUANTITY of money. Tried to do a little shopping today and it just didn't work out for me. Grrrr.

On this note, I believe I will simply say a prayer for the Lord's favor to prepare friends for our students, stamina for the teachers, and a continuous hot coffee for the parents to enjoy sans children! Maybe it won't hide in the microwave so often tomorrow. :)

Blessings to all of you,
Estelle

The Metamorphysis of My Son

I can't get over the change that has come over my older son, T12. In another month or so, I'll be calling him T13. Not only has he grown taller over this summer, but he is really in the process into developing into quite a young man. I must say that while the process was difficult at times, so far I'm liking the results of that change.

I've always said that each stage in a child's life brings a new blessing, a new discovery, a new accomplishment, etc. It's not that past stages did not have their moments; FAR from it! The joys of watching my babies while they're babies was just as intense as watching T12 develop into a young man.

I've told T12 many times that while I was never a male, and never will be, I HAVE been a child, I HAVE been a teen, I HAVE been the older sibling, and I've got some idea about what goes through a tween's mind. He didn't believe me, until I called him on some attitude he was giving me as his mom. I reminded him that he has not experienced anything "new" that another teenager hasn't already experienced at one point or another. I've also told him that even if *I've* not been the one who has experienced certain things about growing up, his Daddy has. (oops, I suppose he'd get upset if I called his Dad "Daddy" on here...oh well, one of the prerogatives of being a mom, right? ;) He flip-flops between calling his father Dad and Daddy anyway, so there.... lol)

We've had some trials, we've had some heated discussions, and I'm very certain there will be more and deeper ones to come. As I said at the beginning of this, as a parent, I'm not fond of the process of getting him to this point, but I'm quite pleased with the results so far. Obviously, as human nature, there are some personality issues I'd like to see changed, but what I can't do, I know that if it's important to God, He can change him even more.

Right now, he's as tall as me (which isn't saying too awful much, seeings how I'm only 5'5" tall, lol). He is now wearing glasses which, I must say, gives him a very distinguished look, if I do say so myself! Hopefully he'll be wearing braces soon. He's been more attentive to cleaning up his act overall. He's making some better choices in what he gives attention to. He's slowly putting away his childish things, speaking more like maturely. He's thinking more seriously about what he'd like to explore for when that "grown up" moment arrives. I'm thankful he's developing initiative, becoming more attentive to reading his Bible and trying to apply the Word more. He's getting better about caring about other people, and he even has a kind word to say about his little brother, J7...in the middle of his bickerings with him.

The transformation is a fascinating scene to behold. I thank the Lord that I can see it with my own eyes. I pray that I can endure through the entire process and see good fruits of that process over time.

America's Birthday, 2010

In a couple more days, it will be America's birthday. I love birthdays! : D There is much to celebrate. But there is much to remember, too. Some of it is good, some of it is not so good. It seems today's Americans are wanting to remember only the excitement of winning our freedom from Great Brittain, and not the toil and sacrifice it took our founding fathers to make it so.

I will not be attending my own church's 4th of July service this Sunday, but I've gotten a little preview of what our celebration will be like. Like many of our pastor's services, this will be a time of introspection as well as celebration.
I feel like God has given me a little note about our personal responsibility that we each have in preserving our freedoms in this nation. I've said many times since President Barak Obama was elected that America as we know it is in danger of being no more. Patrick Henry was a man who saw the true dangers that our new land was facing under Brittish rule. I find it unnerving that we are in danger of running full circle back into the hands of the very people we fought against 234 years ago. China carries the greatest of our current national debt, England carries some of our debt, too. "The borrower is slave to the lender." ... "The rich ruleth over the poor." This is NOT a position we need to be in, not at all. We have become the tail, and not the head. How have we so desperately fallen??
"Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance." Psalm 33:12
America has tossed out God and become its own lord. We had become a rich nation who has lost its wisdom in the Lord, and as a nation we are becoming a fool.
If we are not careful, we will become a nation which battles itself, and a nation against itself cannot stand.
Our main and current warfare is not with any given person or people, but with a political ideology. In an effort to protect our nation, we have allowed our leaders to create legislation (elements of high places) which oppose the standards given by our founding fathers through the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution of the United States of America. We are allowing legislation to pass which weaken us as a whole. We have a responsibility to hold our government accountable, and we are not doing it. It is not too late. We have the greatest means of communication today that was not available centuries ago...write your government officials and make them aware of where you stand. Let us remember with sober minds the sacrifices our founding fathers made to make us an independent nation and be willing to do what we can to rebuild and preserve it.
A pep rally of fireworks and patriotic hymns should encourage us in the spirit. Let us take a moment and sing, Happy Birthday, America!

MISSING: Fascination for TWILIGHT. Can't find it Anywhere

I know, I know. This is right up there w/ being the only person on this planet who hasn't seen the TITANIC, right? It's okay by me~~doesn't bother me a bit. : }

ANYway...back to my musing....

WHAT is the fascination with the TWILIGHT series?? Even some of my devout Christian friends are into this series, having read the books and seen the movies. My husband, who is not a Christian, is as mystified about this phenomenon as I am (not so much about the overall fascination, but CHRISTIAN fascination). I personally find this disturbing and disheartening. This series is based on vampires, werewolves and other unearthly creatures, and their interaction w/ human beings. These are supposedly "moral" supernatural vampire creatures~~an upscale, more hip and modern, "beautiful" vampire tale that is far more appealing than the vampire movies of Boris Carloff's day. The vampire movies of Carloff's day made it EASY to be disenchanted w/ vampires b/c they LOOKED evil. Even Anne Rice's INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE and sequel demonstrated the clinical, shocking, and mostly apathetic "life" of vampires. As disengaged as that "life" is, Hollywood still managed to make that life enticing...the reporter learned absolutely NOTHING from his subject's interview.

However, I believe Satan has deftly honed his craft in making the unearthly seem more appealing and somehow attainable, if only through entertainment. Remember that Satan's other name is Lucifer, as he was an angel of light. He was a beautiful creature. Since his fall from God's grace, Satan's obsession is to tempt mankind away from fellowship with God. He carefully chooses our greatest weaknesses to maximize the results. Since HARRY POTTER, TWILIGHT has become the hottest supernatural epic to hit the book sales, memorabilia, and the screens. The deception is that, while the series may be appealing to our physical senses, I believe it's still inherently evil because it becomes an idol, interrupting and shutting down our fellowship with God.

The Bible is explicit about the spiritual existence of angels and demons and other supernatural creatures. The Bible tells of many known and unknown human encounters with these beings. Matter of fact, Paul warns us in Hebrews 13:1-2 to "Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." At the same time, we are to try every spirit, whether they be of God. If they are not, we are to abstain from them. There is repeated warnings in the Bible to remain from witchcraft and familiar spirits; not "familiar" as in a close friend, but "familiar" as in a demon or evil spirit who answers its master's call. For the most part, there is a separation between our physical world and the spirit world, with God creating the definitive line between them. Why does God lift prophets up "in the Spirit" and show them fantastic images and fantastic dreams? They serve His divine purpose, whatever it may be. Satan, through Hollywood, devises TWILIGHT as a distraction away from God's divine purpose in your life, not only as an idol but as an attractive evil, a lure into sensual darkness. Cinematic creatures are human developed to have a mind of their own, but when that season of sensual darkness ceases, those caught up in that darkness run the risk of having to obey that prince of darkness, separated from God's comfort and pleasure of life.

Perhaps it sounds silly, like the ramblings of a Christian fundie lunatic who needs to get a grip on real life. Fine, so be it. Scoff as you will. As Job basically told his friends, "Listen to what I have to say, then mock me if you must." I believe TWILIGHT has no business entering into the lives of professing Christians who are born again in the Spirit.
MISSING: Fascination with TWILIGHT. Can't find it anywhere. I don't want to find it now.

Mother's Day 2010

For all my friends who happen to be Moms, fulfill the role of Mom in any way; I pray you had a most blessed day today! : D

I had a wonderful and quiet day today. :) Yesterday, my guys took me out to dinner b/c it would've been too crowded for my taste today.
Today's sermon demonstrated an Extreme Mother's Day, talking about the devotion Mary, mother of Jesus, had for her son...such devotion that we see her at her son's foot of the cross. He completely fulfilled his role as her Son by making sure that his beloved disciple would take care of his mother. Why not his half-brothers? They were not there in His hour of need. His mother and brethren are those who did the will of God. His mother happened to be not only his biological mother, but his spiritual mother as well.
How many of us are not only biological mothers, but mothers in the sense that we are THERE for our children? devoted to their well-being? ready to wear whatever hat is necessary to make their lives as meaningful as possible~~ready to meet life's challenges and (from Christian perspective) be ready for God's service for whatever He has in mind for them. How many of us have had to undo hurts, steer children through life's ups and downs, be their cheerleader when they are unsure of the paths they take, celebrate when milestones are met, etc? There's a lot that goes into a Mom and to do the job well.

What are some of your memories about your mom as a child? Are there funny memories? Scary memories? Do you have memories that you hope you don't hafta live through in the eyes of your own children? What are some of your memories as a Mom today? I'm sure the list could go on! :)

I pray you didn't hafta choke down a horrible breakfast with a smile, didn't hafta clean up an impossibly monstrous mess, didn't hafta duct-tape any suddenly broken appliances, didn't hafta wear clothing you wouldn't wear if you were blind, and most importantly...didn't hafta settle an argument about who you loved more....HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!! : D

All kinds of weird political news

This week seems to be overstocked with head-shaking news. The only reason I happen to know about what's on the news is b/c Hubby loves to watch the news. Left up to me, my news inlet would be extremely limited. The news does not fall under Philippians 4:8-9, my favorite verse to nourish my overall wellbeing.


What on solid earth is Ahmadinijab doing in the United Nations holding a position for women's rights (yeah, you read right, see this: http://www.eyeontheun.org/ or, if don't mind Fox News version, here: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/05/04/ahmadinejad-defends-irans-seat-womens-commission/ ) ??? How does he get off saying women in his country are "highly respected?" A woman gets stoned for having TAN LINES, and yet they are "highly respected?" I feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone here. I realize that today's Western (European as well as US) society, diplomacy and attitudes are quite different than those of the Middle East (then and now), and from our perspective quite oppressive and restrictive. For all our faults in this nation, I still believe the United States of America still remains one of the greatest nations in which to live. I thank God I live here. (...but I digress, lol)
Now, at the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, that's more representative of the man, Ahmadinijab, we know and detest. I don't care one bit for the politics of Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, but I give credit where credit is due...I'm glad to see that she isn't afraid to address this maniac for who he is. You can't be a shy wallflower in her position. She's an extremely powerful and assertive presence. You can bet he's just getting started, and so is she. May the best woman win. >: )


Also in the news is Faizal Shahzad, a naturalized American citizen from Pakistan, who decided to use his American citizenship against us. http://dnainfo.com/20100504/manhattan/faisal-shahzad-claimed-work-on-wall-street-instead-he-lost-home-foreclosure How tragic. He is just one of many examples of "bad apples" causing a growing distrust between legal immigrants and law enforcement. While he's from another part of the globe, his actions heighten anxiety of our growing IL-legal alien trouble from south of the American border. Unfortunately, every time we look around, legal immigrants from any country are being eyed with suspicion and distrust, and unfortunately they don't feel the freedom we have in this country as guaranteed by our Constitution.

Speaking of suspicion and distrust....
Arizona's state illegal immigration laws http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/49leg/2r/bills/sb1070s.pdf and are causing quite a ruckus across the nation as well as Arizona. There are many tweaks necessary to make these laws successful, but I believe they're off to a great start. SOMEBODY has got to do something!! However, not only are Arizona's American citizens understandably upset by what these laws potentially bring~~chiefest of issues is the impromptu demand for possible immigrants to have their papers at hand at all times in case they are stopped by local and state law enforcement for unrelated issues; but nationally, there is question about its Constitutionality. Immigration control is supposed to be federal responsibility, but our national government has largely ignored the cries of Southern-Border Americans demanding that border security be one of their top priorities. Constitutional or not, I don't blame Arizona one bit for initiating state legislation in a vigilant attempt to reclaim our country...if a few more border states follow suit, our federal government just might take notice! >:( I remember about 5 or 6 years ago when a state representative sent a survey for me to fill out, and one of the questions was, "Do you think defending our borders is important?" I wrote out to the side, "YES, did you really have to ask this???" I know it was probably not "his idea" to put that on there, except to present our concerns to his higher-ups, but I still couldn't believe that the question even HAD to be asked. Look at us now. We're over run by IL-legal aliens and our government, is way too slow in responding.

Oh, and how about those California high school students who were requested to remove their American flag shirts that they wore during Mexican and Mexican-American Cinco de Mayo day at school?? http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/05/06/california-students-sent-home-wearing-flags-cinco-mayo/ These are AMERICAN students in AMERICA wearing AMERICAN FLAG clothing on a day that happens to be on highly-celebrated day for Mexican and Mexican-Americans IN OUR COUNTRY. Yes, I can understand why the Mexicans and Mexican-Americans are a little put off by this, and to a point I can understand why the school officials demanded these students to remove these articles of clothing, but let me repeat: THESE ARE AMERICAN STUDENTS IN AMERICA wearing AMERICAN FLAG clothing.
When in Mexico, do as the Mexicans do; when in America, do as the Americans do.
If we were in MEXICO and they were celebrating their holiday, I would greater understand not wearing American-inspired clothing in THEIR country at this time. If we were in another country celebrating our Independence Day by wearing American flag-inspired clothing, I would also EXPECT our host nations to be able to wear clothing reflective of THEIR nation at the same time. America is a melting pot of multiple cultures and heritage. Americans celebrate MANY different festivals, celebrations, observations, cultures represented from ALL OVER THE WORLD...but we're AMERICANS FIRST.

I'm praying that we can reclaim the America we used to know and love. In some ways, we've come a long way; in others, I think we need to go back in the time machine and recapture the ideals that made us Americans in the first place.

If interested, adjustments made to the AZ Immigration legislation:
Part 1: http://www.keytlaw.com/blog/2010/04/anti-illegal-immigration-law-part-1/
Part 2: http://www.keytlaw.com/blog/2010/04/anti-illegal-immigration-law-part-2/
Part 3: http://www.keytlaw.com/blog/2010/04/text-of-arizona%E2%80%99s-anti-illegal-immigration-law-%E2%80%93-part-3/
Part 4: http://www.keytlaw.com/blog/2010/04/text-of-arizona%E2%80%99s-anti-illegal-immigration-law%E2%80%93part-4/
Part 5: