Grandma

If you have been a reader of my blog, you know that my Grandma has been dealing with a lot of health issues over the past few months. For those who do not know, my grandma was diagnosed with lung and bone cancer. She has also been battling the pain of having a broken hip that cannot be operated on. After a few sessions of radiation and chemo, my grandma and grandpa decided that hospice care was the best option.

I have wanted to write something here for a long time. However, the same question kept blocking my thoughts; where do I start? My grandparents mean the world to my wife, Kayley, and I. I cannot even begin to explain how they have impacted my life. How they have made me a better person. How they have shown us how important family is. How they have always been there for us and helped us in our times of need. How they have shown us what true love is like.

I know there is a God because nothing else could create this love...

I pray simple prayers. Prayers of comfort and love. Prayers of patience and a peaceful mind. But, most of all, I pray that God's love will envelope her and ease her pain. I pray that God will lay a hand upon her shoulder and cradle her in His arms. I pray that he will speak to her heart and pour His words into her soul. I pray that he will strengthen her spirit and guide my grandpa as he gives her care.

For everything that they have done for us, I want to help anyway I can. Prayer is my strongest asset and the most powerful tool.

So, I pray...

I scoured the Bible for the right verses to type. I clicked on website after website in order to find the perfect words to say. Surprisingly, those words with with me all along. In 1928, my Great-Great-Great Grandfather, Charles, wrote a poem that used to hang in the hallway of my grandparent's home.

Nothing seemed more fitting for how I felt...

I've seen God in the morning
As dawn breaks into light,
I've seen Him in the evening
As twilight turns to night.

I've seen Him in the sunrise
In the beauty of the day,
I've seen Him in the sunset,
In the final, fading ray.

I've seen Him in the growing
Of the grain in the field and fen,
I've seen Him in the feeding
Of the cattle in the glen.

I've seen Him in the noble hearts
And lives, in service spent.
I've seen Him in the noble deeds
Of those whom He has sent.

I pray, that when my life is done
And I am laid to rest,
Someone may know, tho I have gone
That I have stood the test

That humbly, tho I've tried to live
While I on earth have trod,
While I was here, I strove to give
Someone a glimpse of God.

We love you Grandma! We are so blessed to be a part of your life.

Obama Financial Crisis Quote

Obama made the following remark to ABC's John Berman tonight regarding the recent financial crisis:

"I don't think me calling House Republican members would have been that helpful, I tend not to be that persuasive on that side of the aisle."

Bipartisan champion? Agent of change? Reformer?

Even Barack Obama doesn't believe Barack Obama.

How can we?

War for the White House

Too funny...

It's a sad day when The Onion gives a more balanced approach to politics than our own primary media outlets. But hey, they'll make you believe what they want you to believe right?


Obama Runs Constructive Criticism Ad Against McCain

Big Girl Car Seat

Kayley has graduated to her "big girl" car seat. We picked up two of them today (one for each car) at Babies R' Us and tested them out. Everything looked great, so into the cars they go!

Financial Crisis: The Democrat's Blame Game

"The extent to which Rep. Barney Frank, Sen. Chris Dodd, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and Barack Obama himself are avoiding blame for this crisis despite symbiotic relationships with those who caused it is truly amazing.

The nerve with which they hold forth about "unbridled capitalism" and "deregulation" while conveniently forgetting their culpability in government interference in the market, which first pressured banks (via Community Reinvestment Act) and then incentivized banks (via Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) to make risky loans to people with troubled credit history.

As for Frank and Co., watch them deny, deny, deny the crisis in 2004, a year after the Bush administration (and, no surprise, John McCain) tried to tighten up Fannie/Freddie oversight, so they could keep the gravy train moving. Republicans are not blameless in this by any means, as they still had a majority when reforms were suggested, but the brazenness with which Democrats are blaming today's crisis on the market they manipulated for their own gain should not be overlooked. (Mary Ham 2008)"

Update: The Replacement

Two weeks ago, my favorite car was totaled when someone behind me forgot to stop. Yesterday, we found its replacement. Surprisingly, the insurance company gave us $6,100 for a 2002 with 90,000 miles on it. That is 60% of what I paid for the car six years ago! With that said, we were able to find a newer car (2007 Chevy Trailblazer) with low miles (8,100) and put a nice down payment in order to get a low monthly payment. Here's the new ride:

Real Leadership

John McCain's Remarks on the Economic Crisis
New York, NY
Wednesday, September 24, 2008

America this week faces an historic crisis in our financial system. We must pass legislation to address this crisis. If we do not, credit will dry up, with devastating consequences for our economy. People will no longer be able to buy homes and their life savings will be at stake. Businesses will not have enough money to pay their employees. If we do not act, ever corner of our country will be impacted. We cannot allow this to happen.

Last Friday, I laid out my proposal and I have since discussed my priorities and concerns with the bill the Administration has put forward. Senator Obama has expressed his priorities and concerns. This morning, I met with a group of economic advisers to talk about the proposal on the table and the steps that we should take going forward. I have also spoken with members of Congress to hear their perspective.

It has become clear that no consensus has developed to support the Administration's proposal. I do not believe that the plan on the table will pass as it currently stands, and we are running out of time.

Tomorrow morning, I will suspend my campaign and return to Washington after speaking at the Clinton Global Initiative. I have spoken to Senator Obama and informed him of my decision and have asked him to join me.

I am calling on the President to convene a meeting with the leadership from both houses of Congress, including Senator Obama and myself. It is time for both parties to come together to solve this problem.

We must meet as Americans, not as Democrats or Republicans, and we must meet until this crisis is resolved. I am directing my campaign to work with the Obama campaign and the commission on presidential debates to delay Friday night's debate until we have taken action to address this crisis.

I am confident that before the markets open on Monday we can achieve consensus on legislation that will stabilize our financial markets, protect taxpayers and homeowners, and earn the confidence of the American people. All we must do to achieve this is temporarily set politics aside, and I am committed to doing so.

Following September 11th, our national leaders came together at a time of crisis. We must show that kind of patriotism now. Americans across our country lament the fact that partisan divisions in Washington have prevented us from addressing our national challenges. Now is our chance to come together to prove that Washington is once again capable of leading this country.

A great outlook on this financial crisis by Jeff Emanuel

After McCain made this statement, Barack Obama expressed his desire to continue on with the debate this Friday. I don't know about you, but my financial security is more important than a foreign policy debate. McCain has handled this financial crisis in stride while Obama stands by and takes notes. Yet another reason...

Obama and Wall Street

Barack Obama LOVES Wall Street. Well, maybe I should say...Wall Street LOVES Barack Obama. During the recent Wall Street crisis, many Democrats have been lying through their teeth and padding their wallets.

Recently, Barack Obama has joined in the chorus of fraudulent statements regarding Wall Street. Fannie Mae and Fannie Mac have contributed $126,349 to Barack Obama, which ranks him second on the list of Washington lawmakers to receive such contributions. How are they able to give money away? The amazing statistic? These contributions have compiled over 19 years (1989) and in 143 working days as a U.S. Senator, Obama is an unfathomable second ($105,349 more than Senator McCain) after 19 years. Mr. Obama has received over 35 million in campaign contributions from Wall street. That's over 5x the amount John McCain has received.

To add insult to injury? Obama's inexperienced response to the Wall Street crisis is nothing new. McCain came out immediately with a speech and a plan for action. Check out Jeff Emanuel's post about Obama's Wall Street Response.

Obama and the economy? Bad combination. He cannot think on his own when a crisis arises. His statements demand responsible leadership on Wall Street while his campaign is funded by those very same delinquents. His VP thinks it is more patriotic to pay higher taxes (Obama has voted for 94 tax INCREASES).

Democrats: Playing the Blame Game

That's not change we can believe in. In fact, that's not a candidate we can believe in.

Christians and Politics

We all have our political differences. We all have our views on policy and issues. We all act upon those views in different ways. However, there is one supreme view that binds us together...our God is an awesome and loving God.

I found this quote and it really put things into perspective for me as a peg in the political machine and a son in Christ. I think it is morally irresponsible to NOT stand up for what you believe to be true. If we had followed those steps, I wouldn't be typing this post. If we all succumbed to silence, why have a voice? It is our individual freedom and God's will that allows us to spread CHRISTIAN values and morals throughout all of life's corridors. Do not get passion confused with distortion. Do not get determination confused with strife.

Eventually we become who we are...

"...in some cultures (like the ancient Roman, in which the New Testament was written) there is not much that Christians can do, other than pray, to influence political structures and policies. But when they can influence them, they should. In modern democracies, all citizens are 'lesser magistrates' by virtue of the ballot box. Christians have an obligation to vote according to God's standards. And, as they are gifted and called, they should influence others to vote in the same way.

This is not to say that political choices are always obvious. Often we must choose the lesser of two evils. Candidate Mershon may have a better view of one issue than Candidate Beates, while Beates has a better view on a different issue. It is an art to weigh the importance of different issues and to come to a godly conclusion. Each of us should have a large amount of tolerance for other Christians who come to conclusions that are different from ours. Rarely will one issue trump all others, though I must say that I will never vote for a candidate who advocates or facilitates the killing of unborn children."-John Frame, The Doctrine of the Christian Life (P&R 2008). p. 617.

The View

Just another example...

Did anyone else watch these two interviews? How, as a country, have we put up with a media that feeds us biased journalism? Unfortunately, the media will never show us the true issues during this election.

Obama's "Secret" Iraq Agenda

This is beyond delusional. Flat out dangerous. A simple failure in character and judgement.

Does Barack Obama really want to put country first? Or, put Obama before country?

This article in the New York Post begs to differ.

Haven't heard about this issue? Hmmm....I wonder why?

"Congressman who willfully take actions during wartime that damage morale and undermine the military are saboteurs and should be arrested, exiled or hanged."

~Abraham Lincoln~

I'll take either of the first two :)

Thank You Repository

Kudos to the Canton Repository. This past Sunday, the Repository delivered ALL newspapers with the DVD documentary Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West.

"From the creators of Relentless: the Struggle for Peace in the Middle East comes a new film that will change the way you look at the world. Obsession is a film about the threat of Radical Islam to Western Civilization. Using unique footage from Arab television, it reveals an 'insider's view' of the hatred the Radicals are teaching, their incitement of global jihad, and their goal of world domination. The film also traces parallels between the Nazi movement of World War II, the Radicals of today, and the Western world's response to both threats.



It was eye-opening, informative, and brilliantly done. If you haven't seen it, it is a must watch! Just another reason why freedom doesn't negotiate with terror.

My Ride Home

Please pay attention to the road when you are driving. The lady behind me apparently was not.

Thanks for the good times old pal.

Mitsubishi Galant February 2002 - September 2008.

Happy Birthday To My Better Half

Happy Birthday Megan!

Today is my wife's 26th birthday.

Megan,

I envy you. Somehow. Someway. You make our house and our lives run smoothly. I'd honestly be lost without you. Thank you for being such a great partner and for helping to raise such a beautiful daughter. Thank you for the sacrifices you make. The loads of laundry you do. The meals you cook. The errands you run. The bottles you scrub. Thank you for loving me when it doesn't always seem like I give everything back the same way. When life seems to pass us by, you are the one constant that keeps us going.

Happy Birthday...

Love Kayley and Ryan

September 11: The Way We Were

Dear Mr. Obama

Me?

Obama Oops...Again

Now, I'm not one to give into conspiracy theories, but this guy just isn't helping himself out. A slip of the tongue? Maybe so. But, the Obama campaign has already passed the crest of the political roller coaster. It's going to be a quick road to the bottom over the next 2 months.


* Note to Obama Campaign Managers:

Please use teleprompter for all public speaking appearances. Bring on the debates!

Browns Game

Today, I went to the season opener for the Cleveland Browns. Unfortunately, they lost 28-10. My brother-in-law (Micah) asked me to go after he won four tickets through his work. The seats were great! 50 yard line. Club level. Beautiful weather. My father-in-law (Rick) and Micah's friend (Shawn) also came along. Here are some pictures from the game:

The Browns didn't make it here very often :(

THE Ohio State University marching band performed the National Anthem and the half-time show. O-H-I-O!

Great scene!

THE Ohio State University marching band again...

The FAMOUS Script Ohio! The highlight of the game unfortunately...

Kayley and Her Toofers

She's had the toofers for a few weeks, but I finally just got a picture of them. Here's Kayley and her first set of toofers :)

Any Questions?

...I'm energized, I'm proud, I'm astounded, I'm moved...

...but above all, I'm speechless...

Everyone, meet the rising star of the Republican Party...Sarah Palin, any questions?

In case you missed it....


Vice Presidential Candidate Gov. Sarah Palin (AK) at the RNC - For more amazing video clips, click here

The best man turned out to be a woman :)

Speech of the Night

Admittedly, I was a little worried when I heard that Fred Thompson would be opening up the RNC. Mostly because of his poor results from the campaign trail earlier this year. However, Thompson delivered an encouraging speech that I felt did two things: 1) It showcased John McCain's military courage and bipartisan history; and, 2) It called the Democrats out on many issues that have been raised as the months have continued on (it's about time).

Here is the speech from Tuesday evening...


Former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson at RNC - Click here for another funny movie.

On another note, I am literally sickened by the liberal media's attacks on the Palin family. Most notably, the pregnancy of Palin's 17 year old daughter and Palin's ability to raise five children (one with a disability). Do liberals forget that Palin's pregnant daughter mirrors the upbringing of Barack Obama? Have we ever asked if a man has the time to take care of his children and run the country? Does a 22 year old DUI by Palin's husband outweigh the admitted cocaine and alcohol abuse by Obama himself?

Sexism? Maybe.

I guess people will smear ANYTHING when their back is against the wall.

Joe Biden: Foreign Policy Expertise?!?!

Joe Biden: Foreign Policy Extraordinaire

The Democratic Presidential nominee, Barack Obama, selected Senator Biden for the VP in order to strengthen his ticket in the area of foreign policy. Mr. Biden, although well traveled in his 36 years of "magic" in Washington, is far from being considered an expert. On one of the biggest (quietest?) issues in this election, Biden showed little promise for resolution. In fact, his plan for Iraq makes me wonder if he thinks of the Iraq War as a Battle Masters board game.

In case you forgot, either literally or by choice, Joe Biden's "Master Plan" for Iraq involved taking a SOVEREIGN nation and dividing it into three ethnic/cultural sectors. This idea had floated around the political circles of Washington, only to die for obvious reasons. Biden, however, continued to pursue the idea and thought that it was the sure way to end the Iraq War. For a better example, that is like dividing the United States into four sections and saying, "Ok, Mexicans you live here, Blacks you live here, Whites you live here, and Asians you live here. That should do it! Problem solved"



Man are we lucky to have him as a potential VP or what?!?! He is really on top of things isn't he?

Yearbook Yourself

Thanks to Tam for posting THIS funny website.

Sunday in Columbus

Yesterday we spent the day with Megan's side of the family in Columbus. We have been doing this ever since Megan and I have been together (WoW...7 years!) It was nice to catch up, eat some great food, and relax! You can check out Megan's cousin's wife's (geez) blog HERE for more pictures.