In one breath he talks stimulus package, in the other breath, he's spending taxpayers money on things that have no business being funded by the population as a whole. I was hoping I'd be wrong about this president and things weren't as bad as they seemed to be, but I'm afraid we're in for a whopper of a term.
As I type this, my 15-year old daughter is in Washington, D.C. with hundreds of other teenagers praying for a reversal of the Roe v. Wade decision. Murder of a baby is illegal, but not if the baby is an unborn baby. I challenge everyone who belives in a woman's "right to choose" to watch pictures or videos of abortion. IT IS MURDER.
Obama to reverse foreign abortion rule
Existing policy bans U.S. funds for groups that promote or perform abortion
The Associated Press
updated 10:42 a.m. CT, Fri., Jan. 23, 2009
WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama plans to sign an executive order ending the ban on federal funds for international groups that promote or perform abortions, officials told The Associated Press on Friday.
The move, long expected in the Democratic president's first week in office, will be welcomed by liberals and criticized by abortion rights foes.
The policy bans U.S. taxpayer money, usually in the form of U.S. Agency for International Development funds, from going to international family planning groups that either offer abortions or provide information, counseling or referrals about abortion. It is also known as the "global gag rule," because it prohibits taxpayer funding for groups that even talk about abortion if there is an unplanned pregnancy.
Also known as the "Mexico City policy," it has been reinstated and then reversed by Republican and Democratic presidents since GOP President Ronald Reagan established it in 1984. President Bill Clinton ended the ban in 1993, but President George W. Bush re-instituted it in 2001 as one of his first acts in office.
The Democratic official and senior U.S. official who disclosed the plans to The AP did so on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to pre-empt Obama's announcement.
Obama was expected to sign the executive order at a low-key event, one day after the 36th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court ruling in Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion.
The move was not a surprise as both Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who will oversee foreign aid, had promised to do away with the gag rule during the presidential campaign. Clinton is to visit the U.S. Agency for International Development, through which much U.S. foreign aid is disbursed, later Friday.
Reversing Bush policiesObama has spent his first days in office systematically signing executive orders reversing Bush administration policies on issues ranging from foreign policy to government operations. But, save for ending the ban, Obama has largely refrained from wading into ideological issues, perhaps to avoid being tagged a traditional partisan from the outset after his campaign promises to change "business as usual" in the often partisan-gridlocked capital.
Rather, Obama has chosen to focus initially on issues in which there is consensus across the political spectrum and support from the public, such as closing the prison camp for suspected terrorists at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to making government documents more accessible.
Organizations that had pressed Obama to make the abortion-ban change were jubilant.
"Women's health has been severely impacted by the cutoff of assistance. President Obama's actions will help reduce the number of unintended pregnancies, abortions and women dying from high-risk pregnancies because they don't have access to family planning," said Tod Preston, a spokesman for Population Action International, an advocacy group.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Our new president is busy at work.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Happy New Year!
I've been slow posting because I just never seem to have the time to get on the computer and do "personal" stuff these days! We have had a wonderful "holiday" so far. Rob and I took off from December 24th to January 5th, so we're hanging out with the kids and doing house projects. All of our parents were here from the 24th through the 29th, with staggering arrival and departure dates. The kids love it when all their grandparents are here!
We've all been working at cleaning and organizing the house in anticipation for my best Christmas gift ever - a cleaning lady! She starts in a couple of weeks, so we're tring to get everything presentable for her. Of course, it's never that easy. The AstroStart that Rob bought me for my birthday wasn't working 100%, so we had to take it back in for some additional tweeking, and we've been researching tires for my car. The latest problem is the garbage disposal breaking. My handy husband was able to replace it tonight in just a few short hours, including another trip to Menards to get a P trap as the old one was rusted through.
For those of you that usually receive a Christmas card from us, you don't need to keep waiting - it will be a New Year's card this year. They should be arriving shortly and i will have them out in a week. I'll also be posting some of our Christmas pictures soon.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Rest In Peace, Tim
Calhoun, Timothy Patrick Age 37 of Lakeville died on 11-13-08.
Preceded in death by Grandpa and Grandma Calhoun and Grandpa Bohanon. Survived by wife, Elizabeth; son, Carson; daughter, Courtney; father and mother, Jerry and Caroleen; brothers, Steve (Linda), Scott (Vicki); grandmother, Violet Bohanon; nieces and nephews, Kate, Bryan, Kayla, Andrew; uncles, aunts, cousins, many special friends including Paul Cluskey and Mike Hehr and his beloved pets, Gordy and Henry. Services on Monday 11-17-08 at 11 AM with visitation an hour and a half before at Grace Lutheran Church in Apple Valley on Co Rd 42 and Pennock. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Rest in Peace, Uncle Al
Alvin P. Harm, age 84 of Yankton passed away on Friday, November 7, 2008 at the Avera Sister James Care Center, Yankton, SD. A Memorial Mass will be held at 2:00 PM, Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Yankton with Rev. Bob Lacey officiating.
Burial of cremated remains will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery with military graveside rites by Ernest-Bowyer VFW Post #791. Visitations will be held from 4-8 PM, Monday, November 10, 2008 at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home and Crematory, Yankton with a 7:00 scripture service followed by a rosary. Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. Honorary pallbearers will be his grandchildren.
Alvin P. Harm was born on March 28, 1924 in Pierson, Iowa, the son of Julius and Daisy (Baker) Harm. He graduated from Grand Meadow High School in 1941. He served in the U. S. Navy from March 21, 1944 to May 6, 1946 aboard the U.S.S. Massachusetts in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Following his discharge, he was employed at the Cudahy Packing Company in Sioux City, IA, and in 1955, he began his employment with Sioux Radio Products in Sioux City, IA.
He married Claris "Jeff" Luken at Canton, SD on January 7, 1956. In 1957, when Sioux Radio Products relocated to Yankton, SD, Al moved with it. Sioux Radio Products merged with Dale Electronics in 1961 and he continued working there until 1968. Following that, he was employed at Zenith Radio Corp. in Sioux City, IA until 1978, then with Sioux Tools in Vermillion, SD until 1987 and retirement. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
He is survived by his wife, Claris "Jeff" Harm of Yankton, SD; his son, Kevin Harm of Columbus, NE; his daughter, Laurie (Michael) Johnson of Yankton, SD; four grandchildren: Cory and Cassandra Harm of Wayne, NE and Justin Johnson of St. Paul, MN and Alli Johnson of Yankton, SD; a sister, Doris Hendricks of Sloan, IA; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Clark ( Florence) Carnes, of Holstein, IA, Bob (Ruth) Luken of Roseville, MN, and Ruth Schwarz of Holstein, IA.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Bethyl Culler, a brother, Richard Harm, and brother-in-law, John Hendricks.
http://www.kostelfuneralhome.com/obits/harm.html
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
My new car
Yes, I know, I've been saying that I want/need a new van for years now. But my husband talked me out of one when we bought the Tahoe in March. However, I got tired of not having my "own" vehicle - you know, one that I could "live" out of. I like having everything I need in my car - first aid kit, shopping bags, bottled water, extra diapers/wipes/clothes, Cub Scout/PTA/work stuff. I hate having to carry everything "just in case", but I like to keep it all close by. SO, we bought a new car for me! It's a 2004 Toyota Avalon and I really like it. It sure is different driving a car - for the last 8 years I've been driving a van or truck. It fit all my van requirements (except for the automatic sliding doors and DVD player), and it even has a sun roof! :-)
Halloween Pictures
Carving pumpkins earlier in the evening:
Benjamin watched:
Friday, October 31, 2008
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
I can't believe I haven't blogged since August! And I really have no good excuse. I'm not busier than I usually am! :-) I do have some pictures to add this weekend, so will just give a quick overview of the last couple months:
September:
We celebrated Rob's birthday!
I spent a week in Washington for work. I've never been to the Northwest before, so it was fun to visit. It's beautiful there, but so many people! I did get to spend a few hours in Seattle and did the touristy stuff - Pikes Place Market, the Space Needle, and eating at PF Changs.
October:
I attended a weekend scrapbook retreat at a resort in Minnesota in October. It was great to have some "alone" time with good friends and I got quite a few pages done.
Rob and I celebrated our 10th anniversary! We spent an evening at a bed & breakfast in Stillwater, MN, while the kids stayed with family in the cities. He bought me a diamond anniversary band. I had to have my wedding set cut off my finger - I put it on right after Benjamin was born and then it hasn't come off for the last 14 months! :-) But, I get the whole thing back today!
Kid stuff:
Emily is busy with dance two nights a week, youth group, and the socializing that comes with being in high school. (I still can't believe it sometimes.) She continues to drive us around town with her learner's permit and is getting closer to getting her actual driver's license. She turns 15 on Monday! She is working at saving money for a week-long trip to Washington, D.C. in January for the Teens for Life group with our church.
Sam has started cub scouts and really seems to like it. He is quite the social fellow if we can get him away from the TV and his video games! We have occassional play dates and birthday parties and his parent-teacher conference last year shows him doing very well. (His reading test at the end of first grade is actually beyond what the school wants him to be at for the end of second grade, so he won't be tested again until third grade!)
Benjamin still has 6 teeth (4 on top and 2 on bottom), but I think I felt two more on the bottom last night - it will be another day or so before I can get my fingers in there again to confirm! He crawls all over and loves to pull himself up and stand. He only walks with stuff if it's not planned, ie it moves and he just follows it! He will walk if you hold both his hands, but if you let one hand go, he either stands there and looks at you or just sits down.
Oh, and we got a new-to-us car last weekend! It's a Toyota Avalon and I love it. It's got a sunroof and I feel so sporty driving it! We still have the van, but it's in storage at Rob's mom and dad's place.
I'll post pictures of the kids in their costumes and the new car soon.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Cedar Point Pictures
We always visit Cedar Point when we go to Ohio! (http://www.cedarpoint.com/).
The ride in motion.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Ohio Vacation Pictures - Rolling Ridge Ranch
We visited the Rolling Ridge Ranch (http://www.visitrollingridge.com/) in Ohio during our vacation with Grandma Jo and Grandpa Dennis.
We saw a zonkey, which is a donkey-zebra cross.
Sam fed the goats.
Emily fed the camels.
Sam fed elk while Benjamin and Dad watched.
More elk, cooling off in the pond.
Family Reunion Pictures
Finally getting around to looking at the family reunion photos and realized that I didn't take too many! And I got virtually none of Sam! He spent most of his time playing Nintendo DS with his cousin, Kevin!
Here's Emily with cousin Katie.
Benjamin and Grandpa napping.
Monday, July 07, 2008
Another Samism
We took a walk the other night and cut across a parking lot. Sam said we were "jack-crossing"! (He meant jay-walking!)
4th of July pictures
Benjamin waves a flag at the RedHawks game.
Emily and Sam with Hawkeye and Kaitlyn and Tyler.
Sam riding the banana peel bike.
Rob helping Emily get started on her banana peel bike.
We all drove a "double surrey" in Lindenwood Park early Friday afternoon.
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Benjamin's 9 month pictures
I can't believe I'm so late getting these posted! I wanted to get them sent to the grandparents first, but it just didn't happen. I do have the pictures ready to mail, so it's time to post!
Friday, June 13, 2008
More New Jersey pictures
My cousin, Amy, lives in NJ with her husband and 2 sons. We visited them for the day.
Benjamin relaxing with Grandpa Don in the hammock.
The boy cousins playing in the pool.
New York City pictures
I can't remember the name of this place! It's where they have the ice skating rink in the winter...
Sam fell asleep on the double-decker tour bus.
The fashion district.
