P is for Pink Princess

Gosh, blogging every day is... hard.

But hey, better late than never, right? Eh. Maybe someday I will be more on top of things. At any rate, you will have to wait until next week to hear about my Striiv pedometer. In the meantime, please consider this rant - Children's Toys and the Lack of Creativity.

It seems that whenever I want to purchase an interesting toy for my daughter, I have to go on ebay or browse rummage sales to find toys that she will actually enjoy playing with. Her latest obsession has been with these Fisher Price dinosaurs, which are no longer manufactured by the company.

They're adorable and fun, and even though she's a girl, she enjoys playing with them (albeit differently than most boys do - she plays "family" with them - mommy, daddy, and baby dinos).

Why don't they make gender-neutral toys like this anymore? You know, the ones that really spark kids' imaginations?

I think there is just a lack of creativity in kids' toys nowadays. For example, you can tell when you are coming to the "girl" isle in the toys department of our local Target. Everything is Pink. And Princess. Or Dress-Up and Play House. No exceptions. If it's not Pink and doesn't have something to do with Dress-Up, Princesses, or Play House, it simply does not belong in the girl isle in the toy department.

Likewise is the "boy" isle. Their toys involve war, cars, sports, or variations thereof. At least there are more options with the color choices in the boys' section.

Which leads me to wonder, where are the open-ended toys kept? You know, the ones where the kids could choose to play "house" with (mommy, daddy, and baby dinos, for example) or race with or war with, depending on the kid's imagination and not on his or her gender? What if a little boy wanted to develop his nurturing side? What if a little girl was interested in cars? Or what if a little girl detested the color pink??? Oh, the horror!

I have to imagine that if I were a scientist from another culture studying our societal roles based on the toy choices we give to our children, I would come to the following conclusions:

1. Girls only like the color pink.
2. Girls are expected to fill one of two roles: A. be catered to by the rest of society (princess) or B. be some sort of a servant (play house).
3. No matter if you are a princess or a servant, a girl must pay attention to her appearance and try to be pretty (dress up).
3. Boys are only interested in these topics: war, cars, sports. That's it. Therefore, boys are not nurturing, nor are they interested in homemaking.
4. Neither gender is interested in topics such as math or science.

Now I know these are broad generalizations, and yes, there are many good open-ended and creative toys out there, but it just seems like there are less of them now than there were even ten years ago. At least they have become harder to find in my neck of the woods.

What are your thoughts on this subject? Let me know in the comments section! :)

Kiddie Wagon Upgrade!

So I sold my old Step 2 wagon and trailer because Little Love is rapidly outgrowing it.

My old Step 2 wagon and trailer









To replace it, I bought this one for just $7 more than what I received from the sale of my my old wagon/trailer. (I sold my Step 2 wagon on Craigslist and bought this Little Tikes "Ride and Relax Wagon" on sale online at KMart.com):

Here's what I think of it:

I definitely would not pay full price for this wagon. However, I managed to snag it for just $72, which was worth it to me. The wagon comes with an even more expensive model that has an additional folding umbrella and cooler attached. I definitely would not buy that model since I already own a cooler and a clip-on umbrella.

The Little Tikes Ride and Relax Wagon is definitely larger than my old Step 2 wagon, which makes it more difficult to fit in the back of my car. (If you don't have a SUV or minivan, you may want to stick to a Step 2 wagon.) However, it's much nicer for my growing girl. The seats can fold down flat so that she can stretch out and lie down, which is a plus for me.

The kiddie cup holders are located inside the wagon instead of on the outer edge, so she is less likely to lose her sippy cup as we go, and there are even 4 conveniently placed cup holders for the adults who are tagging along. The side of the wagon also folds over so that it can convert to a bench for us to sit on. This is especially handy at the zoo when the picnic areas are busy or along parade routes (no more hauling lawn chairs!).

I have heard that the front wheels can buckle with too much weight. I have only noticed this starting to happen once during a playdate at the zoo. I had five toddlers in the wagon, and I noticed that the front wheels were beginning to bend during turns. I took two of the toddlers out and it was just fine again. So we only ride three kids at a time now, and it works fine. The wheels can hold one adult and one toddler when being used as a bench as long as you do not try to make it move.

The seat belts are a bit of a joke - they aren't nearly long enough for older toddlers/preschoolers, and I do miss the snazzy door of the Step 2 wagon, which made entering and exiting easier for the kids. The Little Tikes wagon, being larger and heavier than the Step 2 wagon, is also a little more difficult to steer. However, I only notice this when I turn it around and push (which I like to do when at the zoo so I can better keep an eye on the kids).

You may wonder what I do for shade. Well, Radio Flyer makes this nifty clip-on umbrella that I used to use on my Step 2 wagon. It also fits on my Little Tikes wagon, although not as well due to the sculpted sides. I like it because it bends and can be positioned at different angles to block the sun as we go.

Overall, I do prefer the Little Tikes wagon to the Step 2 wagon - I can haul one more kid with the seats folded flat, there are cup holders for grownups, and it converts to a nice comfy bench. All pluses in my book.

Movie Theater Nacho Cheesy Goodness!

For years I have searched for it, but it eluded me like some modern-day gooey Holy Grail.

When I was preggers, I actually went to a movie theater to order it (not even to see a movie!). Yes, the staff got a kick out of that.

But last week... I found it! I found it. After years of searching, here it is: Gehl's Nacho Cheese Stadium Sauce.

It tastes just like movie theater/baseball stadium nacho cheese. It's the real deal. Available at Pick 'n Save (near the Cheese Whiz). Why would anyone buy Cheese Whiz when they could eat... this?

You're welcome.

Hill's Science Diet Adult Dog Food Review

As you may know, I am a Bzz Agent for bzzagent.com. This means I occasionally get to try free things and write reviews about them. This time I received a sample of the Hill's Science Diet adult dog food for my bichon frise. Here is the review of that product:

I loved the idea of this dog food - healthy, balanced, no fillers, and chicken as the first ingredient. I received the adult dog food and began feeding it to my full grown bichon frise. She hated it, which really surprised me since she has never turned up her nose at food before.

My dog would "gum" the food, apparently looking for an acceptable piece. When she found one, she would crunch it to bits all over the floor, making a big mess of sharp dry dog food particles. She has always eaten dry dog food and has never made such a mess with any other brand before.

After a few weeks, she started losing weight and actively stealing food from my toddler in order to avoid eating the Science Diet. I began transitioning her back to her original food when she started growling at my toddler to try to steal her food. We never even finished the bag of Science Diet.

I'm not sure if it was the flavor of the food or if it was too hard for her to chew (those particles all over the floor were very sharp!), but I will not be purchasing or recommending this brand of dog food.

Burt's Bees Sensitive Skin Care Line

I recently had the opportunity to try the new sensitive skin care line from Burt's Bees through the BzzAgent program.  I was able to try the Sensitive Facial Cleanser and the Sensitive Daily Moisturizing Cream.

Some background about me: I have had sensitive skin for most of my life.  I often deal with outbreaks of psoriasis.  My skin is very dry, and skin care products that contain many artificial or abrasive chemicals can easily leave my skin red and irritated. 

I have used Burt's Bees products extensively in the past, before I finally began making my own handmade soaps and lotions to better deal with my extreme skincare needs.  Burt's Bees products, in general, have been gentler to my skin than other chemical-laden brands, and I was excited to try this new sensitive skin care line because of my past experience with the brand.

I will begin with the facial cleanser, which I found to be very good.  The cleanser does not irritate my skin as other brands have done.  It is not too runny, and it does not have any strong scent or perfumes.  It cleans my skin well, preventing pimples with the same effectiveness as a typical cleanser, but with none of irritating chemicals.  It also did not dry out my skin more than it already is, which is a huge plus for someone dealing with dry skin.  I would recommend this cleanser to anyone who has sensitive and/or dry skin.

The Sensitive Daily Moisturizing Lotion also did not irritate my skin, which was good.  However, since I have very dry skin, I have a problem with certain "lightweight" lotions: it feels like these lighter lotions simply "sit" on the outermost layers of my skin and do not penetrate to the deeper layers.  As a result, my skin does not feel hydrated.  I am sad to report that this was the case with Burt's Bees Daily Moisturizer.  It did not feel like my skin was "drinking up" the moisturizer like it does with my homemade lotion. 

I have not tried the Night Cream, so I cannot say how well it works.  Maybe it would work better than the Daily Moisturizer for me.  I am planning on trying that next.  If it works well, I may just use it instead of the Daily Moisturizer.

Overall, I would use this product line if I did not already make my own products.  (I gave up searching for a good product line for my sensitive/dry skin years ago, and have since formulated my homemade products to suit my needs.)  I would recommend this product line to an individual struggling with dry/sensitive skin who does not have the knowledge or time to make their own skincare products.

Chastity and Young Women

Chastity is a stewardship principle - the stewardship of young men's hearts. Just as a young man in a dating relationship should respectfully and carefully take care of the young lady's emotions that she entrusts to him, a young woman should likewise take care of a young man's passions and not purposely tempt him with revealing clothing, body language, or words.

Dating is stewardship, plain and simple. You are a steward of each other's hearts and passions, and you are caring for them out of respect for each other's future spouses (even if they turn out to be someone other than you).

People in society today think that if a guy leers at a girl, he needs to control himself better - that he is entirely at fault, no matter what she is wearing - that girls can wear whatever they want and the guys must deal with reigning themselves in. Now, I am not saying that a man shouldn't control himself or am excusing improper behavior on the part of the men, but shouldn't women also bear some of that burden? When your neckline is cut so low that your cleavage plunges lower than your breasts, what are you really saying to men? What are you saying about yourself? What are you really asking for? And what... really... do you expect to be the response from young men?

The bottom line: if you don't want to be pursued just for your body, if you are serious about being respected for your intellect and emotions, if you value love over lust, then dress likewise. Choose clothes that are stylish, but not overtly sexy. Respect yourself and your brothers with what you wear and how you act.

God is in Love with Us.

God is in love with us.  He made this beautiful world with exactly perfect conditions for life to flourish.  He gave us souls and allows us to have free wills to choose what we want.  He willingly sent His Son to die for us when we chose sin in order to protect us from the power of His own Holiness and Glory.  And to top it all off, He eases the scars of the consequences of sin by offering hope and healing through a living relationship with Christ, and eternal healing for our bodies in the Life beyond.   God is in love with us.  Thank You, Lord!

Happy Easter. :)

Good Idea, Dad

Baby and Father in the Crib together! @ Yahoo! Video

Gotta love it when the Little Ones just want to snuggle. :)

Helping the Earth, One Shoe at a Time

I hope that all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  We did as we shared it with family.  During our conversations, I noticed Craig's shoes.  They were pretty cool looking.  He told me that they were from Simpleshoes.com, a shoe company that makes shoes from organic and recycled materials, including car and bike tires for the soles!  I checked out their website, and I definitiely am getting a pair.  What a cool way to save the planet! :)

Urban Spectacles

I must own a pair of these wonderfully wooden glasses before I die.  They are just the coolest thing I've ever seen. I love this pair with the metal dots. Check out www.urbanspectacles.com for these and other really cool glasses!

Confidence, Confidence!

Today's post is on what so many artists and crafters need - CONFIDENCE!  I recently talked to a couple of crafty friends who are just starting out in their businesses, and they were reluctant to either open an online store or participate in craft fairs because they thought that no one would buy their work.

By the way, both of these crafters' work is fabulous (in my honest opinion).

Which leads me to the point of this post.  You will always be your own worst critic, and in actuality, it's not your opinion that counts - it's your customers'.  So how do you know if your products are something that other people would buy?  Here are two questions to help you discern if you have something worthwhile:

1. Are your products something that not everyone can make?   (i.e. do they require a certain skill or a large amount of patience to produce?  If so, then they are most likely marketable.)

For example: Crafter A makes necklaces by threading a single paper clip on a string.  Probably not much of a market for that.  Crafter B, on the other hand, makes complex scenes out of bent paperclips, paints them unusual colors, and markets them as "desk art."  Now, there may be a market for this.

You may be thinking, "Well, anyone can bend paper clips," or "Anyone can work with wood."  But that's simply not true.  The key question is: is there SKILL involved?  For instance, I can work with wood by gluing it, hammering it, or drawing on it, but my father in law can make entire benches and mailboxes.  His skill level is vastly greater than mine in woodworking. Not everyone can do what he does.  I certainly can't right now.

2.  Put your ego and your self-esteem aside.  Do you (in general) like your work?  Would you buy it?  (Don't focus on your worst piece; when answering this question, find a piece to critique that represents the majority of your work.)  If you would buy it, probably others would too.

Now some people have trouble honestly critiquing their own work.  If you cannot do this fairly, enlist an honest person to tell you what he/she thinks and be prepared for both positive and negative feedback. (Asking a friend isn't always helpful, because the friend may not want to hurt your feelings.  Asking a total stranger is preferrable.)

If yes, it is not something that just anyone can make, and yes, it is something that you would buy yourself, there is most likely a market for it.

Now here's a common scenario: a crafter attends a craft fair and does not sell many goods.  Does this mean there is no market for his craft?  No!  The crafter may simply be at the wrong venue for his work.  What sort of people would your goods attract?  Are they artsy, country, girly, manly, students, old ladies, or steampunk?  A seller of goth steampunk jewelry probably won't do much business at a parish craft fair attended by little old ladies.

So, if no one or few people buy your work at first, don't despair!  Reevaluate the type of person your work would attract, and seek venues to sell your products where those kind of people frequent.

And above all, remember that most businesses start out slowly.  Don't expect great mobs of people to buy your work at first, but don't be so hard on yourself that you assume that your crafting endeavor is a failure right off the bat.  It may take a year or two of dedicated work to get your name out and establish a solid customer base.

One word on integrity: don't infringe on other people's ideas.  I see so many crafters using copyrighted characters on their goods.  You wouldn't want someone copying your work and selling it, so don't do it to others, even if it's a big corporation.  Instead, why not come up with your own characters?  Write a story to go with each item when the customer buys it.  That not only heightens your creativity, but prevents your integrity from being injured by becoming a "knock off" artist.

So, fellow crafters - have confidence!  Confidence attracts others.  If at first you don't succeed, reevaluate, and try, try again!

Who Wants this Twenty Dollar Bill?

Several hands went up, but the lecturer said:

"Before handing it over, there’s something I must do."

He furiously crushed it, and asked again:......

"Who still wants this bill?"

The hands continued raised.

"And what if I do this?"

He threw it against the wall, letting it fall to the floor, kicked it, stamped in it and again held up the bill - all dirty and crumpled. He repeated the question, and the hands continued to be held high.

"You mustn’t ever forget this scene - said the lecturer. - No matter what I do with this money, it’ll still be a 20 dollar bill. Many times in our lives, we are crushed, stamped on, kicked, maltreated, offended; however, in spite of this, we are still worth the same."

Everyone Should Have a Bag This Cool

So every once in a while I get something truly outstanding on Etsy.  (Don't get me wrong, most of the items that I purchase and/or trade for on Etsy are fabulous, and almost every one has a much higher quality than what I would find in a retail store.)  But sometimes I just stumble upon something exceptional for the price.  This bag is one of those things.

Dish Handbags appears to be a relatively new seller on Etsy.  I discovered her shop while chatting with her in Etsy's chat rooms.  I immediately noticed her diaper bags and clutches.  I asked her if she could custom-make a messenger bag that was a cross between  a small clutch and a large diaper bag.  I am so impressed with the result of what she made!  The work is high-quality, the packaging was very professionally done, and the shipping was very fast. She even threw in a couple of extra surprises! I am also impressed with the speed that she finished this custom order, and the price is also very reasonable.

So, check out Dish Handbag's shop here.  If you order from her, I am sure you will love your new bag as much as I love mine. :)

Cedarburg Adventure

So today a friend and I traveled to Cedarburg, Wisconsin. I've been to the Cedar Creek Winery before for some delicious cranberry wine, but today's adventure had a different goal - to check out the Gem Shop Inc., which my friend had heard was great for field trips.

Well, the Gem Shop is an experience in of itself. We spent over an hour there. They have polished gems and rocks from all over the world - precious, semi precious, and common. But the best part is in the basement. If you ask the clerk, he will let you in the back room and down into the basement where you really feel like it's a prospector's mine. There are boxes, barrels, and crates of all sorts of rocks there, clearly labeled, for you to pick up and examine (even the mercury ore had a sign that said "do not lick"). All of the rocks are for sale. There even were some very large chunks of fossilized dinosaur bone that were too heavy for us to lift!

If you want a geode or any sort of rock, go here. They cut and polish them on site, too. It's a great place to take the kids.

After we explored all of the Gem Shop, we snooped around in other stores and finally got to be very hungry. We stopped to eat at the August Weber Haus. The food was delicious! If you go, try the chicken delight sandwich - grilled chicken, aged cheddar, and apple butter on a toasted roll. It was the best sandwich I've ever had!

We'll have to go back again soon. Yay for Cedarburg!

Stuff that I could live without, but it would be very, very difficult...

Ok new moms. Here's some free advice for things that you really need to save your sanity during life with baby. The first is a really good breast pump. I have the Medela Freestyle, and it has made breastfeeding so much easier!


I love it because it allows me to pump hands-free, which means I can get some work done while the baby is sleeping. Also, it lets her dad feed her, which means I don't have to be up for every single night shift. I can also leave the house without the baby to go out with my girlfriends. I can leave her at home with her dad and a bottle of breast milk and know that she's well taken care of. In addition, it's great to use if you have trouble breastfeeding - your little one will still get all the nutrition and benefits from breast milk without the pain or discomfort so many women encounter while nursing.

The other thing that saved my sanity was a Moby wrap. The Moby is a long piece of cloth fabric that holds the baby close when wrapped around your body.



The Moby lets my little one sleep soundly while being held (her favorite pastime next to eating), and still allows me to get some work done.

This wrap is so much better than the baby carrier I have for many reasons: it distributes the weight of the baby evenly across your back, not just on your shoulders; it allows the baby to be right against your chest, which allows for some skin-to skin contact (skin to skin helps regulate the baby's breathing, temperature, and stress hormones), and it allows you to breastfeed while wearing the wrap. It's entirely comfortable and very easy to use once you get the hang of it. Here's a video on how to put it on correctly.

So, new moms, if you buy anything for yourself, treat yourself to these two items. You won't be sorry that you did!

Etiquette, Please

I'm not usually one to complain about things like manners regarding baby showers, bridal showers, etc. because I know that everyone has circumstances beyond their control. But lately a few things have been bugging me.

The first is the lack of people responding to a request to RSVP. I know I've been guilty of this more than once, so I'm not too critical about it. However, when you have more guests that DON'T respond than who DO, it gets annoying. It's especially awkward when you have to call each person and ask, "Are you coming to my shower?" FYI everyone - it's ok to say no, but when someone asks you to RSVP, PLEASE say something by the date indicated on the invitation. "No" is much more preferable to silence. Also, if you say "yes," please make every effort to come, especially if the people throwing the shower are serving a meal. They've prepared food for you, so it's only polite to come and eat it, otherwise the hosts could have saved their money by not including you.

The second is something that I've noticed more and more, and again I'm not overly upset about it because I know that lots of people have fallen on hard times, but if you are going to a shower, especially one that is serving you a meal, it is nice to bring a small gift or at the very least a card. Otherwise you give the appearance that you are only there for the meal, which is discouraging to the person being honored and the people throwing the shower. If you can't afford a card, then at least make one yourself and pen your own thoughts/prayers/wishes in it. Showing up with absolutely nothing at all is simply bad form and makes you appear thoughtless or cheap.

This last one is the one that stumps me the most. I've received gift cards from friends, family, coworkers and students. Gift cards are wonderful, but not when they're previously used with no balance left. I've received more than one that had no balance on it. One of them actually had the code on the back scratched off but was regifted anyway. Another was a brand new card that was never charged at the cash register. In these cases I wonder, why bother? Are you trying to look like you're giving a gift when you're actually not? Why even bother going to all that trouble? Why not just avoid the shower and not give anything at all? Or simply give a card without a gift?

I personally find this practice of gifting used or blank gift cards absolutely rude. Twice I've gone to the checkout, thinking that I had money on the gift card, and it turned out there was none. One time I actually had to leave everything I was buying and come back later when I had some cash. How frustrating! Please, if you do this, please stop. It's very frustrating for your friends, even if it saves you from embarrassment.

Don't get me wrong, I am thankful for the gifts people have given me and for everyone who has shown up at my showers. I love you and appreciate you all very much. I just think a lot of us can brush up on our manners when it comes to this stuff.

Stop Discouraging New Parents - Seriously, Get a Better Hobby.

So I'm mad. This weekend has been a disaster for various reasons, involving a yelling husband, a lost chipmunk, and way more work than I can shake a pointy stick at. But even though I'm thoroughly discouraged and want to give up, I think I'll just rant about something that REALLY bothers me - people who see that I'm pregnant and feel the need to share how absolutely HORRIBLE parenting is.

Why the heck do people feel the need to share their "advice" on how I will never sleep again or have time to myself or - for the love of all that is good - even enjoy life anymore? It makes me just want to stick a fork in my eye. Seriously, I've only had TWO people tell me anything positive about being a parent my entire pregnancy, so thanks to everyone else, I am fully prepared to hate every minute of it. I am now thoroughly aware that I will always resent my kid for the freedom she takes from me and that I will never experience joy again. Thank you, most everyone.

Since we're dishing out free advice, I now have some advice to parents: when talking to someone who is pregnant, if you don't have something good or encouraging to say about parenting, SHUT UP. Seriously. What mature pregnant woman DOESN'T know that her life will be turned upside down and that her nights will be sleepless and her days full of sacrifice? Maybe you may need to share these realities with your own pregnant teenage daughter, but not with me, nor with most mature women.

But even though I've waited to have kids, I'm still scared about a million things, and the negative advice doesn't help any. It has just given me a new fear: that not only will I fail miserably at all aspects of parenting, I will also hate and resent every minute of it. If that was your goal, negative people, then rock on. You did it.

So instead of telling your pregnant friends all of your parenting horror stories, how about some feedback about the things you love about parenting? Nobody mentions those things to pregnant women. It might just help balance out all the negativity we receive.

What I've Learned While Being Pregnant, Volume I

Stuff gets weird when you're pregnant. I've been sick with one thing or another this whole first trimester, but some things are good, too. Here's what I've learned in a nutshell so far...

1. The first trimester stinks.
Between colds, a thyroid that is really whacked, morning sickness, and generally feeling yucky, it really made me appreciate the days when I've felt... normal. I've also learned that feeling consistently bad for about three months affects your personality after awhile. I'm much more easily discouraged now than I have ever been before. I hope I get healthier soon. It's so discouraging when you try to do the right things for your health and you wind up feeling worse in spite of or because of it. (Hence why I'm blogging in the middle of the day - I'm stuck at home with a very nasty cold, my second nasty cold since I've been pregnant.)

2. Pregnancy pants rock.
For all the guys out there who have no idea what I'm talking about - maternity pants have this wonderful large elastic panel (like spandex) at the top that STRETCHES. They are so unbelievably comfortable, especially after you eat a large meal or when you're bending over. I feel like I'm wearing sweats all the time - even when I'm wearing the maternity version of dress pants. Why don't they make all pants like this?

3. You don't appreciate over-the-counter drugs until you can't take them anymore.
Like today. If I could only take Dayquil, I'm sure I'd be good enough to go to school. But I can't. So I'm stuck at home with a clogged head, laryngitis, and more mucus than you can shake a stick at. But even worse than that is when my coughing kept me up all night long two nights in a row. Apparently I don't need to sleep. But I really wish I could.

So if you read this and you're the praying kind, please pray for me. I just want to feel better for at least a week. Just a week. I can't remember the last time I was healthy for a whole week - maybe last fall? Eh. So sickly and discouraged.

Inauguration Day

And so it happened. It was somewhat…confusing… for me. There seems to be VERY few people who can approach the subject of President Obama with a level head. Most people I’ve talked seem to either worship him or despise him, without much middle ground.

I see the throngs and throngs of people in D.C. and the looks of hope on their faces as Obama was sworn in and spoke to us as our President. Are they idolizing him as a superhuman golden calf, or are they simply proud of our country and hopeful for the future? How can you tell their hearts’ condition from images alone? Who has a right to judge?

I also see the looks of horror and despair on the faces of conservative Christians as they are fully convinced that along with this new President, the economy and morality of this country will undoubtedly get worse. I know they hold these views because I have personally talked to them. Is Obama truly the antichrist? Does he only seek to destroy the bit of decency we have left in this nation? How can we know his heart’s condition? Who has a right to judge?

The truth is… we as people can’t know and we don’t know. Only time will tell if he is to become a truly great leader. Only God knows the condition of a heart.

Obama, his administration, and his family are in my prayers. But not in the way you may expect from a mostly conservative Christian. Normally I would encourage Christian Americans to pray for our leaders, but I’m not entirely sure that in this case everyone should. Shocking, I know, but here’s why. I have seen “Christians” hate Obama so much that they actually pray against him and his success as President, which only stirs up their anger and hatred even more. Is hatred in prayer acceptable? Is the attitude that God wants His people to develop? Not only that, but do you really want to see him fail if you live in America? How would Obama’s failure affect you and your well-being if you are an American citizen? How would that affect the rest of the world?

I’m trying to understand the thinly-veiled hatred that many conservative “Christians” display toward Obama, especially the venomous prayer. Are these anger-filled responses Christlike? Yes, I know what Obama’s platform is, especially his stance on abortion. But that does NOT answer the question – Are these responses Christlike? Are your responses Christlike?

Don’t misunderstand me. I do not encourage idolizing Obama. I don’t believe that he will singlehandedly change America and fix all the wrongs. I believe that he will go back on campaign promises just like every other President has. However, I will pray for him – for godly wisdom, strength to stand for what is right, the persuasiveness and charisma to settle conflicts before they turn into wars, the humility to seek wise counsel (even if it differs from popular opinion), to always listen to and defend the common people, and for being able to balance work and family. I do not wish him ill. I hope he succeeds in leading us toward righteousness, and maybe even toward prosperity.

I also pray for myself, for wisdom to see clearly where he may fall short so that I may vote wisely in the future, for compassion to forgive his failures, and for a heart that will stay silent on his wrongdoings and slander unless I can somehow help the situation become better for whoever is listening.

I pray for my country, that as we celebrate we also heed President Obama’s call to hard work. I look forward to the change that will occur if a grassroots movement of kindness, perseverance, and strong work ethic moves among our people.

However, I pray for my fellow Christian Americans most of all. I pray that as you oppose what is clearly immoral, you do not become poisonous to the good that God is raising up around you, even as a result of this inauguration.

When it comes to Obama, there is no middle ground…only polar opposites. Maybe it’s time for more of God’s people to stand in the gap.

"The Nutcracker" as Performed by the Milwaukee Ballet

I was able to see The Nutcracker this week. I have never been to a live performance of it, but I have seen it countless times on TV. It was beautiful, but I have to say that I was disappointed in some parts. For example, the Russian dance was danced instead by clowns (humorous, but not traditional) and the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy was instead performed by flower girls.

It was extremely family-friendly. Marie never got captured by the Rat King, the fighting scenes were very less dramatic, and the "scary" parts got rewritten into the things mentioned above. I think for this particular suite, I prefer the traditional version.

If you have kids, take them to this show. It won't make them cry. But understand that the performance is more for them than for you.