Freedom of Speech

I am sick of people that feel that some should be able to say what they want to about things and others do not have that freedom.  Now to set the record straight I do not watch Duck Dynasty nor am I a fan.  The biggest reason is I just don't enjoy the show.  That being said if the star of this show has opinions he should be free to state them.  I have many friends that are in same sex relationships, friends that have made a decision to not marry their partners yet they live together.  I love each and everyone of them and value their friendship everyday!!! Whether you agree with their choices or not does not matter.  It is their decision.  Phil Robertson from Duck Dynasty made a statement on his opinions.  My first question would be are you really surprised?  This show has never made it a secret of their home values. They have always spoken their minds.  Good grief he is in almost all of the shows already filmed for next season anyway.  So by the time shows are filmed that he is not in this will all have blown over. A great deal of people agree with him.  It might not be me or you but that does not make it wrong for him to express it.  I have found a wonderful knob on my television set that can perform a magical act of turning the channel on my television or even, surprise, even turn it off.  There are people in this world that agree with Phil and it is their right to be able to watch his show.  If the ratings go down and the show has to be canceled for that reason so be it.

  If the only free speech that you support is speech that you agree with, that does not make you a “patriot.” It makes you a hypocrite.    He did not yell anything such as FIRE in a crowded theater.  All that all of this hype is creating is drawing attention to what he said and to the show.  Do I agree with what he said is far from relevant.  I do without question know that I am a Christian and I have opinions, I also have five toes on each foot but does that make a person that has 4 toes on one foot wrong.  No it makes us different.  And the most wonderful thing about our country is we can be different, think different and not be afraid.  I was very offended by the Dixie Chicks and what they said about President Bush.  So I quit listening to their music and buying their Cds.  If Toby Keith offended you by what he has said and done it is your right not to support him.  I feel the same way about Phil on Duck Dynasty.  But to keep him from being on the show -- I think that is stupid.  Let the man work on the show, let the people that enjoy him and his family continue to watch the show.  I don't agree with what lots of actors on TV and movies believe in and if it bothers me enough - well I just don't have to support them.  But if I really don't care what they think I merely want to enjoy their work then so be it.  This too will pass soon enough. And there will be something else everyone will be fired up about.  I have found this out personally!  Soon someone else will do something that will take the spotlight over what ever is a big deal today.  Thanks goodness for that!!!  Because I know that each and everyone of us has said things or done things that has caused us to be the "talk of the town" and not very many people enjoy that!!!  So please leave Phil alone along with his family.  And let's all just enjoy Christmas with our families, each of which is unique in it's on way!!!

By the way I am not looking to pick a fight with anyone -- I am rather trying to just say let's just all get along!!!!  

Happy 25th Anniversary - oh heck is it really just our 24th???

Today has been a good day --- I might even go as far as to say a great day.  It was this day 24 years ago that I married my Cabana Boy (aka Daddyboy)   I will admit that more people thought we would not live together 6 months but we have beat the odds .   Some might say it is because we are both to lazy to move out or that we are so broke from keeping Princess up at college we could not afford another household.  There may be some truth in both of those statements but I have to say I could not have found a husband that was a better fit for me.  When I married Daddyboy, bless his sweet heart, he was blown out of the water.  This was a man that did not mix and match his clothes (come on, I thought everyone had GRRRanimals) but rather what ever shirt was bought with a pair of pants well so be it.  And he actually had certain outfits for certain days of the week.  Marrying me totally changed that.  He loves everything scheduled - I fly by the set of my pants and hope I just don't bust my butt.  He refuses to take an aspirin for a headache while I think if one is good two is probably better.  I don't think we could be more opposite but hey it works for us.  There is not another person I enjoy being around more than my husband.  He can piss me off royally and I can call him an SOB but he is my SOB and no one else better say that about him.  He is a good provider for this family of wanting girls.  Always has settled for the lesser of everything so his girls could have better.  He always drives the crappy car, always has the most out of date cell phone and hardly ever complains.  And when he does he really just needs us to tell him how much we love him and appreciate all he gives up so that we can have better.  He never goes out drinking at the bars with the boys, instead he spends his time off here in Lippyville, taking care of the pool, our house, the cars, grilling out and so on.  To the best of my knowledge he has always been a faithful husband and I love him dearly for that.  Now he can be argumentative and he never likes to make a decision, example : where do you want to eat tonight --- reply hey what about Wendy's -- nope not there!  I think this is because if we go where I suggest and the meal is bad he can blame me!!!!!
Marrying me changed his whole lifestyle.  He no longer has his matchy outfits but he really just prayers that he has some clean underwear.  And he certainly does not have a certain outfit for a certain day of the week.  He never is certain what plans we have and if he thinks he knows what they are, he never is certain that I won't change my mind.  But he just goes with the flow.
When I mentioned our anniversary was coming up and he better have me a darn good gift for our 25th year he replied I sure will.  I said again -- I mean a darn good one.  He said well since I have a whole year to think about that maybe I can do it.  I was very confused as to why he thought he had another year -- our anniversary, the 25th one, was in three days.  He very calmly turned to me and said I know it feels like an eternity but we have only been married for 24 years this anniversary, dummy!!!  Of course I had to do some quick math in my head and good grief he was right.  And my only reply was well I guess I am a dummy but I am your dummy.  With that said  I just walked away.  Cause I might not have had my math right but I knew that I had married the right man!!!

What a lucky girl I am

Today was the ending of a very emotional time in my life.  Today we buried my dear Uncle Herman.  

I have several uncles but my uncle Herman was so much more than just an uncle to me.  I think of him as my 2nd father.  I think that is why for some it has been hard for them to understand how deep my grief has been.  As many people know I lost my mother 18 years ago to a sudden illness and honestly I was so scared because I had a 2 1/2 year old daughter plus my 10 week old daughter.  I had no idea how I was going to manage bringing up my girls without the help of my mother.  But my Nana Pat and Uncle Herman stepped right up without missing a beat to serve as surrogate grandparents for my girls along with surrogate parents to me.  
I was adopted in November 1966 and was the first grandchild on my mother's side of the family.  The Lord blessed my poor mother by letting my Nana Pat live directly across the street so when I was up crying night after night, Nana Pat was there to help my mother.  My Uncle Herman was off in Vietnam fighting the war so Nana had time to spend with me.  

  I have to admit it probably took 2 sets of parents to raise me.  I think I was quiet a handful.  But as the years went on even when they had their own child, my cousin Krisie, (who is just like a sister to me) I always knew I could depend on Nana and Herman.  My Nana was known around town as the Girl Scout Lady but rest assured Herman was the Girl Scout Man.  
He always backed Pat up on what ever she was under taking - if it was baking 25 coconut cakes to give out at Christmas or feed the entire family every Sunday what seemed like a Thanksgiving meal, he was right there helping out. But he was never a proud or boastful man, never one to want to receive any credit for anything he did.  He did the things he did because he wanted to and certainly not for any recognition. 
He had a job that required him to travel often but he always made sure he talked to my Nana at least twice a day.  When I think of an example of a loving and faithful husband I always think of Uncle Herman.  I hope that one day my children and others will think that way of my marriage although we are somewhat more vocal in our disagreements than either of them were.  
My uncle was the rock or maybe the corner stone of our family.  If I ever needed advice or an opinion on something we should do I always knew I could go to him.  He just played such an important part in my life.  And in so many others.  
Herman was a very educated man but never did he make anyone that was not as educated feel like less of a person.  He was a faithful member of his church and played so many roles in keeping the church going and on track.  He never tried to push his way on others because "it was his way" but rather he was always open to discussion to see if perhaps there were other ways or changes that needed to be made to his suggestions that would make it better.  
He served his country in Vietnam and received the purple heart.  He was faithful and loyal to his country. 

 He was faithful and loyal to his wife.  He was faithful and loyal to his daughter Krisie, granddaughter Lindsay and grandson Brandon.   He was also faithful and loyal to my sister and me.  We were merely his wife's sister's adopted children but at no time  did he ever make us feel any less a part of the family.  When my precious sister Susan fought her courageous battle with breast cancer I do not know what we would have done without my aunt and uncle.  They helped us in far too many ways for me to ever thank them for.  They were preparing for her to come live her last days in their home.  Although it never came to that,  my nana was right their in Houston holding her hand when she went to her heavenly home.  
I have never once doubted that if I ever needed a place to live or anything else I could ask either of them and it would have been offered to me with no strings attached.  

As I sat in the service today celebrating this remarkable man's life so many different things ran through my head.  He was such a remarkable man who could be serious one minute and then making us laugh so hard the next.  He was someone I could depend on and someone I held in very high respect.   I respected his love for his God that I do not think anyone ever questioned, his love for his family, his commitment to his job and to his church.  
I just could not seem to keep my emotions in check today.  I had witnessed this strong man have to fight a battle with cancer and all of the horrible ways it took a toll on his body. All I could think of was why?  This was so unfair for this wonderful, loving man to have to suffer the way he did.  But my Uncle Herman left this world with all the dignity he had earned.  I never once heard him ask God "Why me?", although I have ask that question and I still am asking that question but rather he wanted to continue with experimental treatment as long as he could on the off chance that something could be learned that would help other people.  
I do rejoice in the fact that when he left this earth for the Heavenly Home our God has waiting for us that he was greeted by all of our loved ones that have gone before us.   And although right now it is hard for me to think about him no longer being in this world with us sitting at the head of the table for Sunday dinner chomping on those hot peppers, not here on Christmas to read the Christmas Story to us as he always has but rather he is rejoicing with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and I know when my time comes to join my Heavenly Father this special, special uncle of mine will be there to greet me with open arms into my heavenly family just like he welcomed me with open arms when I was a 4 month old orphan and  I became a member of his family.  Wow, what a lucky girl I am.