There has been a scary trend over the past few years. Inanimate objects are going on a rampage. Guns, knives, SUVs, and many other things are taking the lives of innocent people day after day. And now I have learned that there are murderous cribs about, seeking to kill and maim our children.

“There’s a great urgency here. We have to make sure that no parent is unaware that drop-side cribs could kill their children,” Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., said in an Associated Press interview.

So, in order to try to get control of these renegade cribs, there is a push to ban them. That’s right, we must outlaw them. Because, we all know that the government making an item against the law is the answer to everything.

Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairman Inez Tenenbaum has pledged to ban the manufacture and sale of the cribs by the end of the year with a new standard that would make fixed-side cribs mandatory.

According to the AP article from which I am quoting, at least 32 children have been strangled or suffocated in a drop-side crib since 2000. That is 32 over a period of about 10 years. I have done some other research, and I am convinced that we should not stop with banning these drop-side cribs. There are a lot of dangerous things out there. I mean, besides the obvious cars, airplanes, buses, motorcycles, and four-wheelers, there are other objects that kill people much more frequently than 32 in 10 years. Did you realize that just in the year 2000, there were 650 people who died in a fall involving a chair, bed, or other furniture? There were 341 who died in a bathtub, and 567 died in a pool. What is Congress thinking, allowing us to still have furniture and bathtubs in our homes? People are being killed by these things! We really must get this epidemic under control. These inanimate objects have to be stopped.

I hope you can detect the sarcasm in my comments, and I want to clarify that I certainly mean no disrespect to those who have lost their babies in these tragic accidents. It is so sad when any baby dies in any way, and I feel so sorry for every parent who has had to suffer that grief. But are we really going to be able to ban every item that could possibly lead to an injury or death?

I am all for having laws that govern safety to a certain extent, and I pay attention to safety recalls put out by companies. However, I believe that the biggest part of the answer lies in just that–manufacturing companies and the natural course of the free market system. If an item is really unsafe, people will stop buying it. Sales will decrease, and the company will stop producing it. Companies are often looking for ways to make products safer because they know it will increase their sales. It is impossible to ban everything that can cause a death, and even trying to do so is simply not the answer.

In addition, objects do not kill people on their own. There is usually human error involved somehow. Someone dies in an SUV accident? Guess what–it is the fault of a driver, either of that vehicle or another one. A child drowns in a bathtub? It is the fault of a parent who did not supervise the child correctly. Sometimes the fault may be on the manufacturing end; someone used faulty parts or did poor work in constructing something. Or, perhaps whoever assembled a crib or other piece of furniture did not put it together properly. But blame is really not the point of this discussion. The point is that the government cannot step in and ban every object that “kills” someone. I think they have enough other things they could be doing.

–quotes from “Senator Moves to Ban Drop-Side Cribs, Associated Press, May 23, 2010

Soon after the devastating earthquake in Haiti, the comments started. I read local news stories about volunteers who were leaving their families and businesses here for a few days to help the desperate earthquake victims, and I saw the comments there. I read news stories about the death and pain, and about how people could donate and help, and I saw the comments there. I was shocked at first, then realized that there were a lot of people with the same sentiment: “Why should we help people in Haiti? We have people here who are homeless and hungry and don’t have medical care, so we should spend our money and time helping them! Keep our money here at home.”

I have been going back and forth between just ignoring the comments and going on a full blown rant. So let’s just have a happy medium here.

First of all, if I follow the logic I’ve seen some people use, I could have said this a few years ago: “Why should I try to help the people hurt by Hurricane Katrina when we have people right here in West Virginia who are homeless and hungry and don’t have medical care.” Since when do we only help people from our own country, or from our own state?

Secondly, have you seen the pictures and video footage from Haiti? Have you read about people who are having limbs amputated because there is more infection than there is medicine? Did you see the woman giving birth on the ground–not because it happened so fast, but because there was nowhere else to go? Have you seen the rubble piles? Where in this country do the conditions of poverty and squalor and pain and devastation equal those in Haiti?

In our area, the only people who are hungry are those who are too drunk or too lazy to walk to the local mission. People in Haiti would be grateful to be living at what the United States calls the “poverty level.”

Finally, helping people in another country does not negate helping people here. In fact, that is why there is shelter and food available to people who need it. There are doctors who volunteer time at free clinics. There are charities that give away food and clothing, and even pay for medical care. Our government gives out food, clothes, housing, medical care, and even firewood! People do help people here, and they help people in Haiti, and they help whoever needs help. Just because those who help in the USA aren’t making the news for doing it doesn’t mean it isn’t getting done.

I would suggest that if you are not happy with the care of the homeless in your city, get up and go help them.

Americans are a generous people. We come to the aid of our family, neighbors, fellow citizens, and fellow human beings whether we know them or not.

If you choose to help, great. If you choose not to help, that’s fine. It’s called freedom. But ranting about how Americans should only help Americans is ignorant and naive at best, and hateful and prejudiced at worst.

Yes, this is the short version. I could say more.

May God bless the earthquake victims and the kind people who are helping them. And may God help the cynical and selfish who need to understand that Americans are not the chosen ones, but all humans are equal in His eyes.

It’s Earth Day, so here is a little environmental rant for you. Americans don’t want to keep buying all our oil from foreign countries, so we are looking to alternative sources of energy. We heard all about that during last year’s Presidential campaign. But we can’t drill for oil in our own country because we might confuse the caribou in the Alaskan National Wildlife Reserve. And we can’t put wind farms in Massachusetts because we would interfere with Cape Cod’s tourism and disturb the Kennedys. And we can’t put solar energy plants in the Californian desert because we would disturb the desert tortoise and the protected desert land.

The very politicians (like Kennedy and Feinstein) who push for “environmental” causes then get in the way of real plans when it touches their own back yard. Environmentalists want to do all sorts of things, but they can’t even reconcile their own causes. One group wants solar power so we will use less oil, another wants to protect the desert. Where, as many have asked, are we supposed to put solar energy plants if we can’t put them in the desert? I would also like to know when the caribou and the tortoise population become more important than the needs of human beings. We try to be so noble, and protect everything and every place, and we lose all sense of perspective in doing so. And I won’t even get into how the same person who promotes the killing of unborn children is diligent about making sure we don’t kill any tortoises.

I am glad for environmental progress and laws that help ensure that we have cleaner air and water, and for practical conservation of resources, but the government is seriously overstepping its bounds in controlling the impact of people on the environment. God has given us these resources to use. He put the oil in the ground, put the sun in the sky, and makes the wind blow. He made the trees, rocks, water…everything! Instead of using these things with wisdom and thankfulness, we fuss over them to the point that we don’t use them effectively at all. So, massive amounts of oil sit underground while we are made to believe that if we turn our lights off for an hour we are saving the planet. Come on people, use some common sense.

We have rabbits, and two of them have recently had babies. We noticed that we never actually saw the mother rabbits nursing the babies, but it was obvious that they were eating and growing. My husband did some more research and found that rabbits only nurse their babies twice daily; once before dawn, and once after dusk. In the wild, she then spends the day away from the nest, so that she is only going to the nest when it is dark and predators are less likely to follow her and find the litter.

When he told me about that, my first response was, “Why can’t human babies be like that?” If God can make little tiny rabbit babies live and grow while being fed only two times per day, surely He could make human babies the same way! The thought of only having to nurse twice as opposed to 10-12 times per day…well, you can see where my mind was going with that! So, why the difference? I would never presume to know why God chose to make what He did the way He did, but I do have a humble thought, based on what we know about the differences between animals and people.

Feeding a human baby involves more than just physical nourishment. There is an interaction between the mother and baby that takes place at the same time. Holding and touching the baby develops a bond, a feeling of comfort and security. It helps both mom and baby develop their relationship before baby can speak or even understand what words mean. That interaction is so important for people. Animals do not have the emotional needs that we do. They don’t need to bond, interact, and develop family relationships like we do. They just need the milk. Our babies need more than that. We can’t feed them, leave them all day, then feed them again and be done. If we do, we are not fulfilling all their needs. Even as babies grow, this fact does not change. We are people, and we need to nourish our children physically, spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. Yes, feeding a baby every two hours is tiring and demanding, but God knows His creatures and what they need. Our babies need more than milk. They need us.

Are you full? I often ask this question to my children when we are finishing a meal, wanting to make sure everyone has had enough to eat. At Thanksgiving dinner, I can easily get full; usually a little too full! Thanksgiving is a time that we contemplate things for which we are thankful, or full of thanks. There are so many things that fill my life with richness and joy, I should be thankful and feel full all year round.

When thinking of the Thanksgiving holiday, food is one of the first things that comes to mind. Food is a necessity of life, and I am thankful for having that need met. However, I have much more than just what I need. It is such a blessing to be able to fill my belly and the bellies of my family with delicious, healthful food every day. Food is very convenient to get. There are grocery stores full of food, with an amazing number of choices. How thankful I am to have such a bounty.

Beyond the physical blessing of food, my life is also full of the goodness that comes from family and friends. The relationships that we have fill us emotionally. I have people with whom to enjoy good, fun times. I have a support system to be able to handle problems and sorrows. Thanksgiving is not just a time to eat, but a time to enjoy the company of those we love. Family and friends truly make life full.

Finally, even if I had none of these other blessings, my life would be full because of my faith. Faith in God brings spiritual nourishment, peace, joy, love, and purity to my life.  I wonder about people who celebrate Thanksgiving, but do not believe in God. Who do they thank? Themselves? Other people? “Mother Nature?” I have faith that leads me to thank God, the Creator of all things and the Giver of all blessings. Without faith, life would be empty.

I am so thankful for so many things. I have an abundance of food, a wonderful family and great friends; with faith, I enjoy the ultimate in feeling full.

This post is an entry into Scribbit’s November Write-Away Contest.

I must write about Sarah Palin. I have tried to restrain myself, since this is not a political blog, but my self-control is finally exhausted. Choosing the leadership of our country is important to our lives and the lives of our children. So, here goes…

From the response of journalists and the Obama campaign recently, you would think that Governor Sarah Palin is running for President. The attention she has gained has been amazing to me, and the energy she has brought to the campaign has been refreshing. It also explains why some seem to dislike her so much.

The addition of a woman to the ticket is supposedly aimed at attracting women voters. Now, I am not saying that there is no desire on the part of the McCain campaign to attract more women voters. However, I also think that they realize that most women and most Americans do not vote for someone just because of gender. At least, I like to think that is the case. I am not so shallow as to cast my vote for someone just because we are the same gender. I vote based on issues, and I hope you do, too. I will be voting for John McCain (by the way, he IS the one running for President) and Sarah Palin because I agree with them on many things. I am in support of drilling for more American oil and telling OPEC to take a hike. I believe in a strong national defense, which I fear Senator Obama will undermine. I believe in handling the Iraq war in a responsible way, and I have absolutely no confidence that Senator Obama can do that. I believe that John McCain or Sarah Palin will appoint conservative judges who will hold to a strict interpretation of the Constitution instead of twisting it to push their own agendas. I believe that babies should be protected whether in the womb, partially out of the womb, or completely out of the womb. I believe in smaller government that works for the people and keeps its nose out of our personal lives and business. These are just a few of the things that come to mind as I think about reasons for supporting McCain/Palin.

The real humor that I find in this situation is the conundrum in which the feminists find themselves. This is their worst nightmare: a woman on the ticket for Vice-President, who actually has a good chance of winning, but who is solidly conservative. Apparently instead of having to answer to men about what we believe, we women are supposed to answer to the feminists and the National Organization for Women. Women have fought for the right to vote, and for the right to choose what they want to do and be. It seems that when we have come to a point where I can choose to be a stay at home mom, and Sarah Palin can choose to be Vice-President of the United States, we have a pretty good range of choices available. But you see, that is not really their goal. Their goal is to tell women what they should choose to be and do and believe.

Gloria Steinem, in her article in the Los Angeles Times, says, “Palin shares nothing but a chromosome with Clinton.” That is true, and I imagine that Sarah Palin takes that as a compliment!

Then we have Andrea Mitchell, who apparently is more educated and sophisticated than the rest of us, who said, “She is not appealing to the same women who were really voting or supporting Hillary Clinton on ideological issues but they think that they can peel off some of these working class women, not college educated, who, the blue collar women who were voting for Hillary Clinton and may be more conservative on social causes.” Wait a minute…I am college educated, and she appeals to me! I guess I forgot to consult Andrea before I decided how to vote. What an insult to working women, who, according to Andrea, just aren’t smart enough to know they should vote for Barak Obama.

And here is the best one I’ve seen:
“A spokeswoman for the National Organization for Women, noting Palin’s opposition to abortion rights and support of other parts of the social conservative agenda, told Politico, ‘She’s more a conservative man than she is a woman on women’s issues. Very disappointing.’”

More a man than a woman? Really? Let me tell you something; someone who lives in Alaska, gives birth to 5 children, and becomes governor of the state is more of a woman than any member of NOW will ever be. I thought I was good because I can nurse and type emails at the same time. This woman nurses while doing teleconferences! But you see the point…because she disagrees with Steinem and the NOW crowd, she is not really a woman. And I thought we were supposed to think for ourselves…

Things are starting to bud and bloom around here, and based on the rain we’ve been having, we should have a lot of “May flowers.” We passed a field a few days ago that had geese swimming in it. Yes, swimming in the field because there was so much water standing in it. Hopefully we are finally catching up from last summer’s drought. We will be glad when it starts warming up a little more, and maybe we can plant a couple of things in our pots in the back yard. Here in West Virginia, we still have a while until the frost danger is over, but our flowers and trees don’t know that .

The changing of seasons made me think of what God said after the flood in Genesis 8:22:

“While the earth remains,
Seedtime and harvest,
Cold and heat,
Winter and summer,
And day and night
Shall not cease.”

He created the order in the universe, and He keeps it all going. What a blessing it is to have that order. Can you imagine what it would be like without predictable planting, cultivating, and harvest times? The seasons themselves are blessings from God.

Hello all! This is Kris, and I am hijacking my wonderful wife’s blog for two reasons. First, to tell you how wonderful she is, and to tell you how thankful I am to be married to her. Secondly, to tell you that she has given me today our third wonderful child. JonDavid Hunter was born today at 3:07 PM. He weighed in at 8 lbs, 1/4 ounce. He is 21 inches long. Both mother and baby are doing wonderfully. Lord willing, they will be home on Friday.

Here is a few pics of the new addition:

I also have a couple short videos posted, but I have to figure out how to put them on here…I will try to get a link shortly!

I am very thankful for my family. It is truly a blessing to be surrounded by a wonderful family. It is a blessing to have good and godly parents who taught me the truth through their words and through their actions. I have also been blessed with wonderful Christian grandparents. I have a great brother, who has developed into a fine gospel preacher and has brought my kind sister-in-law and adorable niece into the family. Then there are my aunts, uncles, and cousins, all of whom are great people. I also have a terrific mother-in-law and father-in-law, as well as brothers-in law and sisters-in-law.

We enjoy spending time together, and even though we are separated by distance, we always support and help each other in whatever ways we can. And of course my husband and my children are such good gifts from God. Family is so important, and it is even better when physical family members are spiritual family members, too. I could write a separate post about each person, but just suffice it to say that I feel very fortunate to be part of this family, and I appreciate what each member contributes. Thank you God, for our family.

Today was our weekly time to go to our local library for preschool story time. We have a great librarian who does a lot of fun things for the kids at story time. Today she was asking each child to tell something that he or she is thankful for. Of course, “toys” was a popular answer, but one little girl said “books.” I thought about how thankful we should be for books. There is so much information available in books, and there is so much enjoyment that comes from reading stories. There are so many benefits to reading in general. We can learn information and increase our vocabulary and communication skills by reading. We can relax and forget about problems for a while. We can help our children to do these things by reading to them.

We have such an abundance of books that are easy to access. In our Wednesday evening Bible study, we have been talking about various Bible translations. One of the points that was made Wednesday as we talked about how our English translations came about was that there was a time when the translating and copying of the the Bible text was discouraged, and even punished. For the centuries before the printing press was invented, each copy of the Bible was hand written. People did not have copies of the Bible in their homes, because they were not available. We have multiple copies of the Bible in our home, in English, with nice leather binding and easy-to-read type. We tend to take this for granted, but we should really appreciate the blessing that our printed Bibles are.

So, I am thankful for having books that I can read and that I can read to my children.