: : my two cents on politics : :

On this day, Election Day '08, I wanted to share a few of my feelings about this election. First, a few disclaimers-

* I HATE politics.
* I HATE political commercials.
* I HATE that politics make Christians (and everyone else for that matter) draw lines on who is "right" and who is "wrong."
* I HATE that you can't talk politics with friends without alienating people.

Our political system is flawed. It's a grown up's popularity contest. Every election, we hear the same old inflated rhetoric saying how this candidate is going to make this country better and when it comes down to it, they don't do much of any of what they promised they were going to do. There's twisted information from both sides and twisted information from the media. I CANNOT wait for the next week or so to be done with.

I voted for George W. Bush. Both times. Does that make me a moron for choosing him? No. Do I agree with all that he has done as a President. No. Do I despise him for the things I don't agree with? No.

As Christians, we are not called to speak out against any political leader simply because we think he sucks or he in on the wrong side. According to Romans 13, we are to SUBMIT to the political leaders that GOD has placed in that position. It reads: Romans 13:1-2 - Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

It's time to deflate the idea that one candidate or party symbolizes hope for society. I'm not going to tell you who I voted for, because I know to some I will be right and to some I will be wrong. Do I agree with all the stances this man has? No. But, I did seriously pray and debate who to cast my vote for and I hope and pray that you did the same.

I think this will be my only post on politics. I am sick of them all and I am done.

: : what a cute kid : :

Okay... so I had to post this because she's so stinkin' cute... even when she wakes up at 2:00am and doesn't go back to sleep until 8:00am. I think I can sense a career in modeling coming on... all this and she's only 11 days old! Well, like it or not, she'll be modeling in front of cameras most of her life... this is because of picture happy grandma and mom! :) I think she's almost used to the flashes of the cameras.

: : ready or not, here I come! : :

Those were the words of my new baby girl...

Sara started having contractions yesterday (Saturday, July 26) around 7:00am. Of course, we were waiting for the cable guy to come install our new cable/phone/internet... so once the installation was completed, we headed straight for the hospital. Two hours of sitting in triage, and the doctor decided that he was going to keep us. So, we were admitted to a room to begin the birthing process. Sara's "hard labor" began at around 4:30pm, and the doctor predicted an "O-Dark-Thirty" birth.

July 27, 2008, at 2:35am, Gracelyn Elizabeth Williams made her triumphant entrance into our little family. She came into our world weighing 7lbs 6oz and was 19" long. She's beautiful! She for yourself:

: : pet peeves and seven weeks : :

Boy, am I glad this work week is over. Hopefully the weekend won't fly by like usual. I'd like to actually be able to enjoy it and relax...

I haven't written in a while and I've had this topic kind of stuck in my head and need to get it out sometime, so now is the time!

My recent pet peeves:

1. Canadian Drivers.
I love Canadians. Don't get me wrong. I think where I live and who I work for, they help keep our economy going. But, when it comes to driving our roads... they have no stinking clue! Where are they going at 5:40am when I have to get to work by 6:00am and they are going 40-45 mph in a 55 mph zone? They have to see the signs that say it's MPH NOT KPH... do they get the idea when five cars pass them? No. Do they get the idea when 10 cars are backed up behind them? No. Annoying.

They also don't slow down when the speed limit changes. I may pass them in the 55 zone, but when it slows down to 25 mph, they catch up to me because they're still going 45 mph in a 25 zone! What the???

It just goes to show that we need to get out of Sumas so that we don't have to be mad at Canadian drivers everyday.

2. Drivers that don't use turn signals.
It's not that hard... if you're turning, use the dang thing! Otherwise you're going to get rear-ended! And it will still be my fault! The turn signal switch is there for a reason.

That's all I have to say about pet peeves really. I feel like I'm whining and I don't like it when I feel like that, so I'm done.

Baby update...
Sara and Gracelyn are doing fine... we're down to seven weeks until our due date, so time is FLYING by! We're very excited for her delivery and have been VERY blessed by all our friends and family that have thrown us showers and gotten us almost everything that we need. There are still a few things we need to get (diapers and a diaper genie), other than that, we have PLENTY of newborn-three month old clothes. We could use more of any clothes 6-9 months and 9-12 months, but we know we'll be provided for.

Gracelyn is head down now, so she's getting ready to drop anytime. She still likes to punch Sara in the bladder which isn't at all comfortable... and neither is her stretching and putting her feet in Sara's ribs. She seems to like music. Whenever she hears it, she starts moving and kicking... either that or she's doing her calisthenics to get ready to learn to wrestle (I keep telling Sara that there will be girls wrestling at most high schools by the time she grows up, but Sara would rather her be a wrestling cheerleader, like she was, and just appreciate the sport from the sidelines.

Birthing class has been pretty fun. I think it's kind of neat to meet other couples that are in the same boat as you. I think we only have three more classes left, and then an after-birth party to see all the babies.

Needless to say, the time is drawing near and we are pretty excited. We appreciate everyone that given us stuff, helped us with stuff and who have kept us in their prayers! Please continue to keep us in your prayers, especially Sara (she is the one who has to deliver this baby... my job is to make her comfortable, but I don't imagine any part of childbirth is "comfortable"). I know my wife is strong and will do awesome! She's pretty incredible.

: : WHA??? : :

Two posts... in one week? Unheard of! Well, deal with it people! :)

So, I thought I'd just do a simple post with the latest ultrasound pictures of my (I'm 100% positive she'll be) beautiful baby girl.

In this first picture, you can see that she has her left hand palm up against her forehead showing that she's being a drama queen (like her daddy... as Sara said). :)



In this second picture she's just imagining she's weightless, in the middle of the ocean, surrounded by tiny little seahorses.

: : Living Hallelujah : :

Some days you wake up and you don't want to be happy. You woke up on the proverbial "wrong sie of the bed" and there is no way you're going to be happy. Well, that's the way I woke up this morning. Partially because of the way I fell asleep upset last night, partially because I was upset that I had to get up at 5:10am, but whatever the case, I was not happy to be up.

Then I had the revelation (that I've heard many times before) that being upset all day is a choice. My mind had already made the choice to be in a bad mood for the day. I've decided to squish that thought. I don't like being grumpy, and nobody else like me when I'm grumpy. My wife especially. So, I'm nipping it in the butt and I'm going to strive to be in a good mood for the day. With God's help, I want to be "living hallelujah" to God. So, with that said, here are the lyrics to the song I want to live my life by today:

"Living Hallelujah" - Sarah Kelly

Who am I?
That You came to earth for me
To die on a tree?
Who are you?
Son of man, Son of God
Yes, I believe it's true
More than words I bring to You
May all I say and may all I do be

(Chorus:)
Hallelujah, hallelujah
May everything about me be
Hallelujah to my King
Hallelujah, hallelujah
May everything about me be hallelujah

All of me
I surrender completely
Take control
I want all of You
So I'm letting go

I am healed and I'm forgiven
I am free because I'm living

(Chorus)

It's all so clear, it's all so clear
I was born to worship

Hallelujah, hallelujah
May everything about me be hallelujah

: : my bad... my bad... : :

So I've been catching up on reading my blogroll... and thinking some people were slacking on their postings... then I looked at the date of my last post and realized I AM THE ONE SLACKING! Holy smokes... it's like I've been grounded from my blog for the last month. Let's see... what do you need to know...

Sara and Gracelyn are doing fine. Gracelyn is still baking in the oven and things are going great. Four more months until "D-day". We've got another doctor's appointment on the 8th. Not sure what for... just another check-up I suppose.

We found out about two weeks ago that Sara's twin sister, Amy, is also pregnant! Now our daughter will have a cousin that is close to the same age. That's exciting! Too bad Sara didn't originally find it exciting. I guess the whole being a twin and competing in/over everything got old as they grew up and Sara was expecting to be the only pregnant one in the family... then along came Nate and Amy's seed. :) (Sara is doing much better with it now)

My parents have finally been approved to get their new house and land! They should be living in Birch Bay by the beginning of May! (this is a much needed move... they've been in the same dilapidated old mobile home since 1980 and it has definitely seen it's better days... I remember those days... I was about 4...)

Speaking of houses... our condo is officially on the market. If you know anyone that would like to buy a quaint, two bed, two bath, 1100 sq. foot condo in Sumas, send them our way! We've decided that with gas prices rising, and with Sara's 50 mile round-trip commute, that we'd be better off not living in Sumas. I personally don't mind the drive... not to mention the fact that I drive the more fuel efficient car ("why not switch then?", you may ask... well, we're trying to do that more often... Sara just hates driving my car). We don't think that we are going to jump right back into buying another place. We're thinking we may try to find a place with cheap rent and try to get caught up on some of our debts, like our credit cards and Sara's car. Good thing we're not at the national credit card debt level (somewhere around $8,000 per household! OUCH!). We'll see when and where God opens the door for us to buy a house (we're praying), not condo, with a yard so we can get a Boston Terrier. :)

Well, that's about all I have to say for now. I will be leading worship this week at our new church (Valley Community Church). Feel free to stop by and check the church out (if you're in the area... we meet at the senior center in Sumas at 10:00am).

Happy April Fool's Day!