{Easy} Solution to the Government Shutdown

Sunday morning, I awoke from a dream with a detailed, but easy, solution to the situation our country is facing in Washington.

Please read on for the specifics.

1. For one month, all 535 members of the United States Congress shall be sequestered in a secure and undisclosed hotel. (If it is safer for them to be housed in a different location, like a federal or state prison, this should be considered.)  Room assignments must be, wherever possible, with someone from the opposite party.
2. Like a jury sequestration, Congress must not have access to phones or media and must not discuss matters of state with anyone outside Congress,*except as noted below.
3. They must be fed whole foods and nourishing beverages.
4. They must engage in at least 30 minutes of their choice of exercise each day.
5. They must have access to a Bible, a clergyman of their choice, a copy of the Constitution of the United States, and a library containing the writings of the framers of the Declaration of  Independence and the Constitution. Members must also have access to a copy of the Affordable Care Act.
6. Each afternoon, they must submit to the President at least one handwritten note, knowing that this note will be entered into public record at the end of the sequestration. Each note MUST contain: at least one compliment about a member of the opposite party, at least one suggestion for a resolution to the current stalemate, and 
   at least one confession of his/her own party's error or omission from somewhere in history.
7. The President will personally create a notebook with all of the notes and will make a photocopy for each of the sequestered people.
8. *During this process, Congress may communicate, (via personal, handwritten note) with anyone in the group, or with the President, or with any of their staff. Staff communications are solely for the purpose of carrying out duties related to keeping the people of the United States safe.) Staff must not divulge the contents of the notes, except to carry out the specific requests of Congress. But all notes must be submitted to the President and must be entered into the public record at the end of the month-long experience. 
9. On the final day, Congress must convene and they must take turns reading the entire document (see #7) aloud. This reading must be televised, unedited, with a note to the media that anything taken out of context will be considered an act of dis-service to our great country.
10. They must return promptly to the business of legislation and work together to solve the current crisis with the tools at hand, practicing the goodwill they now have learned to express.
11. After another thirty days, if Congress has not resolved the current crisis to the satisfaction of all 535 members, then each member must submit a handwritten letter of resignation to the President, with a copy to the governor of their home state. This resignation must take effect at the end of their current term and must include an admission of personal failure to carry out his/her duties.  
12. While this process is underway, the President will be respectfully requested NOT to make any public statements about the process or about what he has heard or read from the involved parties -- unless he says something like, "This is great. This is wonderful. I am hopeful. Let's wait and see..." These statements would be allowed.  

That's it!

About 31 days of EASY: 

So many things in life are hard.  And some of those hard things are necessary. But why make things harder than they need to be?  For 31 days, I'll be writing about ways to bring ease.  I would be honored if you came along on my journey.  Pack light. 

If you want to know more about the 31 Day Blog Challenge, click here:
Nesting Place: It doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful.
or here: Why 31 days?

Many Blessings to you.

My Father's Honor Flight

When I was 17, a man named Bill married my mother. I had known him for years, because he was the father of one of my dearest friends. He saw my mother one day and asked me if I thought she would want to go on a date. I said, "NO." Three weeks later, they married.

When Bill was 17, he volunteered to join the U.S. Coast Guard. A short time later he was headed for the Pacific Islands to join the armada as part of the invasion of Okinawa. By God's grace he came home safely, leaving behind fallen comrades, returning to live in the free world he fought to protect. Bill raised three girls - now my sisters. He worked hard with his hands and built things, never forgetting the sacrifices of the other men who didn't return home.

Bill is a gentle man with big strong hands, and arms that encircle with re-assuring hugs. At church he serves as a greeter, where he has been renamed, Hugger Bill. His embraces are testimonies of the great love God has for us -- a love Bill also shares verbally, and freely with anyone who will listen.

In May, At 88 years old, Bill joined other WW2 Veterans on an Honor Flight to visit the memorial in Washington, D.C. He had this to say about one part of his visit:

" So much death surrounded us at Arlington Cemetery I could feel it. But I found life -- a high point for me in all of this -- at the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. To see a soldier parading and showing respect for the unknown fallen ones overwhelmed me. To me, this was life in the middle of all that death. I respected those soldiers who were a different breed of men, such authority, such discipline, so beautiful."

 "They fought together as brothers-in-arms. They died together and now they sleep side by side. To them we have a solemn obligation." ~Admiral Chester A. Nimitz

After returning home from the Honor Flight, Bill was invited to a celebration. The night before, he could not sleep. You see, he had received new orders from his Commander. Bill knew the next day would be a matter of life and death for some of his comrades. There were over 300 people in attendance. Bill maneuvered to the podium and requested an opportunity to speak. He was allotted THIRTY SECONDS. Bill boldly stepped up to the microphone:

" I need to tell you something very important.  You are all old guys and won't live here much longer.  But you will live either in heaven or in hell and I for one really don't want to see any of you go to hell - that's a terrible place to go. I read the book."  

He continued to map out the path to heaven through Jesus. My mother remarked that all were so quiet you could have heard a pin drop. These men, who defended our country when they were young, were there with canes and with walkers and in wheel chairs. They were from all parts of the service.  Many of them were over 90 years old. One man spent three years in a tank in Patton's army.

They all received their travel orders to the next place via Bill.

"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Roman's 10:9

Hats off to you, Bill Cowper

I love you!

Five Kernels of Corn

Imagine with me, will you?
Embark upon a crude vessel
To a place far away,
Journeying toward a better way.

Photo Source Link

Behold the land! It is beautiful, is it not?
Wild, no houses, no barns, no crops,
No turning back,
Hoping for a better day.

Photo Source

Can we endure this?
Half of our number is dead.
Praying for an answer,
Praying for a better day.

Photo Source

Who is this native, speaking English?
Squanto, a mentor, a savior with seeds.
Three sisters to fill our empty bellies,
Trusting in another way.

The three sisters: Squash, corn and beans

Can you believe the harvest?
Our bounty is great.
We celebrate with ninety uninvited guests,
Thankful for this day.

Photo source Link

What! More have arrived?
They have nothing!
We fall to our knees and pray,
Hoping to make it through the day.

Photo Source Link

Five kernels of corn apiece?
Divided equally among the living.
We make it through the winter,
Hoping for abundant days.

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Are we not a beacon of hope?
Built on the rock of our ancestor's dreams.
The memory of five kernels of corn,
Making us thankful for today.

Photo Source link

Can we plant double the crop of thankfulness?
Let us never forget starvation and rescue.
Let us never lose sight of freedom's shores,
Thankful we made it through today.

Photo Credit Link

Thank you, Pilgrims !

Thank you, Veterans! 

Thank you , God!

Land That I Love

"God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home."
~Irving Berlin

WELCOME

The door will be opened.

I receive and accept you with pleasure.

You will not cross my threshold unnoticed.

Your presence is something I cherish.

Your face is a welcome sight; 

your voice a welcome sound.

I welcome your advice.

You are welcome to the blessings each day brings.

You are welcome to my love.

Forgiveness.

...to our gratitude.

... Liberty.

Feel welcome to grow here.

And to just be you!

Linking up today with: 

Five Minute Friday

Where writers spin words right from the heart for five minutes flat.  

and The Nesting Place

Where bloggers are writing on a topic for 31 days.

and Dandelion House

Where people write about topics relating to home and garden.
and Katie's French Language Cafe
C'est la vie

Day 4

WE THE PEOPLE

I am not a political person. But I am a proud American and I care passionately about our nation and its future. I respect you and your opinions. Because we are friends, I have decided to share this with you. If you don't agree, feel free to share why. Here goes:

My prince and I are heart-sick of the political situation our country is in, which is caused by sin and selfishness all around. WE THE PEOPLE and our leaders need to step up and be courageous in defense of life and liberty. You don't need to be a history expert to know what made our country thrive.  Like all other great civilizations in history, we will fail if we do not take steps to defend Freedom, Faith, and Family.

Our nation was founded on the cause of liberty by people who died to declare and install it; men and women have been willing to give their lives to keep it that way, and people are literally dying to get in here! WHY? They have seen the alternative.

This side of heaven, is there anywhere on earth you would rather live?

Although no man is able to be all to all,  the men vying for the top jobs in America,need to be filled with courage, ability and conviction to lead or great country -- to firm up its men, cherish its women, and instruct its children.

This is the only kind of candidate that will receive our support.

"I Like Them, Sam I Am. I Like Green Eggs and Ham!"

The day I ate Green Eggs and Ham...

... was one of those days:  cool morning breezes, doves busily gathering twigs for their nests.  I decided to harvest my spinach before getting to work in the office. And my life came together in a flash!

My generation began and grew to maturity between two very different times in US history: WW2 and Vietnam.  We are the baby boomers --  grandchildren of the initiators of modern technology and modern society; we are the children of the generation that saved freedom through sacrifice; the first to watch world events on TV, talk on the phone from our car, send a letter across the country in a second.  We are the baby boomers, the rebels.  We said " no"  to convention and then became convention.  And now we are the generation talking about the good ole days, when things were simple.

Trying to hang on to the simple things in life is what my generation is going to do next. We're the ones going green, raising chickens, planting gardens, turning a cynical eye toward the politics of our day.  We remember walking to the corner store to buy a candy bar for 5 cents. We remember when everything was closed on Sunday and, milk came in glass bottles with cream on the top. 

I lived in the safety of America during the Cold War while the U.S. became a superpower.  This morning I read about some of the daughters of my generation, women who leave their babies at home and go serve our country in the embattled Middle East.  They go so their children may grow and enjoy the same freedom I cherish.

You might ask what all this has to do with Green Eggs and Ham.

Everything! 

The day I ate Green eggs and ham, I made perfect photocopies of a Bible that was printed in 1878, sent them off to New York, Texas, &  California; they were ready to view in under a minute.

The day I ate Green Eggs and Ham journalists were talking about terrorism, the demise of a major terrorist leader, and the "certain" retribution  we should expect anytime, anywhere.  But I was harvesting homegrown spinach and using it to make a delicious, healthy smoothie and a wonderful omelet!  I was listening to bird songs while offering a bath to the little feathered soloists who know or care nothing of the past or the future of the world.  They simply do what is before them, they carry out the task at hand. They eat, they drink, they raise their young in carefully prepared nests--come what may around them, they do it all the same.  They sing.

  Why? Because my Father in Heaven has the whole world in his hands.
 Generations of people and birds come and go.  Life is today, now, where we are.  The task to do is the task at hand.  I am thankful for the men and women whose task is to risk their lives to secure freedom. I am thrilled that I can easily send a photo of an ancient Bible across the country in a  couple of seconds.  


Because of  the dreams, sacrifices, and efforts of generations before me, the hopes of the generation following, and because God is faithful,  I can stop to enjoy a spinach smoothie, topped with fresh mint. (recipes below)

(And just look at the beauty of those leaves.  Intricately designed, organized with veins of life- giving substance, endowed with heavenly scent and usefulness.)

Because of the arduous days soldiers have spent training and sweating and bleeding,  I have the freedom to fill a bath for the birds who build their nests in my backyard.

I really never thought this meal would end up tying my whole life together but it did. It made me notice the creative plan of God, the beauty and simple intricacy of the natural world that continues while man struggles and strives.

The day I ate Green Eggs and Ham something as basic as gardening and eating shared space with the past and the future, it was as though all of time existed in one single moment.  And it was good.

FRESH GREEN SMOOTHIE
To start the day healthy and green: Blend 1 banana, 1 cup unsweetened coconut (or almond) milk, 1 big handful of washed spinach, 4-5 strawberries (I use frozen) 1/2 ripe avacado...YUM!

GREEN OMELETTE
Blend 2 fresh eggs with a handful of chopped spinach, 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese, and a splash of milk or half and half.  Heat pan, add 1 tsp virgin coconut oil. Cook gently.  After turning the egg mixture, add your choice of filling.  I used cooked bacon and grated sharp cheddar.  Enjoy!

The First Day - The Last Day - God Bless America

Today is the beginning of the rest of our lives.  Today is the only day for which we have been given grace.  And for some people (perhaps even me) today is also the last day. 

If this day were my last, what would be most important?  Where would I spend my last hours?  Who would I need to speak with?  What would I say to them?  Would I need to make peace with anyone? 

I would spend no time cleaning or making money, no errands or everyday stresses.  The emails I would write would be notes of love, appreciation, inspiration and apology.

My family would be first. They would all hear how much I love them.  How special they each are to me, to God and to each other.  I would kiss many soft cheeks and give as many hugs as possible.

I'd make sure the pets had new homes, a pat, and a treat.

I'd wrap a few items to give to people as a remembrance.

Gladly, my apologies would be few.  Since my Father in Heaven has helped me to keep on top of forgiveness. 

My fears would be few as well. I know where I am going next and am confident that my ride is booked and paid for by Jesus.  I would have to place the people I love in his capable hands since my active role would end.

 I would lie on the grass in the warm sun, feeling the earth underneath, the cool, sweet grass brushing against my palms,  listening to the soft buzz of  a bee.  And I would be sure to thank God for putting me here,  for blessing my life with precious people in the beautiful world he created.  I would thank him for placing me in America -- the land of the free ! And I would say, "God (please continue to) Bless America, land that I love.  Stand beside her and guide her through the night with the Light from above."