Laundry

It occurred to me this morning that BIG FAMILY Laundry is different than "regular people's" laundry.

Here are some facts about our laundry.

1) There is a LOT. 
I had piles of laundry when I only had two children - I remember climbing on it and being thankful that there was a door to hide it.  But there were piles then because I could get away with not doing it for days and days - what a blessing to have that many clothes!
Now, I get up in the morning, make coffee, take medicine, and start laundry - restart the dryer &/or start a new load. 
Currently, because I can't use the clothes line because I don't like cold and there's little sun and I don't like cold, I have piles in laundry phases. 
Phase 1)Dirty. Big hampers and piles of dirty laundry in most rooms of the house.
Phase 2) Just came out of the washer. There are two full baskets sitting on top of the dryer. These clothes have been washed and are waiting their turn to get dry. The basket to the left was the first to come out of the washer and the next to go into the dryer. When left basket gets empty, right basket

gets pushed over and becomes the new left basket (then I can get to the lint trap and push the on button). The empty basket becomes the new right basket and is refilled with whatever is in the washer.
(If you've made it through the method behind my madness, congratulations! You are either seeking answers to your own laundry nightmare & are now qualified to join my madness and do my laundry. Thank you!) (there are no picture of my piles)

If we became nudist I'm certain there would still be laundry. 
There is MUCH laundry. I am thankful for these fancy electric machines and that I don't have to do laundry for ten on a rock down by the river. 


2) All colors are colors and are washed together.
My own mother is learning to accept this as fact. I learned this in collage when I actually did my own laundry (a rarity) instead of bringing it home with me. It takes a lot of quarters to do laundry and I'd rather have eaten. I also learned that you can wear items multiple times before classifying it as dirty. My children have not been to college yet and have not learned this truth despite my constant urging. They often think that if it is not in a drawer it is dirty even if it is folded. (see #3)

A Path = Happiness

I do sometime attempt to  separate colors - mostly with parental clothing - and Gene's work clothes get their own load (with some jeans and towels thrown in to make a full load) - but if/when I do separate colors walking through the mudroom and laundry room is a half day hike up and down Mount Killathelaundress. 

3) Boys' laundry produces treasure and consternation in equal measure; and both treasure and consternation in more abundance and girls' laundry.
For instance this morning there were folded shirts (consternation! - but relief that there weren't as many folded items as normal; but more consternation that they complain they don't have any clean shirts - unless they look on the floor or in the hamper! CONSTERNATION!) 
There were also two small legos, one random nut (uncracked), a small piece of white paper, one folded blue sticker, a police badge, and a pencil. Treasures! (which went into the "lint bag" (aka "trash").

4) ALL money found belongs to Mama! One exception: you are doing your own laundry and find your own money. In cases of this exception, keep your trap shut! Penelty for not keeping your trap shut: all money found belongs to Mama! No exceptions.

5) We should have 2 or more dryers. 

Dryers take a long time. I can do two loads in the washer in the time it takes the dryer to do one. Except our dryer has to be turned on two or more times to dry a load, regardless of size. I stop washing when I'm three loads ahead (in pretty weather I stop when the clothesline is past full [stuff is hanging on the clothesline poles AND the trampoline] AND there are "not to be hung out" stuff waiting to go in the dryer).
I complain suggest often that two dryers would be ideal and remodeling the laundry room to accommodate a second dryer would be a welcome project.

6) If we were to "accommodate" a second dryer my laundry room may be temporarily out of order. In that case we could take the laundry to the laundry mat. If we perused use of the laundry mat (as has been done in times past to save the sanity of the laundress and general cleanliness of the domicile) one trip would cost a fortune (has it has in times past). In a weeks time we could us every washer and dryer in the laundry mat, and some twice.
7) We have a rotation. 
Keeping to the rotation takes much "OnTopOfItNess" on the part of the laundress (also known as nagging). 
We are normally a two days to a week off rotation.
In using this rotation it is required that those clothes wearers HELP complete the task of doing the laundry on their secified day(s).

8) The chief laundress quit does NOT fold everyone's laundry. (I sometimes fold my own, more often I re-fold my own. )
This has taken a HUGE burden off the laundress to delegate this task to the underling clothes wearers.
Even the smallest clothes wearers can fold washcloths and towels, and on to pants, then shirts and eventually, dare we say it, fitted sheets!

9) We use "homemade" laundry detergent and fabric softeners. (I put homemade in quotes because I don't actually boil lye or fat or anything that involved, I just put store bought ingredients together. At home). It works well, even on Gene's work clothes (counter-acts the battery acid on his shirts). It is gentle on skin. It cost less and goes further. 

So here's the scoop:

Dry Laundry Detergent

Ingredients:

One box Arm & Hammer Washing Soda (not baking soda)

One box Borax

Two bars Fels Naptha 

(all can be found on the laundry aisle of Walmart)

Directions: 

Grate Fels Naptha in a LARGE bowl. 

Pour Washing Soda and Borax into bowl with grated Fels Naptha.

(Do NOT breath deeply - you'll be smelling this stuff all day)

Mix well with hands. 

Pour carefully into a large container.

To Use: 
TWO Tablespoons per load (a tad more for greasy stuff).
I put the detergent in first then turn on the water and let it run 
while I gather an armload of laundry and add that.
Gene turns on the water, adds clothes then puts in the detergent. 
We both think the other is somewhat backwards in this regard.

(I still pre-treat with Shout as needed. A bar of Fels Naptha can also be rubbed into dampened stains.)

Our Fabric Softener sitting atop the dryer

Fabric Softener

Ingredients: 
Liquid Fabric Softener 
(I like Lavender Gain)
Water 
(right out of the tap)
Sponges 
(the cheap ones are fine)
A seal-able container 
(mine's a clean Folgers Coffee container "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle")

Directions: 
Cut the sponges in half. Set aside.
Pour 3 capfuls of Fabric Softener into container.
Pour 3 capfuls of Water into container.
Throw in sponges.
Seal container and swirl it around a little. 

To use:
Open container. 
Grab a sponge and squeeze it out.
Throw it in the dryer with wet clothes.
When dryer is done used sponge should be replaced in container for future use.
As container is emptied of liquid - make more!

The light MUST be turned off for this
curtain to work (I THINK)

10) Our laundry room is at the back door. This is THE door everyone uses. (The front door is NEVER used - the large foyer is the junk room storage room library/winter playhouse. The Double doors in the schoolroom are currently covered in lovely plastic with black, gorilla tape trim to hold in heat and repel drafts. The GIANT sliding doors in the living room are covered with matching plastic year round and covered in sea green drapes from Freds. There was another door in the living room but that has been replaced by a wall of plywood, painted to match the other walls and a window air conditioner. - Huit Couture Decor is not the strong suit here).

I hung a curtain in the laundry room door way to hide the piles (this is really a practice in self-psychology - I THINK it hides the piles).  

And that's what happens when I start thinking while doing laundry and we've already decided NOT to do school today because we haven't really gotten much of that done this week anyway and I'm avoiding getting dressed AND cleaning my bathroom AND making the children "help" with all the cleaning stuff I'm avoiding.
AND I've got to go take stuff out of the dryer (unless I need to turn it on again).
Getting up now.

Homeschool Day at the Capital

Our state homeschool group, Georgia Home Educators Association (GHEA) coordinated a day at the capital for homeschoolers.
Several from our local group went "together" (we signed up as a group and did stuff together).
We were supposed to take a picture with the governor at 10 am. We all hurried to get there. We waited around. We watched other groups (of adults who could have waited!!!) get their picture made. We, those of us who could see over a few shoulders and heads, saw the governor bustled in and out of the area for each picture.  And finally at nearly 11 am, it was our turn (well, the kids turn).
So ALL those homeschoolers hurried to find a place on the grand staircase. And wait.

Left: Kids waiting on the Governor
Top Right: close-up of kids waiting - mine are in there
Bottom right: I was tickled by all the parents with their cameras and phones in the air to get a picture
(I was one of them and was standing on the base of a column to see better - something I had just told the children not to do).

And finally, before we hardly realized he was there, there was Governor Nathan Deal.

And then he was gone again.

Then we took a tour. 

Clock wise from top left: Our tour guide, Paul Smith,
Baptist minister and Religious Freedom Lobbyist;
The sign;
In the governors outer office;
Bust of Oglethorpe

Then we had lunch where I was reminded that taking 8 children through a cafeteria, especially children who don't know if they want a chicken sandwich or chicken nuggets, might give me gray hair, creates a line where there hadn't been one, and requires way to much irritation. There are no pictures.

Then we were supposed to go to a legislative class at the Presbyterian church across from the capital. We caught the end of it - then we got to visit the supreme court of Georgia and learn about laws and court and how Jesus is our advocate. 

Left: In the church
Top right: Kids in the church
Bottom right: In the Supreme Court

The wall over where the judges sit says, "Fiat justitia ruat caelum."
That means, "Let justice be done though the heavens fall."

After that I had a short conversation with that lady up there with the yellowish scarf. She is the leader of the new National Right to Life (NRLC) group in Georgia. Georgia Right to Life (GRTL), of which I am a part and strongly support, is no longer affiliated with NRLC. 
The difference, in a nutshell, is that NRLC support exceptions* to pro-life legislation, they are all about politics and media. GRTL believes that ultimately this pro-life/personhood issue is a Heart issue. We may change a few minds but only God can change hearts. We hold to NO exceptions*, and while we do support being involved politically, that isn't the end all of everything - but answering to God is.

At last we explored the capital on our own.
We saw lots of doors, old flags, bust of dead guys, and the museum on the 4th floor. The children were very interested in the historical things in the cases (AT LAST!!)
We learned the difference between the Senate and the House of Representatives; the size and the color of the carpet (Senate = smaller & blue; House = bigger and red).

And here are those kids!

We stopped on the way home to kiss and hug Grandmother. Then came home where the children fell out in the living room watching Daniel Boone and the Mama crashed in bed and SLEPT soundly until Daddy came home. Then she went to back to bed after tucking in the littles.

It was a fun day!



*exceptions = saying abortion is okay in cases of rape, incest and life of the mother. 
These are NOT good reason to have an abortion. 
"Rape" and "incest" refer to the manner in which a child is conceived, the child is innocent and should not have to pay for the sins of it's father. Also, how a child is conceived has no bearing on how/when/if that child feels pain. These children are just as worthy of protection as any other.
"Life of the mother" is a VERY broad term to cover a multitude of issues in the mother's life. She may think (or have been told) that she can't afford a baby, that a baby would "mess up" her life/career/studies . . . not just her physical life. AND I can't think of any cases in which a mothers life is actually in danger because of a baby (with the exception of a tubal pregnancy which could take the life of the mother and child). I know mothers who have had chemo during pregnancy with no ill effects to the child. I know mothers who benefited by the stem cells passed naturally to them from the baby. Life of the mother is NOT an excuse. We would support "physical life of the mother - in the case where death WOULD occur naturally for the mother and/or child if the child remains in utero." BUT this is so rare! - and if the child is for some strange reason a threat to the mother life, it would be less traumatic, for the mother and the child, if the baby was delivered and every effort was made to save the child's life as well as the mothers.

Walking in a Winter Wonderland and other tales

I'll get to the Ice in a minute. First a word from . . . well, some other stuff.

While I was at a meeting last Friday, the Daddy took all the children to our homeschool group's Valentine party. He was the only Daddy there and stayed with the little boys to help them. 

Last Thursday, the children and I took paper products and whatnot to the A New Walk, a homeless center in Gainesville. Homeless in Gainsville
They had posted a need on Facebook and we felt lead to go meet a little of it. They were open all weekend and will probably be opened all week as a warming shelter for homeless. They aren't a shelter but the city allows them to shelter people when it gets really cold. They feed them and love them and share God's Word with them. 
This little church is makeing a BIG, eternal difference in their community. Many of their friends now attend church regularly and are beginning a New Walk in their lives.

I didn't get any pictures. 
I'm not bragging. 
Just hope to show how easy it was to give. 
It was a blessing!

We had just learned that week that when David heard Goliath speak he got a little passionate that someone would defy the God of Israel. How dare they!!!
When it got time to fight the giant, David went out, as a shepherd, with his staff and sling - the equipment he was familiar with. That big fella got up, amused at this twerp with a stick coming to fight him and lumbered toward the battle line. 

David RAN.

He ran toward the battle line. He ran toward the giant. He ran at the enemy. He ran with the intent to kill the one who defied the Lord of Host. 
He RAN.
He didn't stop to pray about what God would have him do. It was apparent to him that itt is not God's will that evil prevail. 
He boldly volunteered to get the job done. 
He knew that if the Lord could save him from pesky lions and bears (oh my!) He could certainly save him from this beastly man.

"David ran quickly toward the battle line"

1 Samuel 17:48b

So, we took what God had blessed us with and ran to throw our little rock at the giant of homelessness.

Sometimes war is fought on our knees, and sometimes its fought in motion.

Now for the icy part.

Weatherman should feel blessed that they aren't stoned for falsely predicting the weather - or continuously changing their mind. 

We knew a storm was a'comin!

It it rained ice Monday afternoon and most of the night. And when we got up it was lovely except for the tree that split in twain and fell down in two directions (East and West).

Most winters when it snows (or we get the crunchy white stuff) I make the children line up near "the tree" to take a picture before they go play in the wetness (aka "frozen mud")

Top: The Downed Tree - fluffy
Bottom: the part the fell West fell on the phone line - we still have phone service.
It knocked a board off the house where the phone line connected.
The downed boards.

 The Daddy and some kids cleaned up the tree and fixed the boards.

I tried unsuccessfully to keep a fire going and write on this blog (well, that last part's success is objective).

After assessing the damage (minimal) we walked in our winter wonderland

Nature in Ice

We took a walk through the woods - the still stinking dogs went too.
(the dogs got Skunked on Sunday afternoon - it's too cold to bathe them outside and Gene doesn't want them in the house - so when he goes back to work, they will get a warm bath. Shhhhh..... I really am a good wife - mildly opinionated - this isn't the best example of submission. Let's move on.)

cold can be pretty - but warm is prettier

And now, just for fun. Tales from Jacob and Josiah.

Josiah's Train - turn your head to the Left

Jacob's Racetrack -
I don't think it matters which way you turn your head.

And last but not least - those baby weirdos! (aka "Gene's kids")

Yes, Josiah is wearing a grocery bag.
No, there is no good reason. Just part of being a boy.

Prayer

I've learned a lot this year about prayer.

Here's 10 of those things.

1) It takes practice. (Thanks for teaching me this Mrs. Elinor, and for modeling it)
Practice makes better. Our flesh can find MANY excuses NOT to come into the presence of God. Prayer, in our imperfection, is not natural. 
Practice Prayer.

2) It takes time.

"seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 

Rejoice always, 

pray without ceasing, 

give thanks in all circumstances; 

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

1 Thessalonians 5:15b-18

We can throw up a prayers anytime. But to really . . . get "on the line" with the Father . . .  SIT STILL! (or knell***). Take your time. Just be still and talk to God.

3) It's not always easy. We are waging war against evil. Asking God's provision and protection. And not always usually normally not physical provision or protection. Rather, spiritual. It's a great weapon against a very real enemy. 
Plus, there's this obedience thing. Easy to read. Hard to do/be consistently.

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments."

John 14:15

4) It matters who you think your talking to.

If you've not excepted Jesus as your personal Savior, if your just praying to some deity, any deity, than your just throwing words at the ceiling. They don't stick up there. They don't go any higher. Your just speaking into the air. 

"'The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”'

(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 

because, 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. 

For with the heart one believes and is justified, 

and with the mouth one confesses 

and is saved. "

Romans 10:8-10

5) Prayer makes a difference - BUT it's not the prayers that works, but God. He gets all the glory. Not anything that I've said. I'm just making a request. I'm requesting from/petitioning to the King of all kings, the Lord of all lords, the Creator of the universe, the Great I Am, the only Holy, omnipotent, omnipresence, just and righteous, God only wise. 

"do not be anxious about anything, 

but in everything by prayer and supplication 

with thanksgiving 

let your requests be made known to God."

Philippians 4:6

6) If you aren't in the Word of God you've got a VERY one sided conversation. 

Get in the Word. Read the Word. Meditate/think about the Word you've read. Obey the Word. Share the Word with others. Pray the Word. Read more.

7) Prepare to be amazed.

Answered prayer, it's pretty Fantastic! 

Let the Holy Spirit do what He does - through you, in you, for you, around you.

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, 

whom the Father will send in my name, 

He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance 

all that I have said to you."

John 14:26

Sometimes the answer is above and beyond all we could ever hope or ask for. 
Really BIG - He's got the whole world in His hands.

"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, 

according to the power at work within us, 

to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus 

throughout all generations, forever and ever. 

Amen."

Ephesians 3:20-21

8) Sometimes the answer is "no."

Deal with it. God knows best.

9) The Holy Spirit intercedes on my behalf - so we should earnestly intercede for others. Even if it takes all night. Even if it cost us.

"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. 

For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, 

but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 

And He who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, 

because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."

Romans 8:26-27

10) I need more practice. 
I'm forgetful. I'm lazy. I'm full of excuses.
I'm still learning. This list is not exhaustive.
Keep practicing.

"Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. 

The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Matthew 26:41

Recently, I heard about a poll* that was done about how much people pray. I was astounded. Not because of how much "regular people" DON'T pray but by how much Pastors DON'T pray. 

On average pastors only pray 15 MINUTES a week. 

WHAT?!?!? Are you kidding?

I know there have to be some that pray a LOT. But seems there are many more that pray WAY less or not at all in order to make the average only 15 minutes. Mere minutes.

No wonder churches suffer, their shepherd isn't praying for them. Isn't praying for their trials, their joys . . . not even praying for the words to speak to them. 

I've been teaching this year**. I've been called a shepherd over a lovely group of ladies. 

I've prayed more. For words. For those who will hear those words. For God to use me as His vessel - that I'm just a willing open mouth. 

On my knees.*** Praying for the sweet ladies looking at me to hear what God says, to be an encouragement. To teach so that their lives are being transformed as they study God's Word, the Bible. 

It's a big deal. It's weighty. It's hard. It takes time. 

And I'm having a ball. - I am amazed!

I've learned to pray harder for those who teach me.

There's a method to my madness (usually).

One in-particular way that helps in keeping me focused in prayers is to pray ACTS.

A.C.T.S

Adoration

call on God and glorify His name. Lift Him up. Praise. 

Think "God, You are . . . " and speak all those things He is.

Sometimes I wind up singing.

Confession

He is SO HOLY. You are not. 

Confess your sins. All of them. Ask for forgiveness. "Get right with God."

"If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, 

and the truth is not in us. 

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins 

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

1 John 1:8-9

Thanksgiving

Thank Him. For everything. For little things. For forgiveness. For who He is. For what He has done. For what He will do. (sometimes I pray thanksgiving before Confession -  God is so good!)

"Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;

make known his deeds among the peoples!

Sing to him, sing praises to him;

tell of all his wondrous works!

Glory in his holy name;

    let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!

Seek the Lord and his strength;

    seek his presence continually!

Remember the wondrous works that he has done,

his miracles and the judgments he uttered"

1 Chronicles 16:8-12

Supplication

This is where you make your petition know to God. 

(See #5 & Philippians 4:6 above)

What/who should we pray for? Look at your hand. 

Here's the 5 finger prayer:

Thumb

Pray for those closest to us.

(family & friends)

Pointer Finger

Pray for those who lead us or teach us about God

(pastor, church leaders, Bible teachers)

Parents, would you be on your child's pointer finger?

Husbands, would you be on your wife's pointer finger?

Middle Finger

Pray for those in authority over us. 

(police, political leaders - they sure need it)

Parents & Husbands, would you be here?

Ring Finger

Pray for those who are weak. 

The hurting, the sick, the lonely, the poor, the orphan, the widow, 

those being persecuted, those who cannot speak for themselves, the least of these. 

(Ring Finger is the weakest finger)

Parents, husbands, are we sharing our weaknesses with our family?

Are we teaching them to pray for and serve others in need?

Little Finger

Pray for yourself. 

When you've prayed for everyone else your own needs will be put in perspective. 

Don't neglect to pray for YOU - He loves you. 

He knows you. He wants to make His will, your will. 

Pray for you.

(Just had a thought. We, wives, could be praying for our Husbands on every finger. My relationship him, his leadership, his authority in our home, his struggles, and how I respond to him).

Just keep practicing. Practice Prayer. 

(right now - practice right now, while your thinking about it.)

The greatest battle stance kneeling in prayer. 

* I don't know where this poll came from. I think Gene told me about it.

** toccoalavonia.cbsclass.org

*** I don't always pray on my knees. Sometimes I just sit. Sitting with my Father. But sometimes I feel I need to kneel before the King.

+ AllBible quotes taken from the English Standard Version (ESV)

January 2015

January was a busy month.
But not very busy for my camera.

We celebrated the anniversary of my mother's 27th birthday.
We invited all who could come to show up and surprise her. I was sure me or Rick would let the cat out of the bag - and we both got real close - but she was surprised.
Some friends from work, her brother, two sisters, two brother-in-loves, two daughters, a son-in-love, a nephew, and 8 grandyoung'uns all showed up to show her love.

Mama & Melba, the table, Uncle Larry conversing with Jacob (who made time to converse with everyone), Mama and Aunt Melba again, the kid's end of the table.

After lunch Mama, Aunt Melba and I went shopping. What fun we had!
There's no question who I'm related to.
Then we took Aunt Melba back to Uncle Larry's where her and Uncle Mike stayed that weekend, and ate ice cream and visited. I also know where I get my story telling ability from.
Then I got to bring my Mama home with me.
Blessed. Blessed.

One day the littles and I went to play at the park in Commerce with our Chance. (I don't recall what Ann and I were supposed to be doing or exchanging but we had fun with our little friend).

Babies at the Civil War memorial

You may think that this is a picture of children sitting awkwardly on a bench, but you'd be wrong.
This is a picture of children sailors in a small boat.
That is not my shadow. That is the shadow of an invisible woman.
You stand corrected.

We've done school - unwillingly.

Boys doing their science lesson. We LOVE Apologia - in Lesson 7: Life in the Blood of Anatomy and Physiology they heard/read the gospel, the need for salvation, and a call to believe in Jesus.
Lora used the computer "for real" working on a project.
The littles making bird nest. They are inventive!

I taught at CBS twice. Ladies Toccoa/Lavonia Community Bible Study

My "spare child" is staying home.
This year I began to "tutor" Brent. He was a quiet addition to our little homeschool.
I've been praying for him and his mother all year. That they would draw closer to the Lord. That Brent would be saved. That Melanie would take more interest in his education.
Over Christmas break she got a new job working weekend shift. She was free-er to do stuff with us.
She came over last Thursday evening apologizing for bringing "bad news". But I was delighted.
She has decided to teach him at home! Praise be!
AND she plans to join CBS with him!
I'm still a phone call away and intend to "help" and encourage and drag them along to events with us. But what an answer to prayer! And quick!
Sometimes we want quick answers and have to wait. Sometimes we think the answers will take years and happen in just a few short months.
His timing is amazing!

And our "school" as returned almost to normal - for us. Brent is missed. The quiet is a little quieter.
For the right family/child I'd "tutor" again. If only to see prayers answered.

Happy Groundhog Day! 

General Beauregard Lee, 

confidently standing in the early morning sun, 

declared we only have 6 weeks till Spring! 

GA March for Life 2015

January 22, 2015 marked 42 years since Roe v. Wade which made abortion legal in the United States. In Georgia this year we met together, amid rumors of "pro-life" legislation on a federal level, to mourn the lose of millions of innocent lives. We rallied to encourage one another to keep fighting for those who can not speak for them selves, from conception to natural death, NO EXCEPTIONS!

This was the first year to meet in front of the capital in the new Liberty Plaza - the first event to be held in this lovely park.

some views of the crowd
(notice the red hat in the top right corner picture - that's Gene.
There is a white hat(?) to his right [your left] and then Adam's head.
They were waiting to be security guards - more on that later).

Some lovelies - clockwise: Ryan & Alex; Grandmother Joyce & Miss Judy; Brent & his Mama Melanie; Me and my Mama next to Alex and Elijah.
This was my mother's first trip to the March for Life - she is a HUGE supporter of my little "stand for life"

We got a little media coverage.

Top: Victory 91.5 was back - Joshua Edmonds from GRTL (red sweater)
Bottom: A nice looking newsman and his busy cameraman from CBS 46
(can't find a link to the TV news story)

Lots of good speakers.

Clockwise from top: GA Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols (and founder of Teen Pact) was the emcee;
Elizabeth Reed gave testimony about her little girl who was conceived in rape and is NOT an exception;
Molotov Mitchell was the Guest Speaker - dynamic fella - GREAT speaker and all around good guy (didn't agree with him on every single point - more on that later); the new band; Some of our state legislators - more showed up later.

Here's Elizabeth's testimony. I had the privledge of praying with her when she was done. 

BRAVE lady!

And here's one of that Molotov guy click here to see him.
He made a suggestion he dubed "Wave to Wave". Doctors often define the end of life when one shows no brain waves; a fetus has been found to have brain waves at 8 weeks old (gestational age or fetal age?). It's a good idea - but I'm still on the conception bandwagon.
His father raised him protesting abortion facilities. He didn't fall far from the tree. He was also shown, by his father, a video of an abortion at an early age - and he encouraged parents to show their children abortion footage as well. Of course I was questioned about this a few hours later by one of my sweet, well meaning chapter advisers. Should we be giving out an abortion video to parents?
My answer: "No."
There is a time and a place for everything. There are some people I'd like to pull aside and show this horribleness to right this minute - but my children . . .
Would I willing submit them to videos of a murder? A beheading? A rape?
In an attempt to get them to understand the evil of porn would I show it to them?
No, no, no, no.
They have vivid imaginations, when the time is right with each one we will fill in the details. When they feel called to speak out for the unborn, when they are old enough, mature enough, perhaps.
I had to watch a LOT of really ugly, heart wrenching videos when I volunteered to counsel at a pregnancy resource center - it strengthened my passion and resolve to protect the innocent.
I was an adult.
Will I ever show my children evil on video? Perhaps.
Most know it exist. Some know details.
Some are old enough to read the news. All its shocking gory details.
I will not shield them from truth. I can't. I don't.
But I treasure their innocence more than one mans opinion. And I will cleave to it as I train by example.

Delicate balance.

We were blessed to be volunteers!
Gene and Adam were security guards.
And the rest of us (along with 3 others) helped with a visual. Josh Edmonds (who may have to much time on his hands) figured out that the population of all the states who are part of the SEC (or some other sports related something) would be GONE if the abortions happened by state.
They explained it better - the population of those states = total number of abortions since 1973.
You get the idea.
We held wooden states with their populations painted on them.

Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Somewhere in New England, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, ???, ???, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia (I think there were 16 states altogether - gone).
Photos courtesy of GRTL

Tim finished talking, introducing and giving directions.
Taps played. America's Song of Remembrance
We began our silent dirge.

Welcome to Atlanta; Peachtree St; Paulding County Chapter of GRTL (we need to bring our FCRTL sign next year - unless we outlaw abortion before then); A sweet mother with her three babies; marching on Atlanta (last two)

GSU is taking over Atlanta - most students were very curious, some were mildly ugly; police on horses; signs; my girls; other marchers; police on bikes

the top right is my baby boys holding hands; the other two are of our loud pro-abortion protesters. Thankfully, this year they were just loud and obnoxious and poorly informed. They wanted to stop our march and at one point we did stand still briefly as the police moved them back to the sidewalk.
They have the same freedom to voice their beliefs as we do. And they are the ones for whom we pray.
They are NOT the enemy. And when their life is on the line - we will still be praying for them as we stand by their side.
Protecting the innocent. Until natural death. No exceptions.
Pray for these.

The front of the walk (Gene and Adam on duty - orange vest to the right - they helped keep people behind the sign - they walked with the speakers - they know one lady who is very proud of them).
Photos courtesy of  GRTL.

Here's a couple more. A snapshot of part of our group during the event (courtesy of GRTL)

And part of our cute group walking back to the van.

And then we went to Chick-fil-a. 

Adam, Brent, Melanie, Judy, Elijah, Phil, Jacob, Alex. Joyce, Josiah, Ava, Lora, Autumn, Jorja, Erin, Gene, Ryan

God gave beautiful weather and wonderful friends to share the day with.
Keep fighting the good fight.

So I sought for a man among them 

who would make a wall, 

and stand in the gap before Me 

on behalf of the land, 

that I should not destroy it; 

but I found no one.

Ezekiel 22:30