Our cousins, Jess & Doug, are down for the week from Denver. They had a beautiful baby boy named Tyler 2 months ago, as well as their gorgeous little girl Averie. We got to have them over for dinner Wednesday evening, along with her mom Rita and sister Josalyn. We don't get to hang out with this set of family very often, so it's always a sweet time to catch up whenever we can.

This is Katrina with her cousin Josalyn. She absolutely adores Josalyn. We do too!

Here's the new baby boy, Tyler. He is so sweet, loves to smile, loves to coo at everyone. Just a precious baby boy!

Doug with Averie. Averie is an absolute joy. She is curious, loving, and so smart. But, as her cousin, I may be biased... Oh yeah, Doug's pretty cool too!

My dad is conducting scholarship interviews this weekend. As a former recipient of the same scholarship, he asked me to respond to the question they will be giving to the applicants. They will be given the following quote, and asked to articulate their response to it.

“A nation, as a society, forms a moral person, and every member of it is personally responsible for his society.” Thomas Jefferson



Here is my response:

Morality (as defined by the American Heritage Dictionary)
The quality of being in accord with standards of right or good conduct.
A system of ideas of right and wrong conduct: religious morality; Christian morality.
Virtuous conduct.
A rule or lesson in moral conduct.

I believe it is the responsibility of a nation to train its children in morality. Morality implies that there is a right and a wrong, black and white. There are well-defined rules for behavior, thought, and action, as well as consequences for those actions. Morality also implies virtue, implies that a person will choose to walk the higher and nobler ground. A virtuous, moral person will choose to put the needs of others, of the society, above himself. He will choose to walk within the boundaries defined and taught by his society, to resist those temptations that so easily lead man astray.

One session in front of the nightly news is enough to prove that this nation has fallen sadly short of this mark. I believe our nation began with every intention to raise a society of moral, virtuous men and women. However, the very principles our forefathers held so dear are the same principles that have led to the degradation of our society. A desire for religious freedom has led to the persecution of any religion that claims strict morality. The passion for a republic, where the power lies with the voting populace to elect representatives, has turned into a popularity contest, where the issues are forgotten and “popular” candidates are elected. The belief in a free economy, not controlled by the state, has so obviously been turned on its head in the last year. This same free economy our forefathers believed in has shown its ugly side.

All these principles could have been used to produce a society of moral, responsible individuals. Instead, it has produced a nation of ungrateful, selfish, arrogant children. We spend irresponsibly, and then expect the government to fix our problems. We pay athletes millions of dollars to be the best and entertain us, then become “morally” outraged when those same athletes feel they must resort to illegal methods to “keep up”. Is it any wonder we have become the laughing stock of the free world? We brandish our morality sword in front of the faces of other nations, forcing them by might to live up to an expectation we have long ago relinquished in favor of entertainment and entitlement. Is it any wonder that we, as a nation, are severely lacking moral citizens who will be responsible for their society?

Yes, it is the responsibility of a nation to produce a moral citizen. Yes, every member of that nation is responsible for the society created. And, yes, we as a nation will someday be held accountable for the society we have created. And I shudder to think of the consequences of our actions.

Every morning, I get a "girlfriends" devotional in my email from www.crosswalk.com. And a tidbit from this morning was just too good to not share. It is from Mary Southerland.

Psalm 119:11 "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." (NIV)

"It is important to remember that God's truth came before Satan's lies. When God's truth comes first in our lives, we will be able to recognize the lies of Satan and temptation will be easier to withstand. When we get away from God's word, however, we become an easy target for temptation and sin. Sin will keep us from God's Word or God's Word will keep us from sin. "

Lord, help me to keep Your word near and dear to my heart. Help be to become the student of the Bible that You desire.

This first loose tooth has also sparked a grand debate in our house. How much are you supposed to get per tooth? I got a quarter per tooth, maybe 50 cents if I was lucky. Jerome got anywhere between 10 and 20 dollars! Katrina got a dollar, and I'm still not so sure about that. What are your thoughts?

Wow, has it really been a month since I posted on Thankful Thursday? And, what a month it has been! I will admit, I have thought a lot lately about these posts, and have struggled with it. I have struggled to find and hold on to those things for which I am thankful. I know they are all around me, every day, but I have still struggled to see them.

This week, I will choose to be thankful for God's promises. Even though I do not completely understand the storm I am in, I will choose to be thankful. Because God, unlike man, NEVER goes back on what he has promised. He is ALWAYS there, and never stops loving. Here is what He has given me lately, much-needed Scripture that has calmed my heart and mind. Thank you Daddy, for your reminders.

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

"The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty."(Proverbs 21:5)

“It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for.”(Ephesians 1:11)

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." (Colossians 3:12-15)

"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6)

"What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith." (Philippians 3:8-9)

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9)

Have a great Thursday!

So, if you missed the latest toilet adventure, read it here first.

By the time we realized what was in the toilet, it was too late. We had already plunged it back to working order. And, since we are on a community sewer system, we are hoping that the sarong has made its way through the pipes and through the system.

On another plumbing note, I got to teach my husband how to dismantle & put back together our kitchen sink last week, as we had an unidentifiable clog in the s-trap. Really, it was unidentifiable. I have no idea what this chunk of "stuff" was, and no idea how it even got down there. Oh well, chalk it up to another "only our family..."

I know, I know. I am the queen of all slackers! I have not posted in so long, I was afraid my children were going to be driving before there was another update. Life has been INSANE in the last month. Here's a quick recap of the month of February in the Bleger house:

- Work (surprise)

- Passion Play auditions, casting, rehearsals, costume searches, etc.

- Monday the 9th - a virus attacks our computer network at work, affecting ALL of the American Family computers, NATION-WIDE! It took the entire month to fix. The only reason why I am able to post today is that I have finally caught up from all the chaos this caused!

- February 11th - our last night as youth leaders (more on that in another post)

- Sunday, Feb. 15th - Violet mysteriously develops a fever during church. Random.

- Monday & Tuesday, 15th & 16th - Violet continues to get sick, developing the nasty cough I hate, not sleeping, not eating, generally miserable.

- Wednesday the 17th - All the Bleger women stayed home with colds (I love the presents my children give me.

- Thursday the 18th - I tried to go to work, only to be twarted by the Violet virus yet again. We took her to the doctor, spent 3 hours, and learned nothing. No, wait, we have a long list of what she DOESN'T have. Helpful, very helpful.

- Friday the 19th - stayed home again with the coughing wonders, Violet & Madi. They alternated laying on my lap all day. So nice to snuggle, but got nothing done.

- Saturday the 20th - ALL the girls slept till 10:30! Yippee Jesus, to steal a phrase. We then took them to breakfast/lunch at MacDo since they were feeling better (thanks great-grandma!), then back home for the rest of the day. We have been trying to encorporate a Sabbath on Saturdays, and I must say, I'm becoming addicted.

- Sunday the 21st - All the girls were starting to get back to normal - JJ & I got to teach Kat's Sunday School class, then naps, housework, and tax preparation! Madi mysteriously woke up from her nap with a 103 temp., but she's also teething.

- Yesterday - back to work, PP rehearsals, & the general insanity.

- Today - trying to figure out where February went?!?!

I am throughly convinced that only my children could accomplish what just happened in our house. I was fixing dinner while Jerome & Katrina were playing video games. Madison & Violet were playing in Violet's room & the hallway. I heard them go into the bathroom, but didn't think much of it because they often go in there to stand at the bathtub & giggle. Don't ask why, I have no idea.

They were in the bathroom for a few minutes when I heard the toilet flush. I should have immediately turned off all water to the house & called the national guard. But I didn't. Another example of "Should have..." Anyways, a few minutes later I hear the toilet flush again. By now, my curiosity is peaked. So I go into the bathroom to find Madison staring at a backed-up toilet that is dangerously close to overflowing. As I began madly plunging, I asked Madison what she flushed down the toilet. I repeatedly got "Nothing" as an answer. The last time I checked, nothing does not clog a toilet!

So, I asked her what Violet put in the toilet. "My superhero cape." Really? Seriously? My two youngest conspired to flush a pink Hawaiian sarong down the toilet? We verified - the "superhero" cape is no where to be found in the house. Only my children...

Oh, I am so far behind in the blogging it's not even funny! I never thought a creative outlet could turn into a self-induced guilt trip! AHH!

Anyways, let's move beyond my weird ramblings. We got to go hot air ballooning with my parents a few weekends ago. Every year for Snowdown, my parents sponsor a balloon pilot for the rally. So, every year we get up before the crack of dawn to drag our children all over the Animas valley to chase a hot air balloon. Crazy, you say? Why yes, yes we are! But it is so much fun, we're addicted!


Here's the view of the north valley from the balloon.


Myself and our wonderful pilot, Martin. Martin, who is German, comes every year with his wife Carol. They have become great family friends. We were explaining to the girls what ballooning is, and what happens. We told the girls that Mr. Martin is the boss of the balloon. Madison replied, "I'm not the boss. Mr. Martin is the boss." We've been milking the "Mr. Martin is the boss" ever since...