My magnolia

We've lived in Kentucky for almost twelve years now. I've found that to be intriguing because both of my grandparents were from here. Well, southern Kentucky. Grew up in tobacco farming families. Once WWII ended, they moved up to Indiana to find work. Times were very hard. So that's where they lived and still (my grandmother) are. As loyal as I am to Indiana, my heart is in Kentucky. I grew up coming here to visit aunts and uncles and had always loved it. So I've felt I brought the family back home to it's roots:) When we moved here into our home, it was new. We were the first owners so that being said, there was nothing but clay and rock for a yard. Richard swears that he's dug up 3 tons of rock in the eleven years we've been here:) So we've done a great deal of planting, especially trees. One tree in particular is my Magnolia. My mother talked me into getting it. I had heard of a magnolia, had no idea it was a tree, just thought it was a flower. So I got it, and over the next three years or so it didn't do much. I planted it in the summer of 98, but in June of 2001 it did something magical. At least it was to me. I was pregnant with our fourth child, Katie, and had been to a checkup with the doctor. Richard was home watching our other three and when I got in he told me to come outside quick. He took me out to our magnolia and pointed. At the top of this tree, was a beautiful white bloom. At this point the tree was a good 8 ft. He pulled down the branch for me to smell the bloom and to me it was like smelling a piece of Heaven. That was the only bloom we had and didn't have another for the next two years or so. Then in 2003 the ice storm hit and it was devastating. Ice fell from the sky all night. The next morning I woke to find my tree had broken in half. The whole top portion of the tree, laid on the ground. I stood staring, heartbroken. That following spring though, I decided to fertilize it. Wouldn't you know it, that summer it had a fullness to it that it had never had and there were a couple of blooms on it. Again, more pieces of Heaven. Over the next five years I continued to fertilize it and sometimes I had blooms and sometimes not, but this past summer that tree was full of them. I think the Lord gave me a gift because He knew what was coming. Two weeks ago another big ice storm hit and again, the top portion of my tree broke off. When I woke on Wednesday morning and looked out and saw it, it took everything in me not to cry. I still have a hard time looking at it. That tree has grown with my children. I have other trees; pears, a maple, and a crape myrtle, but this tree has been through so much. Should I just go ahead and cut it down? Or should I give it a chance. I had thought it was a goner in 03, but it surprised me and grew to be even more beautiful and full. So I may just sit back, be patient and give it a chance to grow, become fuller and blossom with blooms. The Lord is patient with us when so many times we've fallen and broken in half. He's given us the chance to blossom and bloom, shouldn't I let a simple Magnolia do the same?

And I wanted snow because?

I guess this winter has applied to that old saying of "be careful what you pray for?" Nicky has spent the last month praying for a snowstorm and he certainly got his prayers answered. I grew up only wanting snow so I could get out of school and in northern Indiana that just didn't happen much. Flat roads, and the capability of being able to keep them pretty clear, well, school was usually in session. Then living in upstate New York for five years, well, same thing only much, much more snow. Ridiculously so. But oh well. It will be gone before we know it and it's been nice. Easy for me to say since we never lost power. Unlike half a million people in the state of Kentucky. It's been a mess here. Then to add salt on the wound we had almost another 4" yesterday with ridiculous cold and wind, which caused blowing and drifting. Richard didn't take my Outlook which was a mistake, since he got the car stuck at the bottom of the hill which is where it remains. They've decided to go ahead and have Journey tonight which I'm not real crazy about. Only because I was at church all day Monday helping Nell Anne and Richard with some stuff. I cleaned, Richard took things apart and Nag worked on some curtains. But at that time the back lot was an absolute mess, which I'm sure is worse now. No one plows it back there. More than likely if I drive Richard's car, it would get stuck. Mainly because his tires have no traction:) Fortunately, the kids and I have continued to school. We will be done mid May. I feel so bad for these kids in public school. Not only have they taken away their summers, but they are going to have to make up these snow days. They now make these kids begin the second week of August and aren't done until the end of May/first week of June. It makes no sense. Like a longer school year is going to make them smarter? SC building another high school and being able to have smaller classes would make them smarter. More one on one interaction would be nice. The stories I've heard...
Now to vent a bit on politics. OMG!!!!!!! Who in their right minds vote for Democrats?! Richard sent me a link today to CSPAN showing Pelosi saying that every day this stimulus does not get passed 500 million people will lose their jobs. How do you do that when there are only 303 million people in the U.S.? That woman is a nightmare. If people cannot see that they are leading this nation, to becoming socialist, I just don't know what they are hearing. Anyone, whom thinks this idea of spreading the wealth is a good idea, has a guilt complex. I REFUSE to feel guilty for what my husband makes. He worked hard to get what he is making and it's because of that, that we are able to tithe our gross pay. Money that is given to our church and then distributed towards missions, outreach in our community. I'm pretty certain these Democrats that like to preach on giving to the poor, more than likely are giving nothing. Heck, they aren't even paying their taxes, hence Dashle, Geithner, etc... Should I go on? To me, when you feel guilty or make others feel guilty, you are blasting the blessings the Lord has given you back into His face. Yes, I believe people should be more compassionate and giving. If people aren't willing though, to better themselves and we are going to start handing people things on silver platters what good is that doing them and how fair is it to people like my husband that worked incredibly hard to get where he is? Four years of undergrad (we paid over $20,000 for that) then he went on to get his Masters. Yet, someone that might have just a high school diploma is entitled to what my husband makes? No way. It's not fair. Everyone should have the same opportunities. That I say yes too. But if you aren't going to work for it, you don't deserve it. I've had my rant for the day.