Coffee Talk Mom

Pardon my frustration but…

Today the Colorado legislature will approve a law granting in-state tuition to illegal immigrants. These kids will be able to attend any in state school at the lowest possible rate, allowing a continuing trend of the open-door policy with illegal immigrants in our communities. This is a long debate that has many angles. I have a friend who happens to be an illegal immigrant. Regardless, the system is broken and providing for immigrants when we cannot provide for Americans is wrong! You see, until you start writing checks for tuition and reading about over 8% increases for next year, you will never really understand. In our family, we happen to be tag teaming with tuition as one graduates as the other starts. Our goal as a couple was to do whatever we could to provide an education for our kids without huge bills at college graduation. It is a stretch and God bless all of you going through the same thing. How is it that our state can provide for these kids to have a more inexpensive education, while raising the rates for everyone else? WHERE is this money coming from?? Gosh, it sure makes the legislature look like a sweet, caring, and giving community, but guess what? That community of givers is YOU! I am not a brilliant scholar by any stretch of the imagination, but isn't this a kind of reverse discrimination? If you have a white, male, in- state student, you may as well take the loan out today…there are no in-state scholarships coming your way. Students are graduating universities with all time high debt. What is the point of sending our kids off from high school to college only to graduate with a degree and a student loan that could run a small country for months? I would warn those of you with younger children…SAVE…and research the schools…start at community college and transfer credits if you can and more importantly know where your money is going and why. In our case, our tuition will go up about $800 apparently to fund the illegal kids in our state. Remember, the problem with socialism is that eventually other people's money runs out.

 

Happy Monday, April 29, 2013

Coffee Talk Mom

Guns, Pressure cookers and Fertilizer

Evil exists.

Taking away Americans rights will put guns in the hands of the evil. Bad people don't care about background checks.

Taking away pressure cookers will not stop terrorists. Home Depot will never be able to background check nails.

Taking away fertilizer will not stop tragedy. Chemicals also save people…from cancer…and pain…

Pray and draw close to God. Love people. Get to know your neighbors.

Love Wins

 

Coffee Talk Mom

Rock and Roll Church

I hate the term, "Church Shopping " but Dave and I finding ourselves in a new city in about a month have started really thinking about where God would want us to attend. It makes it even harder that we have an amazing church in Denver and have been deeply involved in so many ministries. After all, it is rare to find a choir of 250 people at ANY church, especially given we use no music and sing a wide variety of tunes from gospel to classical. I have all but given up on finding a church anything like our current church, which led us to Flatirons Community last Sunday. Word had it that they provide ear plugs for those who don't like loud music (that is not a problem for us given we have raised 2 drummers), and if everyone attended at the same time, they would have over 25,000 attend. Yes, this is driving distance from Boulder, CO. They are doing something right, and most likely, doing MANY things right.

Right away I was struck by the wide variety of people (not all just 20- somethings). There were greeters at the door, and the large space was welcoming and included a central fireplace, and signs to any/every kind of ministry possible. I was actually afraid I would lose track of the boys and never find them. Right away we moved to where we assumed was the main service location. Our first clue was this: the doors were closed and there were giant video screens with announcements and lines of people waiting. Seriously, it felt like we were going to see Lady Gaga and first ones in would "get the best seats". I am going to guess that there were at least 50 people in each long and winding line. As the doors opened, there was no "milling" around but an urgency to get to the front where the view of the pastor and the music experience would be prime. We followed like lambs and sat behind the sound board, knowing that is where the sound is usually the best.

Lights faded, and the music rocked and we were led through some praise tunes we actually knew! WOOHOO! The only problem with the sound wasn't even the volume, but more that you couldn't hear yourself sing. It was a Christian Concert. They baptized 265 people at the end of the service (we happened to go on baptism Sunday). They encouraged people who felt led to go down in their clothes and they would offer towels and t-shirts and it was amazing that many did!

The best part of the service was the message. This was the second in command pastor and I could (a week later) tell you the majority of what he said. He was relatable, young, and energetic. The real world application from the bible is what really stuck with me. Not sure if this is "our church" but I wouldn't flinch about the drive if we decide as a couple to attend. Ahh…church shopping!...Have you ever had to do this?? I would love to hear from you. Here is a song from Sunday…ENJOY and Have a GREAT week!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9vF6K5yUQc&list=UUnhpteoKi5Oh5RRFmXlySxA&index=1

Whatever you are going through, remember that you're not alone.

 

Coffee Talk Mom

Gunne Sax to the Rescue!

Random thoughts on fashion and more…

Many of you young(er) people have no clue what I am talking about. Back in the 70's and early 80's, if you were HOT and had money to spend, you could wear a Gunne Sax dress to the dance or prom. This was a specialty brand with a 70's vibe. High neck, lace inserted, tiny prints and they were awesome! I guess I was reminiscing this weekend as prom photos started appearing from the local high schools on Facebook. Girls now wear strapless with cut outs and DANG not much left to the imagination. Thank you Jesus, I have 2 boys. I wore a long taffeta skirt to prom and my mom made what I thought was a beautiful white lace top: VERY TRENDY I must say. (I am feeling a "mom" moment coming; YES…I am becoming my mom and it feels ok.) I feel sorry for girls in some ways. All of the pressure and money it takes to look like you "fit in" now includes manicures (or fake nails), hair up-dos, $2-300 dresses, $100 shoes and more. Leave that to us 40-somethings, girls!

I didn't have a manicure until the day before I was married. It was light pink, and I felt like a movie star. I had no money (having just finished my student teaching) and my mom paid. I remember feeling so grateful! I got up early the day of my wedding, put some pink rollers in, and sat on our deck to let my hair dry "naturally". I don't have any regrets, just photos of a 21 year old, non-wrinkled face and shiny hair. It is sad to think that most high school/college girls now cake themselves with fake tans, nails, and even hair extensions. They don't truly know how beautiful they are. As research, I Googled "Gunne Sax" and amazingly they sell "retro" dresses for almost $200. SHOOT…I should have hung on to a couple of those…they are COOL again! Now, the brand has wisely become "Jessica McClintock" as they probably asked themselves, "Who likes to dress in something called a sac?" Times change…dresses change but there is hope: our kids will be parents someday and be writing about how they have turned in to us!

Rocking the "gunne" in our CA. backyard circa 1977

Typical "Prom" dress today!

 

Shop On!

CoffeeTalkMom

1 Non-negotiable

What you THINK you can't live without, and what you TRULY can't live without are 2 very different things. For any of you who had to downsize the home while upsizing the cost, you know exactly what I mean. Of course we started out saying things like, "We can live without…a garage (park on the street and rent storage?), a view (location, location, location), or maybe a basement." What really struck me however, was something much more simplistic: a kitchen-sink window. Granted, I am super spoiled with my current kitchen. Somehow I just KNEW I could live with a much smaller kitchen, but I couldn't live without a kitchen-sink window. LIFE has happened out my window. After 15 years in this home I have seen it all. One Christmas day I saw our dog being chased by 2 coyotes. You wouldn't have wanted to have heard the frantic calls I made to the boys to come help! I have seen bon-fires, BBQ's, and kid's playing on the swing set. As our boys have grown, the dog has transferred to the swing set (loves the rope), and I just couldn't remove it knowing that I have friends with little kids and nephews who may visit from Steamboat. I have been constantly in awe of God's creation out the window with the flowers and the trees that have grown incrementally over the years. I thought I would share a quick picture of my kitchen window this morning as the robins struggled to find dry ground in the beautiful spring snow. What is your non-negotiable? You may be surprised!

CoffeeTalkMom