Mia's New Friend

Well, today I had the honor of keeping sweet baby Isaac. Well, he isn't really a baby anymore. He'll be a year old in a next week-end! How time flies!! Mia Sue just loves playing with the baby and he just cackles and laughs up a storm at here. Here are a few pictures of the two of them together. They sat and played ball forever. Mia would toss the ball to Isaac and he'd throw the ball back. Then burst out laughing! It was so sweet. I guess you just had to be there. It was pretty hot outside today so I had to bring the big pups inside. So I got Isaac settled with Mia first then let them in. Meadow did awesome! She didn't jump at him or anything. Pugsley seemed a big protective of him actually. He was very nervous around him at first because he wasn't too sure what he was doing in his mama's arms. I just watched him closely and he did fine. Isaac still preferred Mia though. Maybe it's because they are just about the same size? LOL

How sweet can you get. This is just precious!

Meadow Grace & Isaac

Mia Sue, Isaac & Pugs

NC boy dies after being tied to a tree....

I heard about this from a co-worker the other day and it instantly nauseated me. I don't understand why people do the things that they do and I never want to because that would put me on their level in some way I guess. You know, we need a license to have a gun, to get married, TO FISH!!, but nothing to become a parent. Why is that??? Why don't we try to pass some kind of mandatory law that states you have to be trained on parenting BEFORE you decide to bring another human life into this world only to abuse it. This poor child and his siblings....

Teen tied to tree overnight dies

Posted: Jun. 13, 2008 Updated: Jun. 14, 2008

Macclesfield, N.C. — A 13-year-old boy who was tied to a tree two nights this week died Thursday, and his father and stepmother have been charged with murder, authorities said Friday.

Brice Brian McMillan, 41, and Sandra Elizabeth McMillan, 36, both of 1110 Felton Farm Road in Macclesfield, have been charged with first-degree murder and felony child abuse. They were being held Friday in the Edgecombe County Detention Center without bond.

Deputies were called to the Felton Farm Road residence Thursday afternoon to assist paramedics with an unresponsive teen. The boy's father told deputies he had tied the teen to a tree outside the home Tuesday night because he was being disobedient and other disciplinary actions had failed.

The father said he untied the boy Wednesday morning and allowed him back into the house, but he was tied to the tree a second time that night when he started acting up again. The boy remained tied up until his stepmother found him unconscious at about 4:30 p.m. Thursday, authorities said.

The father was performing CPR on the teen when paramedics arrived at the house, said John Dwight Jefferson, of the Pinetops Rescue Squad.

The teen, who was identified as Tyler Gene McMillan, was in cardiac arrest and was taken to Heritage Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Jefferson said.

"People are people. When it happens, you still always ask the same question – why?" Jefferson said.

Edgecombe County Sheriff James Knight said the boy's wrists and ankles were bound with plastic ties and that he was also tied to the tree with some other material. Although a rope was seen dangling from a tree in the yard outside the house Friday, he wouldn't confirm whether that was used to tie the boy.

Investigators found bruises on the boy's wrists and ankles, Knight said, declining to comment on whether other marks were found on his body.

A 7-year-old and a 9-year-old who live in the McMillan home have been placed in the custody of the Department of Social Services, authorities said.

Tyler McMillan's mother, Michelle "Mickey" Sasser McMillan, died of cancer several years ago.
Carolyn Pollard, who lives across the road from the McMillans, said the family moved to the area about three months ago from Florida. The children were homeschooled, and the family kept to themselves, she said.

"I was devastated. I did not believe that had taken place," Pollard said. "I never did see any kind of abuse, and that's why I'm shocked with it."

The McMillans first court appearance is scheduled for Monday.

Reporter: Beau Minnick

Let's get the facts straight here.....

June 19, 2008 - 05:09 PM
Obama's Ideas Wrong For America
by Mike Huckabee


Greetings, HuckPAC team from Sapporo, Japan:

Janet and I are still in Japan for a few more days. It is about 5am here on Friday which makes it 3 in the afternoon back home in North Little Rock. We are having a great, but extremely packed week. It feels like being back on the campaign trail, except that the speeches are being interpreted in Japanese and the raw fish is sometimes a little tough on a guy who grew up thinking fried catfish was seafood.

Yesterday, I visited with some of the scientists at Tohuko University in Sendai City regarding their groundbreaking research in producing solar energy and in the their development of amazing new materials that are lighter and stronger than steel. I also visited with the Governor of the Hokkaido prefect where next month’s G-8 Summit will be held and spoke to the Chamber of Commerce in that prefect on American politics, US/Japan relations, and economic trends in the United States. We are looking forward to being back—we miss the dogs!

My speech to the Foreign Correspondents Club a few days ago seemed to have generated some buzz both here and back home when I mentioned that it would be a “fundamental if not fatal mistake for the GOP to demonize Barak Obama” in order to win the election. Some seem to have taken that to mean I was all but endorsing Obama! Quite the opposite.

I believe his ideas are totally wrong for America and many of his plans would take us the opposite direction from where I think we need to go. He is an ardent supporter for the most liberal and indefensible positions on abortion, including his refusal to support a ban on the most vile forms of all, partial birth abortion. He has stated that he would be an activist in seeking to push for what the anti-life forces euphemistically call “reproductive rights.”

His plan to raise taxes would be an economic disaster for our nation. We would lose jobs and investment and see the economy really squeeze the working class with even higher fuel and food prices.

He would implement more government control on everything from health care to small business and that’s not the right direction for us.

What I am saying is that we need to challenge Obama on the basis that his ideas are the wrong ones—not attacking him personally. If people spend their time repeating a bunch of internet driven drivel about his middle name (he didn’t choose his anymore than I chose mine), or his race (I do sincerely celebrate that our country has moved to a place where a person’s race doesn’t limit him from aspiring to the highest office in our land, but I just believe that due to his proposals and lack of substantive experience, he’s gone far enough—not because of his race, but because of his sincere, but misguided proposals), or his church (there are far more important reasons for us to elect Senator McCain than where Obama went to church).

Politics ought to be VERTICAL and Obama’s ideas will not take this country UP, but DOWN. I think he is a sincere and obviously a very intelligent and charismatic person. For us to deny that is foolish. Our focus should be to logically and systematically explain why ideas really do matter and why some are bad for those struggling as it is to pay the rent.

Elections ought to be about elevating the best ideas and exposing the worst ones—not engaging in character assassination with half truths, innuendoes, and disputable “internet facts.”

I hope you’ll keep the dialogue going and be a part of HuckPAC. I enjoy reading your posts—even the ones from those who use the blog to attack me. The reason I don’t respond to all of that is 2 fold: 1. I have other things to occupy my time than answering every critic; and 2. You guys—the HuckPAC family do a better job anyway!

Hope you are having a good week and continue to pray for our friends in the Midwest suffering from the devastating floods. Sayonara, Mike Huckabee

God must be breaking something inside of me....

There has been so much pain in my life lately. These past few weeks especially. I'd like to say that I have a strong relationship with God and I do my the best I can to please Him each day. No day is a perfect day.......I always fall short in some way, but that is the difference between God and us. He is all perfect, all powerful, all knowing..........we are gullible, rebellious, deceitful, selfish, and the list goes on. I'm sure you could think of numerous adjectives to place in that sentence yourself. The more God has allowed pain into my life lately, the more I feel as if there is something that is breaking within me. Not physically, but spiritually. I know that God doesn't send anything bad our way, but He does allow things to happen because He see's the outcome of our relationship with Him at the end of each trial we go through. I truly believe, and have felt for days now, that God is breaking me so that I trust Him more to carry my burdens. "The burdens are easy".......His Word says. Maybe not during our storm, but those are the most crucial times to honor and glorify Him.

I was pouring my heart out to my dear Sister in Christ, Cindy, today and told her that maybe I'm trying too hard to walk closer with God during these trials in my life. I am doing everything that I have learned by studying my Bible, from what I've absorbed in Bible Studies, and more than anything, what my praise and worship music has spoken to my heart. I am trying my best to "praise Him through the storm" so that I will not allow the enemy to have a foothold upon my life or that of my families. But it's hard.....and I am going to continue on with the journey just the way that I have these past few weeks. One thing that Cindy told me today was sometimes, even though we want to show God that we trust Him, place our faith in Him, and know that He is walking with us, we just have to be. Now, how in the world do I "just be??" God is going to have to come straight down from the heavens to explain this one to me because I can't comprehend it. I can't be still half of the time so how can I "just be?"

I can honestly share that I have sat around this evening weeping off and on for quite a few hours for my family, my friends, our leaders and the sad shape that this world is in for our children. I keep asking God to help to feel like I've forgiven those that have trespassed against me...and even though I feel like I have forgiven them because I don't have any ill feelings toward them, I'm still saddened by relationships that have been severed, losses of loved one's, moment's lost in time due to poor decisions, etc. How do I know that I've truly forgiven them if I keep asking for God to help me forgive them? Surely, it's just because I feel guilt for holding anomosity toward them for so long or because I never asked them personally (because some just haven't been willing to hear me out or it's not something that is possible to do). I know, all this problem makes it sound like I'm a pretty rotten person if I need so many people to forgive me......I know that I'm not because God tells me in His Word that I am His child and that He loves me and protects me and that I was made to be in a relationship with Him. I guess I'm just doing some depressive soul-searching tonight.

It would be so grand to see our mistakes ahead of time before we ever made them so we could choose Door #2 instead of Door #3 and have the happy life. But that is not why we were put here on this earth. God gives us free will and even though sometimes it may not feel good in the flesh, as long as we obey Him and what we believe He is directing us to do, I believe He honors that. He knows our heart better than we know it ourselves. Praise God He knows it better than I do because I can't make heads or tails of it!!! I know I love my Savior, that I am forever indepted to the price His Son paid for me that day on Calvary. I also know that I want to do everything I can to make Him happy and to lead others to Him. I am so blessed with my family......oh the stories and the struggles that we have endured. From childhood until present, we have had many painful nights, many worrisome days, and many praises to sing.

My father in himself is a praise and a blessing from God above. You see, 19 years ago, my father could have been taken away from me, my mom, my sister and the rest of our family in a split second. I choose to believe that God allowed him to stay here for a purpose......what that purpose is defined as is not for me to discover, it is for my dad to discover through Christ on his own. But I remember that night like yesterday.......and I know what it is like to have your life changed in the blink of an eye. For those of you who do not know, to make a long story short, by dad was blown up by dynamite investingating a stolen car report for the county police. A job he had (and still has) such a passion for..... You can only imagine all the therapy, surgeries, and rehabilitation he has had to undergo since then. But God reached down His mighty hand that night and would not allow him to leave this earth yet. It wasn't his time and I praise Him for that because so much would have been lost. My dad is a hero in my boys' eyes just because he is their grandpa.....and wore a badge. Not because of that night. In fact, they know very little about that night. But they know he is a hero. His life has purpose. And there are many others out there as well that have that special purpose for their lives.

So God......I'm waiting for you to define mine at this moment because I feel like you are molding me for yet another one of Your creations. A new ministry..........a change in lifestyle.....oh, it could be so many things. It is so hard to be patient and confused and not understand all that is surrounding me in my life at this very moment. I feel as if I'm on the line with Him 25 hours a day!!! But I know He hears me.......and I know He is with me. I ask all of you to continue to pray for our family as we go through new "growing pains" I guess you would call them.

I know this has been lengthy, but I just felt as though God was telling me to let it all out here. I pray you all have a safe and wonderful week and that God will reign His love down upon you all.

Today should have been a happy day....

but instead I have been sitting around tearing up most of the night. Tonight, I should have been sitting in a coliseum full of proud parents watching the Senior Class of 2008 graduate....hearing my daughter's name being called. But that hasn't happened and all I can do is turn to this blog and vent my feelings. Something that I haven't been doing much of lately.

Tonight, my heart is breaking just as it did two weeks ago when Brittany decide to run back to WV. And I do mean "run". All I can do is pray for her safety, her decision making, her daily walk with God to be renewed and for our relationship to one day have an opportunity to heal.

I've done well these past two weeks......it's been simple: stay busy, keep my praise and worship music on, read my bible, focus on a Beth Moore study, pray, sing, pray, keep looking up and trusting God, pray some more.....and tonight, I'm just spent. I was sent a message of pain from my daughter, not personally by her, but through another way stating that she just doesn't want me as her mother basically. She wasted her life here......and even though I recognize that it's from the enemy...(oh how I hate to give him any credit), it is making my heart bleed in agonizing pain.

I know that when the day comes when I stand before God, I will have no regrets as to how I parent my children. I believe in rules, curfews, helping out around the house, knowing who the parents are of a friends they are going to hang out with, wanting to know their interests, moderate their internet connections because of the evil in society today, and raising them in church each and every opportunity that I had. I have done the best that I can and I know God knows that and those around me here know that. But what I don't understand is why I have to throw the only daughter that I have away to this world without a proper good-bye, an "I love you mom, thanks for everything.," or a simple smile and a wave. I would have settled for the Smile and a wave!!!!!!!

Instead I have my own cross to carry. My daughter has some serious issues that she needs to deal with....more than just teen-age rebellion. All I can do is pray for her....ask others to pray for her......and try to think positive thoughts about her. I see her friends at churh and I see her right there beside them in my mind. Bless their hearts, they are trying so hard to show me how much they love me and that they are here for me and I am the one that needs to be there for them....for their loss of a friend. You know, even though Brittany left on a sour note (I am still unsure as to her reasons for running to her dad), she's still my daughter. And no matter how bad her reputation may be here because of choices she made or stories that she told, she's still my daughter........and I don't want anyone to think ill of her. I want them to think and remember the BriBri that sang, smiled, strummed that guitar, laughed until she had to pee, or smell worse than a stink bomb. My daughter is a good girl deep inside.........but she's without Christ and until they reunite in a true relationship, "my daughter" is being captive by an imposter. I pray for her release.......I pray for her happiness and freedom from bondage. But more than anything, I pray that she knows that no matter how badly she hurts me or how long she turns her back from me, I will still love my daughter!!!

I told ya so.....

Huckabee to Be Political Commentator on FOX News Channel

Today at 2:08am
HUCKABOOM HITS TV

By Howard Kurtz

Mike Huckabee may have flamed out as a presidential candidate, but his glibness and humor did not go unnoticed.The former Arkansas governor has signed a one-year deal as a political commentator for Fox News, where he will sound off on a variety of programs. A knowledgeable source says an announcement is expected soon.Other cable channels had been pursuing Huckabee, who provided commentary on MSNBC during one of its primary-night broadcasts.

Fox has given a platform to such former Republican politicos as Newt Gingrich and Karl Rove.Huckabee honed his broadcasting skills during his years as a Baptist minister, and his underfunded White House campaign relied heavily on TV appearances, from his constant calls to MSNBC's "Morning Joe" to his stint playing air hockey with Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert.

His first job, at 14, was reading the news and weather at a radio station.

The deal keeps Huckabee in the spotlight as he contemplates a second run in 2012, a tactic perfected by Pat Buchanan, who hosted CNN's "Crossfire" between presidential campaigns. No word on whether the deal calls for Huckabee's band to play while Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity kick off their programs.

Mike and Fox

Don't be surprised if you don't start seeing Gov. Huckabee on Fox News a lot more. Rumor has it that he just signed a one year contract with them as a political commentator, just as Newt Gingrich and Karl Rove have. I will be thrilled to see Mike on my television set more now. Of course, if he does get VP.....I'm sure he'll take the better of the two jobs. I'm excited. Yeah!!! He'll bring Fox News alive with humor!

Mike's Interview on Fox News Today

You can say you heard it first here though and a first hand account. He tells you the same way I told you it happened. What a humble man.

Mike Huckabee Saves A Life At NCGOP Convention...

Gov. Huckabee at the meet & greet

Talk about an intense day! It began with my early awakening around 5:30 a.m. to drive to Greensboro for the NCGOP. I had to be there by 8 am so that I could make it to the meet and greet at Sen. Elizabeth Dole's suite.....featuring......yes, Gov. Mike Huckabee. Well, wouldn't you know it, I ended up getting lost. Now, I went to the convention yesterday with absolutely no problems so I guess the excitement got to me a bit.

I meet up with a few other Huck Rangers, Sharon, Linda and her sister Kay, and we had a GREAT time staring at Mike! He is so kind and such a gentleman. I introduced myself as "4everRoxy" since that is probably the only name that he would recognize on the HuckPAC/MH.com forum.

Me, Linda and Sharon...Huck Rangers!!

Anyhow, we got several, several pictures there and Linda was handing out the Save08 information to get a McCain/Huck ticket going. Please visit the website if you haven't and you may receive a free McCain/Huck bumper sticker: http://save08.org/join.php?referredby=1294. It was great meeting up and wish that other Huck Rangers were there as well. Maybe next time.

Photo from Meet & Greet

At the luncheon, we had an excellent table front and center in the second row. I happened to notice some commotion on the podium and that a man stood up and was blocking someone's view. At first I thought someone was trying to get to Gov. Huckabee in an "aggressive" way to put it nicely. You know how people can get out of hand sometimes. Well, that wasn't the case. One of the gentlemen was choking on his food. I believe it was candidate for Lt. Gov. Robert Pittinger (excellent candidate by the way for you North Carolinians!!). Mike jumped up out of his chair (from the other side of the podium) and gently pushed the gentleman standing there aside and immediately began performing the Heimlich Maneuver. Gov. Huckabee did it several times and then someone called for a doctor. By that time, Mike had everything under control and was on his way to sit back down. This is what amazed me even more than anything about today. He IS who you see on TV and MORE. Much more!!! He sat down as if nothing really happened. Humbly. Just the way Christ would if He were to lay His precious hands on someone sick or in need of healing. He didn't want any fanfare, he seemed to be very relieved that he was able to assist and carried on with the luncheon. I was almost in tears.....it touched me that much.

Photos from luncheon

I have never met a kinder man that I did today and I've met quite a few celebrities. I've always said Gov. Huckabee is a man of character and integrity and now I can say that I know that firsthand by what I saw today. And of course, the beautiful speech that he made as well. That will be tomorrow's post. Until then.........get to save08.0rg and sign up to get that McCain/Huck ticket moving forward. If I learned anything today, it was that my choice a year ago to select Gov. Huckabee as MY candidate was the right choice. I am more eager and energetic than ever to work for his campaign again, or whatever mission he desires his supporters to seek. The Fair Tax is my main focus right now.

God blessed me today with this opportunity and I am going to make the most of it. This country needs conservativism. It needs to be "changed" but not in the way that Barack Obama desires to change it. Mike said it best himself today when he stated, "We're going to have to fight the idea that this is a historic opportunity to elect Barack Obama," said Huckabee, who dropped his White House bid in May. "I salute how far he's gone, but as far as I'm concerned, because of his views and what he would do - he's gone far enough for me this year."

Gov. Huckabee & myself around 8:30 a.m. today (notice we had on the same colors!)

Well, I promised a post...

That's right. And here it is! As I stated last night, things around here have been rather difficult this past week. Well, actually for many months. Brittany has went to live with her dad again. To make it honest, she's just ran away from her problems in life and that is something that she will regret later in life as she grows older. We all learn from our mistakes, as I have myself, and hopefully, she will grow closer to God through them. I'm not going to elaborate on any of the situation, but I will ask that each and everyone reading this please pray for her to follow her Savior again.

On a happier note, God has great plans for me this week-end. Not only do I have the privilege of hearing Gov. Huckabee speak at the luncheon at the NCGOP State Convention on Saturday, Senator Elizabeth Dole is having a breakfast meet and greet WITH Gov. Huckabee. So you know I will be making my way to Greensboro bright and early Saturday morning. I hope that I will be able to get some wonderful pictures to post on the blog. Better yet, to scrapbook!!!!

I'm going to finish today's post with an article that Mike posted on HuckPAC the other day about the Democratic Nominee.

Senator Obama is the Democrat presidential nominee.

So where does he stand on the issues?

He supports abortion.
He supports amnesty.
He supports universal health care.
He supports new federal spending.
He supports raising our taxes.
And the list goes on.

Senator Obama's vision for America and his view of the role government should play in our daily lives is dramatically different than our own understanding of government and the conservative vision of America.

Across America, Democrats with similar views of government are running for office hoping to ride what they believe will be a great wave of "change" into office.

Who will stand against them?
Who will support our Republican candidates?
I will and I hope you will stand with me.
Please visit www.huckpac.com for more information and to take a stand with Mike!!!

And I just have to share this little quote that was emailed to me today.

Dumbest Quote of the Century
'My friends, we live in the greatest nation in the history of the world. I hope you'll join with me as we try to change it.'- Barack Obama

Just a post...

I know I haven't posted in the last week....things have been a little "unorganized" to say the least here at the house. I will try to get back on board tomorrow afternoon. Mike will be in NC Friday AND Saturday, so I'll have lots to post then I am sure! Thanks for understanding!