Very Important People Know Who They Are… a very important person from my high school years and I used to say that to each other. It became our slogan… our mantra of sorts. It got started because someone else we (she) knew didn’t celebrate birthdays… it wasn’t important to mark the moment you came into this world… and we thought otherwise.

As a parent of four, I still feel it is very important. There is life, and life changing going on in that moment and it’s worth celebrating. And I don’t mean just the first one, either… each one of these babies has changed my life in a dramatic, beautiful and God granted manner.

Each one of these children, as they hit the milestones they are expected to in their growth, have helped me hit moments of growth of my own. I don’t feel like I will be 38 in a few hours (well… ok, so some days I feel more like 83, but that’s another blog). Sometimes I feel like I’m an eight year old stumbling in the dark, clueless in the steps I am expected to make. Then I see those eight beautiful blue eyes looking up at me… and suddenly I can change the world.

The reality is I know The One who can and I will do everything in my power to reach Him for their sake. They are a gift from Him, I will give back to Him. And it’s so incredibly exciting to hear someone on the political stage speak in the same thought patterns. Life, no matter how small, is worth celebrating.

And for the second time in my life, I will be voting for a V(I)P, rather than a President.

Seems nearly every day I need a reminder of the power in words. There is a resadue left from everything we say. This morning I have seen it in a small conversation from several weeks ago.

I believe we had the kids out late a couple nights in a row. I said something to S about looking tired. The boys went a step farther, “yeah, she does look tired.”

“Yeah, she has beanbags under her eyes,” said G.

This morning S was talking about my mom and looking at me, “You have pink lips like Grandma.”

“So do you,” I told her.

“Where?” I pointed to them. “Oh. Do I have beanbags under my eyes?”

My three year old remembered what her brothers said several weeks ago. She remembered it being an undesirable idea. I must remember what I say and how I say it are two very important concepts.

When you find yourself in a public restroom thinking “I don’t have to tell anyone ‘stop messing with the door’!” And you are thrilled by the thought…

Yes YOU are a parent, and don’t have much time alone! I had just such a thought tonight… and had to shake my head in wonder… how did I get to the point I was EXCITED to walk into a public restroom and not have to worry about someone opening the door before I was ready. I’ll tell you how… I have been through three toddlers and their incessant questioning, “Can I open it now? Can I now? Now? NOW???”

I read a blog last night that I both understand, and yet am very frustrated by. A single mom was ranting about the supplies she had to buy for her kids to go back to school, including things like paper towel. Her point… she didn’t have to provide things like that to her job, why should she have to supply them to the school?

OK, so I understand how maddening it is to have to pay, and pay, and pay and then be asked for more money to support our kids getting an education. I mean, I have four… think of all the hand sanitizer I will be buying!

However, I also understand this: I want my taxes to be low. I am not asking my neighbors who are in their 80s to buy the supplies my kids need for their education. However, this is what school tax does. It asks the community to help pay for my kids, and any other kids in the area, to learn.

This mother also wanted to know why the school didn’t provide this stuff… so I told her.. the problem is School Entitlement. There are people who feel, for whatever reason, this world owes them not only SOMETHING, but EVERYTHING.

I also understand the people down the street who did not come into this country by the proper means do not have the same ideals as I do. They want to break into my house, eat my food, take my medicine, use my water and expect me to pay for it all. This is what all of these government programs are doing. These programs to allow illegal alien’s to get a FREE (yes, they don’t buy the same supplies I do) education, eat a FREE lunch and get FREE medical care, are NOT FREE at all… I pay for them. This working, single mom who is having trouble buying her kids supplies must FIRST buy the supplies of people who don’t belong in this country and who are not trying to become part of this country.

Yes, I told her this… too bad the comment erred out.