Salvation Sunday: Vote Your Values--Catholics Need To Vote For Mullen in Senate District 22

Fellow Catholics. There's only ONE choice for us in the Senate District 22 race. That choice is Jeff Mullen.

I was raised a Democrat in a small farming community in West Central Iowa. My parents were raised in very devout Catholic homes. The Kennedy family was viewed as role models (why, I'm not quite sure), but JFK was the first Catholic President. My mom and dad both talk about how the Nuns (Catholic school) came into the classrooms crying to inform the students about his assassination.

My brother and I were raised in a devout Catholic home as well. Mom was in the Ladies Guild, Dad sang in the Choir and quite often served as Lector. We practically had to have a sick note from the Pope to miss Mass on Sunday. But when I got to voting age, I was troubled. I had always been a "Democrat", and registered as such when I turned 18, but I had trouble with the issue of abortion.

As a Catholic, I always believed that life begins at conception. Abortion was just wrong. The Bible tells us "Thou shall not kill", and believing that life begins at conception, that would be murder, right? Having looked closer at the two parties, I eventually switched my party affiliation to Republican while in College. After graduation, I worked for Republicans and even rose through the ranks of the Polk County GOP to be elected Co-Chair at the ripe old age of 25.

In November, my husband, 3 boys ages 6, 3 and 1 and I moved to Waukee. The Senate District 22 race was in my home district and I took an interest in it, after all, I had a bit of a history in the race. Back in 2004, I had helped Pat Ward in her special election to get her elected to the Iowa Senate. I was excited to see what I thought was a strong, Conservative woman in the Iowa Senate and I hoped she would show the Ol' Boys Club that us girls could run along with the big boys. I was, however, disappointed in her performance. She didn't turn out to be the leader I thought she could be. I thought she'd be the one to stand up against Gronstal. The one who would stand up for ALL women's rights, those with AND who had yet to obtain a birth certificate.

On Friday, Jeff Mullen was considered a "candidate we find sufficiently meet our judgment criteria reflecting ability, sincerity and responsiveness in support of our Pro-Life legislative priorities" from the Iowa Right to Life. I've had a few sit down meetings with Candidate Mullen and I believe that he will be the candidate who protects life.

I urge Catholics residing in Senate District 22 to take a good look at this issue. As a Catholic, it is a core belief of ours to protect life. Candidate Mullen will do so. In my opinion, Pat Ward has failed at this issue. We as Catholics have the responsibility to stand up for life. We have the responsibility to vote for those who will protect life.

On Tuesday, I'll be voting for Jeff Mullen (www.jeffmullen.com ), not just for me, but for all of my boys, including my son who is due in August. Candidate Mullen will be a great voice for all of Senate District 22, including those who are not yet born. 

 

 

*Note: This blog post was originally published on the Waukee Patch but has since vanished on their website. 

Salvation Sunday: Trust in Him

When I was younger, I would get mad when people would tell me that God has a plan and "everything happens for a reason". To be honest, the older I get, the more I believe it.

Of course a kid isn't going to understand why her Grandma had to die and that they're would be a reason good enough for it.

But yes, everything happens for a reason. Like our oldest son. David and I didn't intend to have a child before marriage, but we did. As soon as we found out I was pregnant, there was no question about it, for either of us. We didn't know where this journey was going to take us, but we knew we had a baby on the way.

And as often as our oldest makes me want to pull my hair out (he's WAY too logical and smart for five) I can't imagine my life without him.

It's because of moments like this. He came out of his room with his magna doodle and said, "See what I wrote, Mommy?"

God has a plan. God knows. Everything happens for a reason. We just need to trust in Him.

Salvation Sunday: God Created It All

This weekend I went back to my parents house for a visit. I love visiting home. I love visiting the farm and I love sharing it with my husband and boys. And I love showing them my past.

I also love the quiet of the farm. The peace. The open space. This IS God's Country.

And I love St. Patrick's Church. We visited it again today (and I became the mayor on Foursquare).

It's really beautiful. And God created it all.


Please view the petition and sign it if you agree.

Make Monday: Make it Patriotic!

Unless you've been living under a rock (or in a cave) you know what's been going on in the world. Osama Bin Laden has been caught. Not only caught, but killed.

My children always know what is going on in the news. I'm a Fox News Junkie. When Liam was only a toddler, we'd get home from work/daycare and he'd say, "Mommy, Inna watch Fox Choose." Yeah, he's in the know. And that's a good thing. I can remember when the Challenger exploded (I was 5) but my dad MADE me watch it. He was always watching the news. And that was before 24 hour news channels!

Liam has grown up a patriot. He had to. He was my date to many political functions when his Dad was in Iraq, proudly serving his country. Liam knew that "daddy was in the sandbox making the world safe."

So this morning, when he got up, I told him that there were some Navy SEALS, guys who were kind of like Daddy but really REALLY specially trained, captured and killed Osama Bin Laden. He responded, "The guy who killed all of the people on 9/11?"

He's 5 folks. I'm impressed. When I answered in the affirmative, he responded with a "YES!" and a fist pump.

Later in the morning, I could hear him playing with his little brother Sean (2) in his room. He was playing "Super secret spy" and spying on Sean who was on the floor while Liam was perched up on the top bunk of his bunk bed.

I asked him what made him play that game. He responded, "The Navy SEALS. The guys who got Bin Laden." There were no gun sounds (I don't allow gun play) and he was using binoculars to spy.

I suppose it is equivalent to Cowboys and Indians...and after all, Bin Laden's code name was Geronimo.

I encourage you to tell your kids about what's going on in the world. And teach them about the great country we live in. After all, patriotism is important.

David, Liam and Sarah Bowman just before his deployment to Iraq.

Food (for thought) Friday: Good Friday

For this Good Friday, join us in some food for thought for today's recipe.

Food for thought from Sarah:

Today is the day we reflect on Jesus' debts he paid for us. Currently my husband and I are working on paying down our debts so we can afford the house we want for our growing family. Today I am reminded about the debt Jesus paid for my soul. He gave his life for us. God gave his only son to us for our sins.

So while I'm overwhelmed in mortgage applications, closing costs and calculations, I'm thinking about Jesus and what he paid for me, my husband, and my boys. A debt that I cannot calculate with interest rates or FICO scores.

This debt is paid in full and wiped away with a clean bill. This to-good-to imagine offer really exists, so take Him up on it today.

Food for thought from Emma:

Today is the day we reflect on Jesus trials. Our lives always contain trials, but these struggles seem so trivial to those Jesus faced for us. We all carry our burdens full of emotional pangs, relational strains, and physical hurts. I am not exempt and neither are you.

On this day we relive the path of Jesus through his own struggles and trials. He faced betrayal, denial, scorn, anxiety, bodily torture, and death. He did this willingly without so much as a cry. All this He did so that He might carry our burdens for us.

We need not struggle alone. Christ who bore the pangs of this human life is there to see you through. He understands and feels every emotion, thought, sorrow, and pain right along with you. Celebrate a Savior this day who relates to your situation, your frustration, and indisposition. Surrender at the cross.


Should you like to know more about the recipe at the cross, feel free to contact the authors via mommysrecess@gmail.com. It is recipe not to miss out on!