Grow the economy, not the government.

When people say they wouldn't mind paying more taxes to get more government services, it's begs me to ask the question, "why not just pay for the services directly?" See, the more people who pay for something causes growth of an industry which causes competition and innovation which causes lower prices. Why not just pay for your own healthcare and focus on fixing the Medicaid & Medicare systems? Then, instead of paying higher taxes, donate your money to a charity that does the kind of work that pulls your heartstrings.

And for those folks like Warren Buffet who say they should pay higher taxes, you CAN voluntarily pay more taxes! Do it! Or, better yet, invest your money in an idea that employs people so they don't have to rely on government assistance. Grow the economy, not the government.

"I am healthy and filled with love and gratitude."

My mom with my son about a month before her pancreatic cancer diagnosis.

"I am healthy and filled with love and gratitude."

This was a note my mom had me write for her when she was first admitted to the hospital. We taped it to the metal post that held her IV fluids. And it stayed with her from treatment centers, to family vacations and finally to the Hospice House eleven months later.

Until the end, my mom was thankful - thankful for her time with us, for her ability to grow, for her life as a mother, a daughter, a wife, an entrepreneur, a friend and an American. She touched so many people during her 64 years; whether she made us think, made us angry or lifted us up, she really made an impact.

For 11 months, she knowingly fought pancreatic cancer. She had plans to take her granddaughters to Prince Edward Island and her "favorite daughter" to Ireland. It was often thoughts and dreams of doing things for and with family and friends that permeated her existence because life was her love and relationships were her joy.

Just days before she died, we were sitting in Hospice and her expression changed from sort of relaxed to terrified.

"Mom, what are you scared of?" I asked.

"I don't want to go through this again," was her reply. She wasn't scared of dying, she was scared of reincarnating without having rid her body of the cancer. It was painful, tiring and surely wan't the way she wanted to go.

When I was a teenager, the most annoying thing happened: my mom started listening to self-improvement tapes! It's almost like the American way of Buddhism; we make a choice to be the best person we can be today and work towards enlightenment through self-awareness. But talk about frustrating for a teenager! The last thing I wanted to hear was "it's all about your attitude" or "be thankful for what you have" or, like she said to me when she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, "sometimes what seems like the worst thing that can happen will turn out to be the best."

When I was 18, she took me to a UYO (Understanding Yourself and Others) weekend where I broke through my toxic habit of attracting soul-sucking friends. When I was 19, she gifted me a "Simple Abundance Journal of Gratitude" which still dons my shelf. As the years went on, I became her student and we grew together. I got over the teenage angst and embraced the good that she wanted to share with me.

I am so thankful. Still very angry and sad that I don't have my mother to guide me as I mother my own boys, but thankful. Thankful that with her passing, my relationship with my father strengthened. There's my silver lining and I didn't have to look far.

"Always be hopeful. Always keep learning." That is the advice she left for us. So I challenge you to find the silver lining, to always have faith in yourself, to always be thankful and to always keep growing. There is no time to waste.

And, Mom, you did it. No more worries, the cancer is gone.

In fond and loving memory of my mother, Sharon K. Wagner. 9/5/1944 - 3/13/2009.

Freedom of Religion - We are Americans!

You and I can believe as we choose in America - just so long as we don't infringe on each other's liberties. That's the beauty of "freedom of religion"! We are free people.

When morality is legislated or mandates instated, freedom is gone.

• Republicans: don't take away my contraception; it's my body, my choice - the government doesn't have that right
• Democrats: don't force a private business to give away contraception; it's their company, their choice - the government doesn't have that right

Respect Freedom & Liberty. We are Americans.

Salad Pizza

My brother and his wife have been making their own pizzas for years; Friday night is pizza night in their house, so there is regular time to experiment! My sister-in-law presented a salad pizza for dinner a few years ago. While it seemed like an odd concept, it tasted so good!

We've caught on to the home-made pizza thing, and our 4 year old loves to contribute. We buy the pre-made crust from the bakery at our grocery store. Just cut the top off the bag about an hour before you're ready to cook, and the dough will do its second rise right there.

Ingredients:

• 1 pre-made pizza dough
• olive oil
• dry herbs (italian blend or whatever sounds good)
• crushed garlic
• veggies (tomatoes, bell peppers, broccoli, zucchini...)
• shredded cheese
• lettuce & dressing (I prefer creamy dressing with pizza - poppy seed, ranch or sweet vidalia)

1. Remove dough from fridge one hour before prep. Either cut off the top off the bag or put dough in a greased bowl and leave on the counter
2. Heat oven to 400°
3. Combine in a bowl: herbs with olive oil and crushed garlic. Make enough to spread on the pizza dough.
4. Stretch the dough out on an oiled pan.
5. Cover with seasoned oil.
6. Layer with sliced veggies.
7. Top with cheese.
8. Cook ~:12

While the pizza is cooking, thinly slice or shred lettuce. Toss with salad dressing

Cut pizza into large, foldable slices. Top with salad, fold and enjoy!

The Scenery: a Union Strike

Every morning since September, I loaded my two boys into the car at precisely 8 am to drive the oldest, Jake, to school. The nearly half hour drive into West Cobb gave us an opportunity to share our thoughts, make up new songs, play "I Spy" and enjoy the scenery. For months, Jake enjoyed watching the construction of a new, high-tech bank: LGE Credit Union.

Then, the scenery changed. As we passed LGE Credit Union one morning, Jake called out, "Hey! What are they doing over there?!" Several men and women had set up a tent, put out some chairs and held up their signs. The Machinists Union was on strike.

The strike only lasted 13 days, but it seemed like for ever. (They probably only strike on "business days"!) Jake was so curious about what they were doing that I finally pulled over and asked on our way home from school one afternoon. And this is what he said:

• LGE stole our pensions and now they're worth 50% of what they were worth

• LGE has ended our automatic pay raise every 6 months and gone to merit pay

I just about lost it in laughter! This is why these people were on strike, costing their employer thousands of dollars? Because they're going to be held accountable for their efforts and their retirement money is in a viable retirement fund? Ha!

First of all, the facts play out that LGE converted their pensions to 401ks. They didn't "steal" the worker's pensions. How many people have lost money in their investments over the past 4 years? How would the Machinists Union be immune?

Secondly, merit pay is a basic American ideal. We're guaranteed opportunity but it's how we respond to the opportunity that determines our success. I will only work for merit pay. It's up to me to make big of whatever opportunity is in front of me. The harder and smarter I work, the more I will achieve.

So if you're not paid on merit, how are you paid?

Collective bargaining. Collective bargaining by a Union in which the workers are members. Collective bargaining and automatic raises are a lose/lose for employees and employers. Employees with drive and ingenuity are dampened by those working just enough to stay employed, which destroys overall work ethic. Employees have a pride in their union, not in their employer, which creates a chasm between the two. Employers treat everyone the same which fosters complacency rather than motivating excellence.

Politics is inserted into situations it needn't be. Many Unions and corporations have different goals, but that's a whole other subject worthy of another blog post...

And so, after two and a half weeks, the picketers were gone. LGE Credit Union did something you don't hear many companies doing - THEY REPLACED SOME OF THE PICKETING WORKERS! Way to go, LGE! Eleven workers were replaced, and so it seems that the man I spoke to just a few days earlier had wised up... it's better to have a job based on merit pay than a Union and no job.

WHO DID HE THREATEN??

Email forward from my father-in-law. Thoughts worth sharing.

---

Subject: Fwd: WHO DID HE THREATEN??

WHO DID HE THREATEN??

Did you notice who Obama threatened when he wasn't getting his way on
raising the debt ceiling?

He threatened to not pay: Social Security Retirees, Military Retirees,
Social Security disability and Federal Retirees.

NOW......... Let this really sink in!!!!

• He did not threaten to stop payments to illegal aliens
• He did not threaten to take frivolous benefits such as Internet access away from violent inmates
• He did not offer to fire some of the thousands of unnecessary federal employees that he hired
• He did not offer to cut down on his or his wife's frivolous gallivanting around the world
• He did not threaten to not pay the senators and representatives or any of their staff
• He did not threaten to take benefits away from welfare recipients
• He did not threaten the food stamp programs
• He did not threaten to not pay foreign aid
• He did not threaten to cut back on anything that involves his base voters

The list could go on and on. He is in full political re-election mode!

Why are we allowing this person to destroy this wonderful country with his
selfishness and his lies?

His type of change is killing our country. He needs to be stopped and only
our votes can stop him.

A Nation of Sheep Breeds a Government of Wolves!

Lentil soup in da house!

Yes, it's been a while since I've updated... it's not because I lost my opinion or my appetite. Just like everyone else, we've been super busy!

Just tonight I came across a recipe forLentil Soup on Babble.com. Now that I have the amazing VitaMix, soups are a sinch! (I'm not the only one who has blown the top off a blender before, right?!)

The lentil soup recipe was killer! It tasted fantastic even though my 4 year old said "it looks like dog poop." He still ate it and the 1 year old thought it was fantastic! Next time, I'll add some more fluid because it was rather thick.

This is his second serving! The thickness helped him feed himself.

So delicious, filling and healthy!