Posted on 11/16/2001 1:12:28 PM PST by Jeff Head
As many of you know, I took a trip with my youngest son, Jared, late last week from Idaho to Indiana and back. It was a "flying" trip in the which we left Thursday in the late afternoon, drove 1850 miles in 32 hours along I-80, arriving in Indiana at about 2:30 AM on Saturday morning. We visited my daughter, her husband and our first grandchild/nephew on Saturday and Sunday, helping to bless and name Breadon (a ceremony/ordinance in our faith), and then left Sunday in the late morning. We then drove 2100 miles back to Idaho. On the return trip we took the northern route using I-90 out of Chicago and visited my second oldest daughter in Bozeman where she works and goes to school.
On the way out, we saw FReepers John R. (Bob) Locke and Eustace (Rick) and his wife. We visited Bob in Cheyenne, WY over breakfast on Friday morning and then Rick over dinner in Iowa that same evening.
Unfortunately we did not get a picture of Roick and his wonderful wife ... but we sure did chow down at a great Buffet and have a great, constitutional and patriotic discussion.
Then, upon arriving in Indiana, we were able to spend some GREAT time with my oldest daughter and that beautiful, beaming and innocent as fresh snow garndson. Here are some pictures of that visit.
A nice home for a nice family, Braedon goes aloft, Braedon says hi while being held by Mom
Jared holding Braedon again, Grandad (me) holding the little critter, Braedon likes to play footsies.
My wife had spent 10 days there earlier helping the new Mom figure things out while she figured out what being a new Grandmom was all about. She liked it so much that I had to make the trip to see what Grandad was all about. Gotta tell you ... it's just another true indication of what life is all about ... after coming to know God, finding the right woman and having and raising good kids of our own in liberty.
Then we were off on the trip back. Here's a few pictures from that trip.
Great to see the Mountains again, Devil's Tower Plaque, Devils Tower, Wyoming
Jared at the Custer Battlefield Memorial, Custer National Cemetary, Jared and his sister Rachel
Now, let me say a thing or two about our nation.
I will defend with my life the liberty of my children and grandchildren. Nobody, foreign or domestic, will take away their liberty to live life free, to have the absolute minimum intrusion (as intended by the foundres) and to defend their own liberty as long as I draw breath.
The list of "nobodies" includes terrorists, foreign powers and any unscrupulous oath breakers amongst our own governmental officials, or any groups within the borders of this nation who would seek to do so.
I support our government's constitutional efforts to wage war against the enemies who attacked our nation. As I read it, the recent Executive Order calling for military tribunals for any foreign individual (and the order was very specific about it applying to foreign persons) particpating in terror attacks against our nation is fine and a needed provision for war time. I do not see it as a threat to the citizenry. However, the so called "Patriot Act" which takes freedom from all of us is not. The government has the tools it needs with respect to immigration, border control, visa control of foreigners and police powers for criminals to address these issues without curtailing the liberty of law abiding citizens.
The American people and patriots are aroused to defend their liberty, the government needs to make sure all of its actions are clearly pointed at doing that and not curtailing it. At the best, we help our enemies when we curtail the general liberty because that is the ultimate goal of those enemeies ... to destroy the liberty that hundreds of thousands have died defending, and therby destroy our nation. At the worst, such activities and curtailments are the acts of domestic enemies bent on ending American liberty and life as we no it. I will fight any such enemies to my last breath so that the coming generation, young ones like Braedon, may enjoy the liberty I have enjoyed, that my father enjoyed and that our bloodliines have enjoyed back to the American Revolution.
In conclusion, for anyone interested, our trip was great. That little critter, Braedon, is a joy and a God send ... and Jared an I are once agains back home with our own in our adopted and beloved Idaho.
...but I just can't stop saying "OH, AREN'T THOSE KIDS CUTE???"
Yeah, yeah...women.
LOL!
God bless Braedon and all the little ones out there. And God bless the USA.
Anyway, CONGRATULATIONS are in order, Grandpa :)))))
Mom (my wife) got to spend ten days over there a few weeks ago. I am glad to have gotten any time and am also very grateful Jared got to go. He's quite the helper and is amassing quite the travel log with his Dad!
SR
It's true, though. The screen name never matches the face. :)
And this was well put, and bears repeating:
I support our government's constitutional efforts to wage war against the enemies who attacked our nation. As I read it, the recent Executive Order calling for military tribunals for any foreign individual (and the order was very specific about it applying to foreign persons) particpating in terror attacks against our nation is fine and a needed provision for war time. I do not see it as a threat to the citizenry. However, the so called "Patriot Act" which takes freedom from all of us is not. The government has the tools it needs with respect to immigration, border control, visa control of foreigners and police powers for criminals to address these issues without curtailing the liberty of law abiding citizens.
The people have more reason than just terrorists to remain alert.
I was just in Idaho a couple of months ago. Didn't know that is where you were at. Was there for the Grange Western Regional Conference in Boise. Nice state and town, wonderful people. The Idaho State Master Mary Johnson and her husband and Legislative Director Don Johnson are here with me at the National Grange Convention in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Any loving parent cannot help but be stirred by pictures of such innocence during such times. The desire to protect and vouchsafe the liberty of our loved ones is a good, noble and high calling ... one we should always put front and center right behind our duty and devotion to God IMHO.
... of course that is coming from a wholly unbiased and impartial observer in myself here.
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