Be happy, young man, while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.  ~Ecclesiastes 11:9

The end of summer and the new school year...that must mean it's time for the Maryland State Fair!  My Aunt Ruth took 3 blue ribbons and a Best in Show for her bobbin lace and tatting.  I get a consolation prize for daring to take 3 15-year old boys and 3 9-year old girls to the Fair by myself!  I always volunteer myself for these kind of ridiculous outtings (ridiculously fun for kids, ridiculously stressful for me).  I don't know why I do it, it must be the eternal optimist in me, or my real joy in seeing childhood enjoyed to the fullest (in life too, and not just my illustrations).  Or perhaps I'm just half crazy.  I do know that no other parent in my wide circle would ever volunteer for such a mission! 

Like the beach trip earlier in the summer, it was a carful of boisterous kids, youthful mischief and high adventure for all.  Let me just say a hearty 'God Bless You!' to all of the school bus drivers out there!  Just 6 kids in the car made my head spin, I can't even imagine a bus load.  I gave in too much and let them eat all the junk, ride all the rides and play all the midway games they wanted.  Briana and Nathan both got up the nerve to ride more rides than they would have on their own.  We looked at quilts, hooked rugs, cake decorating and crochet.  We watched goat judging, cow grooming and pig races (the cutest thing ever).  The girls went through the fun house at least a dozen times.  They flew, bounced, twirled and swung to their hearts' content, and the ride home was noticeably quieter.

I think it was the kind of day they'll all remember fondly when they're 40-something with kids of their own.  At least I hope it was.  As for me, I scorned those cheap fair prizes, but as Briana waxed poetic about her scented rose prize, I recalled that at some fair decades ago, I, too, won a scented rose which stood proudly in a corner of my room for many years.  The world looks different through the eyes of a child, and I'm grateful for that reminder.

Wonderful, amazing God, thank you for friendship, fellowship and fairs.  Thank you for the blessings of memories, traditions and new discoveries.  Thank you for the people in our lives who challenge and encourage us to try something new and step out of our comfort zone.  And thank you Lord for little piggies ('cause they're just so dang cute!). Amen.

"I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land..."

Hey blogging sistahs, I just now realized that August is almost gone, and I've barely checked in!  Squeezing in a last bit of summer fun and getting the kids off to school kept me busier than I thought!

I had a very proud moment yesterday -- one of my proudest, in fact.  I have my own American Hero living with me.  I suppose husband hero worship is not entirely healthy, but it's hard when he's a God-fearing police officer, former soldier, part-time cowboy who spends time at home with me instead of at a sports bar with the 'boys'.  And just in case you think I'm overstating the case, here's my proud moment:  he was honored with an award from the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security, in charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  That's a mouthful!  Anyhoo, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff was there, as well as ICE agents and law enforcement from around the country.  My hubby got a very nice framed award and a picture with the Asst. Sec. herself.  He said it was all just a 'dog and pony show', and it was -- but he and the rest of his inter-agency team stopped a terrorist insurgency group from acquiring military weapons and machinery to kill school children (seriously) in their own country, and sell to other unfriendly countries.  Now, really, they ARE heroes -- am I right?!

And you'll be proud and happy to know that all over our fine country, there are fine enforcement agents catching international child sex slave rings, stopping illegal document rings, interdicting fraudulent and unsafe knock-off products, stopping international murder-for-hire rings, and keeping foreign governments from gaining access to our top secret technology.  There is plenty of evil in the world, but for all our issues, America is still blessed with dedicated, diligent men and women who are willing to forgo bigger paychecks and risk their lives in order to lend their talents to protecting the public.

Seeing my hubby and his Major walking down the streets of our nation's capitol in their dress blue uniforms with gleaming brass buttons and gold braid made me just swell with pride and with hope for the future.  Don't let the media fool you -- there are plenty of good people in this country, doing good, and teaching their children to be good, responsible citizens and to love God.  I'm proud to be striving toward that goal, as I know you all are too.

Thank you Lord for all the rich blessings you have bestowed on this country and its citizens -- for the amber waves of grain, for our rich natural resources, for our democratic republic, for our brotherly love.  Thank you for our affluence and influence, and guide us to use both wisely.  Watch over our soldiers and public safety officers as they endeavor to protect our freedom.  And as we watch the news and feel troubled about our country and our world, remind us, Lord, that You are in control.  Fill us with Your peace that all is according to Your plan. And please Lord, keep blessing America.  Amen.

I'm really trying to stay away from politics and focus more on love, but I got this as an email today, and it pretty much summed up the way I feel about things.  It also exemplifies why I couldn't continue practicing law in good concious (though I truly respect Christian lawyers and judges who do).

The following is a poem written by Judge Roy Moore from Alabama. Judge Moore was sued by the ACLU for displaying the Ten Commandments in his courtroom foyer. He has been stripped of his judgeship and now they are trying to strip his right to practice law in Alabama! The judge's poem sums it up quite well.

America the beautiful,
or so you used to be.
Land of the Pilgrims' pride;
I'm glad they'll never see.

Babies piled in dumpsters,
Abortion on demand,
Oh, sweet land of liberty;
your house is on the sand.

Our children wander aimlessly
poisoned by cocaine
choosing to indulge their lusts,
when God has said abstain

From sea to shining sea,
our Nation turns away
From the teaching of God's love
and a need to always pray

We've kept God in our
temples,how callous we have grown.
When earth is but His footstool,
and Heaven is His throne.

We've voted in a government
that's rotting at the core,
Appointing Godless Judges
who throw reason out the door,
 
Too soft to place a killer
in a well deserved tomb,
But brave enough to kill a baby
before he leaves the womb.

You think that God's not angry,
that our land's a moral slum?
How much longer will He wait
before His judgment comes?

How are we to face our God,
from Whom we cannot hide?
What then is left for us to do,
but stem this evil tide?

If we who are His children,
will humbly turn and pray;
Seek His holy face
and mend our evil way:

Then God will hear from Heaven;
and forgive us of our sins,
He'll heal our sickly land
and those who live within.

But, America the Beautiful,
If you don't - then you will see,
A sad but Holy God
withdraw His hand from Thee.

~~Judge Roy Moore~~

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. ~Proverbs 13:12

Wow, July has been a short, busy month for me!  I'll get around to all the details, but today I wanted to talk about baskets.  My dear friend and I both sell Longaberger baskets.  These baskets are handmade IN AMERICA by skilled artisans, and they are meant to be used by your family today and handed down as an heirloom in the future.  I just love Longaberger.  And this week I attended the annual Bee, which is their business convention.  The company is like a sisterhood, managed and run mostly by women, selling mostly to women, for the benefit of women.  Every year that I go back, it's like a kind of family reunion with the staff, the basket weavers and the other Home Consultants. 

At the Bee we saw and learned all about the new products for the Fall and Holiday season.  The new stuff is really exciting and new, with new colors, new shapes and innovative weaves.  Personally, I admire the products as little pieces of useable art, especially the things in the Collectors Club, and this season, the little acorn basket is just TOO CUTE! 

A HORIZON OF HOPE

Anyway, one of the very best things about Longaberger is their dedication to charity.  The Longaberger Foundation gives away millions to local food banks and shelters, and the annual Horizon of Hope campaign raises money to support Breast Cancer research through the American Cancer Society.  $2 from the purchase of any of the baskets or mugs pictured above goes directly to the American Cancer Society, whose name is burned into the bottom of all the baskets.  The baskets are absolutely beautiful and are a great addition to a little girls room, the bathroom, for Mom or Grandmom, or any of the women in your life.  Plus, there's a new one to add to your collection evey year.  The mugs are really nice and have been a big seller -- I have 4 in different colors.

After the multi-media presentation on the Horizon of Hope and how it's made a difference to so many women and men just within the company, there wasn't a dry eye in the house.  It was chilling to see how many women stood up who had been touched by breast cancer, either personally or in a friend or family member.  I encourage you to make sure you get your yearly mammogram, and definitely do monthly self-exams.  It's a little uncomfortable -- but we're women!  We're tough, and we need to be around for our families and the future!

If you would like to purchase one of the items shown above, please send me an email at jjahromi@aol.com or click on the following link to my Shop, open 24/7: www.longaberger.com/jenjahromi.  And if you're looking for some extra income, Longaberger is easy and flexible with no quotas to fulfill and an initial investment as low as $49 (which includes a $72 basket!)

Set of 2 Pink Travel Mugs: $30 (also available in other colors)

Small Horizon of Hope Basket(6 1/2"x5 3/8"x3"): $40 (2 for $70); 1 with Liner, Protector & Wood Lid: $70

Large Pink Ribbon Basket(12 3/4"x11"x5 1/8"): $70; with Liner and Protector: $90