This is an excerpt from an email sent to our Wednesday night leaders, from Kim Prezioso.  It is a great reminder to all of us!

I was driving today and approached the intersection of Bouquet and Soledad.  There were 30 or 40 "Yes on Prop 8" supporters (and about 3 from the opposing camp.)  My children wanted to yell out the car window to encourage the pro-Prop 8 demonstrators.  What struck me the most about my children's desire was that they don't truly know what the Proposition stands for.  Because we haven't tackled the subject of homosexuality yet (they are 9,9 & 5), my husband and I really haven't talked about it much with them other than to say it helps protect families.

I was struck (once again) by the fact that children will absorb what we have to say readily, eagerly and at face value for no other reason than just because we say it.  My children are "for" Prop 8 simply because mom and dad are passionate about it.  We tell them something or show them something by our actions, and they CLING to it.  One of my favorite quotes is "Children are like wet cement; whatever falls on them leaves an impression."  We forget what an impact our words have on young hearts. 

Last Thursday, our youngest turned 21 years old!  I keep asking myself the questions, is it possible?  Where did all the time go?  As a parent I find myself so proud of our son, Garrett!  He is an amazing young man, who loves Father God and is seeking after Him and asking Him what he can do to be effective in His Kingdom.  Really what else matters in life?

Happy Birthday Garrett, we can't wait to see what is around the corner for you!  We will be there walking step by step with you!

I have been thinking for a while about a program that nearly all schools not only in the SCV but across the United States have adopted, It’s called, “CHARACTER COUNTS.”

In fact last week a friend sent me an email with one of the “characters” mentioned in it.  I responded with telling him that it was good timing, because I had been thinking about doing a blog series on that very topic.   Yesterday I as reading the Signal and in the SCV Kids section, I ran across an article; “Encouraging exemplary actions” from Fair Oaks Ranch School.   (See the article below)  For years even when my kids were in school, Character Counts was a HUGE thing.  I think at least one of my two kids even received an award or two under that program.

Remember that short, concise explanations are the best for kids.  You don’t need to describe in detail all the things that ungodly people may do at Halloween.  As with every part of our Christian lives, more emphasis should be placed on the good we should do, as opposed to the bad we shouldn’t do.

The point of our lives is that “all we do, whether in word or action, glorifies God.”  Instruct your kids that if they want to do something in their homes on the same day as Halloween, it is important that it does not celebrate evil.  Whatever they do, as in every day of their lives, should celebrate what is good and bring glory to God. 

 Keep your point to your kids simple and clear.  As in every day of our lives, whatever we do still needs to celebrate God and bring Him honor.

Keeping in the theme of our great Nation, I had one more picture and thought I would share it with all of you.

We had the opportunity to visit Arlington Cemetery.  For those of you who have been there, you will know what I am talking about.  For those of you who have not yet had the privilege, I will do my best to describe it for you.

Upon entering Arlington, you immediately become overwhelm by the vastness of the property.  There are hundreds of acres of headstones in perfect alignment no matter which direction you look at them.  Each of these headstones represent a life, that fought in a war, for our country and for our freedom.  Each of these people were someones, son or daughter, or father, or brother, or sister or mother.  They belonged to people we probably are related to or even know.

I took a picture of these perfectly aligned headstones.  I could only get a small amount in the photo.  As I was taking the picture, I had a lot of emotion just looking at the lives represented.  My mind immediately moved to a picture of the cross where Jesus died, realizing that; that one cross redeemed all of these men and women who are buried at Arlington.  Though all of them paid a price for freedom in my natural world, none of them paid the price for eternity .  Only the Son of God, Jesus could do that and He did!

During this season with so much unknown for our future as a nation, take the time to look to the cross, lay down our fears and our concerns.  Trust in the one who had the power to raise Jesus from the dead.

Pastor Julie

We live in a country where we are given free choice!  We have the right to vote, to be involved, to share our faith, host a "Light Night" at our homes.  We live in an amazing country!

I've had the priviledge of traveling around to several countries.  I've been to parts of Mexico, Canada, England, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Thailand, islands in the Caribbean, Ireland, and Italy.  There is no place like the United States of America.  With all of our faults, whatever you may like or dislike or wish was different we still live in a place where we have freedoms and a voice!

As we approach Halloween and soon after the most important Presidential Election of my time, I can not encourage you strong enough, to exercise your freedoms!

Host a Light Night at your home.  Partner with another family to be a "Light" in your neighborhood!  We live among those who desperately need the love of God not only shared with them, but shown to them.  We have a fantastic reader at the our Welcome Center that will educate you on what Halloween is and isn't and ideas to be counter cultural to what happens on October 31st.

Next you MUST VOTE!!! If you are not registered, get it done!  On November 4th go out and vote your conscientious.  DO NOT get sucked into the lie of; my vote won't matter, it will only cancel out my neighbors.  We have Prop 8 and Prop 4, HUGE issues that need addressed, let alone the Presidential choices.

Pastor Marty often reminds us to "be the church."  In both of these examples we have the CHOICE to do exactly that.  Don't miss it!

More from our vacation in DC and Virgina…

During our tour to Washington DC we visited all of the war memorials.  The artistic expression was enough to impress you, let alone taking time to ponder what the memorials represented!  While we were walking around I saw several old people some in wheel chairs, some with canes, walkers and with assistants.  They all had the same type of shirt on with the words that said, “Honor Flight.”  I stopped to ask our guide who these people were.  She explained that this organization is doing their best to assist by paying their way, any veteran from WWII that is still alive to come to DC to see the memorials that were built for them.  I found myself deeply moved watching them in their very feeble state walking around or being pushed along.  I kept thinking in my head I want to go up to one of them and tell them “Thank You,” for what you did for my freedom.  Believe it or not I was a bit unsure of myself and couldn’t quite bring myself to saying it. 

Finally when we were at the Korean War memorial I found the courage to go up to a man who was rather tall, but hunched over and had very white hair.  I said to him, “sir, thank you for what you did.” He said, “What did I do?” “You fought for our freedom and I’m here today because of it.”  The gentleman who sponsored him to get the, told me he was a fighter pilot of a specific type plane.  (I can’t remember what type of plane he said it was)  The pilot immediately began telling me how great the plane was that he flew.  Said it was the best plane ever made.  I told him I’m sure it was and again thanked him for his willingness to fight for my freedom.

The emotion I felt caught me by surprise.  I choked up with tears when I spoke with this man.  After our exchange took place, I walked around trying to analyze my emotional response only to make the parallel in my mind.  The ultimate sacrifice for my freedom is Jesus! 

Here are a few pictures that captured that day!

I just want you all to know I haven't fallen off the face of the earth.  Here I am back from a quick get away with Dan to our Nation's Capital and the beautiful countryside of the State of Virginia.

It was a coincident that we were traveling to DC during the most talked about upcoming election.  While traveling on a tour bus with 49 other people, from all over the United States, it was apparent that there were many different views on politics.  I found my self engaged in a conversation with a woman who was from the state of Ohio, slightly older than me, wanting to discuss Obama vs. McCain. 

Though I have been paying very close attention to the political climate, I found myself on the opposite side of her views.  Our time was short, while we sight seeing at the Roosevelt memorial, so I opted to simply listen.  It was very interesting to me to hear from someone clear across the nation concerned about the same issues I am who is hearing exactly the opposite of me.

I was reminded that this is so true of all of us.  We can all hear and see the same thing and walk away with believing or thinking something different than what has been said. 

I began to ask myself the question, is the person communicating responsible for the person hearing?  Or is the person hearing responsible to get exactly what the communicator is saying?

I quickly decided that if I could answer that question, we would have a lot less confusion, in our marriages, with our children, in our friendships and probably most important in our relationship with God!

More to come from the trip!