Here’s my regular contribution to the ol’ blog. A healthy dose of cuteness, in photos.

Here’s Antonio sleeping in a rather cute position.

And here he is, simply looking cute in the Moby.

Here’s Kyrie walking through the woods in north Idaho.

She looks cute and small standing on a big stump.

After the hike, we went to the lake where the kids had a great time wading and/or swimming.

Kyrie and David tried to keep their clothes dry as they walked into the water.

Eventually I remembered that I had packed a swimsuit for Kyrie.

Antonio and Grandpa hung out together for a while.

This morning, as we were snuggling in bed, I smiled at Kyrie.

She said to me, “Mommy, you have bunny teeth.”

Kyrie: “Mama, where’s my other yellow sock?”
Me: “I don’t know, sweetie.”
Kyrie: “Maybe it’s in heaven?”

We can all agree on that. (Click below for pictures — there are a lot, so I decided to make a cut.)

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Most of my friends are Ron Paul fans, and I have to admit I find the guy fascinating. I watched his fundraising drive last year closely, and I have somewhat followed his campaign. I’ve known about him since college through my friend Nathan and through Scary Gary’s work in his campaign. I think he might be just what this country needs–a start at a big change. That said, I think I want that more for shock value. I like a lot of what he says, but I also find much with which to disagree.

Let’s just say I’ve been rethinking economics over the past five years (incidentally, about the time I joined the blue party). Rachel and I were discussing Ron Paul this evening, which led into a conversation on socialism vs. capitalism (along with some communism and fascism). I was mostly talking about the problems I see (biblically) with a “free market.” Lo and behold, I came home to see Doug Jones had blogged some of these things in a critique of Sowell’s economics. I haven’t had the chance to read Jones’ other critiques of Sowell, but this hits it on the head. The free market will work great in the resurrection, I’m sure, but sin will always mess it up here.

For me, one of the biggest problems I have with the libertarian way of thinking is its focus is on me. My rights. We have certain rights, and the government is taking them away. Okay, sure. I understand the sentiment. The recent bans on spanking and homeschooling in California drive me up the wall. As the Five Man Electrical band sang, “Hey! what gives you the right!” But, I question if the “American Dream” is a really a “right” we should have. Don’t get me wrong. I strongly desire those things: the perfect car, home, and job, but do I really have an “inalienable right” to pursue wealth at that level?

As I said to Rachel, the platform of the Republicans is “You can be rich!” I really like this idea. The problem is that the way to get there will often trample the poor.

The Democrats say to the poor, “You don’t have to be poor!” So who does their plan screw over?–well, the rich, and…me…and a lot of you. People that aren’t poor–we say we are, and we all have our financial problems, but we aren’t homeless, and in America, you always have the ability to pull yourself out of poverty. This isn’t Bangkok or Bogota.

I don’t want democratic style socialism. My middle class living might go down to lower middle class. That would be annoying. I would feel even more poor (such a relative term).

But is it such a bad thing to sacrifice my potential wealth for the sake of the poor? If Jones’ is right in his exposition of James, and I think he is,* that’s exactly what we’re called to do.

* I know, I too am shocked I’m finding so much common ground with Doug Jones lately.

The day you all thought would never come has finally arrived.

I thought this was a funny statement from the Washington State Convention:

“Early speakers made numerous references to President Reagan and God, but none to President Bush, whose low approval ratings could be a drag on the GOP ticket in November.”