What are You Thankful For?

  Thanksgiving is a time of gathering family and friends together. For joining with others in activities that help those who are less fortunate.  The first Thanksgiving was celebrated with the pilgrims. They would have starved to death that first winter if the Indians had not shared the foods that they had harvested and stored. What a great time to look at the original dinner.

  I find myself looking back through the years and being so very grateful for all of the people who have come through my life. The lessons that they have shared with me. For my children who have been a blessing! For a Husband who has stayed through all of the tough times and continues to find humor at odd moments in our crazy life.  What are you thankful for?

  I am thankful for living in a country that encourages children to learn and gives us the ability to guide them in the process. Our choices can range from public school to free school. We can have them sitting at the kitchen table for hours writing in workbooks or give them access to the computer and ask them to solve a problem. It is our responsibility as adults to make sure those same choices remain for the future generations.

  Take time to look around you this year and be truly delighted with what life has brought us!



  May your Thanksgiving be full of joy and love!

Bill of Rights 7th, 8th,9th &10th Amendments

The Seventh amendment deals with the idea that if you are in a lawsuit in a common law case then you are entitled to a jury if the amount concerns more than $20.

The Eighth amendment states that excessive bail will not be required or unreasonable fines, nor cruel or unusual punishments be allowed.

The Ninth amendment "The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people."

The Tenth amendment states "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."


  It is extremely important that we remind ourselves and teach our children what those rights stand for. These are the laws that our forefathers thought were the most important. Many people gave up their lives to give us these freedoms.

Bill of Rights Amendments # 5 & 6

Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

---

Amendment VI

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.

  These two amendments are very important in the view that they protect us from hidden prosecution by the law enforcement agencies. They protect us from being made to testify against ourselves. The section stating "due process of law" is under attack by various individuals. Are our emails, phone calls, or blogging activity private property? Does the government have the right to take them and use them as justification to spy on us? Does reading a blog article classify you as a danger to society?

  These are thoughts that we need to consider and discuss with others.  Will our desire to teach our children how to think and discover on their own be classified as dangerous activity? Will we be labeled and prosecuted without any due justice? I believe that the pilgrims fled England because they were being prosecuted for their beliefs. How long until we are suffering from the same?