As a sister commonwealth country, I am sooo proud of the stance that Prime Minister John Howard has taken.  I would love to see Canada grow a backbone as well, and make such a statement.  Without further ado….check it out!

Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law    were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia ,    as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head    off potential terror attacks.

Separately, Howard angered some Australian Muslims   on Wednesday by saying he supported spy agencies    monitoring the nation’s mosques.    Quote:   

‘IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT.   

Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation worrying    about whether we are offending some individual or their    culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali , we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority    of Australians.’  

‘This culture has been developed over two centuries   of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men    and women who have sought freedom’ .

‘We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese,    Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language.    Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society.   

Learn the language!’

‘Most Australians believe in God. This is not some   Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because   Christian men and women, on Christian principles,    founded this nation, and this is clearly documented.   

It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls  of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you    consider another part of the world as your new home,   because God is part of our culture.’

‘We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why.    All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony    and peaceful enjoyment with us.’

‘This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE,    and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this.    But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping    about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our    Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one   other great Australian freedom,

‘THE RIGHT TO LEAVE’.’

‘If you aren’t happy here then LEAVE. We didn’t force    you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the    country YOU accepted.’

I’m back.  Computer issues worked out.  Most of us are mostly healthy.  And winter is O-VER!  C’YA Old Man Winter.  I’ll not be welcoming you back with as much gusto as I send you on your way.

So for my longer-term readers, I have a challenge for you.  I need ideas.  I’m already brain-storming how I can better cope with the winter season.  The past few winters have gotten increasingly worse for me, and I am not satisfied to remain in that state every year for five to six months indefinitely.  I need to do winter better than I have.

For now, I’m absolutely soaking in spring.  The snow is FINALLY nearly gone, and the children and I are all sporting our first rosy cheeks and sun-kissed noses of the year.  How wonderful!  I’ve never been so glad to get a burn!  We have spent nearly eight hours each day for the past two days out of doors.  The children are having a blast, and have even dug out some shorts, and are running bare-foot through the yard….and they don’t go around the remaining piles of snow, either!  What fun!  I cannot believe how good it is to get out and get my fingers in the dirt.  We’re making grand plans for flowers, and vegetables, and fruit trees, and berry plants….sigh.  I’m so content right now.  My house is absolutely up-side-down, but I am using that as a motivation to deep-clean everything.  So I work indoors in the morning, while the older two are completing their academics for the day, and in the afternoon we are out, out, out! 

Thank You, Father God, for thinking of Spring!