Home again, home again, jiggity jig :)

Well, the trip to Indiana was great - great to see so many friends! And to see Mark Allen! And Gma and Gpa Geurink! We had a fun-filled couple of days and ate plenty at the open houses.

On the way back it was a bit tight since we took a sedan and brought back Christopher with us - all seats were full. But everyone was jolly and behaved themselves. We stopped at a good Mexican restaurant today for lunch over near Birmingham, and it was great.

But it is good to be home - i am beat. Will write more later.

Coffee

Anyone out there like coffee? I like nothing better than a hot cup of coffee, especially when shared with someone else. I think because the smell and taste is something I grew up with and it always brings "warm" feelings. My Mom used to say to Dad, "Want a cup o' joe?" I made some decaf tonight and shall have a cup in a little bit.

Summer days are getting hot here in Georgia. I am supervising the daycare this summer and the Lord provided me with some excellent workers, so I am very thankful.

And I got to do some biblical counseling again today - which will now be a regular thing for awhile. It is neat to take the truths you have learned from Scripture and teach them to another - especially if their heart is ready for change, which it is in this case. I'm so thankful for all I learned and observed at the Faith Baptist Counseling Center in Lafayette, IN. People need step by step help with their problems sometimes, besides the fact that we will pray for them. It is a great privilege and challenge.

that's what's happening in my neck of the woods.

Hispanics and Taxes

The National Academy of Sciences says:

Annually, the average undocumented immigrant contributes about $1,800 more in taxes than he or she receives in benefits, according to the National Academy of Sciences, a private, nonprofit group of scholars performing scientific and engineering research. During a lifetime, this adds up to an estimated $80,000 more in taxes than they will receive in local, state and federal benefits.
Source: http://www.jotf.org/Media%20Archive/DailyRecord072304%20-%20undocumented.htm

Second, while they do pay sales taxes, as you pointed out, they do not contribute anything in terms of income taxes, medicaid/medicare costs, or FICA.
Again, from the same article:
Through the 1990s, the Social Security Administration reported contributions to its trust fund from $250 billion in wages from false social security numbers. In 2000, it noted that $49 billion in wages could not be matched to their database of social security numbers.
In Maryland, state Comptroller William Donald Schaefer says his office holds $240 million in unclaimed tax refunds from 470,000 individual accounts.
And undocumented immigrants are not eligible for the earned income tax credit because, according to the Internal Revenue Service, they must have a valid social security number to apply for it.

Can of Worms

Ok, let's open it up. What are your thoughts on the undocumented or false-documented Mexican immigrants working in our country? :)

Beauty in the eyes of the beholder

I've seen some blogs lately listing 10 of the things that are most beautiful to you. I won't follow the letter of the law on this one, but I've been thinking about a few things that I think are beautiful.
1. The Andes mountains - breathtaking!
2. The sound of the birds chirping outside an open window in the morning.
3. Huge salmon colored roses
4. Laughter among family - it is unique.
5. Hearing God speak to me through His Word just when I need Him.
6. Seeing a life completely turn around.
7. Candles flickering in crystal.
8. My daughter's smile.
9. Snuggling with my husband at the end of the day.
10. Oh so many other things . . .