Arizona Senator Flake (R) to retire from Senate, and President is part of the reason!

Oct 24, 2017 from Yahoo News:

   WASHINGTON — Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., announced he will not be seeking reelection next year in a scorching speech on the Senate floor suggesting that President Trump and his brand of conservatism is a danger to the United States and its “vulnerable” democratic institutions.

Without ever naming the president directly, Flake shamed his colleagues for their “complicity” in participating in a new political coarseness that starts from the top and has trickled down, endangering American democracy in the process.

“We must never meekly accept the daily sundering of our country — the personal attacks, the threats against principles, freedoms and institutions, the flagrant disregard for truth or decency, the reckless provocations, most often for the pettiest and most personal reasons, reasons having nothing whatsoever to do with the fortunes of the people that we have all been elected to serve,” Flake said.

“There are times when we must risk our careers in favor of our principles,” Flake told his colleagues. “Now is such a time.”

Flake, who wrote a book earlier this year that was critical of Trump, faced a tough primary challenge from the right to defend his Senate seat in Arizona. Trump, angry over his criticism, and his former adviser Steve Bannon, were planning to back his opponent. “Great to see that Dr. Kelli Ward is running against Flake Jeff Flake, who is WEAK on borders, crime and a non-factor in Senate. He’s toxic!” Trump tweeted in August.

Flake joins fellow Republican Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., in retiring from the chamber. Trump spent much of Tuesday morning tweeting insults at Corker, who told TV reporters earlier that the president had trouble with the truth and that he regretted supporting him. Among other things, Trump mocked Corker as “Liddle” and said he was “incompetent.”

Flake lamented petty insults in his speech, telling his colleagues Republican that they have lost their way. He called Trump’s behavior “reckless, outrageous and undignified” and warned Republicans that indulging in scapegoating and petty resentments would lead them to become the minority party soon enough.

“Such behavior does not project strength, because our strength comes from our values,” the senator said. “It instead reflects a corruption of spirit and a weakness.”

Another source had this additional information on Flakes statements:

Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., announces he will not seek reelection.

Flake also expressed bewilderment that traditional Republican values of free trade, immigration, limited government and free markets have been set aside, and that Republicans like him face a “narrower and narrower path” to election.

The Arizona senator said he felt a responsibility to speak up for future generations. “It is often said that children are watching — well, they are. What are we going to do about that? When the next generation asks us, ‘Why didn’t you do something about this? Why didn’t you speak up?’, what are we going to say?”

Flake prodded his colleagues to admit that the president would not change.

“Mr. President, I rise to say ‘Enough,’” he said. “With respect and humility, I say we have fooled ourselves enough that a pivot to governing is right around the corner, a return to civility and stability right behind it. We know better than that.”

He also despaired of the president’s effect on foreign relations.

“Despotism loves a vacuum, and our allies are now looking elsewhere for leadership,” Flake said. “Why are they doing this? None of this is normal.”

After Flake’s speech, the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., rose to say he regretted that Flake was retiring, and praised him as a team player who would be sorely missed.
                           ________________________________

I think Senator Flake's action of not seeking re-election speaks much to what he thinks is important in life.  And I think it is unfortunate and rather "bully-like" of our President to use the platform of social media to speak in the manner in which he apparently finds acceptable by 'tweeting' about those who he feels do not share his opinions.  We are told to pray for those in who govern over us in the Bible.  I want to pray for Mr. Trump but not sure where to start?  I guess I might as well go all in and pray with sincerity that God would tender the heart, mind, and words of the man who holds our destiny, and those who  represent our future, in his hands.  And maybe someday soon Mr. Trump will come to know how little his words  sting when he has no demonstrable accompanying action.  And I pray that Mr. Trump will come to the realization that the government is not him and just him alone.  There are many representatives, senators, and justices that comprise the other two-thirds of the legislative branch of government in this country.  I hope others will join me in praying for our President in these matters.

P.S.  I don't have a tweeter account that I actively use.  I am challenged enough with Facebook.

Thankful for 19 years

Some may think it is unusual to be thankful for something you no longer have.  In my case I am thankful for 19 years I had with my daughter, Carol Hensley Singletary.

I am in a bible study group for women who have loved and lost a child--some without ever seeing their child.  Some experiencing the loss of  an adult child.  Any of these life - changing loses is hard, and if if I dwell on any of these womens' loss of their beloved child  i can become very emotional.  But not only do I call these women my friends I call them my comrades of courage.  Each heart is of these ladies is different but every one is inspiring.  And for that I am most grateful for what they have shared from the heart.  And more than anything what they have shared is a big, and missing part of their heart.
Each of the women in our class has a unique outlook and in-look for the future , and I am so thankful that they have chosen to share their hope with me.

If you have children living here on this earth or in heaven, I pray that you are thankful that God chose you to guide the life of one He describes as being precious.  And I pray that you will have wisdom and hope for your child
 to live in obedience to their Maker and be a guiding light no matter how long their life may be.

I am most grateful that my daughter, Carol lived her life to the fullest in 19 years.   I am grateful that she got to experience being the wife(for 6  months) of the guy she loved deeply.  And I wait for the day when I will know the purpose of her death, but until then, I will focus on the special impact of her life on all she met.

Carol excelled in sports, making people smile, and was pretty good at academics.
She had so many friends who admired her spirit.  Her death made many of them think.  There were almost 900 people who signed the book on the day of her memorial and her burial.  Plus almost another 50 who attended a separate service in Gatlinburg almost a month after her death.

When I consider how many who felt a desire to come and let us know of her influence, some even standing outside in the spitting snow on the day of her celebration of life, I feel honored to say I am Carol's mom.  And I can make no claims of doing anything right on my own. Many people loved Carol and helped her live such a special life in just 19 years.

As I was looking through some items of Carol's that I had saved, I found a  reminder of three special ladies who loved a little girl with all their hearts when they served as preschool teachers at Antioch Baptist Church from Carol's first Sunday at church.  I will forever be thankful to these ladies who provided such amazing care to my little one.   Their names are recorded in a small pink New Testiment that was given to her.  Although 2 of them are in heaven  now , I will be forever grateful to Miss Vaughtie,  Miss Idell, and Miss Tammy for the love, smiles, and stories they shared with Carol for a couple of years in the pre-school department  of Antioch Baptist Church. And it just adds another "3" to the many that seem to be evident in one girl's life.

Carol's Mom aka Judy Hensley

Nov 2017

Meaningful, Teachable times with your Kids..A little or alot?

The folllowing video inspired this blogpost:  click link to view video :
cherish treasure within us all
I believe as parents of children, we are GIVEN OUR CHILDREN  as gifts of mold-able clay.  What we teach them as parents, becomes an integral part of their adult life.
There are many things we can teach them about,. Here are a few: be aware of where you are in life....Know who and why people are in your life, know that you are not immune to Trouble. KNOW you can learn to use the teachings from Trouble to make you stronger by having just a little HOPE (and it really is OK to ask for help--maybe that is the reason certain people are in your life). And these topics are just the tip of the iceberg of learning our children should have.
Some of us learn that life can change in an instant. The age at which we learn this can influence all the rest of our days. AS an example, many of us assume we will not out-live our children, whom we hope will live a long and abundant life! That is the predominate opinion parents would have.

But tell me, when you see the number 963 does that seem like a small or large number to you? You might think "well, it is less than a thousand". A thousand words, seconds, minutes, hours, days, people. What is she getting at?
Lets put this number in perspective: That is how many weekends you have to spend with your child/children if they live 18 years (18 x 52) and you have that much time to influence them in the ways you want, to give them your perspective on how to cope when Trouble comes knocking on their door.I am not talking about going out-of- town on trip each time.
Lots of teachable time can be at home. But look closer at your schedule and theirs. Wouldn't you think that your child's life is most teachable during a time of about 6 years before they hit the teen years, then that time period is cut to a third (312). Factor in your family's obligations to groups, work, church it may go down another third. Now you are at 104. "Wow, time really does fly, doesn't it?"

Wait? you say "I only have 15 days of vacation a year." Think! 'Now it might be a good time' to point them to role models they may use when you aren't able to be there? Teach them the most valuable lessons are those learned when we come out on the other side of Trouble. When we ascribe great value to hope and compassion.

Trouble? You don't think it is something you can avoid in life? Get in touch with recent realities in 2017 : Las Vegas, Fires, Hurricanes, racial injustice, cancer, chronic illness, stock market, the government, intolerance, peer pressure, bullies and the list goes on. But it is a fine line to balance our talk and our actions during time of trouble. In the end, those whose lives for whom we are responsible, must know and must see how people we define as 'overcomers' have lived through the worst of times and resolve not to let demons dash their dreams.

Some of the best life lessons are taught and learned from just hanging out together. Oh, look at the time.....we better get busy figuring out how to show your loved ones what your hopes and dreams are for them and how they can make the most of this journey called LIFE!

Judy Hensley
10/25/2017