I know it sounds odd, but this may be the year that a women is literally thrust into a place of prominence and position for no other reason than to put this country back on a solid, conservative track.  While I support Sen. John McCain as the Republican nomination for the presidential race, I would be remiss if I didn't admitt that he is not quite as conservative as many would like. He desperately needs a strong, popular, kick-butt partner on his ticket. Someone who is young with strong, Christian values,  a dedication to family, and a fiscal conservative.

Meet Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska. She has it all. She's a young (44), pro-life, pro-gun (NRA member), mother of 5. Her husband, Todd, is a blue-collar worker for one of the oil companies part of the year and a commercial fisherman the other part.  She's a Christian who regularly attends church and considers every child a gift from God. Sarah is in favor of drilling for oil in Alaska (ANWR) and supports the war in Iraq.  She's known for cutting wasteful spending and recently vetoed more than $250 million dollars from the Alaska state budget.  She has maintained an 85%-94% approval rating in Alaska for the past two years, and her nickname is "Sarah Baracuda".  She's been endorsed by Rush Limbaugh, Laura Ingrahm,  Glenn Beck, Real Politics, and many more. And did I mention that she supports homeschooling?

As for her family, she's married to her highschool sweetheart, Todd, who is affectionately and proudly known as the "First Dude".  Her oldest son, Track, is 19 and serving in the US Army. She has two teenage daughters (Bristol and Willow) and a seven year old daughter (Piper). And just 6 weeks ago she gave birth to their son, Trig, who was born one month pre-mature with Down Syndrome. 

Now I know what many of you are thinking..."She should be home with her children, especially this new special needs baby!".  I, too, had some of those same thoughts. After all, I am a very committed, stay-at-home-mom who homeschools. Shouldn't everyone? Isn't that what's best?  I would say yes the majority of time. But every now and then there is an exception to rule.  I have searched my heart and prayed for guidance, and I firmly believe that Sarah Palin is the exception.  She has rapidly risen through the ranks of local government to become Governor and her current "fame" is not of her own campaigning or seeking. Others in the press are praising her for her accomplishments and raising her to notoriety.  Many would rather see her as the Presidential candidtate. Even the NY Times thinks that she could be our first female president.! She is literally being drug to the palace to be placed on a throne - and it is for such a time as this.

Several woman throughout history have sat on a throne, ruled their country, and gave birth and raised children at the same time. Queen Elizabeth II was not born into the 1st line of succession and was never expected to be queen. But with her brother's abdication and her father's sudden death, she became Queen when she was a newly married young mother of Prince Charles.  She managed to get pregnant and give birth to three more children and without giving up her throne.  Princess Dianna - one of the most popular of British Royals ever, managed to do her job as princess, train to be queen, raise her son to be king, and still maintain a very close relationship with her sons. She was involved and very much oversaw their education and every aspect of raising them. I'm sure that both of these women enlisted more than one servant to help with the actual care and feeding of the children, but they were in charge and were the ones raising their children.  So is Sarah Palin.

Even throughout scripture there have been powerful women who were appointed by God to serve. Deborah was a Judge over all Israel.  She was married and, although the Bible doesn't mention children, it doesn't deny them.  And what about the Queen of Sheba? Didn't she have children? Queen Esther gave birth to King Darius and stayed queen. Even the mythical Proverbs 31 Woman (our example)  was not always a stay at home mom.  She dabbled in real estate and ran a textile business. She was busy helping the hungry and the poor. And she saw well to the affairs of her household. She was up before dawn and prepared food for her family and her servants. I think these servants took good care of Prov-31's HOUSE, because she was taking good care of her HOME and told them how she wanted things done.

And what about all these woman who are running Christian and/or homeschool ministries with their husbands? They have children and they work. I've seen them speaking at convention and retreats and they don't always have the baby on the hip while they do it .  Gov. Palin keeps her newborn at the office with her and, as you can see in the picture below, even takes him to meetings.

Now, I'm not advocating that everyone go dump their kids back in the schools and daycare and go get a career. No. But I am saying that there are women who know how to run a business (or a country) without sacraficing their role as wife and mother. And Sarah Palin is one of them. All I'm asking is that you visit the website of the movement (she is not connected with them) and just look at her. Read the links. Listen to the press. See what others are saying  and see if this could be a Queen Esther of our day who will be placed in the palace for such a time as this. As for who will take care of her family? Well, if God has chosen Sarah Palin and is taking care of her path, then I trust that He will also provide the wisdom and the way for her take care of her family also.

If you want to help keep this snowball rolling -- MSNBC is currently running a poll Veepstakes 2008. Go there and vote this week.  And pass this on to all your friends and encourage them to vote and tell Sen McCain who you'd like to see as his second in command.

Thanks for your time. God Bless you and God Bless America.

Blessings & Shalom,
Julie

Crime bill signed

JUNE 6, 2008 - 6:44 AM

Governor Palin holds her youngest child Trig during a bill signing for Senate Bill 265, the omnibus crime bill, on the Capitol steps, in Juneau today. Also pictured, from left, Rep. Bill Stoltze, R-Chugiak, Sen. Hollis French, D-Anchorage, and Alaska State Trooper Christopher Umbs. (AP/Chris Miller)

UPDATE: Aug 30, 2008
As of yesterday morning, Sarah Palin is officially the VP candidate on the Republican Ticket.  I'm very proud of MY Son and wrote this entry in support of his efforts. I have been blessed with several hits to this blog (totally unexpected) and many of you have left wonderful, kind comments. Thank you for your praise and support for my son and the Governor. I do not mind  the occasional "I disagree with your analogy", but I will not allow attacks or  ill-intent against ANYONE. This is MY personal blog about MY kids and homeschooling, not an open discussion forum. Thank You. 

• Post A Comment! • Send to a Friend!

Posted by tigrefan98

As a young working-at-home Mom, I look up to Gov. Palin and think she sets a strong example. Real people want leaders they can relate to, and I hope Gov Palin continues to get the national attention she deserves. More of our leaders - male and female - could learn from her example.

moms4mccain.blogspot.com

• Permanent Link

Posted by Karen

Thanks for sharing this information about Sarah for VP. I had not heard of her. I will look her up and write Senator McCain if I feel strongly about selecting her for a running mate. She sounds like a remarkable woman! Thanks also for validating women who do not homeschool, and are still able to take care of their homes and children. That means a lot to me personally! -Karen

• Permanent Link

Posted by Yael

I was surprised to see your reference to Proverbs 31. She is "Aishes Chayil," an "Accomplished Woman" (or sometimes, "Woman of Valor") - and very familiar to Jews. It's our tradition that the poem is sung every Friday night at the Shabbat table, most often by the husband to his wife. I thought you might also be interested to know that in Hebrew, the text is arranged into 22 lines, each line starting with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

I am also hoping that McCain chooses Sarah Palin. She is very impressive and would bring some interest, even excitement, to the ticket. I've heard her speak about energy issues - like drilling in ANWR - and would very much like to see her get national exposure.

Best of luck to you in your endeavors.

• Permanent Link

Posted by Anonymous

Good Call!

• Permanent Link

Posted by Karen

Well, who'd a thunk it? I know Crocus is ecstatic!!!

• Permanent Link

Posted by oh amanda

Just googling Palin this morning. What a great post. My mom said almost the exact same thing to me today. Here we were moaning about the possibility of Hillary and look how God had "in his backpocket"! What an amazing possibility---Palin as president!

• Permanent Link

Posted by Anonymous

Wow...I had the same Esther thoughts myself this morning.

Great call! I heard her talked about on some of the Down Syndrome discussion groups but thought she was a long shot.

• Permanent Link

Posted by Anonymous

I'm sorry, I don't think this is an exception that I can support. She belongs in the home with her children. She is setting a great example of a working mom who can do it all, but not for a stay-at-home mom who sacrifices for her family, as God ordained her to.

• Permanent Link

Posted by Grafted Branch@Restoring the Years

Funny...Esther didn't occur to me. But Deborah does. I plan this evening to read and meditate on the story in which Deborah the Judge reluctantly agrees to accompany the commander and troops to battle--but prophesies a condemnation for the need at the same time.

• Permanent Link

Posted by Cheri

I think you said this wonderfully. [in the excitement of her announcment I goggled regarding homeschooling/her and hit your blog]

www.womenathome.typepad.com/cheri

• Permanent Link

Posted by Anonymous

So very well put, I can only hope to convey my support of her and my support of being a stay-at-home mom with as much elegance as you have.

Thank You.

• Permanent Link

Posted by Anonymous

<<As a mother of 2 who is now in my 60's I find it interesting that Sarah Palin took so little regard for her baby that after her water broke she gave a 30 minute speech and then flew back to Alaska>>

This isn't true from what I've read. She was having some amniotic leakage, but her water hadn't broken. She takes her baby with her to the office. She is a wonderful example of not neglecting ones children in the pursuit of a career. I'd never heard of her before yesterday but am very happy that she got the nomination.

• Permanent Link

Posted by Anonymous

I am the 60 year old lady that posted on Aug. 30 and I want you to know that I did not send anyone to your page. I think that any comments you are now receiving are following the link from your son's blog page. I only hope that the people who comment do so respectfully. However, I do agree with the gentleman who wrote about this is God's country and not God's America. God so loved the "WORLD" that he gave his Only Son. . . I think some Christians have forgotten that verse. When Jesus walked this earth he did not get involved in politics. When Paul and Peter spread the gospel they stayed away from politics. I wish we could separate our faith from American politics. Being a believer in Christ has nothing to do with one's political party or national/ethnic origin. And we need to understand that being "for choice" is not necessarily saying that abortion is OK. Being for choice for some believers, like me, just means that women should have the right to choose for themselves to do what is right or wrong. And we live in a sinful world so some will choose wrong, based upon our belief systems. That is why the Christian community needs to think about providing contraception education, discussing the pros and cons of adoption, and finding more ways to support unwed mothers. We need to reframe the issue of abortion and contraception so that a young couple does not have to be married because a child is being born. That type of marriage too often ends in divorce. We have to understand that some people are going to have sex regardless of what they have been taught in home and/or church. Christians are going to have out-of-wedlock sex even when they know it is not right. So we have to get practical and work together to prevent babies from being conceived outside of marriage.

• Permanent Link

Posted by Anonymous

WONDERFUL blog post....thanyou !

• Permanent Link

Posted by Anonymous

I happened on to this page because I had the thought yesterday that Sarah Palin showing up on the political scene at this moment in time was like the Biblical story of Esther. I did a Google search to see if others had thought this also and eventually ended up here. I have never responded to a blog, and I apologize to the owner of this blog because as she so clearly posted above, this is her private blog not a forum for public opinion. With that said, if she chooses to remove my post, I fully understand, but here is my 2 cents worth.

Bristol Palin was born in 1990, so she will be turning 18 before the end of this year and probably before her baby is born. Many 18-year-olds have babies. She is not 14, she is nearly 18. According to a previous poster this is “a catastrophic circumstance” along with the birth of Sarah Palin’s baby son. This family is in “dire straits?” Most parents of Down syndrome children would be deeply offended to find their child labeled a “catastrophe,” and their family in “dire straits.”

As Christians, we have the responsibility of warning our children of the consequences of sin. And, before you attack, please note I said consequences not punishment. We are not responsible for, nor should we attempt, to protect them from the consequences of their sin. Most of us have not met the Palins. Bristol Palin looks to be a bright, responsible young woman ready to alter her plans in life to accept the consequences of her actions and act responsibly by marrying the father of her unborn child. I find this admirable. You may not. What we cannot do is write her future for her. Blog after blog, news story after news story, her life and future is being spun before our eyes. Personally, I find this despicable. If you want to spin a story, write a novel, but leave this young woman alone to find her own future. Giving Bristol, or any girl/woman birth control pills might protect them from pregnancy (but not from STDs or HIV), however, it will not remove the consequences of sin. That is what we should focus on as Christians, teaching our children that sin has consequences and to expect those consequences when they stray. Of course they will make mistakes, we did too, and we will help them through the consequences, but we cripple them when we try to protect them. There are consequences to sex before marriage because the Lord commands that we refrain from this. That consequence may be an unwanted pregnancy or an STD or maybe just unwanted baggage that will be carried through the remainder of one’s life. And before you even go there, please don’t attemt to twist my words here. I understand all about forgiveness, and it is separate issue altogether.

Finally, we encounter abortion. Freedom to choose? Sounds all warm and cozy and releases us from the responsibility of absolutes. The Lord absolutely forbids murder, and since he says he knew us in our mother’s womb, then as Christians we must accept that the baby in its mother’s womb is indeed a life, and taking that life is murder. How many of you, had abortion been legal at the time of your conception, would be here today? Or could your life have been snuffed out with a flip decision to evade a consequence? The woman who has the abortion becomes the 2nd victim along with her unborn child. She will carry the burden with her forever. Sarah Palin probably taught her children that sex before marriage was to be avoided and that abortion is scripturally not acceptable. None of us can speak for her, but were I in her shoes today I would not be sorry I didn’t hand my daughter a condom or a package of pills, and I would help her deal with her future. As for Sarah’s own sweet baby boy, he looks the picture of health, and they all clearly love him, wherein lies the “dire straits?”

I will finish with this… Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). His laws are the same, they have not changed, they never will. He is absolute, and as Christians, we must be absolutely confident in that.

• Permanent Link

Posted by Anonymous

I THINK YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN THAT THE BIBLE SAYS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT THAT WOMEN ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE IN AUTHORITY OVER MEN. SO IF YOU WOULD PLEASE, EXPLAIN TO ME HOW SHE CAN DO THE VP JOB AND NOT VIOLATE THIS. ARE YOU A CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIAN OR NOT. FOR MANY YEARS NOW IT HAS CEASED TO BE A MATTER OF VOTING FOR THE RIGHT PERSON AND BECAME A MATTER OF VOTING FOR THE PERSON THAT IS LEAST WRONG. INSTEAD OF GLOSSING OVER THIS AND JUMPING ON THE REPUBLICAN BANDWAGON, LAYING ASIDE SOME OF YOUR CONSERVATE CHRISTIAN VALUES, PERHAPS YOU SHOULD STAND FOR WHAT IS RIGHT...........NO MATTER WHAT.

• Permanent Link

Posted by mijubrifarms

1). I am not amish, nor amd I a pacifist. I believe that murder is a sin and is defined as the intentional taking of anothers life for the convenience or pleasing of ther murders life. This does not include war.

2) There is no indication that Bristol Palin is a "little lost lamb". She is an adult who made her own decision and sinned. Most of us and our children have sinned, so explain the difference. Just because you weren't embarrased by your child's sin, doesn't make it any less a sin.
3) Why is it that when one of our own (homeschool SAHM) has a child who isn't "walking with the Lord" you tell them it's not their fault and to pray. Apparantly it's only total strangers whose personal life you know absolutely nothing about, that your willing to thrash and frag throught the mud. Do you talk to to Christian, SAH mom's that you know that way? Sorry, but I know way too many homeschool teens who end up pregnant as well. Homeschooling and staying at home isn't the cure. Besides, even in the eyes of God a parent is not held accountable for the sins of their adult children -- so why in peoples?

4) In the new testament, Peter did not allow women to serve over men IN THE SYNAGOGUE. This has nothing to do with the work place. I'm quite sure that a Proverbs 31 woman would have authority over several sevants in her hire. And God appointed Deborah as Judge over all Israel. That's an example from God.
5) I don't vote for or hire people for jobs based on their religious denomination, but on their qualificiations for the job. This is a secular vote in a secular nation (we aren't Israel) for a non-religious position. Just because someone believes the way I want them to, doesn't mean they're qualified to do the job. If I can find a qualified person of similar religious bent, then I'll hire them. But even in my homeschooling, I'd rather have an accomplished, trained successful Buddist teach my child art or whatever, than a mediocre born again Christian who knows very little. Their love of Jesus doesn't make them qualified to teach my child anything.

6) As far as comments directed at me personally regarding assumtions about my faith..... 1) read more of my blog at least and 2) where I come from that's bearing false witness against someone and speaking ill of them and destroying their name and character...which is worse than getting pregnant out of wedlock.
7) Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. All of you throwing around your self-righteousness at Sarah.... I sure hope your and your children are sinless and qualified to be the Messiah as you're expecting her to be.

• Permanent Link

Posted by Anonymous

Though I may have reservations about the ability of Sarah Palin to be our next VP I have no interest in analyzing her parenting skills. Twenty-eight years ago my husband and I made the decision that it was best for our family if I worked full time and he stayed home to parent and attend school part time. Twenty-eight years ago that decision was taboo for our Bible Church and actually caused us to leave and go to another church. So it is nice to see that today's Conservative Christians are able to see the difference between a woman's role in the church vs secular society and to champion the role of Ms Palin as an executive leader. And it is also nice to see that the Christian conservative movement has decided that a young woman of 18 who is an unwed mother can be accepted into the fellowship of faith and not hidden away. So I'm now waiting for the movement to accept civil unions for gays. This will happen when one of the leaders of the Christian conservative movement has a child who is gay who runs for public office. As a Christian who is a moderate I have no problem with separating my strong religious beliefs from state issues since I don't think we can legislate morality or change the world through politics. But I find the changes now put forth by the Christian conservative movement breathtaking! You guys are actually become mellow and moderates! "God works in mysterious ways his wonders to behold."

• Permanent Link

Posted by Anonymous

It sounds like we're tracking together. I enjoyed reading your comparison of Palin to Esther and Deborah! I had done the same on my blog: globalbiblicaltruth.wordpress.com!

• Permanent Link

Posted by Anonymous

In case you home school folks don't know, this is not a monarchy. That means that we have a president not a king or queen. Please remember to teach your kids this when you re-write the history of our country.

• Permanent Link

Posted by mijubrifarms

Dear Anonymous,
Thanks you for your comment and consideration for the education of the children of the United States. I can assure you that most of us 'home school folk" understand and teach our children that this country is a Democratic Republic with a President rather than a Monarchy with a king or queen. It usually comes right after the comprehension and composition class when we teach them the difference between an analogy and a literal interpretation.

Edited by mijubrifarms on Oct. 18, 2008 at 6:30 PM

• Permanent Link