A Letter To My Friends That Are Planning to Vote For Donald Trump

Dear Trump Supporters,

I have started and stopped this blog post several times over the past couple of weeks, because I keep thinking to myself, what is the point?  If you're still supporting Trump at this point in the race after all he has said and done, there is really NO changing your mind.  I think that is what is becoming abundantly clear: as Trump said himself, he could shoot someone in the middle of Times Square and his supporters would still vote for him (yes the leading presidential candidate actually said that.)  I am still going to share my thoughts on what an absolute disaster I think it will be if Donald Trump were to be the Republican presidential nominee, though, because I feel like I have to do SOMETHING.  I can't just sit by and watch this disaster happen.  I know, I know, at the end of the day it is all in God's hands, and I can only pray for the future of our country, but still....if I can change the mind of at least one person voting for Trump, or at least make them think, then I am doing something.  So here is my best shot.

Trump fans...I get it.  I get that people are so angry with the way things are.  I am angry, too.  There are probably not many people that have a stronger dislike for our current president or are more disheartened by the state of our country than I am. I literally cannot stomach president Obama, and I have largely been in denial that he is actually the President of the United States of America (for almost 8 years now, 8 LONG years.) When he speaks I have to turn the channel on the TV, because I just can't.  I don't think he is just incompetent either. I have to agree with Marco Rubio on the line that he has gotten slack for repeating at the New Hampshire debate...Obama knows EXACTLY what he is doing.  He has been a divider-in-chief, and the America we are living in now already looks drastically different than it did when George W. was president.  Say what you want about that man, but George W. Bush LOVED this country, and I do not believe the same of the current president.

So here we are at this election and people want CHANGE.  People want someone that stands up to the crazy politically correct society that Obama has created.  I will admit that in the beginning of all of this, I started to warm up to Trump.  I never dreamed in a million years he would be the nominee, but I thought it was refreshing that he said what was on his mind and called out the media for their ridiculously left bias.  I thought that although he would not make a good president, he was opening up some important discussion. He became the voice of many Americans, and he clearly hit a nerve with people, and that is why his support grew so rapidly. As time has gone on though, and I as I have seen and heard more (and done my research) I have realized just how dangerous it would be to elect Donald Trump as the Republican nominee.

First off, I don't think he joined the presidential race because of his love for America.  I think he joined it because he has an ego the size of Texas (okay, Texas is way too small)  Ever notice what it says at the top of all of his buildings..."TRUMP" in huge gold letters.  I don't think anyone could argue that the man doesn't loves himself...A LOT. He spends more than half of his time at debates and rallies talking about his poll numbers and how much people like him.  It is honestly crazy to me that he is able to focus so much on himself and so little on his plans for the country and still gain support.  He basically praises himself and calls everyone else idiots, and for some reason people applaud him. In the most recent debate he was asked how he was going to get Mexico to pay for this wall he keeps talking about and he had NOTHING. He couldn't even begin to answer the question, yet that has been one of the main issues he has run on.

One of the scariest things to me is Trump's conservative beliefs are so new. There is nothing wrong with changing your mind and joining the conservative party... I think that is great.  However, the best predictor of the future is what has happened in the past.  He has been a HUGE supporter of Hillary Clinton over the years and donated to numerous Democratic politicians including Harry Reid and the Clinton foundation. I know he says he's made these donations because it is good business, but he has also praised the politicians whose beliefs are the opposite of everything he now says he stands for.  He has pretty much contradicted himself on EVERY SINGLE ISSUE.  These are not views he held decades ago, either.  These are all positions he has taken in very recent years.  I find it it extremely hard to believe that he's had a genuine change of heart on so many issues.  Instead, I think he is telling the American people what they want to hear to get elected.

I also don't think he can beat Hillary Clinton.  I think the media has largely given him a pass because they want him to be the nominee, because this would be the easiest ticket to a President Hillary Clinton (yikes, scary!) The only thing scarier to me than a Donald Trump presidency is a Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders presidency. I don't think you can even begin to imagine how the media is going to destroy Trump the second he gets the nomination. Republicans, this should be our year.  After 8 years of Obama, we would have to do something crazy to lose this election...and I think nominating Donald Trump would be just that...crazy.

Most importantly, decency.  Just decency.  I read an awesome blog post by Max Lucado called, "Decency For President." I am a person that thinks the way you treat people says absolutely everything about you. The tweets Trump sends out.  The things he says about women.  The disgusting words he uses. The way he attacks everyone. Is a man that constantly hurls insults at everyone in his path really someone you want representing the United States to the rest of the world? I believe as a Christian that the most important thing in a leader is that he or she is taking guidance from our Heavenly Father.  That is not to say mistakes won't be made, but I want to know that the leader of this great country is looking to God for guidance and prayerfully considering big decisions.  It is not my job to judge Donald Trump or his Christianity, but I can say that I don't think he is a great representation of the Christian faith, or of decency for that matter. That matters to me, and I am having a hard time understanding why it doesn't matter more to the rest of the country.

People, tomorrow is Super Tuesday.  This is a BIG day in the election.  After Tuesday, if Trump is still leading, the race is pretty much over.  When you go to vote, I hope you will think about who will best represent the United States of America to the rest of the world.  I hope you will think about who will be a humble leader.  I hope you will think about who will best fight for your values.  I hope you will think about who has the best chance of beating Hillary Clinton.  BUT, if you forget everything else, please just think about decency.  If you are planning on pushing that button for Donald Trump, I hope you will prayerfully reconsider.

Sincerely,

One Crazy Conservative Mama (now back to writing about baby stuff!)

Friday Favorites- The Best Toddler Scooter

We LOVE this YBIKE GLX Scooter. Anyone that follows me on social media has probably seen pictures and videos of Cole riding it.  Cole's great-grandma, Gigi, got it for him two Christmases ago, when he was not quite 18 months old.  We laughed initially when we opened it, thinking, "Gigi, Cole won't be able to ride this thing until he is like four."  Boy were we wrong!  That day he stood on it and let his Daddy push him around the house, and by the summer when he was not even two, he was riding around by himself.  It's super stable and easy to maneuver.  It comes in blue, green and pink, and it would make the perfect Christmas or birthday gift. I promise, your toddler will LOVE it!

Here he is at 17 months old (Christmas Eve 2014)

The best part is that it's a great way for this wild man to burn off some energy (AKA it wears him out!)

I plan to share some more of my favorite toys/gifts for my kiddos soon. HAPPY FRIDAY, Y'ALL! :)

Meal Planning Monday: Slow Cooker Teriyaki Pork Chops

Meal planning Monday is on a Thursday...again.  I actually did make these yummy pork chops on Sunday and planned to blog them on Monday, but the week got away from me....mom life! ;)

My husband Phil raves over these crockpot teriyaki pork chops.  This is my favorite way to make pork chops- minimum prep time, and they always come out DELICIOUS!  I know our little two year old would love them, too, if he would ever try them! (He is going through a carb/fruit stage that has lasted, oh, about a year and a half so far...) I found the recipe on Pinterest years ago and have been making them from memory ever since.  I can't seem to find the exact original recipe I used, but if I do, I will link to it.

From the Store:

4 boneless pork chops

1/3 cup of chicken broth

1/4 cup soy sauce

2-3 cloves garlic

2 tablespoons brown sugar

salt and pepper 

1. In a bowl, add the 1/3 cup of chicken broth (do not get less sodium, never tastes as good), 1/4 cup of soy sauce and 2 tablespoons of brown sugar to a small mixing bowl.

2. Chop 2-3 cloves of garlic into small pieces.

I like to use this chopper for garlic.

3. Add the garlic to the mixture.

4. Next, place 4 pork chops in the bottom of your crock pot. Salt and pepper them.

5. Pour the mixture over the top of the pork chops.

6. Cook on low for 5-6 hours (this isn't a meal you can leave in the crock pot all day, unfortunately.  I did that once and the pork chops were burned terribly. If your low setting seems to cook high, then check at 4 hours.)

7. Flip the pork chops halfway through and make sure they are still covered in the mixture.

8. The pork chops are ready when you stick a fork in them, and they are super soft and easy to cut.  Once they are ready, you can leave them on warm until you are ready to eat.  Don't let them sit for too long and dry out, though.

9. ENJOY!  This isn't the best picture, but the pork chops are SO yummy.  I like to serve them with baked squash and zucchini and rice.

Recipe Card:

1. In a bowl, add the 1/3 cup of chicken broth (do not get less sodium, never tastes as good), 1/4 cup of soy sauce and 2 tablespoons of brown sugar to a small mixing bowl.

2. Chop 2-3 cloves of garlic into small pieces.
3. Add the garlic to the mixture.
4. Next, place 4 pork chops in the bottom of your crock pot. Salt and pepper them.
5. Pour the mixture over the top of the pork chops.
6. Cook on low for 5-6 hours (this isn't a meal you can leave in the crock pot all day, unfortunately.  I did that once and the pork chops were burned terribly.)
7. Flip the pork chops halfway through and make sure they are still covered in the mixture.
8. The pork chops are ready when you stick a fork in them, and they are super soft and easy to cut.  Once they are ready, you can leave them on warm until you are ready to eat.  Don't let them sit for too long and dry out, though.
9. ENJOY!  I like to serve them with baked squash and zucchini and rice.