Walking

So my cousin Evelyn and I have decided that we are going to go walking together every morning at about 8- my cousin lives in Montana, so walking with her every morning may seem impossible at first, but we've figured out how to! :) We are going to call each other at 8, and just talk while we walk. This way we can help motivate one another to keep up with our goals.
I walked the dogs this morning, separately of course, so that they could get a work out too, because they don't really get any other exercise throughout the day. Melissa was mad at me, because whichever dog was left behind was upset that they were left behind, so they made a lot of noise. Melissa hates mornings and has threatened to kill me if I take them on a walk again. I think I'll risk it. I will just need to remember to take little poop baggies with me, because Abbey can't hold it for very long. :p
I think walking will be a big benefit to me though, not just physically, but emotionally and even spiritually...I really need some help in those areas right now. I am determined to keep this up though, I refuse to let sleep and laziness rule me any longer!! :)

Freedom of Religion

So I've been thinking about some things I've read. I just read a post from my Uncle Cory about freedom of religion, and I've been reading some articles by Walter Williams. It made me think about religion, how our Society is changing, especially in their views towards God- such as the Pledge of Allegiance- when it says, "In God we trust." People want to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance. But that is another group thinking that they get to control the whole outcome. Why should people who don't believe in God get to change something created, and honored, by people who do believe in God? The fact that they believe everyone should live and talk how they live and talk is wrong. If they don't believe in God they don't have to say that line, or even say the Pledge of Allegiance for that matter. One person, or even group of people, shouldn't have the right to take away someone else's belief; they shouldn't have the right to change it. For instance let's say there is a large group of people, and they are having a picnic- they decide to cook all these different foods, and one of the foods has raisins in it, but some of the people there don't like raisins, but everyone else does. If the people who don't like raisins say, "Since we don't like raisins, you need to get rid of that dish, or not make it with raisins at all, so that we won't be offended.", that is rather selfish and controlling. Why should everyone else give up what they like, for a small group of other people? Even if it were the other way around, and the larger portion of people didn't like raisins, and the smaller group loved them, it doesn't mean they have to give up their dish. There is plenty of other food to eat, and if they want the dish, but without the raisins, they can pick them out! You don't have to force everyone else to conform to your standards to live a happy and peacfull life- to be offended that others are living their own lives according to standards you don't like is foolish- you can dislike their standards, and beliefs, but that doesn't mean they have to change to satisfy you. Live as you believe you should live, and treat others as you would wish to be treated. The Pledge of Allegiance should stay as it is, others shouldn't force everyone else to say it their way; force isn't being used on them, so why should it be used on those who do believe in God? To satisfy one group of people another group should not have to change and give up what is important and sacred to them. The only time offense is truly justified is when force is involved, and freedom is denied- if someone isn't being forced to do or say something, they don't need to be offended, they can freely live their own way, as long as it does not deny somone else the opportunity to do the same.