Mommy: Do you want a piece of broccoli?

Simon: Yay!

Tali: Asher, you always make me feel happy… even when you’re crying.

Asher to Mommy: (smile)

Mommy: (melt)

The next day a 7-year-old friend of Tali’s was visiting. While Tali had no trouble asking me for and gobbling a snack, her friend (named “C”) said she wasn’t hungry. I offered our visitor several snack options but she confidently declined each. After a while the two girls were busy playing and I overheard a conversation about God’s commands. “Which command do you think God said the most?” Tali asked her uninformed pal. She took the dear girl through the whole line  questioning that I’d put Tali through until she got to the point – “You don’t need to be afraid to ask my mom for a snack!” Soon after their little talk Tali came to me and told me what had happened, then she explained, “‘C’ was too scared to ask for a snack, but now she wants to know if you’ll make her a sandwich.” Which I gladly did. Sweet, sweet girl!

2. Tali: I just wish I could marry Simon!

3. Jack Thomas to Tali: I love you.
Tali in reply: I love you, too… I guess this means we’ll be good friends from now on.

Of course, Simon’s not saying much in words that we can understand at this point. But he is able to communicate some very important things. If he wants cheese, the word is “ch” or “choo,” usually with intensity and desperation. For grapes, he gives a little piggy snort, also with intensity and desperation, and lots of cuteness. If it’s a drink of water he’s longing for, it’s a run to the sink accompanied by a slurping sound. And while he has the sounds for animals like pig, cow, horse and dog down pretty well, his “word” for frog is, “hhha-hhha.” Oh, the mysteries of the toddler mind.

What fun our ears enjoy daily with these two crazy cuties (and Jack, on occasion). Two little blessings, indeed!

Well, Simon is finally getting his sea legs, as it were. When Tali’s on the step stool he wishes to occupy, he does his best to push her off. When she has a toy he wants, he doesn’t hesitate to grab at it. But the topper of all these ground-standing antics happened last night at bedtime.

I was reading a story to Tali on the floor and Simon was playing around in her room. Tali climbed onto my lap for a cozy read. Well, as soon as Simon saw that, he came over to push her off. When that didn’t work, he fussed and pushed harder. When that didn’t work, he grabbed her hair at the top of her head and pulled up as if he expected to pull her up like any doll!

There is definitely evidence of brotherly love, or something like it, growing between these two. But for now, I think Simon’s personal summary of 1 Corinthians 13 might be, “Love suffers long, then says, ‘MINE!’”

Simon had his first birthday (or, rather, second) a couple of weeks ago and is cuter every day, if that’s possible! We call him our Bear so we made him a polar bear cake and had a little family gathering to celebrate him. He’s such a sweet-tempered little guy and loves playing peek-a-boo and chase games and is delightfully ticklish. He took his first steps on Christmas Day and is walking quite well now. He seems rather pleased about this accomplishment, too! At this age he loves to dance with Mommy or Daddy, to play with balls,  puzzles, and containers, pots, spatulas and water…And anything else Tali seems interested in! He likes to imitate talking on the phone and writing and LOVES being pulled around by any willing party on his little ride-on truck (or laundry basket, or plastic tub, or…).

I can’t believe Tali’s been four for THREE MONTHS and I still haven’t added a story  or picture from her birthday! It was quite a time! We had two parties, one for a couple of little friends and another for extended family. Each party had its own pinata and both were special for the birthday girl. She still talks about that day with grateful memories of the gifts she received. She’ll say things like, “It was so kind of Papa and Grandma to give me this!” She’s full of, or, rather, overflowing with energy. Most days she spontaneously runs up and down the hallway for awhile. Boy, she does so many cute, creative things, I really ought to spend some time sharing them here more regularly!

We’ll see how regularly I can get back here to write updates. If you are reading this and care to know more about life here at Rusty Gates Estates, let me know!

I think the issue about taxes is really about the role of government.

Here’s my experience with taxes: I’m not in the “rich” tax bracket. My wife and I are able to live comfortably in a small town where property values are cheap without her having to work, but we have to be smart with what we buy. I totaled up all of the taxes that I pay: income tax, employee social security, employer social security, sales tax, property tax, etc and it totals one third of my pre-tax income. That’s outrageous. One Third!

I don’t really care what the historical tax rates are, or the details of exactly what the government is doing with the money.

My position that a 33% tax burden is wrong is one of principle. If the government needs that much money, then the government is doing far too much. If the government needs me to spend the first four months of each year being an indentured servant to support that government, when the role of that government is to project my freedom, then something is wrong!

The primary role of the government is to protect our freedom: from those within that would be dictators or lawless, and from those without that would defeat our country through war. The role of the constitution is limit the power of the federal government.

I know that many people will not agree with me on taxes, but I think it’s because we disagree on the role of government.

I don’t expect this to convince those who disagree with me, because it is a choice that we each have made about the kind of government that we want. But I want you to understand where the tea party is coming from. It’s a position based on logic and principle. It’s not irrational.

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- David