The Personhood Amendment- Amendment #26

I have been asked numerous time about my opinion of The Personhood Amendment or Amendment 26 about to be voted on in the State of Mississippi. I will say that I had many doubts about the law when I first read about it. I had the same questions that a lot of people having right now. So what did I do?

First, I read the law. What does the law say?  It is a Constitutional amendment that defines when life begins for a human being. First off I really didn't need a lot of help deciding that fact. In my spiritual or biblical opinion, God says that he knew us before we were even in the mother's womb. So life for a Christian believer by God's word begins even before a heart beat. How do you explain that? I don't know. There are a lot of things that God says that I don't understand, but he knew us before we were in the womb and he has great plans for us all.


After reading numerous articles and social media posts about Amendment #26, my concerns boiled down to the propaganda that was being put out. Proponents of the no vote are spending to the tune of millions and millions of dollars putting out scare tactics and spinning anything to do with Amendment 26. What I mean is something was fishy with what the no side was saying and what they were putting out in the media.  Something was different each day to what they were saying. Looking back on it now, it looked like to me they were throwing out different scare tactics to see which ones worked on peoples hearts and minds the best. Then they would get the best ones and run with them. While the yes side was constantly sticking to their guns in everything they said. Their information was  unchanging.  I admit I had some doubts about  the law when I first started reading some of the articles that were coming out. I kind of bought in to what the Ms. For Healthy Families was selling, but something deep down still said something was wrong. So what did I do? I put on my detective hat and read and read and read and made calls to both sides. What did I read? I read both sides of the isle and what both proponents were saying. Who did I call? I called both sides of #26.

I want you to look into the first thing I noticed that stuck out to me. If you look at the material that the no proponents side are using, it contains words such as can and could. If I were a lawyer what do these words mean? There are possibilities of whatever I am talking about happening. Such as:  I could be killed from a herd of stampeding elk while in my yard doing work. Chances are 1 and a trillion, but it could happen. Now look at the other side of the isle. They use words like will and won't. These are very decisive and definitive words.

This was taken from one of the sites I am talking about:

"Amendment 26 could illegalize clinically assisted fertility techniques like in vitro fertilization. The procedure involves implanting zygotes that are fertilized outside of the body back into a woman’s uterus, and many do not survive this process. Since the Personhood Amendment would define each fertilized egg as a person, both the mother and the doctor conducting the procedure would face legal repercussions."


Now from the other side of the isle's site:

"Personhood will not ban in-vetro fertilization. However personhood will not let unused embryos be destroyed."

Now second reason for the doubt: Planned Parenthood and the ACLU  going undercover and working as the Mississippi For Healthy Families that are the proponents of the no vote (please do a search on leaders of the MFHF and then do a search on them). Seemed kinda fishy to me. Why would they do this? Because they know somewhere between 70-80% of US citizens can't stand their organizations and what they stand for and most likely higher in MS. They knew they had to go undercover to get anything accomplished in the state. Because these organizations understand that 80% of the world are dumb and are lazy believers (Will take anything at its word in what they read). That those 80% will not take the time to lift a finger to do any type of investigating into their scare tactics and the way they put spin on facts. These organizations are evil and I don't mean that in a derogatory sense.  I mean the things that they do are evil in the spiritual sense. Please I implore you to do a google search on these two organizations. Compare your belief system to theirs. Is this really the team you want to be on? God tells us that love him to stand on the side of good always. The men that wrote this law are Christian men.  How do I know this? I spoke in depth with the founder and co-author of the law as part of my investigation.

Third and finally I investigated (let me stress my conclusions were taken from documents I have read from each side of the isle and speaking at length with the founder and author of the bill and Ms For Healthy Families' information person. So with each talking point this is not my personal opinion, but the facts given to me.)  each talking point being used by the no proponents:

Birth control will be outlawed- The only one in my investigation that it will outlaw is the RU486, which is a form of abortion.

Mother's will die because of a pregnancy that has gone bad- No in each case according to the law the doctor will make every attempt to save both, but if not the woman's life will be the focus after that point. (Already a MS. Law)

Women that have miscarriages could be prosecuted- I have thoroughly searched and found that no woman that was ever prosecuted before Roe vs. Wade. It will  not happen.

In-Vetro Fertilization will be illegal- Totally false! Only the disposing of embryos will be outlawed. I dug a little deeper into this one. I found out there is a program called the snowflake program and many others that will take any unused embryos instead of throwing them in a waste container.


I will say I had many doubts as some of you when this all starting coming out because of what I was reading. I don't care which side of the isle you are on. Whether you are Pro-Choice or Pro-life or Pro-26 or Against 26, at the end of the day,  I will love you just the same.The only thing that I ask is you do your own investigation and not rely on facebook post, break room gossip, e-mail, this blog even, or an editorial or article in your paper. You will find the facts if you spend the time looking, calling, reading, and you will know which way to vote. This is an important issue not only for our state, but for future states throughout the USA on abortion related issues. God Bless and thanks for taking the time to read.

The Two Pumpkins!

How you ever really thought about love very much? I am not talking about I love Ice Cream or I love duck hunting.  I am talking about Agape love. Agape love is the love God gives to every single person created. It is a love that is patient, unending, sacrificial, unconditional, etc. I thought when I married my wife that I got a glimpse into that kind of love. I did somewhat, but sometimes we become impatient with our spouse, we put conditions on our spouses, and with rampant divorce tearing the family down in America spouses must put conditions on their marriage. It wasn't until I had children that I somewhat understood God's love for his own children.
God's love for us as his children is 1000 more times than the love we feel for our own children. God's love for his children went all the way to the cross by the sacrifice of his own son. So how much do you love God's children? If we are to be Christ like we should show love for all. How do spend time loving God' children? Do you spend time gossiping about them and tearing them down?  Do you spend most of the day thinking of yourself? Do something good for somebody today in Christ name? Instead of gossiping about them, pray for them. If you are going through a drive-thru today, buy the person's lunch behind you in line lunch also. Find somebody and give them a true compliment. Find something that is unique to them and compliment them on it.  I am not talking about a fake one or flattery. My challenge to you today is to show love to someone the kind of love God shows us everyday. You may have your own way of doing it. Just Do It!

So Sweet!

Meri Wilson Turns 1!

My wonderful niece (I call her), Meri Wison Gnemi, had her first birthday a couple of weeks ago. Our family attended and had a blast. It was good to see my family and Will and Kimberly's friends and family that have gotten to be our friends also. We hung around after the party and cooked out on the grill with the Gnemi's and Pullen's. The kids played and us guys watched football. Happy Birthday again Meri Wilson and I hope you and Taylor will be as close as your Mom and I were growing up since you guys will be in the same class!

Meri Wilson eating her cake

The kiddo's playing!

I love this picture of Ann Fleming!

Meri Wilson is 1!

I think Taylor likes her Uncle Russ!

And Aunt Ashley!

The great ballon launch!

Russell just can't let it go!

Finally, a Leash!

It may be a greasy one at the moment in this picture, but we finally have hair long enough to pull it up.

Ole Miss Vs. Alabama

What a great time we had with friends at the Alabama game this past weekend. We had some of our best friends from Muscle Shoals come over and go to the game with us this past weekend. The game didn't turn out very well Ole Miss's way (52-7 Alabama), but it did turn out how our friends wanted it to and we all had a good time getting to see each other. Houston Kennedy and his wife Chelsea, Tre Holland and his wife Caitlin, and Royann and myself and the kids, and Patti all went to the game. Even though the game didn't go very well, Ann Fleming kept us all entertained with her dancing and telling every Ole Miss fan walking down the isle that left the game early "bye-bye". I think by the end of the game my Alabama friends had Ann Fleming converted into a Tide fan. I don't know why we don't have a pic of Tre and Caitlin!

Ann Fleming eating her Cheese Nips

The only reason we had to cheer as Ole Miss fans was a early and only touchdown.

Anybody remember this guy? Make out guy from a few weeks back at the BYU game?

Taylor

Reminds me of Ann Fleming, watching the band!

Ann Fleming and Daddy with Bar-B-Que Nachos

Pi and Taylor

Ann Fleming at halftime showing her love for the band to everyone.

Our life, Our Love, and Our Happiness

Houston and Chelsea

Royann and Taylor

The conversion to an Alabama fan I was talking about with her Tide Pom-Poms

Ann Fleming showing some small dance moves

Low Tide!

Mossy Lake really doesn't work on a tide (fooled you Ashley), but I would hate if it did. It would be completely dry during low tide. This the lowest I have seen Mossy since I have been living here and according to the old timers living around here it is the lowest it has ever been. I know when I have been skiing the lake at normal levels it wasn't but 8-10 feet deep. Now it can't be more than 4-5 feet in the middle. I marked a spot a few weeks back and it looks like right now it is dropping a few inches a week. If we don't get significant rain this winter it could dry up completely this next summer.

In front of the skeet range.

You can see on the tree it is about four feet below normal.

Water is normally right where I am standing.

There is one Vegetable Farmer in the Family!

We finally got the harvest in and now we are just waiting on the money to start rolling in. Not really, but we had a great time growing our watermelons. It just about drove me crazy having a vine growing in my landscaping.

The reason I titled this post the way I did is my father in law is picked on alot because last year he grew a vegetable garden for profit. It didn't turn out like he had planned and took some lip service because he spent so much time with it. Maybe he will let Ann Fleming help him on his next garden.

Rolling in the Green!

I am on baby food now!

Dr. Smith put Taylor on baby food at our last doctors visit. She is liking it very much. She is not totally on baby food, but just supplementing it in between bottles. The first few times more went on her than in her stomach.

Into the Wild with Jack Hanna

Friday night Royann and I and the kids returned to Starkville, Ms for the Vet. School's 30 year reunion. It was a great time seeing some of her old classmates, teachers, and administrators of the Vet. School. It was held at the Hunter Henry Alumni Center. The feature of the night though had to be presentation made by Jack Hanna. I don't know if I have told you guys lately about Ann Fleming's love for animals outside of just our pets. She has learned numerous pet sounds and can identify any animal by its picture. Royann and I both have been working with her each night with flash cards with numbers, letters, and her favorite, the animal cards and you tube videos of different animals. I will post a video in a few days of her making all of her animal sounds. Back to Jack Hanna, to me there was three highlights of the night for the Leflore family.

The first was, Royann left during dinner to change Taylor and met Jack Hanna while she was in the hallway. They made small talk and she came back to the table and told me she met him in the hallway before his presentation. I didn't think much about it except I would have liked to get a picture of him, Taylor, and Royann. That is until he got up to make his speech. He started it off like any normal speech maker. He used a joke to get the mood right in the room. He started to talk of all of his credentials of working with animals and then spoke of a person with a baby he met in the hallway earlier. That person asked if he was a vet. and he told that person no and that person then said well Mr. Jack  if your not a Vet. what is it you exactly do then? The whole room busted into laughter. I turned to look at Royann and she is laughing but red as a fire engine and said that was her.

Second, when Jack Hanna makes a presentation to a crowd he always uses animals and videos of animals. It helps him get across the point of what exactly he does. Little did I know that those flash cards and videos I have been using to teach Ann Fleming would come back to bite us. With each video and animal presentation made to the crowd Ann Fleming would make the animals noise for the whole 500 in attendance. I would have to say when she saw a elephant on video it was the worse. They were doing a video presentation of safari's and a herd of elephants came on the screen and I had Ann Fleming standing in my lap to see the screen. It is one of her favorite animals. It is the only animal she gets to use not only voice presentation but also body language with it. She trumpeted out like a elephant and did the trunk with her hand. Total embarrassment! Then the other was when he brought some type of endangered Egyptian cat on stage with him. Ann Fleming went crazy screaming "KITTY" AND "MEOW" and that was when I decided that was enough and took her outside to the MSU/South Carolina soccer game going on next door.

Little did I know that wasn't the end of the entertainment. We walked over to the game and stood behind the fence to the field in front of the bleachers and I guess it was halftime of the game because they were playing loud music over the speakers. Ann Fleming went on to entertain the whole bleachers of the soccer game. She danced better than any dance I could ever think about doing. Swinging her arms and shaking her booty and head and the bleachers cheering her on. When she figured out everybody was watching her she decided she had enough.

I swear there are never any dull moments in the Leflore household.

Leflore Family

I thought this was a great picture of our family.

There is that cat I talked about earlier!

We Didn't Find Charlie Brown, Snoopy, or The Great Pumpkin!

The one thing I can say though is we had a great time! While in Oxford this weekend we visited the pumpkin patch of St. Johns church. We took some great pictures of the kids while we were there and they had a great time playing in the pumpkins. Happy Halloween Everybody!

Group Picture!

Trying to take one home!

We heard numerous times yesterday how pretty of a little boy we had! We just agreed with everybody and said "he his".

Ann Fleming wanting Taylor to play!

"Straw" What is that?

"I don't know either, but it is fun to throw in the air!"

Yeah!

We didn't go to buy a pumpkin, but we made a donation to the youth group and they gave Ann Fleming one instead.

She loved her baby pumpkin!