Page 1 of Judi Lake's writing

1. Black Friday and Other Miracles It was a joyous Thanksgiving spent with family, friends, the fullness of too much food and a glass or two of wine. My 'wind up plan' to our perfect holiday was to mindlessly relax in front of the television until my daughter’s sparkling gaze... (posted by Judi 1 year 178 days ago.)

2. Gee, It’s A Small World After All [With Facebook] Late again for an outside appointment, the phone rings. Rushing to answer it, I hear a disgruntled ‘little voice’ in the background sternly advising me to let it go to voice mail. Determined not to allow my impatient eleven year-old to... (posted by Judi 1 year 200 days ago.)

3. Embracing Life Joyfully Despite It’s Setbacks Kind of quiet on the home front tonight... Gary, my husband, is soundly sleeping in our bedroom while Laura, our child, is intensely concentrating on her latest Sims creation. Restless, I revisit Searchwarp after a long absence and scan through... (posted by Judi 1 year 202 days ago.)

4. A Prayer Before An Abortion Today my heart is heavy and I am distracted. I try to concentrate on a deadline for work to no avail. My spirit is restless and I need to pray. Somewhere, at this precise moment in time, a woman is about to have an abortion. Maybe, just maybe... (posted by Judi 3 years 109 days ago.)

5. Everybody Knows The Captain Lied President Barack Obama got the $825 (or $1.2 trillion over a decade) stimulus package through the House of Representatives but the 244 to 188 vote is a hollow victory indeed. Without a single Republican voting for the bill, his high-profile visit... (posted by Judi 3 years 118 days ago.)

6. The Dark Side of Porn: Choosing Darkness There comes a moment in everyones life when a choice must be made between right and wrong, between good and evil, between light and darkness. These decisions are made in an instant, but with repercussions that lasta lifetime. My troubles began the... (posted by Judi 3 years 122 days ago.)

7. Celebrating The Sanctity of Life Today, the thirty-sixth anniversary of the US Supreme Courts landmark decision, Roe v Wade, thousands of people will be marching in Washington, D.C., and throughout the country, voicing their opposition to abortion. To all who are marching... (posted by Judi 3 years 125 days ago.)

8. I Wonder As I Wander 8 And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with... (posted by Judi 3 years 154 days ago.)

9. Citizenship In Heaven I believe firmly that God speaks to us through others. Oftentimes, through conversations or events, I will receive a message and realize that the Lord is trying to get my attention. I am stubborn ... even... (posted by Judi 3 years 201 days ago.)

10. A Veil Of Sadness Witnessing the triumphant celebrations for President Elect Obama, I couldn't help but feel a veil of sadness for my Nation. I have asked many why we've become a Nation of Compromise? My "head" and "heart" understand two... (posted by Judi 3 years 202 days ago.)

11. The American Ideal: Out Of Many, One Yesterday, on November 4, 2008, I, as did millions of Americans, began my day; standing in a very long line to cast my ballot for the candidate I wanted to be the next President of the United States. When I arrived to a full parking lot, "my... (posted by Judi 3 years 203 days ago.)

12. Memorable Presidential (and Presidential Candidate) Bloopers Oops, Did I Say That? Since the '08 Presidential Campaign has taken its toll on many, I've decided to compile a list of some memorable bloopers to make the wait less stressful -- enjoy ! Dwight D. Eisenhower "I just won't... (posted by Judi 3 years 204 days ago.)

13. A Prayer For Healing Regardless of who becomes the 44 th President Wednesday morning, it is important that we put aside our "feelings" and pray in solidarity for him and for our America: her consciousness, and her people, so that this nation is brought back from the... (posted by Judi 3 years 205 days ago.)

14. The Hierarchy of Moral Evils America, like it or not, there is such a thing as right and wrong. There is a legitimate hierarchy of moral evils, and the direct willful destruction of human life can never be justified ; it can never be supported. As a devout... (posted by Judi 3 years 206 days ago.)

15. A Transformation We Don't Need On Oct. 7, 2007, Sen. Barack Obama spoke to the Planned Parenthood Action Fund and promised, "The first thing I'd do as president is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. That's the first thing I'll do." Watch it for yourself : ... (posted by Judi 3 years 207 days ago.)

16. Judgment Day Is On It's Way "Judgment Day is on its way," Bishop Robert Herman of the Archdiocese of St. Louis wrote last week in the St. Louis Review. "For many, this coming election may very well be judgment day, for this election will measure us . . . More than... (posted by Judi 3 years 211 days ago.)

17. Through The Eyes Of Innocence I lay between my two girls. On my left, my own daughter peacefully sleeps while drooling on my chest. On my right, is my "adopted daughter," Rochelle, sleeping soundly while snoring loudly. Rest will not meet me this evening... (posted by Judi 3 years 213 days ago.)

18. Quick, Clean Up Isle Seven! I know, I know -- I should be working right now . Here I am under tremendous pressure to finish work related deadlines and yet another news alert filters through my e-mail and, again, I am distracted. When I read this article from The... (posted by Judi 3 years 223 days ago.)

19. Prisoners of Hell Look at yourself in a mirror. Is the reflection you see the same as what others see? Probably not. Usually, people can see the qualities within your soul that a mirror does not reveal. Mirrors never reflect our true inner selves. Our real... (posted by Judi 3 years 225 days ago.)

20. When The Messiah Speaks, The Youth Will Listen As much as I am tempted, I cannot take credit for this headline...honest. I've already penned an Obama article in June that stirred some disgust and pity (for me)... so I am really trying to be politically correct (and "good") this time. The... (posted by Judi 3 years 229 days ago.)

21. A Lost America or America, The Bankrupt Nation Despite the protest from many angry constituents, the Bailout bill won the approval from the House this past Friday. If Congress is correct in their figures, then it will only cost American taxpayers three trillion... (posted by Judi 3 years 235 days ago.)

22. The Writing Desk and Freedom “Mamma, you’re just like Thomas Jefferson!" Confused, I ask, “Huh? What’ja talking about baby girl?" “Well, you’re curious and are always jotting down your thoughts just like him ‘cept there’s one thing you don’t have... (posted by Judi 3 years 239 days ago.)

23. Responsible Love: The Pathway Towards Peace As I silently commemorate the anniversary of 9-11, my mind wanders towards peace. Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965) repeatedly said  that as long as there was a man in the world who was hungry, sick, lonely or living in fear, he... (posted by Judi 3 years 258 days ago.)

24. Maria’s Last Song It was mid-morning and Maggie and her husband, Howie, were in the kitchen eagerly preparing the food for their annual Forth of July barbeque. While meticulously carving out the watermelon for her signature fruit salad, Maggie... (posted by Judi 3 years 323 days ago.)

25. The Glory of Love I should have recognized the signs, but I didn’t. Can blaming my shortsightedness of the condition on my own weariness be an ample excuse? I don’t know. I feel terrible that I didn’t know… I should have, but I didn’t. “Mamma, will... (posted by Judi 4 years 2 days ago.)