From Quiet Ponds to Great Republics:
Why We Must Remember
As I sit in a peaceful little town called Rock Valley, Iowa, in our rented Airbnb — an old Iowa home nestled beside a quiet pond — I can feel the weight of history all around me. You can almost hear the stories these walls would tell if they could speak, stories of generations past who built a life on hope, faith, and hard work.
I know it may seem crazy for me to be writing a Substack right now, but we have a rare moment of quiet before the rest of the family arrives for Tom’s dad’s 80th birthday surprise. And as I sit here reflecting, my thoughts drift not only to our family’s legacy but to our nation’s as well, especially with America’s 250th birthday on the horizon
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We are blessed to know the history of our founding. Our forefathers left behind letters, journals, and documents — powerful reminders of the love, the sacrifices, the heartbreak, and the triumphs that shaped this great land. Their courage and convictions built places like Iowa and Idaho — peaceful, beautiful, free, and secure places we are fortunate to call home.
And as we celebrate the milestones of those we love, may we also remember the great inheritance we have been given — and the responsibility we carry to protect and preserve it for generations yet to come. It’s easy to feel hopeless and helpless when we witness lawlessness in our own backyard — like the actions of the Boise Mayor, whose disregard for the rule of law will have consequences far beyond her city, affecting our entire state. And it’s even more disheartening to watch our Governor stand silent. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer so powerfully reminded us, "Not to act is to act. Not to speak is to speak."
But I refuse to be silent. I refuse to stand by and allow history to repeat itself — where good people remain quiet in the face of lawlessness and the erosion of respect for We the People, for our great State, and for our beloved Country.
This is not a time for despair — it’s a time for courage. A time to stand firm. A time to remember that hope is not passive; it is active. It is the unwavering belief that by speaking truth, standing for what is right, and refusing to back down, we can still preserve the blessings of liberty for generations to come.As I take a short sabbatical from the busyness of the past four months, I find myself reflecting deeply on our history — and I want to encourage you to do the same.
Spanish-American philosopher George Santayana wisely said, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." How true those words still ring today.
As we approach the 250th birthday of our great nation, it’s worth pausing to consider the wisdom of our Founders — men and women who understood the cost of freedom and the fierce determination it would take to preserve it. I want to share a few quotes from our Founding Fathers —
The liberties of a people never were, nor ever will be, secure, when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them.
The constitution vests the power of declaring war in Congress; therefore no offensive expedition of importance can be undertaken until after they shall have deliberated upon the subject and authorized such a measure.
How strangely will the Tools of a Tyrant pervert the plain Meaning of Words!
Defense of the Constitutions, I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments by those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations.
One man with courage is a majority.
I have been behind on my Pay Increase donations.
For March I donated to Kimberly Senior Center.
Deuteronomy 4:8-9
And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law that I set before you today?
“Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children's children—
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
Numbers 6:24-26
Enjoy your time of rest!
Lovely post and photos! Thank you!
Your message of standing strong -- and NOT silent -- in the face of lawlessness is so important. Shame to all who fail to step up and say something before it's too late.
P.S. We popped into our own Mom's 80th birthday party as a surprise and were rewarded with her joy at seeing us.