Over at Kelly’s Blog today she was talking about the bad things we’ve read recently in blog land and the horrible stories we see on the news every day and it made her decide to show a little praise. I thought “That Works For Me” and then the light bulb went off what a great “Works For Me Wednesday” post.
Do you ever just give yourself a few minutes to think of all the things you have to give Him praise for? Do you ever slow down long enough to think of what you have to be thankful for? I don’t do either one often enough.
I have blogged about some pretty depressing things this week and I’m going to use those post to praise God.
I was sitting on the couch yesterday going thru a big huge box of Stampin’ Up goodies when The Baby Girl blew thru the back door and announced, “I have mass worms.” I can’t imagine what life will be like when this little girl is grown up, I hate to think about it. I praise God for giving me this little girl, ten years ago when I was single and facing motherhood alone I never knew what a blessing she would be to me. I am ten times the mother to her that I was to The First Born and Mr. Perfect and I praise God for giving me that chance. I praise God for letting me grow as a human being and continuing to work on my heart every day. As angry as I’ve been about Esme Kenney and the monster who killed her, I wonder without this little girl’s death would I have stopped everything I was doing to check out the worms. I praise God for men like Joe Deters who is going to move heaven and earth to get this monster off the streets and make sure he NEVER kills again.
My post about adultery this week gave me the opportunity to praise God for my marriage and what forgiveness has taught me. I have never felt so connected to anyone in my life and I know that happened with God’s help.
My post this week about in God’s Timing reminded me how far God has brought me. I praise Him for that because I’m a mess now but I was a really big mess before I let Him have my heart. I know that no matter what I face He’ll get me thru.
I praise Him today for a beautiful spring day, seven minutes I got to spend in the tanning bed, the feeling I had when I saw Mr. Pefect at a red light today and he was so cute hanging out the car yelling “hey” to his momma, a bestfriend who I know will be in my life when I’m 90, The First Born who never ceases to amaze me and first and foremost my faith. I don’t know what people do without faith.
This post is part of “Hi/Lo Thursday” on the Riggs Family Blog. Check out their blog to read everyone else’s “Hi/Lo” posts and get your link on their site.
We all know I love a good “Blog Party”, Ok I love a good party period.
Let’s see do I want to give you the good news first or the bad news? I always hate making that decision, it’s kinda like trying to decide whether to eat the cherry on a sunday first or last.
I think I’ll go with the Lo-it has to be the recent death of a sweet little girl in Cincinnati this week. It’s really bothered me all week. The problem is a monster was allowed to “beat” the system and a little girl paid for it with her life. This problem isn’t only in Ohio, it’s everywhere. Esme Kenney was a bright light and that light was destroyed by a monster. Cincinnati Enquirer article. I don’t have any answers, I’ve written some letters this week to local government agencies and even to the governor, but does anyone really care? Does anyone that has the ability to change things care about this broken hearted family? Is there a lawmaker left in this country that is sick and tired of children being murdered, raped, beaten etc. I sometimes wonder if children were able to vote would they be more important to our “leaders”. I hope some of these lawmakers take the time to read the eulogy her big brother wrote and delivered at her service.
I have had so many highs this week. I love my job. I can’t tell you how great it feels to get up every morning excited about going to work. I took a trip down Memory Lane last night, exit 32 off of 75. I had dreaded it all week, but it was so good. I drove down familiar streets, saw familiar places and had none of the old feelings. I did not do one single “drive by”, it was so awesome. I know now that I’ve “settled” that chapter of my life, my heart and my soul are healed. Isn’t that awesome? I left good ole’ Middletown, Ohio last night with so much apprecation for my life. I have a wonderful husband, that’s why he’s Mr. Wonderful. I have friends that are the best. Middletown, Ohio is a closed book.
You can fall in love in an instant.
It’s letting go that takes time.
Those of you who know me will not be suprised to learn I sent Joe Deter’s office a letter today. I needed to get the words swimming in my head out. I needed to give Esme’s mother a voice. I needed to let someone know how ticked off I really am.
Let me publicily say I like Joe Deters. I met him years ago when he spoke at a Chamber of Commerce event in Middletown and I feel he is a class act. He’s not judge and jury, he doesn’t have all the answers, he is human. I had read over and over the last few days Joe Deters should have done this or should have done this, when as a society are we going to quit armchair quarterbacking and get involved? I am working on a letter to Ted Strickland, I’ll be sending him an email tonight and I encourage anyone reading my blog who doesn’t want another Esme to leave this world way too soon to get to writing.
3/10/2009
Ms. Chasteen,
Thank you for your email. There are no good answers to your questions. There are evil people in this world who do evil things. The only solution is to lock these people up and keep them off the streets for as long as possible. As you know, there is a shortage of jail (local) and prison (state) space in Ohio. Mr. Deters spearheaded a drive for a new jail in 2006, but received little help from city leaders. The levy failed, as did a subsequent levy, by an even wider margin. The result is that it is difficult to use incarceration as a deterrent or a punishment.
The blog entry you refer to in your email is ill-informed. Not every murder is death eligible. In Kirkland’s 1987 case, he strangled his girlfriend during an argument. That is not a death penalty case. He was appropriately convicted of voluntary manslaughter. He was sentenced to 7 to 25 years incarceration. That was the maximum sentence.
Secondly, Mr. Deters was not the prosecutor in 1987. In 1997, when Kirkland came up for parole, Mr. Deters did oppose his release and he was, in fact, not released. Mr. Deters was not the prosecutor in 2003 when Kirkland was granted parole after having served 16 years.
Third, since Kirkland’s release he has gone to trial on all of his felony indictments. He was acquitted once, and convicted in bench trials twice. The judges impose sentences, not the prosecutor. None of these convictions gave the judges the power to “eliminate Kirkland from existence” as the anonymous blogger demands.
A civilized society does in fact have problems dealing with evil people. More jail and prison space would help. The Governor of Ohio is now pushing to further reduce Ohio’s already weak sentencing provisions. What impact do you think this will have on people like Mr. Kirkland?
Sincerely,
William E. Breyer
Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office Bill.Breyer@hcpros.org
This post has the potential to get ugly, I was struggling with my feelings all day yesterday and then I read Lori’s blog this morning and knew I had to get these thoughts out of my head so I can have a decent day.
I drove around yesterday and listened to Joyce Meyer because I just couldn’t handle the news. I couldn’t get my head &/or heart around the death of a sweet, innocent, talented little girl that by all accounts loved life and lived it fully. She went out for a jog for goodness sakes.
Relatives said Esme was a talented musician who played guitar and pursued with a passion anything that interested her. They said she wanted to learn as much as she could about the world around her.
“Esme had an enthusiasm for everything she did in life,” her brother, Brian, said. “Her personality was giving, kind and open-hearted. Her enthusiasm was infectious.”
As friends and family mourned Esme’s loss, some also expressed anger and frustration over Kirkland’s suspected involvement.
“Parents are outraged,” Leuna Kelly, of Northside, said as she picked up her child and friends Monday at SCPA. “His criminal record is unbelievable. He was building up to this. He took a light and put it out.”
Esme’s cousin, Brad Kenney, said the family would not comment on the investigation, but he said the tragedy is another reminder that the justice system needs to do a better job identifying the criminals who can be rehabilitated and those who cannot.
“There are some criminals that are absolutely beyond rehabilitation and need to be kept permanently locked up,” he said.
Yesterday I found myself obsessing on the monster who killed her. I found myself angry (I was angry enough that I sent an email blasting the lawmakers in Hamilton County, I’ll probably get a speeding ticket today), scared for my child, disgusted that this monster was out walking the streets, confused how a repeat offender can be kicked out of a halfway house but not arrested. Who is looking out for the children of this country? Seriously enough is enough.
Police knew that Anthony Kirkland was dangerous long before they found him sleeping Saturday night in the woods of Winton Hills near the body of Esme Kenney. Rest of story here.
The above is the facts. Anthony Kirkland was dangerous, he was a monster.
I’m disgusted today, but more then anything I’m sad. I want to hug Esme’s mother. I want to picket the courthouse and let lawmakers know enough is enough. I hate the thought that my friend Gina may have to sit in a courthouse and hear what this monster did, she may have to see the crime scene photos, why? Anthony Kirkland belonged in jail.
I hope my friend Nancy Grace hears about this case. I hope someone out there looks out for Esme and all the Esme’s yet to come.
I’m going to be listening to a lot of Joyce today. I listened to her on You Tube today while I got ready and I found the clip below. I’m slamming the door on Satan today.
This post is part of “Hi/Lo Thursday” on the 
