This is one way to work the War on Terror...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/25/AR2008122500931.html
Today..
10 months ago
Monday, December 29, 2008
Saturday, December 27, 2008
It finally happened
I hope everyone had the merriest of Christmases! We had a great time with all our family and our trips to and from Raleigh were pretty quick considering we have 3 small kids. I was able to see all my siblings, which was nice. They seem happy and doing well. Mom and Dad were generous to host us as usual-- there are a lot of us and they do watch the kids, so Ashley and I can hit the after Christmas sales. We always buy wrapping paper, tape, tissue paper and tags for next year! It save money...
Anyways on the way home Hannah had $20 burning a hole in her little pockets. She wanted more webkinz --although she received 4 for Christmas. So, we decided to stop at KB toys at Concord Mills because we had heard that they were going out of business. By the way DON'T GO THERE! It was a mad house and there was nothing good left... Anyways... as we were getting the kids in the car to leave and Ashley was putting the double stroller away he smooshed his finger in the stroller and not thinking calls out, "dammit." Now Ashley doesn't swear very often, but he does use the occasional swear word when things go wrong. I have been warning him for a long time that the kids were going to hear him and use his FUN words, but he still slips up now and again. So, immediately after he says dammit, Hannah trying to get into her seat belt screams out, "dammit! dammit!" I had to laugh-- Ashley was furious and told Hannah not to use that word and that he said it by accident. She then said it again for emphasis... I had to hide I was laughing so hard and I didn't want any of the children to see me. Ashley's only comment to me when we got into the front seat was, "Are you happy?" (He was smiling a little :) I hope he can forgive me for this post, but it was funny and kids will repeat anything-- I am honestly surprised that this is the first time she has used a choice word. Various family members have sworn around my kids before (no offense anyone--I know that sometimes they just come out). Hopefully Hannah won't use any "fun" words in school like my younger brother Shane did. In kindergarten he turned to his teacher as she passed out worksheets and said, "not this damn sheet again!" Too funny!!!
Anyways on the way home Hannah had $20 burning a hole in her little pockets. She wanted more webkinz --although she received 4 for Christmas. So, we decided to stop at KB toys at Concord Mills because we had heard that they were going out of business. By the way DON'T GO THERE! It was a mad house and there was nothing good left... Anyways... as we were getting the kids in the car to leave and Ashley was putting the double stroller away he smooshed his finger in the stroller and not thinking calls out, "dammit." Now Ashley doesn't swear very often, but he does use the occasional swear word when things go wrong. I have been warning him for a long time that the kids were going to hear him and use his FUN words, but he still slips up now and again. So, immediately after he says dammit, Hannah trying to get into her seat belt screams out, "dammit! dammit!" I had to laugh-- Ashley was furious and told Hannah not to use that word and that he said it by accident. She then said it again for emphasis... I had to hide I was laughing so hard and I didn't want any of the children to see me. Ashley's only comment to me when we got into the front seat was, "Are you happy?" (He was smiling a little :) I hope he can forgive me for this post, but it was funny and kids will repeat anything-- I am honestly surprised that this is the first time she has used a choice word. Various family members have sworn around my kids before (no offense anyone--I know that sometimes they just come out). Hopefully Hannah won't use any "fun" words in school like my younger brother Shane did. In kindergarten he turned to his teacher as she passed out worksheets and said, "not this damn sheet again!" Too funny!!!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Eve of Christmas Eve
I am exhausted from all the holidaying and just getting ready for the big day. I still have food to prepare (and cook in the morning-- although Ashley does more than me!) and some presents to wrap. Overall though we are ready for "the big show" (any Elf fans out there? I can quote most of the movie! It is my favorite funny Christmas movie--Hannah and I quote it to each other.) Making and delivering cookies has worn me out, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. I had to bribe the girls to go deliver the cookies with me by offering a movie! But, they enjoyed going because our last stop was at a friend's house and we went in to go to the bathroom and just didn't leave! They played and I ran my mouth for about an hour and an half-- something fun for all of us!
Yesterday was CVS day and I made out like a bandit (I almost feel guilty!), but some things just weren't in stock, so I asked for rainchecks and I will have to hope for the best when I go back. I bought 2 Loreal eyeshadows, 2 bottles of Sally Hansen nail polish, 1 package of Benefiber (I figure maybe mom or dad need it-- ha ha), 1 package of Zantac (great for pregnancy), 1 package of Exceterin (did I spell that right?), 5 listerines, 1 Right Guard, 2 bags of M&Ms, a tube of lip balm, an energy bar and some energy drinks all for under $3! Yep! CVS ROCKS! I saved over $50! Now I need to give Cadi, my Gambian (a country somewhere in Africa-- I am not great with geography!) stalker, some red nail polish for Christmas (if you don't know about her I will explain in a later post!) She keeps coming up to the door asking for nail polish! I also received my GUM coupons in the mail from ebay (I paid $3 for the lot including shipping), so now I have to get busy going to Harris Teeter to redeem all of them-- 20 in all. Let me know if you need a toothbrush--lol. They are good to have around at Christmas for packages to the troops and stuff-- But, I guess we will never run out of Listerine! I have thought about doing a mini-class on how I stretch my dollar, but would anyone really come?! Is it anything that most shoppers don't already know? And just because it works for me would it work for you and your family? And do you really want to spend the time and energy I do on shopping for deals? For me it is almost an addiction to see how much I can get for how little. I don't know. If you are interested in some of my cheapness tips let me know. It is from great cheap shoppers that I learned and gleaned so much! Ning, my next door neighbor, opened the world of CVS to me and I am so grateful. I have about 100 free Durecell batteries in my closet thanks to her! Kudos to Ning! So maybe I can pass on various tips from others and some I have found along the way--lol! Have a wonderful Eve of Christmas Eve and a more spiritual post on the morrow!
Yesterday was CVS day and I made out like a bandit (I almost feel guilty!), but some things just weren't in stock, so I asked for rainchecks and I will have to hope for the best when I go back. I bought 2 Loreal eyeshadows, 2 bottles of Sally Hansen nail polish, 1 package of Benefiber (I figure maybe mom or dad need it-- ha ha), 1 package of Zantac (great for pregnancy), 1 package of Exceterin (did I spell that right?), 5 listerines, 1 Right Guard, 2 bags of M&Ms, a tube of lip balm, an energy bar and some energy drinks all for under $3! Yep! CVS ROCKS! I saved over $50! Now I need to give Cadi, my Gambian (a country somewhere in Africa-- I am not great with geography!) stalker, some red nail polish for Christmas (if you don't know about her I will explain in a later post!) She keeps coming up to the door asking for nail polish! I also received my GUM coupons in the mail from ebay (I paid $3 for the lot including shipping), so now I have to get busy going to Harris Teeter to redeem all of them-- 20 in all. Let me know if you need a toothbrush--lol. They are good to have around at Christmas for packages to the troops and stuff-- But, I guess we will never run out of Listerine! I have thought about doing a mini-class on how I stretch my dollar, but would anyone really come?! Is it anything that most shoppers don't already know? And just because it works for me would it work for you and your family? And do you really want to spend the time and energy I do on shopping for deals? For me it is almost an addiction to see how much I can get for how little. I don't know. If you are interested in some of my cheapness tips let me know. It is from great cheap shoppers that I learned and gleaned so much! Ning, my next door neighbor, opened the world of CVS to me and I am so grateful. I have about 100 free Durecell batteries in my closet thanks to her! Kudos to Ning! So maybe I can pass on various tips from others and some I have found along the way--lol! Have a wonderful Eve of Christmas Eve and a more spiritual post on the morrow!
Thursday, December 18, 2008
My cheapness report for the week...
My cheapness report for the week comes from Harris Teeter. I have learned that if it is on sale at a good price you should get a raincheck at Harris Teeter for whatever you possibly can. So, I got a raincheck for Buy 2 get 3 Free Palermo's Pizzas at Harris Teeter a couple of weeks back (limit 10 pizzas altogether). They are a fairly good frozen pizza-- good size too and I had a $.75 coupon which was doubled ($1.50 off) for every pizza that was not considered free. So, I went in this week and the pizzas were Buy 1 get 1 Free. When HT does this the item becomes half off. So, I essentially bought 2 pizzas and got $1.50 off each pizza and received 8 free-- KABAM!!! They were each about $1.10 a pizza with tax-- usually $7.29 a pizza before tax. I will have to let you know how it goes at CVS next week. They have some awesome sales, BUT the sale starts on Sunday, so I have to go Monday (that whole keep the Sabbath Holy thing :) We will see how I fair-- I'll make a full report-- lol!
Friday, December 12, 2008
Christmas in Hilton Head
Can I just say that I really need some tutoring on how to move pictures and put things on my blog! I try to hard and it becomes a mess!!!! Anyways here are the pictures. I keep posting them on my blog and the captions come out wrong! So, I will just label everything here...
Ashley and me!
Next is Ashley with Graham (Dad to Sammy and husband to Shanna) and Jim (the sexy, single brother).
Then Brandon (cousin) and Bettye (aunt) showing off their grotesque, long tongues! (Look out Kiss!)
Here is Ellie at her dolled up best-- she loves dress up and Riley trying to ride her new car toy! We didn't even get it out of the box yet! Here is Hannah and Carlyle with their webkinz patiently waiting for more gifts. And last is Shanna and Sammy-- Mom, I have seen it all before!
We spent last weekend celebrating Christmas with
Ashley's extended family in Hilton Head, SC.
This is a family tradition and we have done it every year
but one because of me being sick.
Actually until recently the party was held in Florence, SC
where Ashley's very young grandmother used to live.
But, about 4 years back she moved to Hilton Head to sew her wild oats (just
kidding Granny!), thus
moving the party to that area.
We made great time for 3 kids and a pregnant lady
and we arrived in time for a late dinner before going to Ashley's Aunt Cynthia and Uncle Darryl's home on the other side of the island.
About 20 minutes after we arrived Ashley calls me to the
bathroom with some urgency... Hannah had thrown up! What a way to start a trip
AND with my yakking issues!
We cleaned her up and she did get sick a couple more times that evening, but
fell asleep and woke up hungry (she ate bacon!) the next morning!
No fever-- no nothing else. So far (knock on wood) no one else has had it, so I'm
hoping it was just something she ate!
Anyways... it turned out to be fun weekend and I am glad that we did not go home. I want to thank Ashley's aunt and uncle for their
incredible hospitality in letting us stay in their beautiful, movie star home. I was
terrified that the kids were going to break something as I am in most homes
that do not have children living in them day to day-- but we made it through with
Ashley the only one breaking anything. I can't take him anywhere!
Everyone in the family was so gracious and we really had a great time!
Hannah and Ellie had the most wonderful time with their second cousin
Carlyle. She is all they can talk about! They are the only grandkids on
my side of the family and Ashley's brother has one little boy who is almost three. They
are expecting their second in July! So, it is nice for the girls to have
a girl their age to play with! Here are some pics that
JEEYUM, Ashley's single, hot, younger brother, took!
(Any ladies out there looking for romance-- I'll hook you up!)
Friday, December 5, 2008
Cheap, Cheap, CHEAP!!
Okay it is crazy to do 2 posts in one day, but I have 2 very different things on my mind, so I need different posts. I have a confession to make-- I am addicted to all things cheap. It is almost like a game for me sometimes-- to see how much money I can save and how cheap I can get something. Here are a few examples of my cheapness:
1. Buying my kids gifts at yard sales-- they are too little to care and people get rid of stuff that looks new! I also buy all my books used. We have a great kid's library at my house!
2. Buying most of my kids clothes at yard sales. I do buy a few things at the store for Hannah, because it gets harder and harder to find her clothing at yard sales, but it is always on sale-- cheap! I guess I shouldn't feel too guilty because there will be 3 other girls for her to pass things on to, but knowing how cheap I can find things spending more than $2 for something used or $4 for something new is outrageous to me!
3. I LOVE triple coupons! Seeing the words makes my heart flutter! Today I went to triple coupons at Bloom and spent $8.32 for 25 items. My total savings were $51.20. Most of what I bought with a coupon tripled was free-- I did splurge and pay $1.50 for Breyers ice cream and $1.35 for cinnamon rolls for the kids, but that was about it. I LOVE triple coupons (and I still have a ton of good coupons left!)
4. Looking for good grocery deals in general. Did you know that Harris Teeter has AWESOME buy 1 get 2 free and buy 2 get 3 free deals this week. You can buy Perdue fresh chicken breasts for b1g2f or Fresh Express Salad for b1g2f and I had a $. 75 off coupon for the salad that they will double! Look up the other deals on HarrisTeeter.com-- great offers!
5. Can anyone say CVS? I am so saddened that I didn't find the joy of CVS cash back bonuses before recently. Ning and the ladies on a website I visit helped me understand the joys of buying for free at CVS. Last week they had a battery special. I had a gift card for a transferred prescription (I do that a lot if I have a coupon). So, I went in and found coupons for $5 off any two packs of Duracell batteries (I should also add that the batteries were on sale from the regular price). If I spent $20 on batteries CVS would give me 15 EBCs (credit to use on anything but prescriptions in their store). So, I bought $23 worth of batteries used my 2/$5 coupons and some other random $.75 coupons I had and got 15 EBCs back to go buy more batteries. You could do the deal 3 times, so I ended up with close to 100 FREE batteries! I LOVE free. That is just one example of the many free things you can get at CVS!
6. I always go shopping right after a holiday and find things 50%, 75% and 90% off. If you go to Target about 6 days after Christmas everything is 75% off and about 2 days later they put everything 90% off. CVS is even better and will make everything 90% off just a few days after Christmas. You would be surprised at all the junk they have that make GREAT gifts on sale CHEAP!
7. My last tip for this post is that Target has 2 toy sales each year-- usually in July and January. When you see them put a bunch of toys on sale for 50% off then 75% is coming. I try to go to Target everyday up until it all goes 75% and then you can make out with some seriously cool toys for Christmas and birthdays that you paid nothing for.
So, there are some of my cheapness tips. I will pass on more with time. There are so many ways to be cheap-- I am still working on perfecting everything, so if you have some good tips to share please let me know! Happy Christmas shopping and may you NEVER pay full price!
1. Buying my kids gifts at yard sales-- they are too little to care and people get rid of stuff that looks new! I also buy all my books used. We have a great kid's library at my house!
2. Buying most of my kids clothes at yard sales. I do buy a few things at the store for Hannah, because it gets harder and harder to find her clothing at yard sales, but it is always on sale-- cheap! I guess I shouldn't feel too guilty because there will be 3 other girls for her to pass things on to, but knowing how cheap I can find things spending more than $2 for something used or $4 for something new is outrageous to me!
3. I LOVE triple coupons! Seeing the words makes my heart flutter! Today I went to triple coupons at Bloom and spent $8.32 for 25 items. My total savings were $51.20. Most of what I bought with a coupon tripled was free-- I did splurge and pay $1.50 for Breyers ice cream and $1.35 for cinnamon rolls for the kids, but that was about it. I LOVE triple coupons (and I still have a ton of good coupons left!)
4. Looking for good grocery deals in general. Did you know that Harris Teeter has AWESOME buy 1 get 2 free and buy 2 get 3 free deals this week. You can buy Perdue fresh chicken breasts for b1g2f or Fresh Express Salad for b1g2f and I had a $. 75 off coupon for the salad that they will double! Look up the other deals on HarrisTeeter.com-- great offers!
5. Can anyone say CVS? I am so saddened that I didn't find the joy of CVS cash back bonuses before recently. Ning and the ladies on a website I visit helped me understand the joys of buying for free at CVS. Last week they had a battery special. I had a gift card for a transferred prescription (I do that a lot if I have a coupon). So, I went in and found coupons for $5 off any two packs of Duracell batteries (I should also add that the batteries were on sale from the regular price). If I spent $20 on batteries CVS would give me 15 EBCs (credit to use on anything but prescriptions in their store). So, I bought $23 worth of batteries used my 2/$5 coupons and some other random $.75 coupons I had and got 15 EBCs back to go buy more batteries. You could do the deal 3 times, so I ended up with close to 100 FREE batteries! I LOVE free. That is just one example of the many free things you can get at CVS!
6. I always go shopping right after a holiday and find things 50%, 75% and 90% off. If you go to Target about 6 days after Christmas everything is 75% off and about 2 days later they put everything 90% off. CVS is even better and will make everything 90% off just a few days after Christmas. You would be surprised at all the junk they have that make GREAT gifts on sale CHEAP!
7. My last tip for this post is that Target has 2 toy sales each year-- usually in July and January. When you see them put a bunch of toys on sale for 50% off then 75% is coming. I try to go to Target everyday up until it all goes 75% and then you can make out with some seriously cool toys for Christmas and birthdays that you paid nothing for.
So, there are some of my cheapness tips. I will pass on more with time. There are so many ways to be cheap-- I am still working on perfecting everything, so if you have some good tips to share please let me know! Happy Christmas shopping and may you NEVER pay full price!
Appreciation
Can I just thank those few of you who read my blog!!! I really appreciate your kindness in listening to my rants and taking interest in pictures of my sweet little girls. It is just nice to express myself even if few are listening to what I have to say. So, thank you for your support! As some of you may know (and some may not) this has been a trying year for our family. It has probably the most trying time of my life and I know it has been difficult for Ashley. As Christmas approaches I have wanted to emphasize the importance of loving and helping others to my children. So, as part of that I have looked for free or very inexpensive ways to help those around us like: cookies, cards, small dollar store gifts or volunteering of time. This morning on Meridianmagazine.com I received an article about a wonderful organization and I wanted to pass it on to all of you. The name of the group is Reach the Children and the website is:
100% of your donations will go to the families and children helped by this organization. One of the things they do to help families is by fostering self reliance by helping them buy livestock such as cows and goats. The families can then use the money from the milk from these animals to buy seeds to start a garden and the animal waste to fertilize the plants. It is a wonderful program. Gifts can be as small as $4, so even children can participate and feel like they have given to someone who needs it. Here are some things that your money could buy a needy family in Africa:
Gift Amount
Your Gift Can Provide
$4
A mosquito net for one child
$5
A nurse's salary for one day at a clinic.
$6
A pair of shoes for a child
$15
One school uniform and pair of shoes for an orphan
$20
Two rabbits for a needy family
$25
Textbooks and a lantern for one student
$35
A mattress, sheet set, and blanket for an orphan
$50
A teacher's salary for two weeks
$60
Full immunizations for 6 children
$75
A goat for a needy family
$100
Supplies for a community garden to feed many families
$150
Vocational training for one student
$175
Funding for a micro-enterprise loan
$250
A fruit dryer for a family to start a commercial business
$325
A hand dug well
$350
A year of high school education for one student
$375
A sewing machine and fabric for vocational training
$475
A donkey or a dairy cow
$600
A teacher's salary for six months
$1,000
Stay Alive manuals to reach 10,000 families.
$1,300
Funding for a micro-enterprise association
$14,500
A water well for clean water to an entire community
$30,000
A community development center
Your Gift Can Provide
$4
A mosquito net for one child
$5
A nurse's salary for one day at a clinic.
$6
A pair of shoes for a child
$15
One school uniform and pair of shoes for an orphan
$20
Two rabbits for a needy family
$25
Textbooks and a lantern for one student
$35
A mattress, sheet set, and blanket for an orphan
$50
A teacher's salary for two weeks
$60
Full immunizations for 6 children
$75
A goat for a needy family
$100
Supplies for a community garden to feed many families
$150
Vocational training for one student
$175
Funding for a micro-enterprise loan
$250
A fruit dryer for a family to start a commercial business
$325
A hand dug well
$350
A year of high school education for one student
$375
A sewing machine and fabric for vocational training
$475
A donkey or a dairy cow
$600
A teacher's salary for six months
$1,000
Stay Alive manuals to reach 10,000 families.
$1,300
Funding for a micro-enterprise association
$14,500
A water well for clean water to an entire community
$30,000
A community development center
Thanks for listening and have a great day!!!
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving to all and may you eat lots of food!
What could be better about Thanksgiving? We are having a quiet
Thanksgiving at home this year with just 3 people other than our
brood coming for supper. Ashley has been cooking up a storm (can you believe
how much I don't do?!) He has made the dressing, prepared and cooked the turkey,
homemade wheat roles (he ground the wheat also before he made the rolls),
sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, collards, pumpkin pie, crock pot mac and cheese and he is currently
working on the giblet gravy. What have I done you may ask? I cleaned the
house-- which I haven't been keeping up on lately and I did all the shopping for
the food. I made deviled eggs and kept the kids busy while he cooked.
Today I am making mashed potatoes (out of potato pearls--ha ha) and helping
get everything in and out of the oven. Really, what good am I? It is just hard for
me to do everything when I am pregnant...
I love my babies ever so dearly, but being pregnant is such a hard pill for
me to swallow. I become this different person that I don't really like
very much. I am sick (most of the time) and extremely tired, but sometimes
I can't sleep. That I can actually live with-- it is the emotional havoc it reeks on me that makes life so difficult. I am paranoid (really paranoid about everything!), really, really sensitive about everything and manic
with my mood swings! If you doubt it ask Ashley. He will just grin and say,
"I love my wife!" One minute life is grand and I am grateful for all that I have and the next
I am crying uncontrollably and don't want to have anything to do with anyone or anything. Social situations can be almost painful for me when I am pregnant-- family or not!
Does this happen to anyone else? I know
I must drive that poor man (Ashley) insane and he really doesn't need anymore stress in
his life currently (come to think of it I don't either!)
Wow! I didn't expect to tirade on this beautiful day to be grateful for all that I have
been given-- because I have been given so much! BUT, through pregnancy I have
learned to be grateful for what little mental health I have ;) when I am not pregnant!
I am grateful for energy and my wonderful husband who does more than he should
and NEVER complains! I am also grateful for my little angels and
would do pregnancy over for each of them--I am also grateful for a Father in Heaven is so patient
with me through all my bellyaching and for his Son who lifts me above what I am!
May you find joy and love today!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Monday, November 3, 2008
Halloween Fun
Rabon's love Halloween and we had a great Halloween with our little girls. Here are some of our fun Halloween pictures...
Hannah was a great witch and as the night went on she kept shedding different parts of her costume. By the time we got home (we were in the car coming from a party after trick-o-treating) she was down to purple and black striped tights and a white t-shirt. Ellie was a pink poodle and just adorable-- it so fit her personality. When we first started out trick-o-treating in her exhuberation Ellie ran and slid head first down a muddy hill. So, after that she really looked like a dog-- covered in dirt-- what dog do you know that is clean? After she fell head first she got up and said with a smile, "I'm okay, I'm okay." She had a great time!!!! Riley was adorable as a kangaroo. If you asked her where her Roo was she would grab the baby in her pouch. She caught on to trick-o-treating pretty quickly. She would run up to the door with the other kids and push her way to the front. It was amazing to her that people were offering her candy at the door. She would grab all her little, pudgy hands could hold and put it in her bag. Many times the people would give her extra or just let her take candy until she was ready to go. It was the cuteness factor. She wouldn't talk to anyone, but she waved her thanks as we left each door. I had such a wonderful time with my girls. 
A few Fair pics... Daddy had a Job Fair, so we stayed in Raleigh an extra day and went to our favorite Fall destination-- The NC State Fair.
This is Ellie with "Buela's" candy apple. What is Fair without all the junk food. We started the morning with ham biscuits, had chocolate milk and samples a little while later, cotton candy, candy apples, pickles, Greek pitas, popcorn, peanuts, kabobs, corn on the cob, hot dogs, fried onion (like bloomin onion), fried potato chips and Ashley had a fried twinkie (but never shared!!!!) As Ellie drifted off to sleep that night she told me that she had a stomachache and Hannah woke up in the middle night sure she was going to yak (she never did-- apparently she had dreamed that she was eating a chicken's bum and it made her feel sick-- HA). Is it any wonder? My kids usually eat fairly healthy-- their little systems couldn't take it. Their favorite part of the fair was holding the baby ducks and chicks. I have to admit that I love that part also-- and the piggies. I LOVE piggies. Friday, October 31, 2008
The REASON
This video presentation made my day! I first watched it with Hannah who desparately tried not to cry and then with Ashley, whose tears, like mine flowed freely. The CD is also phenomenal--
Be Thou Humble had me crying after a few bars-- the man's voice was beyond amazing. It is nice to be reminded why we are here and who we need to thank for all we have. It was a further testimony to me that Jesus is indeed the Christ, the Son of the Living God sent to cleanse, comfort, teach and save. May you all feel the beauty of this presentation.
http://deseretbook.com/reflections/
Be Thou Humble had me crying after a few bars-- the man's voice was beyond amazing. It is nice to be reminded why we are here and who we need to thank for all we have. It was a further testimony to me that Jesus is indeed the Christ, the Son of the Living God sent to cleanse, comfort, teach and save. May you all feel the beauty of this presentation.
http://deseretbook.com/reflections/
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Scorecards
This was on meridianmagazine.com this morning-- a family scorecard for each of the candidates. These are important issues that will effect how our children are taught in school and what kind of nation we will face in the coming years!
The Family Research Council has researched both candidates extensively, including their comments, their former votes and news reports to compile a voter scorecard on where John McCain and Barack Obama stand on family issues. It is a highly-detailed voter guide that drills down “on the issues important to the family so as to discover not only a candidate's position, but the depth of that position.” Footnotes and reference guides are given for further reading.
This scorecard certainly does not claim to cover every family issue, but does look at many of the ones that are or will be considered by the government. Though, in this scorecard, questions about poverty are not directly asked, by far the most significant influence on whether a child will grow up in poverty is his or her family structure. Children who grow up in intact families with married fathers and mothers are much less likely to experience poverty.
You can download a copy of this scorecard by clicking here . To see it requires a simple registration.
Here's a sample of the questions and positions:
Women's Health
Would you support a federal law prohibiting both human reproductive cloning and cloning for research?
McCain: Yes Obama: No
Do you support Medicaid-funded abortions?
McCain : No Obama : Yes.
Abstinence Education
Would you support or oppose a federal parental notification law before a minor receives an abortion?
McCain: Support Obama : Oppose
Would you fight to protect the integrity of federally defined abstinence-until-marriage education?
McCain: Yes Obama: No
Promoting Stronger Marriages
Do you support a U.S. constitutional amendment to define and protect marriage as the union of one man and one woman?
McCain: No Obama: No
If you do not support a U.S. constitutional amendment to define and protect marriage now, would any of these hypothetical future circumstances allow you to support such amendment?
*if one or several state supreme courts require their states to recognize same-sex marriages from another state.
McCain: Yes Obama: No
*if the U.S. Supreme Court requires states to recognize same-sex marriages from another state (thus overturning a provision of the federal Defense of Marriage Act)
McCain: Yes Obama: No
*if the U.S. Supreme Court requires the federal government to recognize same-sex marriages and/or partnerships for any purpose under federal law (thus overturning a provision of the federal Defense of Marriage Act)
McCain: Yes Obama: No
*if the U.S. Supreme Court rules that same-sex marriage is a right under the U.S. Constitution
McCain: Yes Obama: No
The Federal Defense of Marriage Act (1996) declares marriage to be the union of one man and one woman for all purposes of the federal government and declares that states do not have to recognize same-sex marriages from other states. Which of the following describes your position on the federal DOMA?
*I would veto any bill that would weaken any provision of the federal DOMA --McCain
*I would support repeal of the provision of DOMA that defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman for all federal purposes, thus freeing the federal government to give marital benefits to same-sex couples. -- Obama
*I would support repeal of the provision of DOMA that declares states do not have to recognize same-sex marriages from other states, thus leaving courts free to require such recognition under the Constitution's “full faith and credit” clause. --Obama
Homosexuality and Special Rights
Which of the following comes closest to your position on the Employment Non-Discrimination ACT (ENDA) which would grant federal civil rights protection on the basis of sexual orientation?
*I would veto any bill to provide federal civil rights protection on the basis of sexual orientation. --McCain
*I would sign a bill to give federal civil rights protection based on sexual orientation and “gender identity”. --Obama
The Family Research Council has researched both candidates extensively, including their comments, their former votes and news reports to compile a voter scorecard on where John McCain and Barack Obama stand on family issues. It is a highly-detailed voter guide that drills down “on the issues important to the family so as to discover not only a candidate's position, but the depth of that position.” Footnotes and reference guides are given for further reading.
This scorecard certainly does not claim to cover every family issue, but does look at many of the ones that are or will be considered by the government. Though, in this scorecard, questions about poverty are not directly asked, by far the most significant influence on whether a child will grow up in poverty is his or her family structure. Children who grow up in intact families with married fathers and mothers are much less likely to experience poverty.
You can download a copy of this scorecard by clicking here . To see it requires a simple registration.
Here's a sample of the questions and positions:
Women's Health
Would you support a federal law prohibiting both human reproductive cloning and cloning for research?
McCain: Yes Obama: No
Do you support Medicaid-funded abortions?
McCain : No Obama : Yes.
Abstinence Education
Would you support or oppose a federal parental notification law before a minor receives an abortion?
McCain: Support Obama : Oppose
Would you fight to protect the integrity of federally defined abstinence-until-marriage education?
McCain: Yes Obama: No
Promoting Stronger Marriages
Do you support a U.S. constitutional amendment to define and protect marriage as the union of one man and one woman?
McCain: No Obama: No
If you do not support a U.S. constitutional amendment to define and protect marriage now, would any of these hypothetical future circumstances allow you to support such amendment?
*if one or several state supreme courts require their states to recognize same-sex marriages from another state.
McCain: Yes Obama: No
*if the U.S. Supreme Court requires states to recognize same-sex marriages from another state (thus overturning a provision of the federal Defense of Marriage Act)
McCain: Yes Obama: No
*if the U.S. Supreme Court requires the federal government to recognize same-sex marriages and/or partnerships for any purpose under federal law (thus overturning a provision of the federal Defense of Marriage Act)
McCain: Yes Obama: No
*if the U.S. Supreme Court rules that same-sex marriage is a right under the U.S. Constitution
McCain: Yes Obama: No
The Federal Defense of Marriage Act (1996) declares marriage to be the union of one man and one woman for all purposes of the federal government and declares that states do not have to recognize same-sex marriages from other states. Which of the following describes your position on the federal DOMA?
*I would veto any bill that would weaken any provision of the federal DOMA --McCain
*I would support repeal of the provision of DOMA that defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman for all federal purposes, thus freeing the federal government to give marital benefits to same-sex couples. -- Obama
*I would support repeal of the provision of DOMA that declares states do not have to recognize same-sex marriages from other states, thus leaving courts free to require such recognition under the Constitution's “full faith and credit” clause. --Obama
Homosexuality and Special Rights
Which of the following comes closest to your position on the Employment Non-Discrimination ACT (ENDA) which would grant federal civil rights protection on the basis of sexual orientation?
*I would veto any bill to provide federal civil rights protection on the basis of sexual orientation. --McCain
*I would sign a bill to give federal civil rights protection based on sexual orientation and “gender identity”. --Obama
Monday, October 27, 2008
Economic Times
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfascZSTU4o
I heard this guy speak this morning on the news. He made this prediction or calculation 2 years ago and made another dire prediction today-- a depression much like what the US experienced in the 1930's. You do have to wonder where the economy is headed with the likelihood of Barack Obama as our president. And I don't think that McCain's economic plans are any better. I think the problem is that we as Americans want to have our cake and eat it too. We want the nicer car, house, boat, television-- whatever, but we don't want to pay for it until later. And when it comes time to pay if we don't have the money to pay the bill we want government to fix it, so we don't feel the pain. It is like a child and parent-- for example-- Today it was windy and chilly outside. I told Ellie as we were headed to the grocery store to put on her jacket, because it was chilly and she might get cold in short sleeves. She didn't want to put on her jacket, so when we got to frozen foods she was cold, whiny and wanted my jacket. I told her I put on my jacket because I knew it was cold and warned her to do the same, but she refused and so being cold was the consequence. Do you think that she will wear her jacket next time? We will see, but the American public in essence has left their jackets at home and now politicians want to give them a jacket, hat, gloves and a scarf instead of telling them-- next time bring your jacket.
I heard this guy speak this morning on the news. He made this prediction or calculation 2 years ago and made another dire prediction today-- a depression much like what the US experienced in the 1930's. You do have to wonder where the economy is headed with the likelihood of Barack Obama as our president. And I don't think that McCain's economic plans are any better. I think the problem is that we as Americans want to have our cake and eat it too. We want the nicer car, house, boat, television-- whatever, but we don't want to pay for it until later. And when it comes time to pay if we don't have the money to pay the bill we want government to fix it, so we don't feel the pain. It is like a child and parent-- for example-- Today it was windy and chilly outside. I told Ellie as we were headed to the grocery store to put on her jacket, because it was chilly and she might get cold in short sleeves. She didn't want to put on her jacket, so when we got to frozen foods she was cold, whiny and wanted my jacket. I told her I put on my jacket because I knew it was cold and warned her to do the same, but she refused and so being cold was the consequence. Do you think that she will wear her jacket next time? We will see, but the American public in essence has left their jackets at home and now politicians want to give them a jacket, hat, gloves and a scarf instead of telling them-- next time bring your jacket.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
It could ALWAYS be worse
With all that is going on in my life right now I must remind myself of all the blessings I receive from my Heavenly Father daily-- they are many and wonderful!! And after reading this article CLEAN WATER is definitely at the top of the list. ENJOY!
Monday, October 20, 2008
Proposition 8-- A LONG post-- BUT good!
I am pretty straight forward with my political positions and I have been known to email and call members of Congress, the Senate and even the president on occasion. My political views are deeply connected to my religious views although there are many Latter Day Saints that vote quite the opposite than me on Election Day. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints does not support candidates or political parties, but on occasion they do support bills or moral positions. So it is with Proposition 8-- The LDS church has asked members to do all in their power to support a bill in California that would make marriage between a man in a woman the law. I believe that there will be unsettling consequences for families and especially children all over the country if Prosition 8 fails. I wanted to quote from a fantastic article that I recently read from Meridianmagazine.com on the issue. Glen Greener outlines what failure to pass Proposition 8 (marriage between a man and a woman) could mean for our country. This is not just a California issue because if this bill fails most states will be required to recognize marriages in California despite their laws about marriage. Here is the article:
"1. Children in public schools will have to be taught that same-sex marriage is just as good as traditional marriage . The California Education Code (§51890) already requires that health education classes instruct children about marriage. Therefore, unless Proposition 8 passes, children will be taught that marriage is a relation between any two adults regardless of gender. There will be serious clashes between the secular school system and the right of parents to teach their children their own values and beliefs.
2. It will lead to more government intrusion into private lives . A photographer in Albuquerque refused to photograph a lesbian couple's civil union ceremony. The New Mexico Human Rights Commission fined the photographer $6000 even though there were other photographers willing to accept the business. And this in a state where same-sex marriage is still illegal.
3. It will lead to speech monitors. An employee at the City of Oakland was threatened with termination for using the terms “natural family, marriage and family values” while discussing a public issue with co-workers. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal backed up the district court saying administrative efficiency in a government office is more important than free speech. Today it's municipal employees; tomorrow … who?
4. Anti-discrimination regulations will become more important than religious beliefs. In Vista, California, a lesbian couple sued a doctor who refused to perform a requested artificial insemination because of the doctor's religious beliefs. Although another doctor offered to do the procedure, the California Supreme Court held unanimously that the “1 st Amendment's right to the free exercise of religion does not exempt defendant physicians here from conforming their conduct to the … antidiscrimination requirements.” An elective procedure, no emergency involved, another doctor willing to do the procedure. Anti-bias laws will outweigh religion.
5. Churches will be sued over their tax-exempt status if they refuse to allow same-sex marriage ceremonies in their religious buildings open to the public. While pastors, priests, ministers, bishops, and rabbis may not be forced to conduct such marriages themselves, they will be required to allow such marriages in their chapels and sanctuaries.
6. Religious adoption agencies will be challenged by government to give up their long-held right to place children only in homes with both a mother and a father. Catholic Charities in Boston has already closed its doors because of the legalization of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts.
7. Religions that sponsor private schools with married-student housing will be required to provide housing for same-sex couples, even if counter to church doctrine, or risk lawsuits over tax exemptions and related benefits.
8. Ministers who preach against same-sex marriages will be sued for hate speech and could be fined by the government. It has already happened in Canada, one of six countries that have legalized gay marriage. If a government agency such as the Alberta Human Rights Commission can stop a minister from teaching his church's doctrine about marriage, then it won't be long before everyone's free speech rights will be in jeopardy.
9. It will cost everyone more money. This change in the definition of marriage will bring a cascade of lawsuits, including some already decided adversely. Even if courts eventually find in favor of a defender of traditional marriage (highly improbable given today's activist judges), think of the money – your money, your church contributions – that will be spent on legal battles.
Think of a world where Human Rights Commissions – unelected bureaucrats with unfettered authority – are judge, jury, and executioner of anything they feel is antagonistic speech toward same-sex marriage and its practitioners.
Think of a world where the judicial system relegates long-held religious beliefs to second-class importance behind anti-bias laws and a newly discovered protected class of people.
Think of a world where the public school system is required to teach values and beliefs to your children that may conflict with your own.
Think of the very real threat to your parental rights, your free speech, your freedom of religion."
I don't think this is a doomsday prediction. I think we are already seeing some of these examples in our courts if we pay attention to what is happening in our country. I do not believe that hate or anger are ways to combat this issue or any other. I just pray for wisdom and prudence as people consider their votes for 2008.
On a little lighter note: Ashley and I did call to encourage people to get out and VOTE Yes on Proposition 8. It was a great experience and I spoke with many nice people on both sides of the issue. Ashley was leaving a message with one family on the answering machine and he was trying to say, "Have a great day!" But his words became garbled and he said instead, "Have a gay day!" Oh well-- he did correct himself in the end!
"1. Children in public schools will have to be taught that same-sex marriage is just as good as traditional marriage . The California Education Code (§51890) already requires that health education classes instruct children about marriage. Therefore, unless Proposition 8 passes, children will be taught that marriage is a relation between any two adults regardless of gender. There will be serious clashes between the secular school system and the right of parents to teach their children their own values and beliefs.
2. It will lead to more government intrusion into private lives . A photographer in Albuquerque refused to photograph a lesbian couple's civil union ceremony. The New Mexico Human Rights Commission fined the photographer $6000 even though there were other photographers willing to accept the business. And this in a state where same-sex marriage is still illegal.
3. It will lead to speech monitors. An employee at the City of Oakland was threatened with termination for using the terms “natural family, marriage and family values” while discussing a public issue with co-workers. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal backed up the district court saying administrative efficiency in a government office is more important than free speech. Today it's municipal employees; tomorrow … who?
4. Anti-discrimination regulations will become more important than religious beliefs. In Vista, California, a lesbian couple sued a doctor who refused to perform a requested artificial insemination because of the doctor's religious beliefs. Although another doctor offered to do the procedure, the California Supreme Court held unanimously that the “1 st Amendment's right to the free exercise of religion does not exempt defendant physicians here from conforming their conduct to the … antidiscrimination requirements.” An elective procedure, no emergency involved, another doctor willing to do the procedure. Anti-bias laws will outweigh religion.
5. Churches will be sued over their tax-exempt status if they refuse to allow same-sex marriage ceremonies in their religious buildings open to the public. While pastors, priests, ministers, bishops, and rabbis may not be forced to conduct such marriages themselves, they will be required to allow such marriages in their chapels and sanctuaries.
6. Religious adoption agencies will be challenged by government to give up their long-held right to place children only in homes with both a mother and a father. Catholic Charities in Boston has already closed its doors because of the legalization of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts.
7. Religions that sponsor private schools with married-student housing will be required to provide housing for same-sex couples, even if counter to church doctrine, or risk lawsuits over tax exemptions and related benefits.
8. Ministers who preach against same-sex marriages will be sued for hate speech and could be fined by the government. It has already happened in Canada, one of six countries that have legalized gay marriage. If a government agency such as the Alberta Human Rights Commission can stop a minister from teaching his church's doctrine about marriage, then it won't be long before everyone's free speech rights will be in jeopardy.
9. It will cost everyone more money. This change in the definition of marriage will bring a cascade of lawsuits, including some already decided adversely. Even if courts eventually find in favor of a defender of traditional marriage (highly improbable given today's activist judges), think of the money – your money, your church contributions – that will be spent on legal battles.
Think of a world where Human Rights Commissions – unelected bureaucrats with unfettered authority – are judge, jury, and executioner of anything they feel is antagonistic speech toward same-sex marriage and its practitioners.
Think of a world where the judicial system relegates long-held religious beliefs to second-class importance behind anti-bias laws and a newly discovered protected class of people.
Think of a world where the public school system is required to teach values and beliefs to your children that may conflict with your own.
Think of the very real threat to your parental rights, your free speech, your freedom of religion."
I don't think this is a doomsday prediction. I think we are already seeing some of these examples in our courts if we pay attention to what is happening in our country. I do not believe that hate or anger are ways to combat this issue or any other. I just pray for wisdom and prudence as people consider their votes for 2008.
On a little lighter note: Ashley and I did call to encourage people to get out and VOTE Yes on Proposition 8. It was a great experience and I spoke with many nice people on both sides of the issue. Ashley was leaving a message with one family on the answering machine and he was trying to say, "Have a great day!" But his words became garbled and he said instead, "Have a gay day!" Oh well-- he did correct himself in the end!
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Back to Books
I have had it with politics recently. It is a little too stressful for me with pregnancy, job stuff and just thinking about the direction of our country and the world. I can't watch the debates because I get pretty steamed at both candidates-- I am not a fan of either's politics, though I agree more with McCain than Obama. So, I have been reading in the evenings instead of TV or much else. I like to go into my own little world and enjoy the lives of fictional people-- most of them are not worried about who will be president, what bills will pass, what new taxes we will have and what party will be the majority in the senate (it will probably be democrats across the board.)
About 2 months ago I began the Harry Potter series again from the beginning. I love Harry Potter world... I love that with each book J.K.Rowling becomes a better author. I love how she knew the end from the beginning and makes all the books work together. For example-- Aberforth (Dumbledore's strange and very opposite brother) is mentioned in passing in Book 3 or 4 (can't remember which) and then Harry and some friends go to the Boar's Head tavern (where he works) and meet him in Book 5 and then he is the surprise character with the blue eye (the same color as Dumbledore's) in Book 7. That is just one of the many examples of how she fits things together. I love Harry Potter! It has been thrilling to read again and this was my 5th time with book 4! The best part is that Ashley is rereading them with me, so we can compare and discuss what we like--it is great!
A couple of days ago I was reading a friend's blog who LOVES the Twilight series. She posted about Midnight Sun-- Twilight told from Edward's perspective. Apparently someone posted most of the draft she was working on online (really slimy thing to do). So, in response she decided to post what she had written on her website for her fans to read. I had read the first chapter of Midnight Sun and the world from Edward's view is much more interesting than from Bella's, so I began to read what she had posted from the book. I think it was her best work yet. Breaking Dawn was just okay for me. It seemed rushed at the end and I missed hearing from Edward, Alice, Carlisle and other characters. I also thought the end was a little too easy and happy, but Elizabethan novels tend to be that way and I love them, so I can cope. But, Midnight Sun was so interesting-- the internal battle of Edward-- he goes from predator to protector and from loathing Bella to loving her. I hope she finishes it, because I think it will be her best work yet. I love Edward's internal struggles and if you are an Edward fan, this book will make you love him even more. If any of you have good book recommends please let me know!
About 2 months ago I began the Harry Potter series again from the beginning. I love Harry Potter world... I love that with each book J.K.Rowling becomes a better author. I love how she knew the end from the beginning and makes all the books work together. For example-- Aberforth (Dumbledore's strange and very opposite brother) is mentioned in passing in Book 3 or 4 (can't remember which) and then Harry and some friends go to the Boar's Head tavern (where he works) and meet him in Book 5 and then he is the surprise character with the blue eye (the same color as Dumbledore's) in Book 7. That is just one of the many examples of how she fits things together. I love Harry Potter! It has been thrilling to read again and this was my 5th time with book 4! The best part is that Ashley is rereading them with me, so we can compare and discuss what we like--it is great!
A couple of days ago I was reading a friend's blog who LOVES the Twilight series. She posted about Midnight Sun-- Twilight told from Edward's perspective. Apparently someone posted most of the draft she was working on online (really slimy thing to do). So, in response she decided to post what she had written on her website for her fans to read. I had read the first chapter of Midnight Sun and the world from Edward's view is much more interesting than from Bella's, so I began to read what she had posted from the book. I think it was her best work yet. Breaking Dawn was just okay for me. It seemed rushed at the end and I missed hearing from Edward, Alice, Carlisle and other characters. I also thought the end was a little too easy and happy, but Elizabethan novels tend to be that way and I love them, so I can cope. But, Midnight Sun was so interesting-- the internal battle of Edward-- he goes from predator to protector and from loathing Bella to loving her. I hope she finishes it, because I think it will be her best work yet. I love Edward's internal struggles and if you are an Edward fan, this book will make you love him even more. If any of you have good book recommends please let me know!
Monday, October 13, 2008
My new career path...
Okay, so it is not really a career path, but a part time job that I know that I will enjoy immensely. I work for a company called Education, Travel and Culture as a coordinator between the company, schools and host families to bring foreign exchange students to live and study in the US. Our company has just opened up a branch in this area and I am helping to open the area by talking to schools and find host families. I will work directly with students to make sure that all is well between them and the host families. I will also work with schools to see how many students they can/will take. I am really excited, because this is the perfect job for me-- I love travel and meeting new people. If you know anyone who would like to be a host family send them my way! I will let you know how it goes, because this is the first OFFICIAL JOB I have had in many years... Most employers don't count family budgeting, cooking, teaching, changing diapers, chauffeuring and all the other things I do daily as job experience, so I am grateful to be given a chance to work at ETC. On the flip side of the coin I can also take groups to other countries (if I have enough teens that are interested) on short exchange programs. Maybe I will make it back to Spain one day after all!!!
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Surprise
Surprise!!!!!!!!!
Some of you may already know because you have
seen me recently, but we are expecting
baby number 4! We are so excited!
It hasn't been the greatest pregnancy, but
seeing the ultrasound with all the cute little baby
makes it all worth it. We do know the sex of the baby...
So, do you want to know????
Cute baby foot...
The baby waving, "hi." It's another girl...
Yes, we will be Ashley and the Rabonettes forever.
Ashley says that he has run out of girl names and
we struggle with what to name this little sweetie,
because we never agree.
But, I am sure she will have a beautiful name in the end.
Please don't make too much fun of my dear husband--he
has to put up with enough living with us. And just imagine when
Hannah is 18, Ellie 15, Riley 13 and this little one 11.
Have pity on the poor man...
But, we are all excited (although Hannah told her
kindergarten class she is hoping we adopt a boy next!)
One very funny story... The girls have wanted to come up with a name for the
baby so, they keep randomly saying, "oh this would be a good name."
The other morning before church Ellie said, "I have a perfect name for
the baby!" Then she exclaims excitedly, "Lucifer!!!!"
I start giggling under my breath, so that I won't hurt her feelings
and Hannah looks at her in shock and says, "You want to name the
baby after the Satan!" Just a side note... I don't think that
Ellie even knows who the Satan is. We don't scare our kids with boogyman
stories of Satan when they are young, so she had absolutely no idea
what we were talking about. Poor kid-- it sure was a funny moment though.
Yes, we will be Ashley and the Rabonettes forever.
Ashley says that he has run out of girl names and
we struggle with what to name this little sweetie,
because we never agree.
But, I am sure she will have a beautiful name in the end.
Please don't make too much fun of my dear husband--he
has to put up with enough living with us. And just imagine when
Hannah is 18, Ellie 15, Riley 13 and this little one 11.
Have pity on the poor man...
But, we are all excited (although Hannah told her
kindergarten class she is hoping we adopt a boy next!)
One very funny story... The girls have wanted to come up with a name for the
baby so, they keep randomly saying, "oh this would be a good name."
The other morning before church Ellie said, "I have a perfect name for
the baby!" Then she exclaims excitedly, "Lucifer!!!!"
I start giggling under my breath, so that I won't hurt her feelings
and Hannah looks at her in shock and says, "You want to name the
baby after the Satan!" Just a side note... I don't think that
Ellie even knows who the Satan is. We don't scare our kids with boogyman
stories of Satan when they are young, so she had absolutely no idea
what we were talking about. Poor kid-- it sure was a funny moment though.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Cute girls
Just some pictures of the girls. This is Riley
and Ellie in the backyard. Isn't beautiful?
I love autumn!
Hannah doing a little hair washin'. She can wash herself and Ellie without any help.
It is nice to have such a big kid! She is a sweetheart
and she works really hard!
Talking on the phone is Riley's favorite past time.
She is always taking my phone and calling random people or
going on line... How she does it I don't know. 
Riley's favorite food is GRITS! She is always
a mess after she eats it! Ashley and I battle every
morning about who gets to clean her up!
Snuggles!
There is a family of deer that live in our backyard.
They ate everything in our garden last year, but they are beautiful to
watch. There is little one in the mix...
Ellie's first day of preschool... How cute is she?
Thursday, October 2, 2008
The debate
Well-- I have received many "I told you sos" from Ashley over Sarah Palin's awful interviews with the news media. Watching her flounder and stumble through questions that I feel like I could answer better (which isn't saying much) is so painful to watch. It is like watching Ben Stiller and that cat in Meet the Parents over and over again-- too much. So, tonight is the debate with Joe Biden and I have to say that I am glad that I have a meeting to go to, so I can avoid her verbal fumbles. Ashley can give me all the high points and show me any particuliarly awkward moments on youtube. And here is my next revelation about this election-- I have little doubt that Obama will lose. AND that will have to be okay. I worry about who he will appoint to the Supreme Court, but hopefully the court itself will stay fairly conservative; I hope that he doesn't try to pass legislation bringing back the Fairness Doctrine, because I love my talk radio-- frankly I am an addict! :) (My two favorites are Jason Lewis who sometimes fills in for Rush but has a show in Minnesota and Walter E. Williams who is a professor of Economics, but also fills in for Rush-- brillant man!) I have worries about all his "programs" that he plans to fund by taxing "the rich." At what point do I become rich and get taxed up the ying yang (not that we aren't already)? And I worry about the threat of Islamic terrorism, but I have to have faith in God that all will be right in the end. So, I think I will be casting my vote for the liberterian candidate, Bob Barr. I am not 100%, but I sure am leaning that way. I'll keep the 3 of you who read my random thoughts posted--ha ha! Happy Thursday to all!
Monday, September 29, 2008
My little ones
My little girls are getting so big for those of you who don't see us very often. I will have to include the pictures next post because right now it is not quite 6am and I don't want to wake the house. My kids are grumpy if they don't get enough sleep!
Hannah-- She is going to be 7 two weeks from today! Does anyone else have trouble believing that I am the mother of a 7 year old child? She seems to enjoy school most of the time, but at home she reads, draws and writes stories and makes up pieces on the piano. She must have Ashley's touch with music-- definitely didn't get it from me. We went to Target on Saturday to look at toys (for her birthday) and the Halloween decor. Ashley found some political masks and was showing them to me. Hannah picked up one of Hilliary Clinton and asked, "Who's this?" I told her and she replied, "it kinda looks like a woman!" The lady on the aisle with us laughed heartily and said, "out of the mouth of babes." Too funny. She is quite interested in the election (imagine that!), but Ashley and I have tried to tone down the rhetoric with her around. Politics can be a little harsh at times and it is hard for her to distinguish the issue from the person. If they are wrong on an issue or tell one "white" lie(which they all do) then she thinks they are bad. It is hard to explain the complexities of the political world to a 1st grader, but overall she navigates things pretty well.
Ellie--Ellie is our little pixie-- she is petite as ever and the lady at all times. I spy her with her friends dressed in her princess best, legs crossed, sucking her fingers and holding her blanket. It is all about "pretty" with Ellie-- if the characters in a movie or in a book are "beautiful" then Ellie likes them and if not she will have nothing to do with them. She dresses herself, sometimes quite outlandishly, and has to have ALL her hair up in a ponytail. She and Riley have begun to play now and usually they play very well-- sometimes Riley will get fed up, but overall they do well. She LOVES preschool and being with her friends and if we don't have someone over on a daily basis she pleads for me to play cards (she is always beating me at Miss Spider's Uno) and princesses with her all day. I love her sweetness, loyalty and honesty-- Ellie will tell you where you sit in her book...
Riley-- Riley is getting so big! At 18 months she is talking up a storm and letting everyone know what she wants. She has always been my angel child-- just going with the flow. WELL, NOT ANYMORE!!! She has asserted herself recently and will throw a massive fit if she does not get her way. Yesterday dressing her for church she kicked and screamed, "NO!" the entire time. She is also a daddy's girl. If he leaves without her she will lay in front of the door crying and screaming, "Daddy," for quite a while and have nothing to do with me. I think it is sweet and I am glad that she has such a strong bond with him. She is still a cuddler and will sit an cuddle almost anytime. I love the age she is at-- it is so much fun and she does such cute and funny things and I especially LOVE to hear her talk and use her words! Yesterday at church I was showing her some pictures of Christ and I asked her, "who's this?" Her reply came, "Dedus." (Jesus in case you don't understand 18 month old talk! :) How sweet! It is so wonderful to be a mom!
Hannah-- She is going to be 7 two weeks from today! Does anyone else have trouble believing that I am the mother of a 7 year old child? She seems to enjoy school most of the time, but at home she reads, draws and writes stories and makes up pieces on the piano. She must have Ashley's touch with music-- definitely didn't get it from me. We went to Target on Saturday to look at toys (for her birthday) and the Halloween decor. Ashley found some political masks and was showing them to me. Hannah picked up one of Hilliary Clinton and asked, "Who's this?" I told her and she replied, "it kinda looks like a woman!" The lady on the aisle with us laughed heartily and said, "out of the mouth of babes." Too funny. She is quite interested in the election (imagine that!), but Ashley and I have tried to tone down the rhetoric with her around. Politics can be a little harsh at times and it is hard for her to distinguish the issue from the person. If they are wrong on an issue or tell one "white" lie(which they all do) then she thinks they are bad. It is hard to explain the complexities of the political world to a 1st grader, but overall she navigates things pretty well.
Ellie--Ellie is our little pixie-- she is petite as ever and the lady at all times. I spy her with her friends dressed in her princess best, legs crossed, sucking her fingers and holding her blanket. It is all about "pretty" with Ellie-- if the characters in a movie or in a book are "beautiful" then Ellie likes them and if not she will have nothing to do with them. She dresses herself, sometimes quite outlandishly, and has to have ALL her hair up in a ponytail. She and Riley have begun to play now and usually they play very well-- sometimes Riley will get fed up, but overall they do well. She LOVES preschool and being with her friends and if we don't have someone over on a daily basis she pleads for me to play cards (she is always beating me at Miss Spider's Uno) and princesses with her all day. I love her sweetness, loyalty and honesty-- Ellie will tell you where you sit in her book...
Riley-- Riley is getting so big! At 18 months she is talking up a storm and letting everyone know what she wants. She has always been my angel child-- just going with the flow. WELL, NOT ANYMORE!!! She has asserted herself recently and will throw a massive fit if she does not get her way. Yesterday dressing her for church she kicked and screamed, "NO!" the entire time. She is also a daddy's girl. If he leaves without her she will lay in front of the door crying and screaming, "Daddy," for quite a while and have nothing to do with me. I think it is sweet and I am glad that she has such a strong bond with him. She is still a cuddler and will sit an cuddle almost anytime. I love the age she is at-- it is so much fun and she does such cute and funny things and I especially LOVE to hear her talk and use her words! Yesterday at church I was showing her some pictures of Christ and I asked her, "who's this?" Her reply came, "Dedus." (Jesus in case you don't understand 18 month old talk! :) How sweet! It is so wonderful to be a mom!
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Did I ever tell you?
Did any of you ever know how much I am fascinated by hurricanes? I am sad that they do so much destruction and at times cause so much death (espeically right now with all that is going on in Haiti-- I just want to cry for those poor people), but at the same time the force and power behind a hurricane are amazing. I recently read a book called The Great Hurricane-1938. It was a about a hurricane that hit the coast of New York (Long Island to be specific) and Rhode Island and shot straight up causing havoc and mayhem across all of New England. It was a Catagory 4 storm (which is rare in New England) and it hit in mid September. It was recorded as having waves as high as 30 feet and at least an 18 foot storm surge. What amazed me were the stories of survival told in this book. One family was composed of a mom, dad, oldest son (he was about 13), 3 younger daughters and a neice (all 10 years old and younger) and 4 other adults. They lived in a 4 story house by the shore(basement, 2 living floors and the attic) that was in the path of hurricane. They ran to the attic during the hurricane and watched in horror as the storm surge engulfed the entire house. Finally the house collapsed and they managed to escape on a piece of the roof-- dad holding two girls and mom holding 2 girls and everyone else fending for themselves. They rode out the rest of the hurricane on the roof and spent the night in some wet hay when they finally found land. As I read this tale I thought, "what in the world would I have done with my children?" Maybe that is the appeal of reading stories like that-- you ask yourself what would I do given that situation. I would hope that I wouldn't panic and be able to figure out what to do with my family, but I can't fathom the terror if I was faced with something like that... So, that is why we don't live on the coast. As fascinating as a hurricane is, I prefer it from a distance-- let the reporters see their lives pass before their eyes. I can watch and be amazed from home!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Just a bunch of dirty politicin'
Well, campaigning has gotten even uglier. I know that politics is a dirty sport and no place for the faint of heart, but shouldn't something be done about the obvious law breaking and unscrupulous acts going on? So, someone mysteriously hacks into Sarah Palin's PRIVATE email and leaks it to the Obama campaign and ABC news and soon every news station in the country is talking about all the awful things she has done as a governor! Hold on a minute here-- if someone broke into my private email account it would be like breaking into my home and reading my journal, looking through my photo albums and stealing my bank account numbers because all those things are in my PRIVATE email account. Why are we not following the trail of the real crime committed here and find out who was hacking and prosecute them? Not that McCain is innocent in playing some dirty political tricks. When my husband was in Florida campaigning for Mitt Romney he saw some dishonest dealings firsthand from both the Huckabee and McCain camps. I read in the paper everyday people lamenting what the world has become. I think that we only need look at our leaders to see how we got here and where we are going. It is one thing to attack a candidate on the issues, but it is another to break into someone's private email. Is this the best that America can offer?
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Sarah Palin continued
From a comment that was posted in response to my remarks on Sarah Palin it seems that I did not clarify some of my thoughts on Sarah Palin. (In my defense it is hard to think clearly while my children are screaming my name and coming over to punch keys every couple of minutes :) But, I like Sarah Palin because she is a conservative politician that I can relate to and frankly there are not too many conservative female politicians that I feel like I can relate to. I still don't like McCain. I think he is a pompous, government knows best, RINO, but I like Sarah Palin and that makes McCain a little easier for me to swallow. I was not comparing her to Margaret Thatcher-- that is a HUGE reach. I was using her as an example of what a great female leader can be-- that is all. I am hoping that Sarah Palin can continue to be a good leader and hopefully become a great leader.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Why I like Sarah Palin
I have been excited about the Sarah Palin pick almost from the first moment McCain picked her. I am not a big John McCain fan, so when I saw him pick a conservative, fun, mother of 5 I finally felt connected to someone in this race. Sarah Palin is someone that I can relate to and isn't that a lot of what we look for in a candidate. I agree with her on most issues and I find her refreshing and down to earth. Is she the perfect candidate? Nope, but who is-- we look for the best that we can and hope that they do a great job. But, here is one of my biggest reasons for being excited about Sarah Palin. My daughter, Hannah, is already very interested in the presidential race (I don't know where she gets that?! :) and this morning when she was watching Charlie Gibson with Sarah Palin she asked, "Who is that, Mommy?" I answered that it was Sarah Palin and that she is running for vice-president. Then with a light in her eyes she exclaimed, "See Mommy girls can be president too!" What a great example for Hannah of what women can aspire to do. I can think of many women who would make great presidents and world leaders. Who can forget Margaret Thatcher, one of the greatest leaders our world has known. So, I give Sarah Palin my full support. She represents women like me-- moms who love their families, America, God and are trying to make the world a better place.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
School and lips
Hannah's first day of 1st grade with Daddy-- I
wasn't yet dressed-- so no picture of me-- whew!
Riley and Ellie wrestling for who's in charge while
Hannah's gone.
Someone came by the house on Wednesday to
She is still smiling even with that lip!!! What a
wasn't yet dressed-- so no picture of me-- whew!
Riley and Ellie wrestling for who's in charge whileHannah's gone.
Someone came by the house on Wednesday to speak with Ashley, so while I ran up to get him
Riley fell out of a chair and landed pretty hard on
her little lip. That is one fat lip! The biggest
reason she fell out of the chair was her love of
standing on things-- hope this broke her of it, but
I doubt it!!!
She is still smiling even with that lip!!! What a trooper!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Summer's End
Hi all! I am sad to report that school has begun and summer is officially over (at least for Hannah who started 1st grade on Monday). We were able to enjoy the last of the season by going camping in Hendersonville-- beautiful and breathtaking-- and visiting Carowinds (we had passes so that was something we did a lot of this past summer-- but a trip to the rides with Daddy was a nice way to end the summer). Camping actually came first, but I struggle getting pictures right on this thing...
The girls on the Dora Train...
Ellie loving on Blue...
Nothing cuter than a naked baby.
White bottom! She has a great tan!
Ellie playing by the edge of the waterfall-- too cute.
My kids all got in the water and got SOAKED. And
What's better than mud pies with friends?
The girls on the Dora Train...
Ellie loving on Blue...
Nothing cuter than a naked baby.
She got soaking wet in the waterfall pool we were
playing in, so I striped her naked and changed her
into just a diaper, but I left her naked for a while
before I put it on!
White bottom! She has a great tan!
Ellie playing by the edge of the waterfall-- too cute.
My kids all got in the water and got SOAKED. And
then we found several baby Copperheads basking
in the sun nearby. Oops! A little scary for mom.
What's better than mud pies with friends?
Thursday, August 14, 2008
How about you?!
So, I found this on a friend's blog and liked it. Just star what you have done!
1. Touched an iceberg
2. Slept under the stars*
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. Changed a baby's diaper*
5. Watched a meteor shower*
6. Given more than you can afford to charity*
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain*
9. Held a tarantula (never—they give me the creeps!)
10. Said "I love you" and meant it*
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris*
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea* (the best!!!)
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise* (over the mountains and the ocean)
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game *
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables*
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope*
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment* (CHURCH)
21. Had a pillow fight*
22. Bet on a winning horse
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill* Yep
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping* (I wouldn’t try it in the ocean though—not that I would know)
27. Taken an ice cold bath*
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar*
29. Seen a total eclipse*
30. Ridden a roller coaster*
31. Hit a home run
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking*
33. Adopted an accent for fun*
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors*
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment*
36. Loved your job 90% of the time*
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied*
38. Watched wild whales
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach*
41. Gone sky diving
42. Visited Ireland
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant* (we try to always pay for soldiers meals)
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight( are you kidding??)
46. Milked a cow
47. Alphabetized your personal files*
48. Ever worn a superhero costume
49. Sung karaoke*
50. Lounged around in bed all day*
51. Gone scuba diving
52. Kissed in the rain*
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Done something you should regret, but don't*
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Been in a movie( I'm guessing you don't mean home movies?)
60. Gone without food for 3 days
61. Made cookies from scratch*
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. Got flowers for no reason*
64. Been in a combat zone
65. Spoken more than one language fluently*
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone* (strictly an altercation)
67. Bounced a check
68. Read - and understood - your credit report*
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did* (I am a genealogy freak!!!)
71. Called or written your Congress person* (All the time—I am particularly mad at Lindsay Graham right now—traitor!)
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
74. Helped an animal give birth
75. Been fired or laid off from a job
76. Won money
77. Broken a bone
78. Ridden a motorcycle* (Love it, but Ashley gets to motherly and doesn’t like it!)
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph (ridden, but not driven—the motorcycle thing)
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. Eaten sushi*
84. Had your picture in the newspaper*
85. Read The Bible cover to cover (I skipped some begats, but otherwise yes)
86. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about*
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions (Ashley did at Carowinds, but I helped)
88. Gone back to school* (After my mission)
89. Changed your name*
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes* (Ashley’s are the best—hands down!)
92. Read The Iliad* (I think in high school)
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language*
97. Been elected to public office
98. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream*
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. Dyed your hair
103. Been a DJ
104. Rocked a baby to sleep*
105. Dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all fours* (I am sure I did as a kid
106. Raked your carpet (what is that?)
107. Brought out the best in people*
108. Brought out the worst in people*
109. Worn a mood ring*
110. Ridden a horse*
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap
112. Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe*
113. Buried a child
114. Gone to a Broadway (or equivalent to your country) Play
115. Been inside the pyramids
116. Shot a basketball into a basket*
117. Danced at a disco*
118. Played in a band
119. Shot a bird
120. Gone to an arboretum
121. Tutored someone*
122. Ridden a train*
123. Brought an old fad back into style
124. Eaten caviar
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need*
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant
127. Published a book
128. Pieced a quilt
129.Lived in an historic place
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage*
131. Asked for a raise*
132. Made a hole-in-one (miniature golf DEFINITELY COUNTS)
133. Gone deep sea fishing
134. Gone roller skating*
135. Run a marathon
136. Learned to surf
137. Invented something
138. Flown first class
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite
140. Flown in a helicopter* (my grandfather’s when I was a little girl.)
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo* (it was sad—never again.)
143. Gone spelunking
144. Learned how to take a compliment*
145. Written a love-story
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David
147. Had your portrait painted
148. Written a fan letter*
149. Spent the night in something haunted
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
151. Ran away
152. Learned to juggle
153. Been a boss (hello, I am THE BOSS)
154. Sat on a jury*
155. Lied about your weight*
156. Gone on a diet*
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget
158. Written a poem*
159. Carried your lunch in a lunchbox*
160. Gotten food poisoning
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission*
162. Hiked the Grand Canyon
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks*
164. Gone to the opera* (never again)
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous*
. Worn knickers
167. Ridden in a limousine*
168. Attended the Olympics
169. Can hula or waltz
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books
171. Been stuck in an elevator
172. Had a revelatory dream*
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
175. Saved someone’s life
176. Eaten raw whale
177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint
178. Laughed till your side hurt*
179. Straddled the equator
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
182. Sent a message in a bottle
183. Spent the night in a hostel
184. Been a cashier
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
186. Joined a union
187. Donated blood or plasma*
188. Built a campfire*
189. Kept a blog*
190. Had hives
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation*
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course
194. Served at a soup kitchen*
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube (does taken it apart and putting it back together count?)
196. Know CPR (knew—need to retake the course)
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible*
198. Found a long lost friend*
199. Helped solve a crime
1. Touched an iceberg
2. Slept under the stars*
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. Changed a baby's diaper*
5. Watched a meteor shower*
6. Given more than you can afford to charity*
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain*
9. Held a tarantula (never—they give me the creeps!)
10. Said "I love you" and meant it*
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris*
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea* (the best!!!)
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise* (over the mountains and the ocean)
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game *
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables*
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope*
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment* (CHURCH)
21. Had a pillow fight*
22. Bet on a winning horse
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill* Yep
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping* (I wouldn’t try it in the ocean though—not that I would know)
27. Taken an ice cold bath*
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar*
29. Seen a total eclipse*
30. Ridden a roller coaster*
31. Hit a home run
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking*
33. Adopted an accent for fun*
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors*
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment*
36. Loved your job 90% of the time*
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied*
38. Watched wild whales
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach*
41. Gone sky diving
42. Visited Ireland
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant* (we try to always pay for soldiers meals)
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight( are you kidding??)
46. Milked a cow
47. Alphabetized your personal files*
48. Ever worn a superhero costume
49. Sung karaoke*
50. Lounged around in bed all day*
51. Gone scuba diving
52. Kissed in the rain*
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Done something you should regret, but don't*
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Been in a movie( I'm guessing you don't mean home movies?)
60. Gone without food for 3 days
61. Made cookies from scratch*
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. Got flowers for no reason*
64. Been in a combat zone
65. Spoken more than one language fluently*
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone* (strictly an altercation)
67. Bounced a check
68. Read - and understood - your credit report*
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did* (I am a genealogy freak!!!)
71. Called or written your Congress person* (All the time—I am particularly mad at Lindsay Graham right now—traitor!)
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
74. Helped an animal give birth
75. Been fired or laid off from a job
76. Won money
77. Broken a bone
78. Ridden a motorcycle* (Love it, but Ashley gets to motherly and doesn’t like it!)
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph (ridden, but not driven—the motorcycle thing)
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. Eaten sushi*
84. Had your picture in the newspaper*
85. Read The Bible cover to cover (I skipped some begats, but otherwise yes)
86. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about*
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions (Ashley did at Carowinds, but I helped)
88. Gone back to school* (After my mission)
89. Changed your name*
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes* (Ashley’s are the best—hands down!)
92. Read The Iliad* (I think in high school)
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language*
97. Been elected to public office
98. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream*
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. Dyed your hair
103. Been a DJ
104. Rocked a baby to sleep*
105. Dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all fours* (I am sure I did as a kid
106. Raked your carpet (what is that?)
107. Brought out the best in people*
108. Brought out the worst in people*
109. Worn a mood ring*
110. Ridden a horse*
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap
112. Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe*
113. Buried a child
114. Gone to a Broadway (or equivalent to your country) Play
115. Been inside the pyramids
116. Shot a basketball into a basket*
117. Danced at a disco*
118. Played in a band
119. Shot a bird
120. Gone to an arboretum
121. Tutored someone*
122. Ridden a train*
123. Brought an old fad back into style
124. Eaten caviar
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need*
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant
127. Published a book
128. Pieced a quilt
129.Lived in an historic place
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage*
131. Asked for a raise*
132. Made a hole-in-one (miniature golf DEFINITELY COUNTS)
133. Gone deep sea fishing
134. Gone roller skating*
135. Run a marathon
136. Learned to surf
137. Invented something
138. Flown first class
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite
140. Flown in a helicopter* (my grandfather’s when I was a little girl.)
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo* (it was sad—never again.)
143. Gone spelunking
144. Learned how to take a compliment*
145. Written a love-story
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David
147. Had your portrait painted
148. Written a fan letter*
149. Spent the night in something haunted
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
151. Ran away
152. Learned to juggle
153. Been a boss (hello, I am THE BOSS)
154. Sat on a jury*
155. Lied about your weight*
156. Gone on a diet*
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget
158. Written a poem*
159. Carried your lunch in a lunchbox*
160. Gotten food poisoning
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission*
162. Hiked the Grand Canyon
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks*
164. Gone to the opera* (never again)
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous*
. Worn knickers
167. Ridden in a limousine*
168. Attended the Olympics
169. Can hula or waltz
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books
171. Been stuck in an elevator
172. Had a revelatory dream*
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
175. Saved someone’s life
176. Eaten raw whale
177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint
178. Laughed till your side hurt*
179. Straddled the equator
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
182. Sent a message in a bottle
183. Spent the night in a hostel
184. Been a cashier
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
186. Joined a union
187. Donated blood or plasma*
188. Built a campfire*
189. Kept a blog*
190. Had hives
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation*
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course
194. Served at a soup kitchen*
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube (does taken it apart and putting it back together count?)
196. Know CPR (knew—need to retake the course)
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible*
198. Found a long lost friend*
199. Helped solve a crime
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
My nephew, Sammy, has been staying with us this week while his mom attends a workshop and this is a conversation that he and Ellie shared just a few minutes ago-- Graham, my brother-in-law, is going to love this!
Sammy-- loud screams and squeals
Ellie-- You're not a girl! You're a boy!
Me-- Why are you telling Sammy that Ellie?
Ellie-- Because he screams like a girl...
That is pretty funny!!!! I love kids...
Sammy-- loud screams and squeals
Ellie-- You're not a girl! You're a boy!
Me-- Why are you telling Sammy that Ellie?
Ellie-- Because he screams like a girl...
That is pretty funny!!!! I love kids...
Monday, July 28, 2008
These are the Times...
I was reading a Magic Tree House book with Hannah about the revolutionary war-- it recounted the crossing of the Delaware with George Washington and his soldiers-- and it brought tears to my eyes... It quoted the words of Thomas Paine,
"These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the
sunshine patriot will, in the crisis, shrink from the service of their country.
But he that stands it now deserves the love and thanks of man and woman...
The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph... What we obtain too
cheap, we esteem too lightly. It is dearness only that give everything its value.
I have such great faith in the principles upon which this country was founded. I believe that the writers of our Constitution and our Founding Fathers were good (on the whole) God fearing men that put their country and their desire for their children to enjoy freedom before their own security, prosperity and lives. I believe that we fight a different battle for freedom today-- political correctness, moral apathy and over-taxation are a few of our many battles. I always try to remember that freedom is a gift from our Heavenly Father as we use it wisely.
"These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the
sunshine patriot will, in the crisis, shrink from the service of their country.
But he that stands it now deserves the love and thanks of man and woman...
The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph... What we obtain too
cheap, we esteem too lightly. It is dearness only that give everything its value.
I have such great faith in the principles upon which this country was founded. I believe that the writers of our Constitution and our Founding Fathers were good (on the whole) God fearing men that put their country and their desire for their children to enjoy freedom before their own security, prosperity and lives. I believe that we fight a different battle for freedom today-- political correctness, moral apathy and over-taxation are a few of our many battles. I always try to remember that freedom is a gift from our Heavenly Father as we use it wisely.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Great article
This is a great article about WHY we should vote for McCain and not for Obama. It actually got me a little excited about voting for McCain-- Can you believe it? I just don't think people really understand what old Barack is all about...http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/07/how_mccain_could_win.html
ENJOY!!!
ENJOY!!!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Busy, Busy and more Busy
I need to take some great pictures to post on my blog... But, I feel like we just run through each day trying to keep up! Does anyone else feel this way? At night the kids get to bed about 8pm and I have time to read, watch a little TV, send out emails, clean and do whatever else needs to be done. By then I am exhausted and after a little work--whatever it may be-- I just want to be in bed. I guess another reason we have been so tired (the girls also) is we have been going to the pool everyday for swim lessons and just enjoying the summer sun. I think I need to take them swimming everyday, so they will sleep better at night. We have also been going to the library all the time and enjoying the great library programs that are offered. I can't believe it is already mid-July! I feel like the summer is running away from me and I can't catch it. I LOVE having Hannah home and playing games (she and I usually play a game together every morning--usually Sorry--and she is super cut throat and GOOD--it's great!), reading fun books (I love the Magic Tree House books and Junie B. Jones) and playing at Carowinds and the pool. Ellie has been a joy learning to write her name, practicing her letters and numbers and teaching her to swim at the pool. She is learning to play computer games and she does really well with the mouse! And her squeeze hugs melt your heart--those skinny little arms really pack a punch... And we all really enjoy watching Riley discover the joys of life. She has no fear of the water and LOVES it. She isn't too crazy about water over her head, but otherwise she full steam ahead in the water. Carowinds is perfect for her! Her vocabulary is also increasing. Her new words include: on, up or uppy (same meaning), all done, down, daddy (refers to Ashley or myself-- I guess mommy will be back soon), sleepy, swim, suit, cheese and so many other words... So cute to hear her little voice. She even tries to sing Ring Around the Rosy-- we have been playing that and Wheels On the Bus in the water. So dang cute!
I will be going to Girls Camp as a leader with the kids from church in a couple weeks--woo hoo tent camping and bugs for a week. But, it will be so much fun and I will love it. I hope I get to go when my girls get bigger and spend Camp with them! I will let you know how it goes. I can't wait for Breaking Dawn-- 2 weeks to go. I am trying to read the 1st three books, so I can be ready. I just read Enchantment by Orson Scott Card--pretty good-- I was pretty impressed. Fairy tale with a twist, but very sweet and what marriage is really about!!!
Ashley is starting Harry Potter from book 1 again... He says, "I am in Potter world." I am kind of jealous. I am going to go back to Harry after Breaking Dawn. I miss Harry tremendously. I want to read it with Hannah so bad, but she still wants some pictures, so we will have to wait. Oh well. Off to read Twilight...
I will be going to Girls Camp as a leader with the kids from church in a couple weeks--woo hoo tent camping and bugs for a week. But, it will be so much fun and I will love it. I hope I get to go when my girls get bigger and spend Camp with them! I will let you know how it goes. I can't wait for Breaking Dawn-- 2 weeks to go. I am trying to read the 1st three books, so I can be ready. I just read Enchantment by Orson Scott Card--pretty good-- I was pretty impressed. Fairy tale with a twist, but very sweet and what marriage is really about!!!
Ashley is starting Harry Potter from book 1 again... He says, "I am in Potter world." I am kind of jealous. I am going to go back to Harry after Breaking Dawn. I miss Harry tremendously. I want to read it with Hannah so bad, but she still wants some pictures, so we will have to wait. Oh well. Off to read Twilight...
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