Monday, June 29, 2009

Visiting Family


Hooray for Chuck E. Cheese!!
It was so great last week visiting with some of you- I really wish that we had a few more days and a few more $$$ to go visit everyone!! I wanted to post a couple of pictures so everyone could see how much fun we had. We're working on other plans to get to everyone at some time or other...anyone have a lottery ticket laying around? The kids couldn't choose their "favorite" thing, but they all agreed that spending time with their uncles and aunts was the best thing ever! I have to tell you though- watching Mike and Brian build a dam at the dino museum was the most entertaining thing ever. They probably worked on this for 20 + minutes! We loved spending time petting the bat rays at the aquarium and watching the anaconda eat a "large rodent". Thanks for a great week, love you all!

Your Never To Old To Learn!

This old grandma is kind of excited. Most of you know I have been taking a Master Gardner's class. I just got my final back. Mind you, this test took me over 30 hours to complete! Out of 102 possible, I got 96!! Now if I could only spell... But I truly think that is why I somehow came up with tutoring a 7th grader to read and spell. It's not only for for the young man but for my benefit also. Heavenly Father does work in mysterious ways. It's obvious He loves us and wants the best for us. I love all of you also. Mom

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALEX! YOU ARE SUCH A BRIGHT SPOT IN ALL OUR LIVES! GRANDMA

Sunday, June 28, 2009

God Bless America

I tried to post this as a comment to Alisha's Independence Day, but as usual, I am too verbose. In no way do I want to detract from Alisha's posting. Thank you for taking the time to read this lengthy diatribe.

From the Sounds of Sunday by Glen Rawson

If you would permit me, may I quote?
“…And for the support of this Declaration with a firm reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred honor.”
Those words were not rhetoric for a speech for the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Of those 56 men who signed it, five were captured by the British and tortured before they died; twelve had their homes sacked, looted, and occupied by the enemy.
For example, Thomas Nelson Jr. at the Battle of Yorktown had his home taken over by the British General Cornwallis. Nelson quietly urged General Washington to open fire on the home anyway. It was destroyed. Nelson died a pauper.
Nine of the signers died in that war, and two lost their sons to it.
Carter Braxton, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas. He died in rags.
Thomas KcKeen was forced to move his family five times in five months to hide from his enemies. While his family hid from the British in abject poverty, McKeen served in Congress without pay – oh, for men like that today!
Francis Lewis’ home and possessions were seized, and his wife imprisoned where she died a short time later.
And perhaps the most touching story of all is of the signer John Hart, who was driven from his wife’s bedside as she lay dying. Their thirteen children had to flee for their lives as well. For over a year Hart lived in caves and in the forest. After the surrender, he returned to find his wife dead, his children gone – thirteen children, and every one of them vanished! John Hart died a few weeks later of a broken heart.” (Lund, The Freedom Factor, Deseret Book, 1987, p. 101)
And there were more – more stories of sacrifice and pain than I have time to tell.
I believe, my dear friends, that if the opportunity was given to us to face each of them and ask them if the price they paid was worth it, I believe there would be a unanimous and a resounding “Yes.”
It has been said that the single most important word in the English language is “Remember.” Oh, may God grant that every citizen in America will never forget the price that has been paid for our freedom.
Glenn Rawson – July 1998



We owe a debt of gratitude to the founding fathers and those citizens that fought for the liberties that God promised this land. Not unlike Captain Moroni, they saw a choice land that would be the ensign to the world of great hope from tyranny and oppression. Since from the time that God brought the first inhabitants to this land until today, Satan has done his best to diminish the freedoms that this great land brings. Those freedoms came at a great price during the Book of Mormon times and were eventually lost. They came at a great cost at the establishment of this the United States and during the times when it literally tore itself in two during the civil war. It will continue to cost much more in the future to protect the liberties that we have been granted.


God has established the constitution. His document for the governing of the people that he has brought to this land. Not a document to be trifled with or to be scoffed at. Not one to be altered or changed without the vote of the people. A document that should be looked to when confronted with decisions that affect the nation.


We are faced with significant challenges as a country. We are polarized by politics that cause our elected leaders to make decisions that are based on ideology rather than on sound and correct principals. That same polarization exists not only with our elected leaders, but with the citizens as well. We are tossed to and fro by the so called learned that can and do make a case for whatever side they are supporting by presenting facts that are intended to contradict and inflame the opposite view. Their knowledge is supreme as it relates to the premise that they support.


Be thankful that we have something that goes beyond rhetoric and ideology. It goes beyond knowledge and fact. We are blessed with the Holy Ghost that will teach us truth. It is valuable to have good and open discussion of the issues. It is good to have opinions and to share those opinions with others, but the ultimate decision on any issue should be made with the Lord's help. If we are open to the promptings of the Spirit, we will be taught and be united as one with the Lord and with what His will would be pertaining to this country.


During this glorious time when we celebrate the birth of this country, may we always remember the heritage that we have. May we remember the cost and the price that was paid to establish this nation. May we remember the God of this land and pay tribute to Him and what this country stands for. GOD BLESS AMERICA.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

I Propose an Alex Week


Alex is having a Birthday in a couple of days (July 1st), so I propose an Alex week. Following this post, I request that Alex make her own post where she tells us a little about her. Maybe her favorite food, what she wants to be when she grows up, her favorite sibling, etc. Perhaps she could even upload a picture she took or likes. I think that it would be fun to get to know Alex a little more.

Then, or prior to, we all can either post pictures, comments, memories of Alex or comment on this post about what we remember or enjoy about Alex. Hopefully, we can get a community of responses and Alex can see how much she is loved.

I haven't seen Alex in a long time, so my memories of her are older, but I hope still relevant. Evey picture I have of Alex, she is either looking inquisitively with bright eyes into the camera or she is giving a brief, loving smile. She was full of energy and always wanted to play. She was fun to be around her.



My favorite memory of her is talking with her on the phone. She spouted out strings of garble I couldn't understand; apparently she could because after a few seconds of non-stop chatter, she belted out the most hilarious laugh on the planet: Apparently she had told me a joke and found it very funny. I couldn't help but smile on my end of the phone, thousands of miles away.

We love you Alex and hope you have a great birthday!

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

USA vs. Spain

Greg is worried that if he blogs too much that everyone will be overwhelmed, and that will stop people participating. But I decided to post this one for him. Greg LOVES soccer. Today USA played Spain, which is the best team in the WORLD, and won. 2-0. BAM. Greg was and is so happy. I thought you all should know how happy this has made him!

Monday, June 22, 2009

Love the Blog!

I don't have a fancy picture, or fancy words- I just wanted to give a great big public thanks to Greg! I love the idea of a family blog, and I LOVE YOU! Truly, I love our family. I have to say that we have a pretty great family. I'm not the sappy person who often tells you guys how much I love you, but I really appreciate all of you. I can honestly say that you are all my best friends, and with out you my world would be considerably less. I don't know of many families where everyone gets along as we all do (or as I imagine we do). As much as I miss Greg being far far away on Judea's plains, I appreciate his efforts to set up his blog and keep everyone posted on the latest greatest Emiline talking/dancing. Thanks to Brian for taking time to talk with me- I am pretty pathetic and have to little adult conversation that he often gets roped into odd discussions. Thanks to Mike for running up the road- or hiding in the van- and making my kids laugh. Thanks to Alisha for her great cookie making skills, and helping me stay sane with kids. Thanks to Steph for listening to me in the mornings when the rest of you are asleep. Thanks to Jeff for coming up with random conversations, and e-mailing me. This is getting long, but I just want you all to know that no matter where you all end up living, I love you and hope that we can all stay close. When your kids are older, send them to me for a week in the summer- I'll take them all at the same time! Greg, you're an amazing person. Thanks!

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Health Insurance


So, I have individual discussions with most of you about politics here and there, but never do I have the chance to do it in group discussion. I am quite interested in having a discussion on issues like universal health care, particularly because we are all at very different stages in needs of health care.
I'm interested in how you all get your insurance, how you would feel if the government provided that insurance, and to what extent you feel it is the government's responsibility to ensure we have adequate health care.
As for me and my house, I think it is fine to requrie that all people have insurance, even if that insurance comes from the government. I'm not a big tax person and I very much dislike big government, so such a plan should not require any extra spending. What I am failling to understand is how a plan for universal health care would really fix medicare and medicaid. It seems to me as though medicare and medicaid is in basic function insurance for those who can't afford it. Universal health care seems to simply expand the existing program with some changed requirements. That being said, it seems as though that would just cost more mony and accomplish the same things. Am I right? or does somebody have extra light to shed on the situation?

"Uglies"

Greg said this is now a family blog, and so I thought I would enlighten the girls to a great series. I finished all these books in two days because they were so good. They are about an Utopian Society gone wrong. If you like "The Giver," then you should like these. They are also less gloomy than "The Giver." Happy Reading!
*Please blog on this blog, so we can all learn about things! Thanks!
-Hayley

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince


I didn't read Harry Potter until I met Hayley. Hayley loves Harry Potter, so I decided to read the entire series behind her back to surprise her. I surprised myself as well. I am not a big fantasy fan. I had an incredibly difficult time with The Lord of the Rings (never finished) and just find it difficult to accept worlds that don't exist.

Harry Potter is different to me. Maybe it is because I have seen my wife's love for it, but I enjoy reading the books. I just finished Book 6 in preparation for the movie and enjoyed it. I liked it this time around better because I could skim parts that don't lend themselves to the plot of the book and only read what I found interesting (another thing I don't like about books: Unnecessary and uninteresting side plots).

The last 200 pages of this book, like any book should, were fun to read and kept me up until midnight (the sign of a good book). I am interested now to see how the movie adapts the book. I am very wary, however: I think they did a thoroughly boring job of Order of the Phoenix and it is the same director. Either way, we will be up at midnight, barring being in the delivery room, on July 15 to watch the movie.