Welcome 2009

I hope that 2009 is a much better year for me.

I lost a lot of people in my life in 2008, it's been really rough on me. I have tried to be strong and not let it show how much it's affected me, but I think that the winter blues are making me crash. I haven't really talked about it with anyone, not even my husband. Maybe I have stuffed too much and not got it out like I should have.

The year wasn't all bad.

It has been a good year for many reasons. I've gotten to shoot a bunch of weddings on my own and with another photographer. I got to see my parents. I've gotten to go out and do fun things periodically. My kids are fantabulous! I have some really great friends who I've had some great times with. I've had some funny stuff happen, some great laughs, some special times.

Happy New Year and here's to hoping 2009 is better.

I spit my pop

When I saw this...

To me you'll always be

....hmmmm..... maybe 36? Is that how old you were when we met?

I hope that someone out there takes you out to celebrate! (and not your mom, lol!)

Thanks for being a true blue friend. Love ya girl!

Oh and don't eat these all at once!

Cleaning

Nothing like the Christmas season to make you realize how much stuff you hold onto that you don't really need to as you try to find room for all the new stuff. It's also a good time of year to re-evaluate things in your life.
I've come up with some pretty good worth while goals for me in the coming year, through my evaluating.
I also would like to do a big overhaul of this house and throw out all unnecessary stuff! (Joel- that also means some of your stuff too.)
I think that cleaning out my life is something I do once a year too. Evaluate the activities I've been participating in, are they worth my time or money? I also evaluate the people I'm in contact with and decide if I want to be closer to some or distance from others. Who is enriching my life the most? And lastly I evaluate where I am on a personal level spiritually and in what kind of mother/wife I have been and want to be in the coming year.
I'm ready to get started, but....
first I have to tackle my Tupperware cupboard!


Joy: "Jingle bells, Batman smells, Rogin laid an egg. Batman bills lost her wheels and joker got away! Hey!"

I can't wait!!!

Only 22 more days!

Oh Brother

I just came across this one today when looking back through some unused images.

Brothers.

We had a really great weekend. On Friday, after I picked Jacob up from wrestling, we drove up to an old 4-H campsite to meet up with other members of our ward for a camp out. We got there at about 11:30pm, when people were just coming in from ice skating on the lake. We first checked into our cabin. Our family got a cabin to ourselves because the other family we were supposed to share with didn't show up. We then went up to the main cabin and stayed up visiting with people until about 1:30. Then we went back to our cabin and "slept" for a few hours. I think it was about 7:30am when kids started stirring. Well, it really was Josh trying to stir the other kids.
The second day we spent eating, visiting, playing games, and extreme sledding. Yes, extreme sledding. One of our Y.M. leaders drove around the compound pulling kids on sleds behind him. There were a few near accidents, that my oldest will deny (but it's been confirmed), with oncoming traffic. But all in all there were no major injuries to be spoken of.
It snowed all day, and we were happy just to stay put as long as we could.
At about 4pm we decided to pack up our cabin and head out. I took the girls to the bathroom (who's water had a horrible stench) and on our way back to the cabin a big wind came along and dumped a bunch of snow on our heads! Jake was in the right spot to just watch it dump on us, and laugh his head off.
On the way home we saw lots and lots of cars off the road in accidents. We'd even came up early on an accident where a truck was facing the wrong way and was on it's side off the road, resting on a fence, it's driver was standing up and out of his side window and talking on the phone.
We made it home safe, grabbing KFC on the way.
It was a really fun weekend.

Whoops!

Sorry people, who made comments and I forgot to publish them!
I had trouble with a troll making inappropriate comments on my blog, and had to put up the screening device, but forgot all about it quickly.
So now I hope you see your comments :)

Christmas Meme

I saw this on Arf's Michelle's blog and wanted to do it. :)


1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper. Otherwise people could peek!

2. Real tree or artificial? Real.


3. When do you put up the tree? Before Christmas.


4. When do you take the tree down? After the new year.

5. Do you like eggnog? Gag.


6. Favorite gift received as a child? A huge lifesized doll.


7. Hardest person to buy for? My husband. Especially when he buys himself something before Christmas, and then tells me, "I don't know what I want." ARGH!


8. Easiest person to buy for? Myself.


9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail.

11.Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Underwear, from my mother-in-law.


12. Favorite Christmas Movie? A Christmas Story.


13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Before Black Friday.


14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Caramel!


16. Lights on the tree? Yes.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Carol of the Bells.

18.Travel at Christmas or stay home? Home.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yes.


20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel Moroni.


21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? How people forget the true meaning of Christmas.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? White, gold and pearl.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Ham.

25. What do you want for Christmas? Peace and quiet!

I saw this on another blog...

And thought it looked fun! If you do it too, post a comment so we can some see your list :)
I am just putting stars by any that I have done. It looks more fun that way. Anyone else want to join in? Copy paste if you can make it work...I have been trying for a while.

1. Started your own blog*
2. Slept under the stars*
3. Played in a band*
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower*
6. Given more than you can afford to charity*
7. Been to Disneyland*
8. Climbed a mountain*
9. Held a praying mantis*
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch*
15. Adopted a child*
16. Had food poisoning*
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
18. Grown your own vegetables*
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight*
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill*
24. Built a snow fort*
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping* (sorry mom)
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse*
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset*
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt*
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance*
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain*
53. Played in the mud*
54. Gone to a drive-in theater*
55. Been in a movie-Wal-mart Commercial
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business *
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason*
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check *
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy*
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial*
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt*
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job*
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone*
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle*
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person*
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car*
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox*
89. Saved someone’s life*
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous*
92. Joined a book club*
93. Lost a loved one*
94. Had a baby*
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake*
97. Been involved in a law suit*
98. Owned a cell phone*
99. Been stung by a bee*


How about you?

Well

Since I started using Facebook I have totally neglected my blog!

They aren't the same thing, it's different. But I will try not to be so bad from here after.

Hmmmm... Let's see, there's so much I could write about today, I don't know where to begin.

Jacob started wrestling last week. We went to his meet on Friday against Cooper HS, there wasn't enough kids in his weight class to have him wrestle, but it was good to see how they do the points and how it all goes. We stuck around and watched Junior Varsity (Jake's JV) and Varsity. The skinny kids were fast and all over the place and it was really exciting watching them. I had to spit my gum out because my jaw was getting tired from chomping my enthusiasm out. The bigger kids were slower and more weight throwing around than moves. Jake's a heavy weight. He's almost 6 feet and weighs 250, but he's lost 4 lbs. since he started working out for wrestling. I think he needs to stretch more, some of these kids had to pretzel themselves to keep from being pinned.



Then we had our ward Christmas party and Joyanna's class sang Jingle Bells, and Rudolph. They were soooo cute!

Jaeden was Cindy Lou Who in the reading of the Grinch. My husband and son took the first one.

Her line was, "Santy Clause, why? Why are you taking our Christmas tree? Why!?"

One fun thing they had at the children's table was some plaster ornaments for the kids to color, and then a Christmas tree the kids could hang their ornaments on until the party was done.

Then Sunday we did break the sabbath and get our Christmas tree. If we waited until there was a day all of us could go (our family tradition is to go cut one down) we wouldn't be able to go until the 20th, and that's just too late to make it worth it to me. So here we are cutting our tree down. The kids tried to smile but it was so freezing, it was hard.

Here's my manly men after they took down our 6 foot solid wood spruce.

I really like this picture I took of Jake

Last year after Christmas I stocked up on ornaments that weren't glass. I got tired of the balls breaking and leaving glass all over. I'll post pictures later of the tree.

Facebook Quiz

Here are the answers to my facebook quiz for those of you who took it and would like to know what you got wrong :)

1 Q: When did Jen get her first kiss?
A:When she was 8, it was the boy across the street and the neighborhood kids kept bugging us to kiss, until finally we did, to make them finally hush, of course.

2 Q: Jen had a pet of her own when she was 12, what was it?
A: horse, my beloved Gidge

3 Q: What was her pet's name?
A: Gidget

4 Q: What was Jen's first album she ever owned?
A: Phill Colins, No Jacket Required - this was a little tricky, because I actually conned my little brother out of it. He won it at school, but didn't have a record player. I did. I also had Grease, but it was on an 8 track.... oh man, I feel old.

5 Q: When Jen was young, where did she mine for gold?
A: In her parent's fireplace - I took a hammer to their white stone fireplace after discovering that it had golden flecks in it I believed were gold.

6 Q: Jen is missing an adult front lower middle tooth, why?
A: She pulled it out to get more money from the tooth fairy- I have only 3 teeth in the front on the bottom. I accidentally mistook it for a loose baby tooth and worked it out.

7 Q: How many holes does Jen have in her ears?
A: Two in one ear, three in the other... had a really good reason! Well, not for the two (that was my wild side), but the third hole in my ear was because my sil had talked my son Jacob into getting his ear pierced. So to scare him out of it I took him to the mall and I had my left ear pierced once, and I cried when she did it and made a huge fuss and carried on so much it scared him out of it. I did it to save my son's ear.

8 Q: What is Jen's favorite thing to do when she has free time
A: shop - uh, yeah, I actually do like to shop for fun stuff when I have time. I don't like grocery shopping, but I do love window shopping.

9 Q: What is Jen's favorite color?
A: White - I LOVE white. Love, love, love, love it.

10 Q: How old will Jen be on December 14?
A: 37 - shock ya? I hope so! I hope I don't look my age. Although I'm sure my 10 years of smoking will catch up to me.... some day.

Happy Thanksgiving

Last year I tried to do 12 days of Thanksgiving, or something like that. It was at the old blog. I never could quite remember to post something each day, so this year I decided to save it all until the end and just make one big post.

So here it goes...

ahem....

I am thankful for

1. My parents. You might want to argue with me, but you would lose, I have THE best parents in the world! They have raised all 6 of us kids to be amazingly well behaved wonderful people. We were raised in a home full of faith, love for God, to have good manners, and love for each other. Though we are all grown up and I'm the farthest from them, I don't feel very far from them at times because our ties are that strong. I'm thankful for the most wonderful parents God could give me to.

2. My husband. Man, this guy deserves a medal, an award, a new car... something! He's been an amazing source of love and support to me. We've had our hard times, but no time has been too hard where he hasn't been willing to stick with me through the craziness. He's been faithfully devoted to me and our marriage and I love him so much for that. I am thankful for all of the hours of hard work he puts into his job and his education to make our lives better and to supply for our needs.

3. My children. Oh boy, now the waterworks will start. Man, I have been blessed beyond measure when it comes to my little sweeties. I have an amazing 15 year old son who is the apple of our eyes. He's been a perfect son. He makes great grades, he's kind, he's helpful, he's polite, he's patient... I don't know how we got so lucky. We get compliments on him all the time. People notice how much he helps us, or how wonderful he is with the other kids. I am so thankful for the amazing kid he is. I have an amazing 7 year old son who is the twinkle in my eye. Every morning he rushes to greet me with a "good morning mommy!" and a hug and kiss. I hope he never outgrows that! He is helpful and cheerful. He too is extremely intelligent. He helps keep his sisters out of trouble. I see a lot of Jacob in him and hope he continues to emulate his brother. I have two sweet little girls who my heart just is bursting with love for. They are still little and I wish they would stay that way. My older daughter has been a blessing to us all of her life. She came to us in a time of great sorrow, and brought with her sunshine and joy. She is always cheerful and upbeat. She rarely walks, always bouncing and upbeat and trots with a spring in her step. My youngest is my sweetheart. My mini-me. She is so much like I was when I was little. I love her cheerful smile and her chubby little cheeks. Still very attached to me she's my shadow. I wish she would never grow up and always remain my little shadow.

4. I am thankful to be an American. I love my country. I am proud of my country and what it stands for... what it has ALWAYS stood for. I am thankful for what freedoms I still have left.

5. I am thankful for my home. I love my home. I love the people in it. I love the things in it. I love how my home feels to me.

6. I am thankful for my friends. I have learned so much from my friends this year. I have watched them go through joys and heartbreaks. I have learned from watching them to embrace every day. Embrace the people in your life. I am thankful for their prayers and their conversations and their friendships.

7. I am thankful for my God. The Creator of my soul. I am thankful for the blessings He bestows on me and my family. I am thankful for the life He has given me. I am thankful for prayer, so that I can communicate with Him.

9. I am thankful for my Savior, Jesus Christ. I am thankful for His example and His sacrifice. Although I struggle every day to understand the Atonement and it's place in my life, I am thankful for it.

10. I am thankful for photography. I am thankful that I have an outlet for my creative side that doesn't take over my life. I am thankful for the beautiful images I've been able to create, and the joy I've been able to bring to others through it. I hope that I may be able to continue to bless lives with my art.

11. I am thankful that all of my needs have been met this year. I am thankful that my husband's job has not suffered with the economy. I am thankful that my bills are being paid and that my children have not ever in their lives known true hunger.

12. I am thankful for my health. I am thankful that I have been relatively healthy this year. I am also thankful that my husband's health is 100 times better this time of year than it was last year at this time. I am thankful that his body is responding to the arthritis medication. And I am thankful for my new smile.

13. I am thankful for my ancestors, for a million reasons.

Wanna see a sweetie?

go here... to my photography blog. I was so excited to finally meet this little girl. She is the daughter of a couple in our ward, a really neat couple. She recently had heart surgery to fix a problem, I guess is common with children who have Downs Syndrome.
I just LOVE these ones I put up. I have only worked on these four so far. I usually take Sunday's off of work and edit during the week.
Anyway, I was really happy she is finally well enough for me to come over and do a session for her. Hopefully we will see her in church soon.
Today we celebrated Joy's 4th birthday. Her real birthday is on the 28th, but because of Thanksgiving we decided to have it early. Oh my gosh, I can't believe how big she is. I feel so sad that she's not so little anymore.
She still has the cutest little feet. One tender foot has a birthmark dot on it. She has moon shaped feet and walks pigeon toed. The doctor hasn't' suggested any treatment for it yet, but I think it looks so cute. I hope she outgrows it, before she starts sports.
Truth be told she is my spoiled little one, and it is because she is my last, and because she's a girl, and because she looks like me and acts like me. I can spoil one of my kids, right?
I'm just really happy that she's here and part of our family.

Anyone know how

to get egg out of a keyboard? I was just sitting here this morning having some scrambled eggs when suddenly out of nowhere a sneeze attacked me! Now I have egg everywhere.

Sorry to scare you

Someone at church mentioned she'd seen one of my posts I have since deleted. She said, "Man, you were scary!" hahaha. Sorry, JoAnne, didn't mean to be scary!

I didn't mean to come off as scary, I just was making a post to put more resolve into my decision and to shout it out loud.

See, I guess if you didn't know my past history as well as some people (Gina) do, then you wouldn't know why that post was made the way it was. When I first started photography I was introduced to a website for photographers where a LOT of new photographers were trying to figure their cameras and techniques out. We would get critique on our work all the time, and most of it was the same.... It has grain, it has blown parts, too much shadow, not sharp enough, too much contrast, "it's not perfect", in essence is all people would hear, and would critique other people's work on the same stuff... they were like robots running around regurgitating the same nonsense. UNLESS, of course you were one of the more popular photographers and if you had any of that in your images why then you were a freaking genius! And all that stuff was really great on your images.
Poor Gina, who follows a couple of people who are in photography and on that board even got sucked into making those types of critiques. But I'm working on her to following me in giving them up! Live outside the box, Gina, we can do it, it's safe out there :)
I've been following several other photographers who's work I really admire. Some are local and some are on a wedding photographer's board that I'm on. It occurred to me recently that many of their images that I absolutely love, however if it had been my image, I would have discarded it simply because of that boxed thoughts I'd been put into from the other board. Some of those reasons would be that their faces couldn't be clearly seen, parts are clipping (too white or too black where no texture can be seen), the horizon is tilted, something about the rule of thirds, blurred image, etc. Who wrote these rules anyway? Stupid. And I'm not going to listen to them anymore.
I just want to shoot and edit how I want, not how people expect me to. I mean, it's not like I'm trying to control my clients, they are free to buy or not, I'm just trying to free myself from invisible restrictions.
So sorry for scaring anyone. It's all good now :)

And Who Might

you be little girl?
This is what happens when I leave the Halloween costume box unattended.


Oh and Gina, there, now you can see the family picture I had blown up. Looks great, doesn't it?

Oh shoot, now I've spoiled the Christmas card surprise.

Something that's been forgotten...

"The policy of the American government is to leave their citizens free, neither restraining nor aiding them in their pursuits."

~Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)

Hmmm... this seems to have been forgotten in the big bailouts that are going on.

Reason 1,987 for why I'm considering

going back to home schooling my kids...
I hope this teacher was fired.
What a hypocrite!

A letter-

I lifted this from a comment made on a blog I was reading today. I have no way of knowing if it's a true note, I tried to google it, but found nothing. However I think that it is very well written and the facts stated in it should be proclaimed throughout the land.
I had no idea that there was such a war being raged on our church because of Prop. 8 passing. I knew there had been tv commercials attacking our church, but I had no idea that it had gone even farther than that and into vandalism and threats and attacks.
I feel so bad for my LDS brothers and sisters and their families and children who have had to endure such relentless attacks and accusations. I think it's a tragedy that the US media is playing such a huge roll in the attack, and helping along the misguided information about who actually got it passed.

Here is what I lifted:

Apparently the following was written by a member of the Newbury Park stake:
Dear Friends,
In the aftermath of the recent election, we may find ourselves oddly on the defensive regarding our support for the Yes on Proposition 8 cause. Our young people have been especially subject to mean spirited comments by high school friends and teachers. We have nothing to be ashamed of. We did nothing wrong. In fact, we did everything that a civic minded American can and should do. I have put together a few facts that help me to appreciate our position better. For example:
1. Mormons make up less than 2% of the population of California. There are approximately 800,000 LDS out of a total population of approximately 34 million.
2. Mormon voters were less than 5% of the yes vote. If one estimates that 250,000 LDS are registered voters (the rest being children), then LDS voters made up 4.6% of the Yes vote and 2.4% of the total Proposition 8 vote.
3. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) donated no money to the Yes on 8 campaign. Individual members of the Church were encouraged to support the Yes on 8 efforts and, exercising their constitutional right to free speech, donated whatever they felt like donating.
4. The No on 8 campaign raised more money than the Yes on 8 campaign. Unofficial estimates put No on 8 at $38 million and Yes on 8 at $32 million, making it the most expensive non-presidential election in the country.
5. Advertising messages for the Yes on 8 campaign are based on case law and real-life situations. The No on 8 supporters have insisted that the Yes on 8 messaging is based on lies. Every Yes on 8 claim is supported.
6. The majority of our friends and neighbors voted Yes on 8. Los Angeles County voted in favor of Yes on 8. Ventura County voted in favor of Yes on 8.
7. African Americans overwhelmingly supported Yes on 8. Exit polls show that 70% of Black voters chose Yes on 8. This was interesting because the majority of these voters voted for President-elect Obama. No on 8 supporters had assumed that Obama voters would vote No on 8.
8. The majority of Latino voters voted Yes on 8. Exit polls show that the majority of Latinos supported Yes on 8 and cited religious beliefs (assumed to be primarily Catholic).
9. The Yes on 8 coalition was a broad spectrum of religious organizations. Catholics, Evangelicals, Protestants, Orthodox Jews, Muslims - all supported Yes on 8. It is estimated that there are 10 million Catholics and 10 million Protestants in California. Mormons were a tiny fraction of the population represented by Yes on 8 coalition members.
10. Not all Mormons voted in favor of Proposition 8. Our faith accords that each person be allowed to choose for him or her self. Church leaders have asked members to treat other members with “civility, respect and love,” despite their differing views.
11. The Church did not violate the principal of separation of church and state. This principle is derived from the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which reads, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof . . .” The phrase “separation of church and state”, which does not appear in the Constitution itself, is generally traced to an 1802 letter by Thomas Jefferson, although it has since been quoted in several opinions handed down by the United States Supreme Court in recent years. The LDS Church is under no obligation to refrain from participating in the political process, to the extent permitted by law. U.S. election law is very clear that churches may not endorse candidates, but may support issues. The Church has always been very careful on this matter and occasionally (not often) chooses to support causes that it feels to be of a moral nature.
12. Supporters of Proposition 8 did exactly what the Constitution provides for all citizens: they exercised their First Amendment rights to speak out on an issue that concerned them, make contributions to a cause that they support, and then vote in the regular electoral process. For the most part, this seems to have been done in an open, fair, and civil way. Opponents of 8 have accused supporters of being bigots, liars, and worse. The fact is, we simply did what Americans do - we spoke up, we campaigned, and we voted.
Hold your heads up high - you did a great job on this most important cause. We will have more opportunities in the future to participate in our democratic process. Let’s remember the lessons learned and do an even better job next time.
These are my personal opinions and thoughts; any errors are mine and in no way reflect official Church policy or doctrine.

I'm a wimp

I could survive for 54 seconds chained to a bunk bed with a velociraptor

Created by Bunk Beds.net

Fun Photo Meme

Gina did this at her blog and thought it looked like fun.
THE RULES:
1. Go to http://www.google.com/
2. Type in your answer to the question in the image "search" box
3. Using only the first page pick a picture
4. Insert the picture into your blog5. Have fun!(You can use these questions or make up your own!)


What is your first name? I had to cheat and go a couple of pages back for a picture that was PG.


What is your relationship status?

What is your favorite color?

and on my favorite animal, no less!

Who is your celebrity crush?

What is your favorite movie?

I don't have a favorite, but if I had to save only one from our collection, this would be it. What is your favorite dessert

What do you most love in life?

What is your favorite food?

What is your favorite drink?

Where would your dream vacation be to?

One word that describes youFavorite place to shop?

Favorite thing to make for dinner?

What kind of car do you drive?

Favorite TV Show?

Going on our second round

of the yucky stomach flu bug.
Joshua, like last time, was the first to bring it home. Now I've spent all night and all day with Joy holding the empty ice cream bucket for her and re-pinning her hair back while the poor thing keeps emptying her stomach. It was finally empty this morning when she snuck a drink and then we started all over again.
My poor little sweetie keeps begging me, "can I have just a little ice?" and "I'm really hungry mommy!" My heart just hurts that I have to keep denying her. I want to feed her and make her water, but I know her stomach won't hold it down yet.

Yet another reason I'm seriously considering home schooling again. I'm so sick of being sick!

I love my country

And I want to thank every service person there is, for giving their time and their lives for my awesome home.

I have always been proud of my country.
I have always loved my country.
I have always thought my country was the best in the world.
I have always choked up singing the national anthem.

There are people out there who chose to see all the ugly. All the bad. All the mistakes. All the bad choices.

But I don't.

I chose to see the sacrifices we make for other people of other countries. All the charity. All the good. All the wise. All the right choices. All the deliverance. All the kind. All the pure. All the beauty.

I live in one of the most beautiful states in this country.
Lush forest only blocks in any direction. Lakes abound. Wildlife in my "backyard". Gina, believe it or not but there were deer across the road in the trees a couple of weeks back.
I love driving around my area and seeing the tops of all the trees... it's like a painting in a book. Houses nestled under the canopy of these trees.

Sometimes I want to move from here, someplace warmer. Every winter I ask my husband, "why do we live here, again?"
But I really know why I chose Minnesota for my home. Not because of Joel being here. I chose it for my home before I knew him. I chose it for it's rustic beauty. It's romantic charm.

I am so thankful that it is still free. I thank all those who have sacrificed in any way to make it this way. I pray that God will always allow it to be protected.

I Love Primary

Yesterday was our Primary program and boy did our kids do an awesome job!
My Joshua has the tummy bug so had to miss out on it, but my girls did a really great job. I sure love these kids.
I love how Heavenly father has helped me to love even the most annoying of our kids in the Primary.



Proposition 8

I also just wanted to add to the conversations going around by members of the church about Proposition 8.

For those that are more inclined to search out higher, more intelligent studies on the issue, I offer this link.

This is a talk given by Professor Robert P. George who is McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence at Princeton University, where he lectures on constitutional interpretation, civil liberties and philosophy of law. This talk was given at BYU, however this man is not LDS, here is a link to a page about him http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_P._George . I feel that he gives a very compelling, intelligent argument about why gays should not be allowed to marry, along with more insight on other issues our society faces today.


One popular argument that some people are making in supporting gay marriage is, "It doesn't affect me, so why should I care?". One only needs to look at what is happening in the states that have allowed gays to marry to see how, yes indeed, it will affect them as well as the whole community. Professor George gives understanding into the answers to that question.

Two of the ensuing results that concern me the most is that, one, parent's rights are being quickly taken away in the name of "tolerance". See this story.

The second is that not only the LDS church, but Christian churches in general are under attack. Freedom of religion is under the microscope and none are free from the scrutiny or threats. In several areas in the world mandated homosexual adoptions have forced the Catholic church to pull out of adoption agencies, because of their refusal to place children in homes of homosexuals. This is a tragic loss for adoption agencies and the children who relied on the Catholic church to find good loving homes for them to be placed in. Furthermore, gay marriage activists are seeking to take away the rights of churches. They have already sued the Methodist Church for not performing a gay marriage on their own church property, and the gays WON!! As a result the Methodist Church lost their tax-exempt status in New Jersey. Story here.
And NOW they are attempting to strip the LDS church of it's tax exempt status as well. Proof here. Even though the church it's self did not put money into passing prop. 8.

And this is really important, please pay close attention to what I say:

Furthermore, some people are making claims that you can't be gay and be a member of the Church. Actually, this is incorrect.
Just as there are hetero-sexual people in the church, we all have our temptations, it's what we do with them that makes it a sin.
So although some members feel they are gay from birth, they can attend church and even the temple, so long as they are not acting on these attractions and keeping themselves worthy and clean just as hetero-sexual people are.
Please quit spreading false accusations against the Church.

Supporting Prop. 8 does NOT equal prejudice or hate, it protects traditional marriage, in the form it has always existed.

When it comes to the Church leaders I keep seeing members who are against prop 8 throwing around the words, "blind obedience". I'd like to point out that there is a difference between "blind obedience" (imo. is a term used as a scare tactic) and living by faith. It's not blind obedience when I pay my tithing, or when I don't drink or smoke... all things I struggle with, so why is it blind obedience when I faithfully take up the stance that my church leaders have encouraged?

Please take the time to listen to the speaker in the link I posted at the beginning.

A lesson on taxes

My sister forwarded this to me, and I think everyone could benefit from reading it.
Enjoy!

A Lesson on Taxes

Ten men go out for beer. The bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:

The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing. The fifth would pay $1. The sixth would pay $3. The seventh would pay $7. The eighth would pay $12. The ninth would pay $18. The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.

So, that's what they decided to do. The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve. He said, "Since you are all such good customers, I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20. Drinks for the ten now cost just $80."

The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes, so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But what about the other six men -- the paying customers?

How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his "fair share"? They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay!

And so:

The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings). The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings). The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings). The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings). The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings). The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).

Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings.

"I only got a dollar out of the $20," declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man, "but he got $10!"

"Yeah, that's right,' exclaimed the fifth man. "I only saved a dollar, too. It's unfair that he got ten times more than I!"

"That's true!!"shouted the seventh man. "Why should he get $10 back when I got only $2 ? The wealthy get all the breaks!"

"Wait a minute," yelled the first four men in unison. "We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!" The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.

The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important.

They didn't have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!

And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up any more. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.

David R. Kamerschen, Ph.D. Professor of Economics, University of Georgia

Really Cool Stuff!

I was working on my sharing time lesson for this Sunday, and was looking for ways to say "Thank you" when I came across some really cool stuff at The Spoon Sisters.

I can't imagine how they get these beans to do this!

And these look fun too! I'd have to have them all so I could do funny hair do's.

I also like these plain ones. But I think that basil will be harder than grass to grow.

I know for sure I don't want one of these, unless I can put a magnet under dh's name.

And OH MY GOSH... what were they thinking when they made these? Just change them QUICK!

The whole site is full of fun different kind of stuff. Check them out!

My New Spokesman

Why I'm a conservative Republican.

So fitting for today

remember to turn down the jukebox at the bottom of my blog before playing this.



This is one of my most favorite hymns sung by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. I just love their arrangement of it. I have it on their Consider the Lilies cd.

I just feel that the words to it speaks so softly, yet strongly to me today.
It was also sung as a tribute to President Hinckley.

My Shepherd Will Supply My Need

My Shepherd will supply my need:
Jehovah is His Name;
In pastures fresh He makes me feed,
Beside the living stream.
He brings my wandering spirit back
When I forsake His ways,
And leads me, for His mercy's sake,
In paths of truth and grace.

When I walk through the shades of death,
Thy presence is my stay;
A word of Thy supporting breath
Drives all my fears away.
Thy hand, in sight of all my foes,
Doth still my table spread;
My cup with blessings overflows,
Thine oil anoints my head.

The sure provisions of my God
Attend me all my days;
O may Thy house be my abode,
And all my work be praise!
There would I find a settled rest,
While others go and come;
No more a stranger, nor a guest,
But like a child at home.

Congratulations are in order

to the people of California for passing Prop 8! YAY!

This is not about hate, or homophobia. This is about preserving something.
You don't hear people complaining about preserving old buildings, or nature, or pristine wilderness. You don't hear them calling people who want to build nature phobics.

It's not about fear or hate and it's also not about rights.

Same-sex couples can have the same rights as married people. And if they want to feel better they can throw some extra taxes to the government like married people do.

It's about the traditional family being broken down. The threads of our society being unraveled. The stable foundation of our government crumbling. The government relies on solid families to bring up good citizens to keep it running, keep the laws, build it up. But when families crumble, children are raised in the worst poverty known to us humans. I'm not talking about just monetary poverty.

There is one thing that the government will NEVER EVER be able to produce. You can look to the government to give you a hand out, save your home from foreclosure, fuel your cars and provide any service under the sun. But you will never be able to ask the government to bring children up to be good citizens. It takes families for that. Good solid families. Decades of research shows us that children need both a father and a mother. Children navigate the developmental stages more easily, are more solid in their gender identity, perform better in academic tasks at school, have fewer emotional disorders and become better functioning adults when they are reared by dual-gender parents. I also believe that children brought up in a dual gender parent home, who have parents who are good to each other and their children, who take their vows seriously, who provide for their family, will have children who will grow up to have similar familial relationships. Less dead-beat dads, less children in poverty, less teen pregnancies. Let's face it, the more relaxed society gets about these moral behaviors the worse the situation gets with teen pregnancies, unwanted pregnancies, children in poverty, crime, etc.

Gee.... thanks 70's.

Of course we have no control over people's agency, and there are people out there with serious mental issues, and so nothing is ever 100%.

California wasn't the only state to vote on gay issues. Florida adopted a marriage amendment -- passing it 62-38 percent and surpassing the necessary 60 percent super majority -- while Arizona passed its own marriage amendment, 56-44 percent, two years after citizens there had become the first state to defeat an amendment. Three-fifths (30) of the states now have adopted a marriage amendment.

I am at disagreement with most politicians out there. I realize that marriage currently is a state issue, however I think it should be a federal issue. We cannot have people traveling across the country being recognized in one state and not in another as a legally married couple.

It's about time citizens had the vote and not activist judges!

2009

looks like it's going to be a good year for chocolate.

8 years ago

I discovered Chocolate.

Wonderful, beautiful, sweet chocolate.

I feel sorry for any woman who hasn't discovered the healing that chocolate can bring. I feel sorry for any woman who hasn't discovered the healing that Gilmore Girls can bring too.

And put them both together, and you've ended the day in the most perfect way. Anger melts away. Darkness brightens up. Heavy heart is lifted. Everything in the world is better. The Earth is back on it's axis.

When we were growing up candies were few and far between. Halloween and Easter was when we saw the majority of candy in our home. At Christmas we got a book of Life Savers, and sometimes if we were lucky and went to the bank with our mom they would send out a piece of salt water taffy, but that was about it.

So when I became an adult I continued the tradition of self deprivation, unknowingly, to myself.

Until one day.

One blessed day.

I was visiting my little brother's family in Iowa and they had a bowl of M&M's. Wow. Strange. And it was an oddly awakening experience to me to see that they would just walk by and take a handful whenever they felt like it. It was then that I realized

I am an adult.

I could buy chocolate and put it in a bowl if I wanted to TOO!

As soon as I got home I started buying M&M's in large bags and putting them in bowls around my house. Wow. How liberating!

And ever since then I've had a love affair with chocolate.

It holds my hand every month when I start cramping. It brings a smile to my lips when I've had a rough day. It gives me energy when I am feeling worn out.

Chocolate and me, we are like this *crosses her fingers*. I will forever love chocolate. Dark, milk, white, you name it. I'm not picky.

I just have to be careful how much lovin' I give it because it's making me more to love.

Voter's Guide

Want to check out the Presidential Nominees stances on certain key issues before you go vote?
Click here. and then scroll down to the issues. If you'd like to see a more in depth score card click here, and download the PDF.

You are loved more than you can know...

Click here to watch a video, but get a box of tissues first.

As if I didn't have enough to do..

Monday night I get to call people and remind them to vote on Tuesday as part of the "Get Out the Vote!"

woo hoo

Actually I am happy to do my part, I just thought they'd use my yard for signs when I signed up to help. Hahaha. I guess they want a little more than that. Actually they wanted me to do yard signs on Sat. or Sun. but I have a session on Saturday morning and Sunday is my day of worship, so then they asked me if I could make calls on Monday. I couldn't think of a reason why not, so ... I said I would.

So... this is your reminder from me....

Get out and vote on Tuesday!

And the excuse, "I have to work" doesn't count, because work places are required to let you go vote, during your shift, if you can't work around the schedule. This link has your state's laws regarding if it's paid or not and how much time you get. So really, there's no good reason not to vote!

Extra Time

So now that I have some extra time this winter while my photography slows down, I want to do some reading and movie watching. But I don't want to chose just any books or any movies, I'd like to pick books that have been hits in book clubs, and movies that are old classics. So I spent some time on the library website looking for some... this is what I have requested so far... and I'm looking for some more suggestions.
But first let me say, I'm not interested in the Twilight series, nor am I interested in action/guns kind of stuff.

Books:
The Secret Life of Bees
Wicked

Movies:
42nd street
It's a mad, mad, mad, mad world
Moby dick
Monkey Business
Stage Door (Yeah, I noticed a Ginger Rogers thing going on here)

Have any good suggestions to my list?

Cetole and other musical instruments

Some pictures from todays session with Kate, who makes these medieval instruments by hand. She does amazing work! Makes me a little sad that I don't know how to even play anything. These would be fun to play!

Saturday

Was probably the last warm day we will have this year. We got out and spent most of the afternoon working and playing. I got out the camera for some fun shots too.

This is Duky's shoe, he lost playing soccer in the street.

My lavender is doing really well in the cooler temps.

These are Josh's worn out jeans, sad thing is, I probably bought him these in September!

Joel fixing our front steps.

I love how the light shone through this leaf, making it's color more spectatular!

And this little guy will be gone soon, having played the summer away.

My mind in the clouds

Today at the gym I was reading last month's Ensign magazine. In it was an article titled "Finding My Faith" by Joshua J. Perkey.
In it he talked about how when he was taking missionary discussions he kept holding off his baptism because he was waiting for some big revelation to himself that the Church was true. Time after time the missionaries would challenge him to be baptised, and time after time he would turn them down. Yet he kept taking discussions. Then one day during a discussion a missionary told him that every time they ask him to be baptized he tells them no, but what he had to do was say yes and then the Spirit would confirm it to him.
I've been in several discussions in the last year where this has been brought up, where we try to get answers to prayers, "tell me if I should do this or that", yet we feel we have not received an answer. John Bytheway, in his Standards Night Live, tells about how when he was trying to decide if he should ask this girl to marry him. He finally figured out that he had to make the decision first and then asked God to stop him if it wasn't right.
Often that is what we have to to, is make the decision first and then ask the Lord if it is right. This is how I ended up with some really amazing counselors when I was the Young Women's President.
Anyway, back to the first story, this young man had to make the decision to be baptized, first, before the Spirit witnessed to him overwhelmingly at that moment he said "yes" that what he was doing was right.
We haven't paid our tithing for several months. Every paycheck I've written tithing into our bank book, but I haven't paid it. I'll admit, it's been quite satisfying seeing the amount pile up in our account. When things look rough I kept thinking, "Well, we have that money to help if we need it, we don't go to the temple much anymore anyway." But then the thought comes to me, "I don't want to burn if Christ comes tomorrow." Haha, too bad that's the extent of my thoughts lately.
The last several weeks I've been searching for long sleeved dresses for my girls for the winter, so they don't freeze going to church here in the Nordic north. Last Saturday I finally decided enough is enough, we just need to pay our tithing and then hope the rest of the year works out somehow. So Sunday Joel took the $3,200 check in with us to church, and gave it to a Bishopric member. Later that day the Bishop's wife brought in 3 bags of clothes for my girls, with SEVERAL adorable winter/spring dresses for them!
It didn't really occur to me until today when I was reading that story that I had a similar experience this week with the dresses.
I know this was simple, but it was an immediate answer to a need I had.
I know that the rest of this year will be ok and we will be taken care of. I just needed that boost to my testimony. I just wish my mind wasn't in the clouds so much that it takes more than a week to realize I've been blessed by my faith.

A Sometimes MeMe

Sometimes I just need: arms around me
Sometimes I want: to just keep driving
Sometimes I like to: volunteer at my kids school
Sometimes all it takes: is all I have
Sometimes I picture: us in a home in the country with no neighbors, my kids running wild and free, dogs yapping, horses running around, fresh air and the sound of nature all around. Maybe it will have to be the grandkids.
Sometimes I wish: I could find corn husk wrappers at my local grocery store
Sometimes I find: people to be utterly amusing
Sometimes I take: too long getting ready
Sometimes I look: for my sunglasses or keys
Sometimes I hate: hearing my family whine about what's for dinner
Sometimes it’s nice: to feel the warm sun on my face
Sometimes it hurts: the day after I raise my weights in the gym
Sometimes it makes me happy: to work on pictures all day
Sometimes it’s sad: when I have to chose one child over the other
Sometimes I listen: to the scriptures
Sometimes I sleep: only 6 hours a night
Sometimes I like to watch: reality tv
Sometimes I feel: itchy
Sometimes I rant: about politics
Sometimes I never: shut up
Sometimes I really: want a snaptotes bag, but the price scares me!

I am SO bummed!

I just found out today that Wicked is coming to Minnesota in November and I am much too late to buy tickets. This really depresses me. I hope they come back some time. I don't think I could get Joel to stand outside the theatre with me for 40-60 minutes, by chance that we would win the lottery for two of the 20 tickets they hold a lottery for at the begining of each performance.... bummer.

Ever wonder to yourself

How on earth it could affect you if gay marriage was made legal in your state?
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1815825713

Nuh uh, no way, no how, not with MY kids. Heard the word "vigilante"?

I read this today...

in a coments section, but couldn't find the author's name. But enjoy!


Why I am voting Democrat!

I'm voting Democrat because I believe the government will do a better job of spending MY MONEY than I would. I think when you spread the wealth around it is good for everybody! It’s Patriotic!

I'm voting Democrat because I believe that business should not be allowed to make profits for themselves. All profits are evil and should be confiscated for Government Redistribution.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe that MORE Government regulations and higher taxes on Business will stop Business from exporting their jobs to Countries with LESS Government regulations and lower taxes.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe terrorists should be allowed to have trials in American courts. And be able to subpoena top secret documents, soldiers, government officials, etc. to cross examine for their defense. They should have ACLU lawyers who can help intimidate Americans who serve on the juries!

I'm voting Democrat because I believe Gay Marriage should be the law of the land and will probably produce better children.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe English should not be the official language of the United States. I don’t mind pushing one for English when I use the phone.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe partial birth abortion is okay but water boarding a terrorist is disgusting.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe having a domestic terrorist like Bill Ayers as a close friend is a good thing. It allows for great relations with foreign terrorists.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe in a FREE government health care system. I believe doctors, nurses, hospitals, drug companies, etc. will gladly donate their time, products, services, facilities, etc. for FREE and that will be a better system.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe in and support trial lawyers, frivolous lawsuits and outrageous jury verdicts.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe 9/11 was an inside job to con the American people to go to war for oil.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe social security is solvent and that there is a social security lock box and I don’t believe social security is a Ponzi scheme.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe MOST AMERICANS are bitter and cling to their guns and religion. Let’s rid our country of guns and religion!

I'm voting Democrat because I believe illegal aliens deserve all the rights of ordinary Americans plus some additional rights Americans do not have.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe corporations should pay higher taxes! I believe higher taxes on business will make the price of their products and services LESS EXPENSIVE.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe groups like ACORN who register felons, drug addicts, wino’s, homeless drifters, illegal aliens, dead people, children, fictional Disney characters, etc. makes my vote count more.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe celebrating the winter solstice shows compassion for the small minority of people that do not celebrate Christmas.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe hard core criminal murders and rapists deserve life and that the innocent unborn deserve death. It’s a choice I can live with.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe Bush caused Hurricane Katrina and he blew-up the levies in the ninth ward of New Orleans.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe that any one who is not partaking in one of the many wonderful government programs obviously has too much money and should pay higher taxes.
I'm voting Democrat because when we pull out of Iraq the terrorists will be happy and now think of us as good people.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe our soldiers are AIR RAIDING villages and killing innocent people.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe sex in the Oval Office with an intern is a private matter and that everybody lies under oath about sex.

I'm votin Demokrat becuse I wus edumkated at a publick sckrool. I lik da Natsionel Edukatshun Assoseeashun!

I'm voting Democrat because freedom of speech is fine as long as it does not offend people. Can’t we all just get along?

I'm voting Democrat because I believe oil companies' profits are wrong. I believe higher taxes on oil companies will produce lower prices at the pump.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe we need to rid ourselves of dependency on foreign oil, BUT I AM AGAINST offshore drilling for oil and natural gas, drilling in Anwar, building nuclear power plants and clean coal technology.

And finally, I'm voting Democrat because I believe Reverend Wright when he said “GODDAMN AMERICA” and “OUR CHICKENS ARE COMING HOME TO ROOST”. Hey let’s make a comfortable nest for those chickens!

Why are you voting Democrat?

"Someone stole my first amendment rights when they stole my Mc.Cain sign. Twice!"

That's what the new sign in my front window now says.
I just got the second Mc.Cain sign today, it didn't even last a couple of hours.
What a pitty, that someone thinks they can fix a race by stealing someone's sign. What's next? Taking away my freedom of speech? I'm sure that's not in the far too distant future the way some things are looking.
At least they haven't taken away my right to vote, .... yet.
Or my right to raise all 4 of my kids as Christian conservatives clinging to our guns and religion and we'll use those guns and religion to protect our first and second amendment rights!

Don't eat tacos

the day after you've had the flu.
I had the flu yesterday and was totally craving tacos after I saw a recipe in my inbox for south american tacos with a green avacado sauce. So last night I had dh pick me up a pack of tacos from Taco Bell. This morning, guess what I had the first time I could eat since being sick? Sadly, yes, a couple of tacos.
Then I went to the gym to work out and didn't last very long.
Next time I should just have some shredded wheat or something and take a few days before hitting the gym again.

Time Machine

Ever wish you had a time machine and could go back and do things again knowing what you now know? If you ever find one, let me know.

Please re-read- New Edited Version

You might've been a flapper in the 1920s.
You possess the same reckless spirit that inspired women in the 1920s to cut their hair, wear short skirts, and flirt up a storm. If you get a kick out of acting and dressing in ways that other people find shocking, it could mean you were a flapper in a previous life. You're an independent spirit, and you tend to rebel against people in positions of authority. You like staying out late, and the wilder the plans are, the better -- you'd love to end up at an underground party where nobody gets in the door unless they know the password.

You know what, I think this test knows me better than any other test I've taken.
I've thought about it a lot since taking it.
I've been trying to live conservatively for the last 8 years, but really on the inside I am very much like this. If I ever allowed myself to be my true free spirit, this is how I'd be.
It's so hard sometimes to be good, because I do have a reckless spirit inside.