Regional Mrs. Congeniality Award Photos
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Support your National Rifle Association...
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
The Madness
An infectious disease has come over David, and is spreading through the home.
It's a good thing we don't bet, or else David would probably spend the latter half of March in Vegas. In recent years he has dominated his work and family brackets, but this year his methodology (yes, he actually runs numbers and match-ups ever since one of the secretaries beat him) has resulted in some interesting picks. Which makes him more strung out and stressed than usual.
I have concluded that with the symptoms of mood swings, growling at the tv, and tears for two weeks straight, this is the male equivalent of PMS. Unfortunately chocolate does not help. Can I get a prescription of nachos and IBC Root Beer in here... I think I'm coming down with something!
David
Gonzaga
Pitt
Memphis
Louisville
Melissa
UNC
Pitt
Memphis
Louisville
#2
USC taking it all.
It's a good thing we don't bet, or else David would probably spend the latter half of March in Vegas. In recent years he has dominated his work and family brackets, but this year his methodology (yes, he actually runs numbers and match-ups ever since one of the secretaries beat him) has resulted in some interesting picks. Which makes him more strung out and stressed than usual.
I have concluded that with the symptoms of mood swings, growling at the tv, and tears for two weeks straight, this is the male equivalent of PMS. Unfortunately chocolate does not help. Can I get a prescription of nachos and IBC Root Beer in here... I think I'm coming down with something!
David
Gonzaga
Pitt
Memphis
Louisville
Melissa
UNC
Pitt
Memphis
Louisville
#2
USC taking it all.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Big Girl Follow-up
#3 is still loving her bed and even took a nap on it yesterday. As always, we checked on her before we went to bed. This is what we found...
One of these nights she'll get it right:-) She fell into this place again at 5AM so now we have a boppy and huge blanket there to keep her out--for her own safety, not to limit her exploration.
Church Brawl
Last night a few extra lights shone during the Stake Center Basketball court championship game. David saw stars...
The undefeated ward team showed up in force as 13 of the 14 players made it, but David does not remember the game.
Apparently, in the final minutes of the first half, David’s face collided with the shoulder of another player. Witnesses told me afterward that they were surprised he was still on the court after the collision. He continued to play for about 45 seconds, and then subbed himself out.
I showed up a little later after a meeting. David sat on the bench staring blankly forward, not looking at anything. I did not know anything happened. After about 15 minutes, he got up and walked over to a friend of ours who is a nurse. He doesn’t remember what he said or why he went over there, but shortly afterward, she came and told me that there might be something wrong and I should take him to the Insta-care. After discussing the possible need to go to a doctor, the following conversation occurred:
“Would you like a priesthood blessing?”
“I do not want to go to the doctor.”
“That’s not what I asked, I just wanted to know if you want a Priesthood blessing.”
“I hate [going to] the doctor.”
Our friend, the nurse, and another friend who saw it happen also suggested the Priesthood blessing with the same response. I finally changed it from a question to a statement, "We'll get someone to give you a blessing."
He started to recover following such and we left. David suffered a Grade I concussion. That puts him out for the remainder of the season (region tournament). Over the length of the evening he seemed somewhat lucid, but when he got up this morning, he did not remember nearly anything from last night. You can tell he’s really not too pleased about that, because he’s wondering if he’s getting too out-of-shape to keep up with the high intensity of Utah church-brawl next year. Which is funny, because biking 100 miles? No problem. Playing basketball with 25-55 year olds? Hazardous!
David’s probably doing just fine, since he posted our 200th blog entry this morning, and he seems to be his usual self, albeit, perhaps a little more grumpy due to a significant headache.
The undefeated ward team showed up in force as 13 of the 14 players made it, but David does not remember the game.
Apparently, in the final minutes of the first half, David’s face collided with the shoulder of another player. Witnesses told me afterward that they were surprised he was still on the court after the collision. He continued to play for about 45 seconds, and then subbed himself out.
I showed up a little later after a meeting. David sat on the bench staring blankly forward, not looking at anything. I did not know anything happened. After about 15 minutes, he got up and walked over to a friend of ours who is a nurse. He doesn’t remember what he said or why he went over there, but shortly afterward, she came and told me that there might be something wrong and I should take him to the Insta-care. After discussing the possible need to go to a doctor, the following conversation occurred:
“Would you like a priesthood blessing?”
“I do not want to go to the doctor.”
“That’s not what I asked, I just wanted to know if you want a Priesthood blessing.”
“I hate [going to] the doctor.”
Our friend, the nurse, and another friend who saw it happen also suggested the Priesthood blessing with the same response. I finally changed it from a question to a statement, "We'll get someone to give you a blessing."
He started to recover following such and we left. David suffered a Grade I concussion. That puts him out for the remainder of the season (region tournament). Over the length of the evening he seemed somewhat lucid, but when he got up this morning, he did not remember nearly anything from last night. You can tell he’s really not too pleased about that, because he’s wondering if he’s getting too out-of-shape to keep up with the high intensity of Utah church-brawl next year. Which is funny, because biking 100 miles? No problem. Playing basketball with 25-55 year olds? Hazardous!
David’s probably doing just fine, since he posted our 200th blog entry this morning, and he seems to be his usual self, albeit, perhaps a little more grumpy due to a significant headache.
Robin Hood is Not Celestial
Perhaps one of the least understood and a commonly-twisted subjects of study in our world today is macro- economics. Understanding the principles behind large scale economic policy can help a person forecast the changes and dangers ahead based on the current philosophical models and policies.
We must understand that for our fiscal policies to succeed in the current economic market, we need to allow people and corporations to fail. If there is no failure, there is no such thing as success in this country. There must be an opposition in all things. The only way to return stability to our economy is to require a return to accountability. Yes, large corporations and banks will fail. Other banks and organizations that follow correct business practices will rise and take their place.
But we cannot succeed as a country by redistributing wealth.
Below is a link to a video that demonstrates, as well as I have seen, some of the problems with a socialistic economic policy. Some parts of this video are a poor attack on an individual, and I would have preferred the creators to take a higher road, but I have not found a better fiscal encapsulation of the recent events than this…
http://usawakeup.org:80/USSA.htm
Would you like to see something even more shocking? Carefully examine these quotes by President Ezra T. Benson found in The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, pp. 692-695. I d-double-dog-dare-you…
“We cannot afford to minimize the threat of socialism in America. We must be on guard against unsound theories and programs which strike at the very root of all we hold dear. We have lived too long under a government of controls. Government by control has extended into almost all of our economy and even invaded many of our personal freedoms. We must be made aware of this and be awakened to its dangers. This major effort is to keep left-wing, bureaucratic planners away from control of our national government. That are leading us today towards more and more socialization of our entire economy, a weakening of the free-enterprise system, and an increase in the regulation and domination of the people of America.”
“Today’s Socialists – who call themselves egalitarians [or champions of the poor] - are using the federal government to redistribute wealth in our society—not as a matter of voluntary charity, but as a so-called matter of right. One Housing, Education, and Welfare official said, ‘In this country, welfare is no longer charity; it is a right. More and more Americans feel that their government owes them something.’ (U.S. News and World Report, 21 April 1975, p. 49). President Grover Cleveland said – and we believe as a people – that though the people support the government, the government should not support the people.”
“Yes, we have traveled a long way down the soul-destroying road of socialism . . . How did this happen? Men . . . ascended to high political offices by promising what was not theirs to give, and citizens voted them into office in hopes of receiving what they had not earned. You can, therefore, see how the violation of one commandment – Thou shall not covet – has weakened our entire system of government and led to the partial loss of liberty.”
I fear for the future when I realize that our once-free institutions—political, economic, educational, and social—have been drifting into the hands of those who favor the welfare state, and who would “centralize all power in the hands of the political apparatus in Washington. This enhancement of political power at the expense of individual rights, so often disguised as ‘democracy’ or ‘freedom’ or ‘civil rights,’ is ‘socialism, no matter what name tag it bears.”
There are more significant quotes from this section, and I would highly recommend reading it. When the prophet speaks, do it. We are commanded to follow not just his commands, but also all of his recommendations (Doc. & Cov. 21:4-5) Whether it is by command or recommendation, His voice is the only warning that will keep us in safety during a time of storm.
We must understand that for our fiscal policies to succeed in the current economic market, we need to allow people and corporations to fail. If there is no failure, there is no such thing as success in this country. There must be an opposition in all things. The only way to return stability to our economy is to require a return to accountability. Yes, large corporations and banks will fail. Other banks and organizations that follow correct business practices will rise and take their place.
But we cannot succeed as a country by redistributing wealth.
Below is a link to a video that demonstrates, as well as I have seen, some of the problems with a socialistic economic policy. Some parts of this video are a poor attack on an individual, and I would have preferred the creators to take a higher road, but I have not found a better fiscal encapsulation of the recent events than this…
http://usawakeup.org:80/USSA.htm
Would you like to see something even more shocking? Carefully examine these quotes by President Ezra T. Benson found in The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, pp. 692-695. I d-double-dog-dare-you…
“We cannot afford to minimize the threat of socialism in America. We must be on guard against unsound theories and programs which strike at the very root of all we hold dear. We have lived too long under a government of controls. Government by control has extended into almost all of our economy and even invaded many of our personal freedoms. We must be made aware of this and be awakened to its dangers. This major effort is to keep left-wing, bureaucratic planners away from control of our national government. That are leading us today towards more and more socialization of our entire economy, a weakening of the free-enterprise system, and an increase in the regulation and domination of the people of America.”
“Today’s Socialists – who call themselves egalitarians [or champions of the poor] - are using the federal government to redistribute wealth in our society—not as a matter of voluntary charity, but as a so-called matter of right. One Housing, Education, and Welfare official said, ‘In this country, welfare is no longer charity; it is a right. More and more Americans feel that their government owes them something.’ (U.S. News and World Report, 21 April 1975, p. 49). President Grover Cleveland said – and we believe as a people – that though the people support the government, the government should not support the people.”
“Yes, we have traveled a long way down the soul-destroying road of socialism . . . How did this happen? Men . . . ascended to high political offices by promising what was not theirs to give, and citizens voted them into office in hopes of receiving what they had not earned. You can, therefore, see how the violation of one commandment – Thou shall not covet – has weakened our entire system of government and led to the partial loss of liberty.”
I fear for the future when I realize that our once-free institutions—political, economic, educational, and social—have been drifting into the hands of those who favor the welfare state, and who would “centralize all power in the hands of the political apparatus in Washington. This enhancement of political power at the expense of individual rights, so often disguised as ‘democracy’ or ‘freedom’ or ‘civil rights,’ is ‘socialism, no matter what name tag it bears.”
There are more significant quotes from this section, and I would highly recommend reading it. When the prophet speaks, do it. We are commanded to follow not just his commands, but also all of his recommendations (Doc. & Cov. 21:4-5) Whether it is by command or recommendation, His voice is the only warning that will keep us in safety during a time of storm.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Big Girl
After a day of rearranging rooms, taking down one bunk set to put it in another room, and putting up a new bunk for the girls, the children were ready for bed.
It was #3's first time not in a crib. She was pretty excited to have a big bed she could get into on her own. We closed the girls in with instructions that #1 not play around or get us unless there was an injury. She did her part. 1 1/2 hours later, the drawers were still being opened and closed and little feet were padding across the floor. She opted to try to sleep one more time so I tucked her in and closed the door again. When we went to bed, she was sleeping soundly near her pillow, under her covers.
This is what we found when we checked on her before David went to work.
When she woke up, she was on cloud 9! She was so excited to get out of bed on her own. We are excited for her, too.
It was #3's first time not in a crib. She was pretty excited to have a big bed she could get into on her own. We closed the girls in with instructions that #1 not play around or get us unless there was an injury. She did her part. 1 1/2 hours later, the drawers were still being opened and closed and little feet were padding across the floor. She opted to try to sleep one more time so I tucked her in and closed the door again. When we went to bed, she was sleeping soundly near her pillow, under her covers.
This is what we found when we checked on her before David went to work.
When she woke up, she was on cloud 9! She was so excited to get out of bed on her own. We are excited for her, too.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Need Prayers!
The Supreme Court of the State of California decided they have a right to determine the constitutionality of a constitutional amendment. Specifically Proposition 8, which passed this last election season. The proposition supported the proper definition of marriage.
This Thursday is when the court hears the case and begins determining if and how they will or can strike down that proposition or if they will sustain it.
I believe they need our prayers.
Additionally, I encourage anyone who currently supports the massive government involvement of our current administration to prayerfully examine section 134 of the Doctrine & Covenants and the quotes of the Brethren on government involvement and welfare. We are laying the foundation for the fiscal destruction of our children. That's what I call "change", but I sure didn't "hope" for it. I half expect my children to have to recite the following in four years: I pledge allegiance to the flag, of the socialist welfare state of America and to the republic for which it once stood, one nation, but don't mention God, completely divisible, with corruption and wickedness nearly forced upon all...
I believe they need our prayers.
This Thursday is when the court hears the case and begins determining if and how they will or can strike down that proposition or if they will sustain it.
I believe they need our prayers.
Additionally, I encourage anyone who currently supports the massive government involvement of our current administration to prayerfully examine section 134 of the Doctrine & Covenants and the quotes of the Brethren on government involvement and welfare. We are laying the foundation for the fiscal destruction of our children. That's what I call "change", but I sure didn't "hope" for it. I half expect my children to have to recite the following in four years: I pledge allegiance to the flag, of the socialist welfare state of America and to the republic for which it once stood, one nation, but don't mention God, completely divisible, with corruption and wickedness nearly forced upon all...
I believe they need our prayers.