I did it. And I'm going to do it again.

A looooooooong time ago, I lived in a ward, with a great Bishop. (Now he's Uncle Mike) And he would set goals for the ward every year, just 2 or 3 measurable goals. One year we were to give out TWO Book of Mormons. That summer I flew to San Diego for a friend's wedding. On the trip home, I met a Med Student from MA, and we talked about the church, I got his address, and sent him a Book Of Mormon. I never did hand out the 2nd B. o. M. that year.

Today, I was loading the kids up in the car, and there was a guy sitting in a drivers' seat of a car parked next to me, and he was reading. The thought came to me, to give him a Book of Mormon. NO WAY. HE WOULD SO THINK I WAS A WIERDO.

I had one in my drivers' side door, I read it while waiting for kids, etc. But it's one I've hung on to since a friend of ours in Bloomington passed away. At her funeral they handed out a Book of Mormon, with one of her last entries in her journal taped to the front. One of the most powerful testimonies I've ever heard. I didn't want to give it away!! But what was I doing with it? Why not give the opportunity of the truth to someone else? So I did it. I got back out of the van. I said some horrible thing like: "Do you want to read something that will change your life? Something told me to give this book to you, it has a note in the front from a friend a long time ago, but I hope you like it." And then I left. No contact information, not even the name of the church building or anything - just the testimony faded in the front, and a water damaged, wrinkled Book of Mormon, that was 8 years old.

But what the world needs now?? More Truth, and Less Hate. So if you want a FRESH CLEAN FREE Book of Mormon, you can get one here.

By the way, it CAN change your life. Yes Yours. Pick it up, read it again, or get yourself one.

I hate to say I told you so... BUT.

I'm having trouble finding the people that can turn a positive spin on this Obama Presidency.

I used to think B.O. was doing o.k. in Afghanistan, but now he's showing weakness. My friend Emily and I were chatting and she made such a good point. She said either put the troops where they're needed, or get them out of there. I mean taking no stance is worse than either of the other two choices here.

At least Bush knew what he wanted. I mean he was accused of being a bully, but seriously at least you knew where he stood.

Obama is a wreckless disaster. Health Care Reform = a total mess, Guantanamo = Total Mess, Foreign Policy=total mess, Czars - huh????, Spending = need I say more. (I didn't even mention Acorn)

I remember watching him walk out to take the oath (botched) and he seriously looked like he didn't have a clue. And now, we see, he didn't. Everyone criticized Sarah Palin, as if "on the job" training would be the worst case scenario. Well now we're seeing what it looks like. And it's a lot scarier when it's the President.

And I'm just going to go here, because I've heard that those who oppose B.O.'s policies are doing so because of race. Well, I believe that there are those who use that card, that if Obama were able to solve all the world's problems there would be those who would still not like him because of his Race. It's unfortunate, ignorant, and unbecoming of a true Patriot. However, I submit, that there are those, who do not like Me, because of the color of my skin (well probably for a lot of reasons). This Racism thing goes both ways. Because I don't agree with anything Obama is doing doesn't make me a racist, it makes me an avid conservative. So to those accusatory fingers pointed at me, start picking your nose, you've got it all wrong, just like your president.

Baby Poop Wall Update. What do you think?

Top Ten Reasons to Vacation WITHOUT kids.

10. Beach? NO, I want to swim in the lazy river!

9. YUM, I'll order Mac N Cheese for lunch, seafood, forget it.

8. Sand and diapers don't mix.

7. 4 kids, 2 adults, 1 hotel room = Less sleep than when at home.

6. Just when you're ready to walk out the door, what's that smell?

5. Trouble navigating hallways with your luggage cart filled to the top with kid gear, that bump was a kid!

4. I know! We'll rent those fancy bikes that we can all fit on. Oh wait, we have four kids and not ONE of them can reach the pedals to help, oops.

3. That's weird how sand is sticking to only one side of the 'anonymous' child's leg. It's almost as if they peed their pants right here on the beach.

2. Are we there yet? (a 3 hour trip)

And the number 1 reason to vacation without kids... While buckling child into backpack, a seagull pooped on my head.

Fooled ya!! We had a great time anyway!

I chose the temple.

Thought I would let you know. :)

Eight Years ago today.

I was in a small 2 bedroom apt. that cost 410 a month. I had a boy, 7 months old, one car, and my husband was on campus studying East Asian Studies. We had no t.v., and very few posessions, we were close to celebrating 2 years of marriage.

I remember being in the second bedroom, Playing with Colson, I was holding him, and the phone rang. My frantic older sister was calling she knew I didn't have a T.V. She told me that planes were crashing into buildings, and told me what she knew, and at that point, no one knew much. I asked her if she was sure, and I remember asking her if she was sure it wasn't a movie that she was watching. I know, duh. It just was impossible for me to comprehend.

I ran downstairs with Colson to my 90 yr old neighbors house, and together one life about to end, and another just begun, and watched everything unfold.

I eventually left, called a neighbor that had an extra T.V. and borrowed it. I was glued to it for weeks.

Little did I know my husband would take an active and important role in fighting for our nation's liberty. We hadn't even comprehended the military as a career choice at that point. And yet for two of the anniversary's since 9/11 Josh has spent time in some "interesting" places.

Today, eight years later, I think about this country what we've been through, how we came together shortly after, and there was a united front in the war on terror. And watching as President Bush NEVER BACKED DOWN. Perhaps he was determined to a fault, who's to say?

I haven't forgot. I won't forget, and I hope you won't either. There is EVIL in the world. LOTS of it. And to the men and women serving this nation, in the armed forces, and political offices that have sworn to protect this nation against ALL enemies FORIEGN and DOMESTIC, do your duty with honor, don't back down, and remember this day.

"You Lie" Right Words. Wrong Place.

I can't blame Joe (Joe Wilson, Congressman for S.C.), I was shouting at the T.V. right along with him.

It's unfortunate because it was the wrong place for an outburst, but Frustration has taken over the G.O.P., he had it right, but in the wrong place. You should still respect the "office" even if you don't respect the man.

Nevertheless, I'd like to predict here and now. B.O. has sealed his fate. The American People are too smart for his rhetoric, and his presidency is finished.

Obama and School Kids

No Biggie. Seriously I've got no issues with him telling kids to stay in school, they should.

SO MANY people don't trust him. That's why there were issues. He's shady, and the people he surrounds himself with are shady. That's why there was an uproar. It's not that he can't speak to school kids, it's that many Americans think he's "using" any opportunity to promote the Obama brand. The administration handled it well by handing out the speech the day before. But what they really need to do is figure out WHY people don't trust him, or his legacy along with his presidency will be brief.

Choices: Here or There.

On Sept. 12 - or 9-12. My Relief Society has planned a temple trip for the entire group. We'll be here:


And then I also want to go support the 9-12 project here:



I'll let you know what happens!

Writing.

In high school and college, I hated the drudgery of writing papers. It was a constant thing, and annoyed the begeebees(sp?, word?) out of me! However, I did take one class about words: Word Power. I loved it!! I was fascinated at the number of words in the English language - one of my favorites: Comeuppance. What a great word. I also happen to LOVE O'Reilly, I love his show (he has a fun word at the end of each show), and his book, great writing.

Well, in the blogosphere I've discovered some AMAZING talent, and WRITERS, no less, a real, genuine talent. CJane. Brandi. The Meanest Mom. Conversations with a Cupcake, and now I'd like to introduce you to My Sister. She, too has an incredible talent. She wrote an essay once about Dandelions. (Vic, PLEASE share it on your blog) So mark her as a favorite and enjoy the party of words.

blogging from the palm phone

woah I'm so techy.

It happened to me.

Back to school night, Hallie's Kindergarten class, and the Pledge.

A man from another country not sure which, expressed his concern over his kid saying the pledge. The teacher handled it great, saying he wouldn't have to participate.

Why does this make my blood boil??

I mean we are in the United States of America. Perhaps a history lesson could be in order - as the country was started because of religious reasons. So YES, we are ONE NATION UNDER GOD. You have issues with taking an oath/pledge to the flag, or that God was a part of the creation of this country?? No problem, Go somewhere else. No one is FORCING people to stay here, or even be here for that matter.

I just don't want to lose what we hold sacred, the history of how we became who we are. It was not easy to gain the freedoms we have today. You don't want to say the pledge. Fine. But by all means. I'll say it, I want my kids to say it, don't take away MY RIGHTS, to believe in this country, and to believe that God, Himself, watches over this great land.

brilliant.

http://www.pjtv.com/v/2235

ABC won't air the following commercial...

What happened to hearing both sides of an issue?

Hope and Change.

Silenced No More!! I've taken a political hiatus for awhile, in hopes that I could calm myself down. And I think I found my answer. I discovered the one thing Obama could do for this country, are you ready for it?? A positive thing about B.O. coming from me??? (actually I'm not all that disappointed in his foriegn policy - except for the apologizing tour - he is doing o.k. in Afghanistan and Iraq) However, here's the big thing:

FINALLY, GRASS ROOTS AMERICANS ARE TAKING CHARGE. I love how average people are finally actively engaged in politics. I said long ago that Americans had been duped. The awesome thing is they've realized it, and are taking their country back. I'm not in favor of the angry crazies, but I'm all about vocalizing the problem with his agenda.

We got Hope and Change. We are now hoping B.O. has no idea what's after a trillion, and the change we needed; no more Apathetic Americans.



The squeeky wheel gets the grease, and there are finally some conservative wheels squeeking!

I'm in VA these days and I'm voting for the Republican Candidate Bob McDonnell, and going to be volunteering on his campaign. Have you done something political lately?

Do Your Best.

Our family's motto for the year. We stole some great ideas from Nie Nie for a back to school feast, and enjoyed a toast, made crowns for the back to school kiddos, and Colson and Hallie also received Back to school blessings.

Do your best, in all that you do.

I am greatful for Josh's contribution to this year's theme. and we hope to take it seriously.

What is my best? Not sure, but I'm going to set some goals to figure it out!

Looks Like I'm going to Holland

I guess denial might be where I've been?? I'm not sure. But I'm now officially worried about my little one.

We have been diagnosed with a "Profound Expressive Language Delay" perhaps connected with a suspected central motor problem.

We went to a developmental specialist about a week ago, and received her evaluation in the mail a few days later. There's something about seeing a "problem" in black and white that makes it real. We are being referred to a neurologist.

Laila is at or above normal intelligence, and perhaps I always just thought she was laid back and happy, which she is. But I am finally realizing there is something going on, we're just not sure what. It looks like I'm going to have to brush up on an old skill even more (sign language). It's really weird to try and teach her to communicate with us, knowing she understands exactly what we're saying.

My sister shared the following essay with me, she has a child with special needs, too.

WELCOME TO HOLLAND
by
Emily Perl Kingsley.

c1987 by Emily Perl Kingsley. All rights reserved

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."

But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."

And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.

But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.

Sick kids.

Snot Noses galore at my house. Missing church.

My fam just left after a few days here. It was so nice for them to visit. I've been host to non-stop company, and it's been a great time! More to come this week. I guess it pays to live in cool places.

They took me to the amazing city market. How Yummy. Everything was so delicious, and cozy. and friendly. I love an abundance of fresh produce.

Thanks for the fun visit!

2 acres + Beautiful = an insane amount of work.

This we know. Why we can't buy a house with landscaping is BEYOND me. Josh and I don't mind yard work, be we find ourselves regularly in over our heads... Yesterday (MY IDEA) to clean out from under the cedar trees in the front yard in preparation for a truck load of mulch. Ridiculous. We don't have a chainsaw and so we just hacked away at the lower 3 feet of branches, with a hand saw.

We literally worked from 9 - 5 on the front yard, pulling, sawing, using the mower to haul the yard junk to the MASSIVE burn pit we have in the back yard.

FHE tomorrow - Bonfire, with smores...

Did I mention we haven't touched the backyard yet??

WE NEED SERVICE - any takers?? :) Oh wait, we have company coming in the next couple of weeks! I have just the project!

Hand and Foot

A long time ago, these two women were my partners in crime. We served together, and we had a few amazing experiences which bonded us forever.

We then began splitting up, only to be reunited once again in a small town.

Finally we all went our separate ways, scattered across the United States. Staying in touch via texting, phone calls, and emails. And then, for 24 hours, we found ourselves and our families together again for one late night game of cards. It felt great to see Viviane and Sonia, and their kiddos, again!!

Sonia who keeps our acts together wanted to say a prayer before everyone left, so there in my living room 16 people knelt down and thanked Heavenly Father for the blessing of friends.

Till we meet again, girls! I'll keep safe the card bowl and sorry I had to win TWICE!!