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Cool!
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I learned this from Trying to Stay Calm! who reads Sariah Says who is my 1 of 8.
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'he that hateth gifts shall live" Prov 15:28

Maybe I don't need life insurance then.

 

This gift exchange thing was supposed to be a stress reducer.  Maybe if you do it right.  Which, apparently, I don't.  Nor my housemates.  Around my house the tension, frustration, and pressure are mounting.  Not looking good for being ready to hand off our gifts on Thanksgiving.

 

Which is worse? Procrastinate all year and come into November with no idea of what you are doing OR have a "great" idea, work on it all year, and come into November with a minor disaster and no idea of what you are going to do about it?  Seems that you end up in much the same place.

 

Remember my famous, accidentally bi-colored project?  As I THOUGHT it neared completetion, I realized that it looks like it was designed for an overweight gorilla.  No reflection on the intended recipient who is definitely NOT an overweight gorilla!   Nor do I consider him/her to be a big ape. Trying to reduce the damage now.  I feel sorry for my recipient! 

 

This is why I opposed the drawing.  This poor person is going to get one homemade gift that is comic at best and one store bought gift thankfully not from me. If everyone was straining his/her meager budget to get gifts for everyone else, my recipeint would have had some chance of getting a decent gift. As it is.... (s)he may well envy poor street urchins who don't get anything.  At least THEY don't have to try to be kind and polite to someone who gives them a really lame gift.

 

Also, as I was not in the store bought drawing, I am now beginning to panic about what to get a large handful of dear ones in that department. 

 

Bah, Humbug!

Absolutely

"No matter your opinion of Proposition 8, we should all agree that it is wrong to intimidate and harass churches, businesses and individuals for participating in the democratic process. We call on our governmental leaders to urge all citizens to respect the rights of everyone to express their views on marriage without fear of reprisal and recrimination"

Ron Prentice

I made the news

My boss heard my name on the news yesterday.

 

Long time husband-wife anchor team, Dave and Lois are retiring the end of this month.  Viewers have been invited to post their well-wishes on the KCRA website.  I did and they read it on the news.  Wow, almost famous or something.  Boss said it sounded like me.  I am pondering that a bit.

 

The famous quote:

"Happy news for Dave and Lois! Not such happy news for us viewers. We will miss you. I particularly enjoyed watching a husband/wife team. Wishing you a very happy retirement!"

 

You can see why it was newsworthy.

 

?

 

Slow news day.

Slider Puzzle, Sweet Slider Puzzle

All three of the the boys are sleeping in their new room!  For all of them there is much more light than they are accustomed to.  I am hoping that for at least one of them, it helps improve health and spirits. 

 

They are taking to the change with enthusiastic good spirits.  It is definitely a step up for the two guys who had a corner of what is supposed to be the family room.  For them, now each having his own corner of the room to claim as his own space is a new treat.  Guy number 3 is giving up a room he has had to himself for a few years now.  With amazing good grace.  He has way more stuff than will fit in his corner.  Hopefully some will be weeded out.  Some will stay in the old room, soon to be "office."  Even he seems happy with the change, content with his little corner,  and glad to be with his brothers (most of the time).

 

We broke a piece of the closet system in the boys room.  I must say that Rubbermaid has not been very helpful in our efforts to try to replace it.  I may give up and get a new system from Home Depot or Target or something.  So they are running all over to the old places for their hangable clothes.

 

You would think, seeing all the stuff being crammed into their room, that great empty space is being left in their wake.  It ain't necessarily so.  True, whence the first bunk bed came, there is actually some clear floor space.  (Not quite enough for the guest blow-up bed, however.  Yet)  At the other site, it looks like some of those tornado aftermath scenes. 

 

Now, the enormous task of clearing out the disaster scene and making it into the office/storage/craft? room.  Which will hopefully lead to actually claiming the family room.  We also have to try to unbury the "dining room."  It is still a bit of a long road, but we are beginnig to see it.

 

The floor in the boys room (what we can still see of it!) looks so much better than the rest of the house (as poor a job as we did), but I have yet to work out the logistics of doing the rest of the floors.  or the courage.  It wasn't much fun and took so long!

 

However, progress is being made and we are excited.  (It is so easy to make simple people happy.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Americans are a free people

Americans are a free people, who know that freedom is the right of every person and the future of every nation. The liberty we prize is not America's gift to the world; it is God's gift to humanity.

George W. Bush, State of the Union address 2003
43rd President of US (1946 - )

Americans are a free people because of the gift of God and our veterans.  Thank you from the depths of my heart!

a small sampling, clumsily and inadequately expressed,  of the freedoms and pleasures for which I thank you Veterans -

The right to vote - Little over a week ago, we cast our votes to help determine the government and future of our communities and the nation.  There were great differences in opinion - high feeling and raised voices.  Debate, argument, protests.  We voted and now we move forward.  Whether our side won or lost, we move forward peacefully (for the most part!) together.  It is all really wonderful and amazing.

We can express our opinion freely and openly.  Talk, blog, write to the editor and to our government.  Compliment, complain, criticize, counsel.  Say what we will, we have that right.

When I see a police officer, I see a public servant who works to keep me safer, not someone who will drag me away in the night.

I look up at airplanes and think of vacations, visits, and business trips, not fear of being bombed.

I can move travel across the country without asking state permission.

I live, work, recreate where I wish, not where the state dictates.

I cannot begin to list the blessings and privileges I enjoy as an American (especially as there are dozens of things I ought to be doing right now!) and I am sure I do not even realize many of them, but I am truly daily grateful to live in this beautiful and free country brought forth and preserved by the hand of God, inspired patriots, and our brave veterans. 

To all who wear or have worn our country's uniform - Whether you served in war or peace, THANK YOU.  To those who did have to go to battle, I honor and thank you even more.   I realize that I cannot thank you enough.  God bless you always.

Thank you for the good life you have given us!

the righteous need not fear

"The righteous need not fear" seems to be a recurring theme in recent church meetings.  The general theme being that these are frightening and perilous times, but the righteous need not fear.

 

A couple of my thoughts and feelings on this which, sadly, reflect my weak faith.

 

1) the righteous need not fear - because no matter what happens in this life, God will reward the righteous and make everything right EVENTULALLY.  We have read too many stories of martyrs in scriptures and history for me to have complete faith that we will be preserved and protected in all ways here on earth (I fall short as an Army of Helaman mother). The list of righteous who have suffered is pretty long indeed.

 

I have heard, but cannot remember where,- If you know, please tell me-  and pretty basically believe that God has said that in the end all who have suffered, who have been abused, whatever, will say that it is ok.  That God's judgements are righteous and just.  That the rewards make it alright.  When I hear about some of the horrible things that have and do happen to people, I count on it. 

 

2) the righteous need not fear - Yes, the wicked will perish and the righteous need not fear, but what about us pretty good, but not totally righteus people.  I mean, I try, but I fall WAY SHORT.  Way, way short.  Of course, the answer is repent and progress.  But, I am afraid it's a little like losing weight.  Easier said than accomplished.  The distance between what I believe and what I live is embarrassing at best.  Hopefully not damning.

 

This is not to say that I am prepared to give up and turn away.  As the disciples said in another quote I cannot place at the moment, Where else is there to go?  God is God.  Jesus Christ is the Savior, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  His gospel has been restored to earth.  A living prophet speaks.  I have had personal witness to these things.  Not great earth shaking, trumpets blaring, lights flashing experiences, but real personal witness.  I am grateful for it.

 

I am weak (and maybe a little fearful), but I will stand.

 

 

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I am also grateful to recieve word that members of other churches who in times past have prayed for the souls of us lost Mormons, are now praying for our comfort and safety as opponents vilify, protest, and attack us for standing for what we believe, particularly on the subject of marriage. 

 

on a related note -  I don't like it when I hear Mormons downgrade other faiths any more than the reverse (well, maybe I dislike it a little less, but not much).  I believe that we have the fullness of the gospel while other churches have pieces, but I respect their faith and belief according to their light. We should share our light, but not denigrate others.

The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head.

Mathew 8:20

 

 

1) Let us always have room in our heart and our home for the Savior.

 

2) I am hoping that this quote will not also be true for David and Teresa this Thanksgiving.   Because, they don't get to sleep in the sea room after all! 

 

Saturday we actually started the bedroom move!  We are so excited.  Even Joseph (who is giving up his own solo room) seems enthusiastic.  So far we have moved in the first bunk bed and miscellaneous personal possessions.   Andrew and Benjamin have started sleeping there, although, when we get the other bunk bed in, Ben will be in the 2nd top bunk and Joseph will be sleeping where Benjamin is sleeping now. (got that?)  There is a lot of work to do.  The biggest immediate concern is making sure we have a decent clear space somewhere for the blow-up bed for David and Teresa.  I think that we are postponing (again) our trip to Apple Hill tomorrow to work on it. 

 

A couple of problems yet.  We haven't yet been able to replace the support poles for the closet system.  Or figured out the window treatment.  We may have to just settle for something temporary, but more permanent than the pressure rod and sheet. For now, the pressure rod and sheet.

 

Benjamin was none to pleased at having to share the room with Joseph's cat, Vellox.  Until Joseph explained to him that as the two cats hate each other , Attila will not be allowed in their room.  No more jumping up on Benjamin in the middle of the night. (Of course, that means more of her attentions for me unless I start closing my door.)  Andrew didn't mind Attila, but she cannot get up to his top bunk anymore anyway as 1) the bed is slightly raised on small blocks of wood, and 2) not next to any shelves for her to use as steps.

 

Saturday, we also did some dry pack canning at the Storehouse - somewhat randomly.  If someone else wanted a certain product, we did leftovers.  I need to inventory and make a plan before the next canning day in January. Now. where to put the stuff??!!

 

Andrew and Benjamin also spent all afternoon helping someone move while I did some bookkeeping. 

 

Break is over.  More, no doubt exciting, news later.  sometime.

 

 

It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried.

Sir Winston Churchill
British politician (1874 - 1965)

Election day is over.  I won some.  I lost some. 

 

California Propostion 8 - Marriage is between one man and one woman - passed.  To my pleasant surprise.  Ben says, "O ye of little faith."

 

Prop 2 - Standards for Confining Farm Animals -  passed.  Again a pleasant surprise.  It may hurt the pocketbook, but cruelty is not justified by cents, dollars even.

 

I was disappointed that Prop 4 - Parent Notification Before Terminating Minor's Pregnancy - went down. 

 

We passed a few more bonds - more debt!!  Good causes, no doubt, but when will it end?

 

Everyone knows, of course that Obama won.  Resoundingly.  Both McCain and Obama gave speeches last night that gave me hope and reminded me how grateful and proud I am to be an American.  Isn't it wonderful that we can fight with words and not violence, that we vote, accept the will of the people,  and move on together regardless of  whether the outcome is what we would have chosen?! 

 

So now the election is over, but our job is not done.  Every few years, we rant and rave, wave signs, complain a lot and eventually vote.  Then we go back to business as usual. Which often  includes a good bit of complaining amongst ourselves.  I think however the business of citizenship is not confined to voting every election.  In between times, we need to communicate with our elected officials and tell them what we want and what we think.  If we want a representative democracy, we need to inform our representatives of the will of the people - preferably before they make the big decisions.