Monday, December 29, 2008

Shout Out

Dr. Laura recently posted this on her blog which I thought was really cool- kind of a shout out to Mormons for some great programs that we have. I'm a big fan of hers, and while I do not always agree with what she has to say, I'm more than appreciative that she stands up for morals and values with straight talk in our society today.

Blessings in Disguise

December 18, 2008 on 8:00 am | In Charity, Economy, Marriage, Mormons, Relationships, Values Email This Post Email This Post

I have always been impressed with the mentality of the Mormons with respect to the issue of charity. I had a tour of their main charity facilities, and was amazed at what I saw and learned. There are absolutely no handouts – they barter!

Here’s how it works: if you could lose your home, or if you need food, clothing, medicine or toys for your children, the Church takes financial care of your needs. In exchange, you provide services to the very mechanism that rescued you. This means that folks in the bakeries are people who have benefited from the charitable services; those helping in the stores that sell thrift clothing, housewares and food are those who have benefited from the charitable services, and so on.

The basic concept is to preserve a sense of dignity and pride in those who have temporary need by giving them an opportunity to use their skills in the service of others. Walking around the premises, I felt the uplifted attitude of all who were there: smiles, waves, and straight backs.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints provides for people all over the world – not only with goods and goodwill, but with the opportunity to not lose a sense of self when “things” are lost.

I probably sound like an advertisement for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I am not a member of their religion, but I am impressed with their charitable philosophy, because I believe it teaches our children their real value, while motivating and uplifting them at the same time.

Their young people who graduate high school are expected to go on two-year “missions,” reminiscent of the Peace Corps. These young people come back much more mature, as they’ve experienced the pain and need of others, and have sacrificed two years of their own comfort to be of service to others.
Other youngsters just don’t want to skip a beat in their acquisition of iPods, cell phones, and other “Internet in your hand” gadgets.

I believe that the economic disaster our country is in right now is a kind of blessing in disguise with respect to values. Without values, life just provides us with “things,” but not necessarily with any profound meaning.

Monday, December 22, 2008

Mr. Poopypants.

Since becoming a SAHM I have been openly admired by women who are eager to one day be the same. Before I became a SAHM I was the same way. I was so jealous of all of the "free" time those SAHM women enjoyed and the beautiful children they had and couldn't wait to be one of them.

Well, now I am and it is harder than working f/t at a 'regular' job. There is no vacation, no work parties or gifts, no overtime pay (or pay period), no work friends to joke around with, no cute clothes to wear, or reason to spend $40 on a haircut anymore. There is no sick days (or pay) so it's no longer fun to get sick b/c you can't stay in bed b/c you've got someone else who expects you to still be the same enthusiastic, playful mother regardless. There's always someone who needs you and your time - so effectively you have much less free time than before, and I mean LESS. Plus, everyday can really feel like Groundhog day unless you take some serious initiative to mix it up for you and your child(ren). Doing so, however, takes lots of planning, juggling, and working around baby's ever-changing schedules and temperments.

Without boring you to tears or making you think that I do not enjoy motherhood or being a SAHM (which I would not trade all the money in the world for despite what I am about to tell you) I just thought I'd share the following:

So I thought I'd reached a point where changing a diaper was pretty much a forte of mine by now. I also thought Slade had reached a point where 'Blow-outs' were not really an issue anymore. Today I was proven wrong on both accounts. Slade had the mother of all blowouts that covered his pj's and body as well as my pjs and body. We both needed a bath by the time that diaper was changed. You truly wouldn't believe the mess unless you were here to witness it (and it's just not a kodak kind of moment anyway) and you wouldn't have felt my panic and understand why I froze on the spot with his arms in the air wondering how I'd ever get it totally cleaned up because it was mind boggling. It was everywhere, everywhere. It was disgusting. Slade's arms are now long enough to scratch his own bum, which he did once the diaper was released, so I spent a good 30 total minutes disinfecting them BEFORE I threw him in the tub. This all went down before 9am folks- the time most people are just getting into their workday. I called Mark, who is always wishing I would fill in for him at work and he could stay home with the baby, to let him know what happened. Mark despises poo and bargains with me when it's his turn to change a dirty diaper EVERY TIME.

Just thought I'd share an unfortunately common moment in a day in the life of a SAHM.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Utah Child Protection Agency

This is the official webpage for the Utah Child Protection Registry. Great site to get registered with for Ut residents! Visit: https://www.utahkidsregistry.com/

The Utah Child Protection Registry is a free program provided by the State of Utah that helps you stop adult-oriented solicitations from being targeted at you and your family. The program allows you to protect:
  • E-Mail Addresses
  • Mobile Phone Numbers
  • Instant Messenger IDs
  • Fax Numbers
Companies and marketers that send adult-oriented messages, such as those promoting pornography, alcohol, illegal drugs, tobacco, and gambling are required to screen their mailing lists with the State of Utah and remove registered addresses and numbers before they send their solicitations. Marketers that fail to remove registered addresses face felony charges as well as substantial civil and criminal fines.


Friday, December 12, 2008

Lila Rose

Looking for someone to admire? I am so impressed with the things this girl has done!

Check out her biography, projects, and work at www.liveactionfilms.org. In a world dwindling with figures to be truly impressed with and admire - here is a great, YOUNG, example for all of us!

Below is a link to a youtube video of an interview w/ her and O'Reilly.

The first video from this investigative series can be seen at:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLDGFzdPjBU

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Who Says?

To take a page out of Judy's blog- I'm inclined to begin a weekly segment on ongoing political issues in an attempt to help myself and my fellowman get more interested in the world falling apart around him as he hopes that someone else will be interested enough to take care of it.

I am obviously a Conservative on a very extreme level but if you feel you'd like to comment, add onto, or correct what I post about then I welcome you to do so (yes, I AM very knowingly opening them up to anything but offensive language or the like here). I've very admittedly been under-informed in politics up until now, for good, though futile and ignorant reasons, and am going to show that it's not hard to get into them and that it is imperative that we do so- especially at this point in our great nation's history.

It has been almost 70 years since our nation experienced something of this magnitude taking place within its borders and this threatens to be as extreme if not more - how can we continue to claim ignorance to it or 'non-affiliation' with any viewpoint or stance? In other words, there should be no one left saying, "Well, I'm just not political so it's not my fault" when the nation goes to pot and we're destitute and moral-less. I'm saying right here and now that in NO WAY do I consider myself exempt from criticism or that I make stellar choices- but then, who does? If we don't start talking about the real issues among our real selves then...Big G. (Government) will just keep doing it all for us because the people who run Big G. actively decide on what gets done and what doesn't with or without us...and we've seen where that's gotten us thus far.

I'm very positive that there are many who do not agree with me (as they've stated in prior posts) and those who bypass my political posts for nice pictures- just look at the level of comments on each. I will strive to be more 'moderating' with how I present the issues and welcome your input for the benefit of myself and whoever else may read.

I'll start this segment with the following:

- The Governor of Illinois - Nothing has been proven to implicate Obama directly (yet) in this scandal- and yet here is yet ANOTHER shady character directly linked to him. When Sarah Pallin was getting totally crucified by the media (even Moderate McCain's own staff) for the issues that people tried to bring public to take away her credibility, even get her into prison- what happened- nothing, because there was nothing foul or legally wrong with her situations to prove. NOTHING or believe you me- she'd be behind bars with a tossed key by now. With Obama, however, time and time and time and time and time again he is being linked to characters who are absolutely detestable and morally abhorrable (though morality is only very selectively applicable among the very liberal). Ayers, Wright (has anyone heard his latest rant?, Alinsky - we could go on and on but these are the ones you'd most likely be familiar with and these names are to prove a point here - where are the cries of scandal and extreme legal scrutiny of his connections? For Obama serving as Senator under this guy and his foul-mouthed Lady Macbeth wife (thanks Rush for that very accurate depiction) - yeah, I'm sure they've never played dirty together before. If you look into Obama's history you will find many a connection and situation that would be very interesting to darn right illegal if cast under the same scrutiny and infamous limelight from the mainstream media. It's just downright unfair, then to go and try to institute the 'Fairness Doctrine' (an oxymoron if there ever was one) just chaps my hide further.

- In regards to the 'Life' issue- in recent news there have been stories of parents performing unspeakable acts of abuse on their children, even unto death. These people are being given the maximum sentencing with no sympathy to their tears of momentary weakness/insanity (can we even allow there to be such a thing if we seek to be a society who is serious about offenders and decreasing criminal activity?). Why, I ask- do we impose punishment upon these parents who kill their children in these situations when we allow mothers to murder their unborn children or doctors to murder children of botched abortions (who HAVE been born but yet, still are not wanted as was the intention of the abortion). What is our explanation for allowing this to happen? Better yet, why punish men like Scott whatever-his-name-is for murdering his wife AS WELL AS unborn child. Must he have gone to Doctorate school before murdering the unborn child for it to have been considered acceptable? Why is the murder of children ok in some situations and not others (and let's bypass the extremely gray area of medically necessary, rape, incest, and the like- we're talking the really gratuitous reasons like inconvenience or 'lack of a better alternative')? Oh heaven forbid Roe v. Wade get overthrown (ironically if you go check the history on that one you'll be surprised to learn the defended mother's intentions never were that of her lawyers and she regrets that it ever happened, very interesting) in order to save a few lives of the children we ACTIVELY ELECTED to harbor in our bodies.

- Lila Rose - If you haven't heard of her, you should check her website out at liveactionfilms.org . She is a huge proponent of being Pro-Life actively and has done several under cover sting type of operations at Planned Parenthood to really show us just where our millions of American dollars are going....funding murder. Most recently, Laura Ingraham was interviewing the head of Planned Parenthood (also an oxymoron if you ask me) in Indiana about why they are offering giftcards for the Christmas season and if those giftcards can be used to fund abortions (yes, this is from a morality standpoint again so turn away if you wish). The lady, Betty something, was actually very articulate and refused to be baited into admitting anything about where the majority of the funds come from to support the 'business'. Like Obama, she would never outright admit to anything but did say it was highly unlikely that the gift cards would be used for abortion. A week or so later a story hit (mostly in conservative media b/c mainstream will not lend credence to the matter of legality when it hits so close to home apparently) where this girl (a student at UCLA I believe) went into a clinic in Indiana posing as a 13 year old saying she'd been impregnanted by a 30 year old man. The nurse at the clinic proceeded to tell her not to tell her her age and that her story would now be that she was impregnanted by a 14 year old fellow school boy instead. There was other advice as to what she should do thereafter to obtain the abortion unawares of her parents or other adults that you can read about- but this is the gist. This was all caught on camera and is very illegal as you've probably surmised. To let this young barely-teen obtain an abortion and then on top of it to NOT report that it was statutory by a much older man...well, that's just not nice is it? There are also stories of people who call to contribute to P.P. who tell the person they want their donation to fund an abortion of a minority and the caller is told that is do-able. Why isn't this being given more attention and why aren't the religious sector of us up in arms about this going on and the fact that our hard earned tax dollars are being taken from us and used in commandment-breaking ways?? Very disheartening, but when you visit her site there are actions layed out for you to take to become more active. I'd give them to you here but that'd be too easy, get some practice on doing some legwork on this one- it'll be well worth it.

- No more F's huh? - No more F's in the public classroom and the lowest grade you can now get is 50% - no more ZERO's for neglecting to turn in school work or being held back a grade b/c now you'll forever be a C student who dinks his way up the food chain. My son WILL be a productive contributing member of society for our posterity and will find joy and pride in the effects of the efforts he puts forth to better himself and be a honorable person. If he is a C student even with his best efforts, that's fine- not every great thinker or doer in history was a great student- but he will NOT be a cop-out from a failing system who refuses to acknowledge it PC'ness is running out of steam and straight into the ground. This, my friends, is why Slade and my forthcoming children will be home-schooled until we can be come financially well-off to provide a nice conservative private school for them b/c heaven knows I'm no teacher (hence again, lack of comments on my political postings). Fingers crossed vouchers will be in effect by then!

- Happy Holidays to you and you and you. I am tired of having my morals and good cheer PC'd away as of late. I understand that we live in a society made up of many people from many backgrounds who worship in many different ways. I am so happy that people believe in something bigger than themselves and hold themselves accountable to someone else besides....themselves. I even understand that one whose beliefs differ from Christianity may get tired of seeing Christmas decorations everywhere or getting told 'Merry Christmas' over and over again (well, not so much anymore though right?)- but too bad (we don't hear that enough in our society is my firm belief, if we did we wouldn't be in the situation that we are now, guaranteed, and digging ourselves in deeper b/c of our refusal to say it). You are choosing actively (there's that pesky personal responsibility thing being thrown in here again) to live in this GREAT nation. This GREAT nation was founded by CHRISTIANS and is populated overwhelmingly by CHRISTIANS. So when the majority of the population is celebrating its religious beliefs in a happy, fun, seasonal way- well, you're just gonna have to get over your objections to it and learn to be accepting of the diverse environment of which you live. That way when YOU want to celebrate YOUR beliefs (though they will not be as visually grand and seen everywhere b/c your religion is simply not the one of the popular majority and that is all) then you won't have to listen to people harping all over YOU for your constitutional right to celebrate them and enjoy them. What really gets me though, is Christians who are trying to PC (berrate) other Christians into discontinuing their beliefs b/c they just so happen to interfere with or irritate those who cry unfairness b/c we're the majority. Well guess what, you need to be grateful that this majority is so tolerating and loving in return- b/c in other countries of religious majority you'd get a bullet in your gut and tossed into a cold cement ditch to rot. So let's just focus on a bigger issue...like the fact that our economy is in the pooper, children are being murdered daily by a self-absorbed bunch of loonies, there are bigger fish to fry (see point #1), or if you're a gullible greenie- then go save the world and get Al Gore and his drones to practice what they preach...before all of the polar bears die or the ice melts (oh wait, there is an overpopulation now and the ice is getting thicker...oh well, I'm sure that can also be explained away by global goofiness somehow). Let me enjoy MY holiday in peace b/c I surely will let you...or better yet, go back to your own country and celebrate your beliefs all the day long without worry of any pesky Christian wishing you a 'Merry Christmas' - IOW, good cheer, love, freedom...and the like.

- Gay Day? See point above and let me expound further. Go find another word to describe the union of two people of the same sex b/c the simplest explanation here is that 'straights' picked theirs a LONG time ago. Quit trying to PC your way into ours and force your demands upon us. That's not very diverse of you. I really detes being called a bigot when I happen to not share your beliefs and refuse to vote the affirmative on something to allow you to change mine. too bad. It's what my husband tells me when I tell him I want something that we can't or shouldn't afford. Guess what, my world doesn't fall apart and I don't start making demands of everyone around me that I be accommodated. Society needs to straight up put its foot down on this irrational business and get back to the real issues at stake. Better yet, I heard an idea today that for businesses looking to downsize, who would be the likely candidates selected (the ones who call in for 'Gay Day' trying to force feed their agenda down everyone's throats OR the ones who keep their agenda to themselves in the workplace and fulfill the dutie THEY signed on for?)..that's a tough one. But then, that will mean my husband and I will get to pay for THEIR extended unemployment until WE lose our jobs and the awesome unemployment benefits have run their course. Ain't it great?!

- The Economy- I've said it back to the beginning (even before I started listening to fellow-doomsayer Glenn Beck, who, as a fun fact, is also LDS) when I'd hear the radio commercials on the radio calling out to all those who've had bankruptcies, bad credit, and the like- bad credit, no problem! The government will fix you up in a nice home with nice things and then when you can't pay again- NO PROBLEM! There are enough good hard-working Americans left to take care of you, so just sit back and enjoy the ride. I can't help but think that's what the 1/3 of people who defaulted on their loans, got 'BAILED OUT' and then when right back and defaulted IMMEDIATELY thereafter are thinking. Can someone please tell me why Christ Dodd, Barney Frank, etc... are STILL telling US what to do when it comes to the economy and are NOT behind bars for why they significantly helped to put us here? Sure sure, you want some more of my money, go ahead. I'll keep living in my house built in 1939 with my 1998 hub-cap-missing Toyota Camry and my child who wears consignment clothing and my school debt so Mr. Big House and fancy car can keep it all on my family's dime. That sounds like a great plan... only guess what? Just today there is news that people who have NEVER been late and are NOT in financial crisis (well, yet) are starting to call in and demand these bail out loans from their mortgage companies or they threaten to default as well. Hmm...who would've seen THAT coming? Fair's fair right? What's the point of playing by the rules when it only puts you further in the hole and those who refuse to play by the rules have not a care in the world? Where is the justice for the good (see point above about the 'holiday' season)?

- President Bush - let's talk transition first. Pres. Bush didn't get a transition team b/c of the foolishness that was going on when he was obtaining office - he didn't even get the 'W's' that came with the computers in the White House (hmm..where could they ever have gone to?). He got a big slap in the face from the get go by the American Media and its counterparts. No one welcomed him in, showed him the ropes, or let him in on the issues at hand. And he certainly didn't make a pulpit for himself and post YouTube videos of himself talking either in circles or very non-descriptly about well...issues that he said he'd bring Hope and Change to. I'm very interested to hear from those who voted for him have to say about his choices thus far for hope and change - what were you hoping for that would change because so far its the same rhetoric that leaves you guessing where his real answer is for anything or who the next Czar will be that he appoints from the Clinton Administration (new politics huh?) to find the right answer. But I really do digress, my issue here is the hammering what W. has taken for his bad decisions in his Presidency. He's being depicted as the worst leader out there and should be tried for his decisions...really? How quickly we do forget everything he HAS done for our country and how many people he's liberated in other countries (who were not blessed with the freedoms and safety that we are - whose lives have been ruled with a murderous iron-fist for as long as they can remember). These are our brothers and sisters too...lest we forget out of convenience to ourselves. Can we think of any other great things that he HAS done while in office? No one is perfect, and despite my personal feelings on the horror that he contriubted to and is contributing to with our economy and his Big G. programs- the man doesn't deserved to be crucified or under criminal investigation, good golly people.

We are so eager to take care of the PC Fighters & Terrorists (I like to combine the two together, it's more accurate that way to me) out there that we are losing everything that once held our country up grandly. Our morals, values, hard-work, sensibilities, goals, ambitions... what's it all good for if someone's going to steal it from you anyway? Whenever I quote Dr. Laura or refer someone to something she's written, I often get, "You listen to HER, she's so awful, harsh, antiquated." While I don't agree with everything that she says, I'm very hardpressed to find someone who represents boldly the values that used to be pervasive in our society. She tells it like it is and we've become a society of folks who aren't interested in having it any way but our own, especially not hearing from someone else that we're head-deep in destructive behavior. I ask again, are we surprised to be where we're at in the economy? That's assuming people realize how bad of a situation we are in or how much worse it's likely to get because from the looks of it (driving by restaurants, malls, etc..) we're not. Which is it- spend or save to keep ourselves and our economy afloat long enough to be bailed out? Big PROPS to the Republicans for standing up in Senate and pushing back on the 'Big Three Bailout'. A nice demonstration for me that there are a few willing to let our democracy work the way it was supposed to- like a wound healing itself instead of continually jabbing and picking at it in a ADHD attempt to make it all better right now. We will heal on our values and beliefs - that is, if we don't PC them away.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Family Pictures!!















Our friend, Lindsay , has a photography business (Lindsay Jane Photography) which is GREAT. She just hired on some new talent and asked us if we wanted to give her some experience...um YEAH! Here are a few pictures below that one of her girls took of our family. You can visit her website here if you are in need of pictures for any occassion- she and her team are so talented, creative, and a lot of fun to work with!

And them mommy with her big caboose has to go and ruin it all! Not for long though, she's working it OFF!!

Monday, December 1, 2008

What do you do?

We often hesitate to commit ourselves to much these days with all of the crazy things that our great society has encountered. We need to re-commit ourselves to our values and what we say we stand for and the rights we wish to protect...ACTIVELY.

Now is the time to do this- it won't matter down the road when we no longer get a say. We can no longer sit back and not be active in seeking the best for ourselves and those we love because as much as we wish for peace and to happily enjoy family and life and our blessings - there are those who do not have what we have and will ALWAYS fight to take it away from us no matter our fondest desires and dreams otherwise. Peace is an oxymoron because we will always have to continually fight to maintain it. Don't think that someone else will always do all of the fighting for you- we've very apparently become the minority, do you think that merely desiring to be back to the point where we were the majority (I mean a society full of values, morals, and care for others) is going to work? Guess what the alternative is...

I recently found this UT site (not party affiliated and does not endorse political candidates) that seeks to do just this- to unite us together, to commit to our beliefs and that which keeps us free to live as we wish. You can visit this site to put your name on the list to showcase your belief that we are a state that believes in the NEED for Limited Government. Government does not have many, if any, of the answers for us- in small scale, here in UT.

Here's another opportunity to actively promote your beliefs in an effort to protect them from all the ways others are seeking to overrun them these days: http://sutherlandinstitute.org/ltd_govt.asp

The Sutherland Institute is a conservative public policy think tank committed to shaping Utah law and policy based on a core set of governing principles. We strive to make Utah an example of good government for the rest of the nation and a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

On September 26, 1994, the Sutherland Institute was incorporated. On May 22, 1995, the Institute was granted tax-exempt status and began formal operations.

Over the past 11 years, the Institute has established a presence in Utah politics and law. It is a force for good. And though the words have changed with time, the Institute's Mission Statement has retained the same ideals as when Sutherland was founded by Gaylord Swim.

Sutherland's objective has been, and forever will be, to influence public policy in Utah according to enduring principles such as private initiative, self-reliance, and family as the fundamental unit of society. The Institute seeks to influence law and society, and provide an effective vehicle for fellow Utahns to influence public policy as well.

Sutherland's message is transcendent: RISE above politics as usual. STAND for something good. TRUST in family and community to solve problems. LOOK for lasting solutions, not simply zero-sum results. The Institute's message is inclusive and pluralistic, meaning that Sutherland will find value in the differing opinions of others if value is to be found.

I am committed to limited government. I, along with other Utahns, share the beliefs that 1) government exists to benefit mankind, 2) our American form of a democratic republic works best to secure freedom, and 3) its layers of processes – from its federalism to its checks and balances to its enumerated powers to its inalienable rights – coordinate and integrate a government of the people, for the people and by the people.

I accept that limited government rests on several attributes: local self-government (the government closest to the people is best-suited to make decisions of the people), personal responsibility, an essential balance between self-reliance and charitable giving, a humane rule of law, stable and autonomous families, the maintenance and integrity of private enterprise and community organizations, and the interdependent fabric of social community.

These processes and attributes combine to create limited government.

The primary role and function of state and local governments are to provide a just and orderly system of laws that allow maximum freedom for individuals and communities to safely intersect, effectively interact, and honestly transact with one another. State and local governments should defer action to the private sector whenever possible, and should only be a last resort in providing direct benefits to Utahns.

In my commitment to limited government, at least four principles will govern my official actions:

  1. Honoring local self-government. Also known as " subsidiarity " we should look to the smallest unit of government in solving personal and community problems – beginning with ourselves, then linking individuals to families, families to neighborhoods, neighborhoods to local government, local government to state government, and state government to federal government, in that order of responsibility.
  2. Protecting the integrity of the free market. The free market is necessarily characterized by a legal and moral framework. Laws governing private property (the injunction to not take what is not yours), contracts (the requirement to keep your promises), and torts (the obligation to make good on wrongs you inflict on others) must be protected. The free market should be relied upon to generally arbitrate economic development, and state or local governments should not be permitted to compete with or subsidize private businesses.
  3. Unburdening and uplifting Utah’s families. State and local taxes, regulations, and intrusions should be held to a minimum – only enough to maintain basic order, essential infrastructure, and "safety nets" underlying the general welfare. Proven family structures that unburden society should be encouraged.
  4. Creating transparent and open government processes. State and local taxpayers should have open and easy access to the many layers of government for purposes of accountability, made easier in an era of high technology that increases efficient and inexpensive opportunities for transparency.

If limited government means anything, it means Utah’s state and local governments keeping their reach, scope, and intrusions in the private sector, and in the lives of functional families, to a necessary minimum in the orderly maintenance of society.

I affirm,

Date: Monday, December 01, 2008