Freedom Friday

"Throughout history America has seen many great leaders and noteworthy citizens change her course. It is through their personal virtues and by their example that we are able to live as a free people. On August 28, come celebrate America by honoring our heroes, our heritage and our future.

Join the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin and many more for this non-political event that pays tribute to America’s service personnel and other upstanding citizens who embody our nation’s founding principles of integrity, truth and honor.

Our freedom is possible only if we remain virtuous. Help us restore the values that founded this great nation. On August, 28th, come join us in our pledge to restore honor at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC." The 8/28 website

***A little background on what and why they are doing this:

"In 1780 George Washington developed a badge of merit. It is what our Purple Heart is modeled after. He only awarded, for the records that we have found, he only awarded three of these badges of merit. At the time the world only gave medals and badges and everything else to officers, but he was looking to create in his words an honorable and Christian army. He was looking to build people of integrity, people who understood merit and honor. He said the road to glory in a free country is open to all. It was the first time that anybody had ever done that, looking at the farmer and saying you don't have to be an officer and do something honorable. It was not about the Purple Heart, surprisingly. The Purple Heart was modeled after the badge of merit after they were found in 1933. And that's when we started awarding purple hearts. But it was not for honor. It was just for being wounded. That's not what the badge of merit was under George Washington. He used to keep the names in a book called the book of merit. He talked about it in his writings in 1782. The book has never been found. But the badges have been. We're going to restore honor by restoring the road to glory that in a free country is open to all. We are going to begin awarding badges of merit. We're designing them now and they are — I haven't decided if we're going to make them into actual medals that you would pin on a chest or wear like the medal of honor or if it's just a badge, exactly the way George Washington intended. That's how I'm leaning at this point. But we are collecting some people that you will, you will not believe and I want to introduce them to you and I want to I want you to see the people that are living life today that deserve a badge of merit that are living their life in accordance with just universal principles. Principles and values. So that is going to be the overview of what we're doing there and it will be a chance for your children, if we want to restore the country, if we want to restore honor, then we have to restore faith and principles and find a new George Washington." This was Glenn Beck speaking.

I agree with him we need to restore honor to America. TOO many of our politicians have lost their honor and given in to become a part of the 'ruling class'. This is on both sides of the parties. We need to stop this and demand responsibility and honor. But it starts with us. Are we living with integrity? Are living up to our privileges? You may not agree with Beck or Palin but you must see that our leaders are out of touch with their constituents and they are not serving but grabbing more power and control through unconstitutional means. Please take a stand. Go to DC if you can with your children and show that you support a restoration of honor.

for more info

a short video a friend & are in to promote the 8/28 Restore Honor

Just some thoughts on God...

I have been pondering the fact that many don't believe in God. And why I do. I can see where the opinion if there was a God why does he let all this suffering and ugliness happen. But I understand God to be my Heavenly Father who loves each of us and because he loves us he lets us learn and make mistakes. He blesses us even when we don't deserve it. Because he allows us to make mistakes we sometimes hurt others besides ourselves. I find comfort knowing that every loss will be made up for in the next life. Those who seemed to suffer more than others will be duly compensated then. As a parent myself I see the wisdom in letting children learn from their mistakes, instead of trying to shield them from every harm. Of course we guide and warn against things that are harmful but God our Heavenly Father equally does so through his commandments. They are for our protection and they will bring us greater happiness and peace if we keep them. Just like the rules I set for my children they will bring them greater freedom if they keep them. The other side is there is a consequence for every action. If we choose not to keep God's laws or commandments there are consequences which may not manifest themselves right away but eventually if we do not change/repent we will suffer as His son has for our sins. When my children make poor choices they seem to cry foul when they get a negative consequence but if I do not follow through on the consequence set up I am a liar. I lose credibility and they will not listen in the future because my word means nothing. God is similar in He has integrity and can not and will not let consequences change except in the event we repent because his son paid that price for those who accept his atonement. It's sort of like when my little neighbor boy dropped his Popsicle all over my floor and I told him he could have another one if he cleaned that one up. I got him all the stuff to clean it and then my son and his sister saw that he was overwhelmed and they stepped in and cleaned it up for him. It was so touched as I watched these young children help him do what he felt he could not on his own. I am ever grateful to God for loving us enough to send his son to sacrifice for us. For loving each of us to be who we are and make our mistakes and loving us back to Him. He is ever ready to help us and love us all we must do is pray and ask. He does not make us be good or coerce us into submission. It is our choice to live as we wish but if we want greater peace and happiness it can only found in following his commandments. Yes bad things happen to good people but I know that good people find strength in God when times are tough and he helps them arise to their challenges. He has blessed my life abundantly and I know whenever I am down he comforts me and strengthens me, even at times when I feel I am undeserving. He loves me, and he loves you. I see it in the beauty of the world around me and in the newest born baby. He is magnificent in every way and if we let ourselves come to know Him in a very personal way we can feel his power and love in our own lives. It is real. If you don't believe me, pray, ask Him to let you know he loves you and you will feel it. I know you will even if you just ask to have the faith to believe. It will come. You are his child and he loves you and will answer you. I know it.

Another week of summer gone...

Time is flying by...it makes me a bit sad! This week we went to my sister's free guest day at the pool in her HOA. Taran and Timo opted out. We were there 5 hours. It was fun but I forgot water! I brought lunch and drinks. Katie brought her three little guys and Teresa helped out with them. Unfortunately I sprayed my own sunscreen on my back and I missed parts and got quite burnt, now I am super itchy and peeling. I am glad I can sleep on my back again!

We had a short family night that night since the kids were dead from swimming all day. Taran and Timo had a street ball game going when we got back and music rocking the neighborhood--we are the rowdies in our neck of the woods!

Tuesday after going to the library, it was put the house back together since last week I madeover Emily's room and didn't get much more than survival things done. Emily went to the zoo for a friend's birthday. The kids had fun playing all over the neighborhood so I was able to get quite a bit done and some fun reading. I was suppose to get my hair done by my niece but she had gotten in a car accident and her arm was still pretty stiff. She was very lucky!

Wednesday I rented a couple of Redbox movies for the kids: Ponyo and Soccer Dog: European Cup. They watched Ponyo in the afternoon when it was hot. They watched the other movie Thursday afternoon when I was at the temple. Izak's last lacrosse game was that night so we all went but Taran and Timo who had scouts. It was fun but sad that the season was over. We tried to schedule a scrimmage with another team but it did not pan out. We only got to play 6 games over 2 months so it was dragged out with all the holidays. The team was really sweet and got Timo and Tim a gift card to Cold Stone for coaching them!


Thursday not sure what happened that day. Other than I went to the temple. That afternoon Timo and Taran had a dodgeball game and they had a blast. Taran had a Calculus Party after. His teacher is so awesome, 79% of the kids that took the AP Calculus test passed! The party was for all the students not just those who passed. Taran said that it was a lot of fun. He actually stayed to help clean up. Tim and I were a bit spontaneous and decided to go to the 'Sticky Shoe' Movie theater and see the A Team for cheap ($1.50)! It was a fun movie to watch. Some swear words and a couple of quick suggestive scenes so our kids will be watching it on ClearPlay.

Friday Tim had off in honor of the Pioneer Day on the 24th. He took Taran and Timo to Teresa's tennis courts--she met them there. They played for an hour--I guess they need some practice! I went and got my haircut and I got a facial and my eyebrows waxed at the Paul Mitchell Hair School. My niece is working on her license there. I loved the facial!!! I will do that again! That night Tim, Emily and I watched National Treasure, we love watching it in July!

Saturday we did the normal chores. I cut Taran's hair in between things. I think I threw away a pound of hair! Tim took Timo driving and then Zane to get a free ice cream he had earned for reading. (This was during school and I hate it when I forget so I have to pay or I feel guilty!)



That night we had my side and Tim's side of the family to our house for a BBQ and fireworks. Tim and Nate made ice cream peach and Oreo! YUMMY! The kids had fun playing too while we visited. The fireworks Tim and Nate set off were awesome. And some of our neighbors' added their own illegal ones (go into the air) we almost felt like we were in the Stadium of Fire!

After everyone left Zane started in with a runny nose. He insisted he didn't need medicine but by midnight I knew I would not be able to sleep listening to him cough and sniff! So I gave him medicine and he slept fine. he stayed home today from church. Tim and I took turns being with him since I needed to teach. I also didn't feel great like I caught the cold. We had my parents over for dinner since my dad wanted to tell us some family stories. They left for my cousin's since he got put in the bishopric and his parents were down. We watched the DVD Legacy for our devotional--it's about the pioneers.

I am so grateful for the pioneers. I can say that now but there was a time when I sick of pioneer stories. They were so depressing. Now I feel like they are inspirational. I am amazed at their faith, courage and perseverance. Especially as a parent, the challenges they had to face with children---we wouldn't have made it because we would have killed each other! Anyway, I am grateful to know that Heavenly Father knows what I can handle and it wasn't that. I am grateful they did. Even though I hate the winters of snow and freezing temperatures, Utah is an amazing place and those pioneers turned it into a bounteous place as well!

Freedom Friday

I read about this a while ago but forgot to do anything about it! Please take time to read about this today!

The Mount Vernon Statement

Constitutional Conservatism:
A Statement for the 21st Century

We recommit ourselves to the ideas of the American Founding.Through the Constitution, the Founders created an enduring framework of limited government based on the rule of law. They sought to secure national independence, provide for economic opportunity, establish true religious liberty and maintain a flourishing society of republican self-government.

These principles define us as a country and inspire us as a people. They are responsible for a prosperous, just nation unlike any other in the world. They are our highest achievements, serving not only as powerful beacons to all who strive for freedom and seek self-government, but as warnings to tyrants and despots everywhere.

Each one of these founding ideas is presently under sustained attack. In recent decades, America’s principles have been undermined and redefined in our culture, our universities and our politics. The selfevident truths of 1776 have been supplanted by the notion that no such truths exist. The federal government today ignores the limits of the Constitution, which is increasingly dismissed as obsolete and irrelevant.

Some insist that America must change, cast off the old and put on the new. But where would this lead — forward or backward, up or down? Isn’t this idea of change an empty promise or even a dangerous deception?

The change we urgently need, a change consistent with the American ideal, is not movement away from but toward our founding principles. At this important time, we need a restatement of Constitutional conservatism grounded in the priceless principle of ordered liberty articulated in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

The conservatism of the Declaration asserts self-evident truths based on the laws of nature and nature’s God. It defends life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It traces authority to the consent of the governed. It recognizes man’s self-interest but also his capacity for virtue.

The conservatism of the Constitution limits government’s powers but ensures that government performs its proper job effectively. It refines popular will through the filter of representation. It provides checks and balances through the several branches of government and a federal republic.

A Constitutional conservatism unites all conservatives through the natural fusion provided by American principles. It reminds economic conservatives that morality is essential to limited government, social conservatives that unlimited government is a threat to moral self-government, and national security conservatives that energetic but responsible government is the key to America’s safety and leadership role in the world.

A Constitutional conservatism based on first principles provides the framework for a consistent and meaningful policy agenda.

* It applies the principle of limited government based on the rule of law to every proposal.
* It honors the central place of individual liberty in American politics and life.
* It encourages free enterprise, the individual entrepreneur, and economic reforms grounded in market solutions.
* It supports America’s national interest in advancing freedom and opposing tyranny in the world and prudently considers what we can and should do to that end.
* It informs conservatism’s firm defense of family, neighborhood, community, and faith.

If we are to succeed in the critical political and policy battles ahead, we must be certain of our purpose.

We must begin by retaking and resolutely defending the high ground of America’s founding principles.

February 17, 2010

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Photos from the week of the 4th...

Lots of catching up and photos galore!

Reunion Photos...these are in reverse of when they happened...

Picasa is being weird so sorry about the long string of photos! I would have preferred a collage!