Louw Reunion: Day 4: The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone...Bison

We spent lunch at Yellowstone, one we had packed the day before. The lake is gorgeous! Then we got to a valley that had tons of Bison! We had seen some here and there through out the day but then we hit the mother load in the valley--sorry I can't remember the name of it. This left a lasting impression on the kids. I videoed the some male bison fighting! Then we head up to the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and the lower falls...WOW! We thoroughly enjoyed this area. We ate at a diner at the visitor center area there. The visitor center was new and really interesting. Then there were 5 or so restaurants and shops nearby. After we ate we went to the Firehole River. We had heard it was a fun place. The water is somewhat warm, and not from the visitors but from the warm water running into the river. The kids jumped in and all the adult men. It was too much work for me--the changing area is way above and there are only 4 of them. I am just too lazy so I walked into the water and that was good enough for me. We tried to hit some other geothermal features on our way back but our car got lost. The other cars found the spots but since it was getting dark they couldn't see much anyway. So we headed home and they met up with us at home. I was disappointed since there were more places I'd like to see but no else wanted to go back the next day. I hope to go back next year for our anniversary!

Freedom Friday

A friend of our family from California sent me this article about the US Economy. Why does it matter, the economy? I know money isn't everything BUT in the world of government it is important. And in the practical sense of LIFE it matters! If the newly elected officials can't stop the crazy spending and cut taxes we will be in dire straits soon. If people panic Obama could be poised to 'take over' and 'fix everything'. This fragile economy is very threatening to our liberty. Tough times or tougher times are ahead but we can do it. We must stop spending and change the tax code. If we go to a straight national sales tax and no IRS anymore, no loop holes. Foreigners and illegals would pay for what they buy and use in our country. I am wondering how much money could be saved by not having to print the tax code and all the pamphlets. States could follow suit. No more paper work. This would be huge. BUT if we don't do something different than we are doing now we will spiral out of control. We can not rest, we must keep vigilant on our representatives about what we need to do NOW! Let your representatives know today that you want the spending stopped and solutions to the deficit found! This will lead us to greater national security financially and increase our individual freedoms.

So much to be thankful for...

As I look around me in line at the local Walmart, I am reminded of how blessed I am. I live in the top 5 percent of the worlds people in standard of living and I am middle class, maybe even lower middle class! Sure those Hollywood stars have lots of money, and power and fame but at what cost? How would you like to have every mistake you made plastered all over the check out stands? And even some that aren't true?

Anyway, I was pondering on my family and how I might help them focus on what they have instead of what they don't have. I am not going to deny it, money is tight and Christmas is going to small but by many standards outside the US still big! I am a super duper frugal shopper--my kids always ask why do you only buy things when they are on sale? So as I was pondering on this idea I read the recent talk by Thomas S. Monson on The Divine Gift of Gratitude. I decided to create a gratitude journal for our family that we would write in every night. It's only been one night but I have seen improvements in the prayers our kids have given--much more thankful. I introduced the idea in a family devotional last night--I used an old sharing time from 2005 and President Monson's talk. We did something similar before but we didn't write it down. I feel like we need to write this down so we don't forget. So many little things happen in our lives that are small blessings but important nonetheless. They remind us that God loves us and is aware of our needs. I know when we express gratitude to God for our blessings we feel closer to him. Pres. Monson says that "to live with gratitude ever in our hearts is to touch heaven." I believe that so why not? This may be the best gift I ever gave my kids!

Concerts, Snow and Halloween...

Not a lot of time to write this week.

Main highlights:

Taran's Chamber Choir Disney Concert so fun for Family Night thanks to all the family who supported it!
First snow of this fall/winter on Wednesday
Gwen's indoor Halloween parade at preschool because of the snow
Taran and Timo's Fall Concert~this was all the choirs at the high school, it was amazing! Just a little late...
Halloween costume frenzy the night before dressing up at school
Friday straightened Taran's hair for his 'costume', younger kids trick or treated Tim's work
Emily had play practice most of the week and her last Flag Football game which they won and placed 3rd!
Halloween Parade at the elementary school, Gwen and I enjoyed it
Planted 10 raspberry plants and daisy plants all starts from a great neighbor
Had our Halloween weird food menu Friday night...worm sandwiches, goblin toenails, chicken brains and bat eyes...
Watched HP 1 Friday in preparation for HP 7 part 1 that comes out on Timo's birthday
Tim and I went Christmas shopping--yes we did. We are almost done with our kids!
Emily and younger trick-or-treated the grandparents, by the time we got home it was pouring rain...check out Gwen in her cape/cloak, Izak & Micah and friends with black plastic bags over them, Emily went to a Halloween Party, Taran went to 2 parties and Timo trick-or-treated the wealthy side of the valley with friends and were fed Hot Dogs, hot chocolate and large candy bars! Little boys watched Private Eyes with their friends and had pizza, apple beer...
I started HP2 once I thought trick or treat-or-treaters where done and folded laundry
Today for actual Halloween we had a yummy salmon feast and cupcakes and "boo shakes"
We also had a lesson on gratitude and we are really trying to ramp it up this year and be more grateful! Happy Halloween and Happy November!

PS Micah is the cow master, yeah whatever! We didn't get around to carving our pumpkins... muddling!

Freedom Friday

Tuesday is an important day for all Americans. So get out and vote! Don't know who to vote for? Read about each candidate on their own website or talk to them. Find out what principles are the foundation of their paradigm. These are what they will use to base all their policy making upon. If you are still confused pray about it, or better yet pray before you study the candidates. And then get out and vote, get your neighbors to vote and your family. Midterm elections have a poor turn out rate. It is your duty as a citizen to vote, don't take it lightly! Our freedom depends upon those we choose to represent us in our own states and nationally. Here is a link to a great article, it's not long so check it out! CharleyReese

It's almost Halloween...

So next week is Halloween, wow! Life really doesn't stand still does it? Monday Gwen went to my mom's while I helped at the school. Zane ended up coming home with me because his tummy hurt. He was fine the rest of the day but you never know! We picked up Gwen and she and Granny had made Halloween sugar cookies. That was really nice of my mom since I have a love/hate relationship with them. I love eating them but the waiting while they chill and cutting them all out seems to take FOREVER! So I don't make them as often as my kids would like. She also supplied us with extra dough and the decorations. I didn't get around to that until Wednesday! I took my scouts up the canyon to check out the native plants and it was beautiful. I included a couple of pictures from that of the leaves and their beautiful colors! I wish I could have taken my kids back to explore and soak it all in! Emily had flag football practice. For FHE we celebrated Gwen and Emily with videos of their birth and their favorites.

Tuesday Gwen and I got our weekly shopping in early so that was nice. Micah had scouts and they went to a fire station, he is close to finishing his Wolf. Taran and Timo had their last flag football game so I went. Micah had his last soccer game and Tim wanted to see it. They lost and it was the only team they have lost to this whole season. We just don't understand why they are the only team we played twice! Owell. Emily also had play practice but it was over before the games that night, tender mercy! Wednesday Gwen had preschool and Taran and Emily had a dermatology appointment for their acne. My friend Steph covered picking up Gwen in case I didn't get back but I did get back in time but I fed Emily and Taran lunch and took Emily back to the junior high. So Stephanie dropped Gwen off and she played with Sophie. I ran some errands while I was out that way. That night was meet the candidates so Tim went since I got to attend other things over the summer. Timo went to the temple and Taran had YM and Emily had YW. I missed a scout committee meeting I had because I do not trust Izak and the 2 other boys for very long. I am glad I stayed since they were wild!

Thursday Stephanie watched Gwen so I could go to the temple. I enjoyed going but was a little uncertain because I had tummy issue. So I just did initiatories. She kept Gwen longer and I was able to finish getting all the meds for Emily--she has 3 and there is a problem with the insurance approving Taran's so hopefully that will work out soon! I also got a bunch dumb little things done around the house that had stacked up. That was a relief. Stephanie is a great friend---and not just to me! Emily had her last flag football game. I had planned to go but my tummy was not feeling great again so I stayed home with the little kids. Timo was studying with friends and Taran had work and choir practice. He actually practiced every night and lunch for this Disney Concert fundraiser---they are hoping to get to NYC. Tim took Emily and they found out they had another game for a tournament Saturday morning at 8 AM. Later Thursday night Tim was gone visiting with the EQ President to some families.

Friday Gwen and I went to the school to help Stephanie with the last of Red Ribbon Week. She was having the kids draw themselves on the playground saying NO to drugs. They got a silly band if they did it. She the cougar mascot there and music playing, balloons...it was super fun. Poor Gwen was nervous around the cougar. My kids love it when I help at school, I think it's so cute. Sophie's mom Jen came too so the three little friends were all there together! That afternoon the Primary kids went to the church to practice the Primary Sacrament Meeting Program. Emily was at play practice and Taran was at his practice. So it was me and Timo so I read the Ensign! Tim was going to pick up Emily for me but he got stuck in a traffic jam due to a car accident so she got a ride with another kid from the play--our neighbor would have taken her but Emily got stuck at her locker and they were gone when she came out so they probably thought she already had a ride home. Izak went to his friend Bryson's for a late night and had a lot of fun. Emily had a friend over to work on a school project. Zane went to McDonald's and to his friend Spencer's and watched How to Train Your Dragon, which he loves. Micah was with friends to for awhile. Timo went to a friend's to watch the Jazz basketball game. Emily and her friend watched Gwen while Tim and I did a Costco date. Then we went to Maggie Moos after, yummy ice cream! Later Tim and I finished up AVATAR that we had started Thursday night. Okay, I will admit that the movie is visually stunning but the story is so lame and predictable. I can't believe that movie made so much money and cost so much that could have built a few hundred schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan! Sorry if you loved it but seriously ...

Saturday the weather was cold and rainy. So I chickened out of going to Emily's game so Tim went--I actually had gone to more of her games than him anyway and he wanted to go. I stayed and did morning Saturday chores with the kids. Taran went to work since he missed the day before. Emily's team won so they played again the next game. That game they lost and she got back just in time to go to referee with Izak. The 2nd game they were suppose to ref got rained out. Timo went to the BYU vs Wyoming game with some friends and their dad. They had gotten 2 tickets for special booster seating which gave them access to a free food buffet. They loved it!
Tim was going to go with Taran but Taran had to be at Disney Concert practice at 4 PM and he didn't know if he'd make it back in time. Zane had his last fall soccer game at noon and Tim is the coach and didn't want to miss it. He tried to reschedule for earlier in the week but it didn't work out. So that's why Timo took them with his friend. Zane's game ended up a bust since it was raining the other team didn't show--only their coach. So Tim took Gwen, Zane and Ammon (a nephew) to his parents' to watch the rest of the game since kick off was at noon. In between all this morning stuff I had the little boys go through their drawers and pick out their favorite stuff and I limited what they could save. We got rid of 3 bags of clothes. Some clothes were hand-me-downs that they never wore. We are so blessed that people think of us and I feel guilty not using the stuff. I am realizing that keeping one or two items is wiser than all of it because they couldn't see their clothes with so much in there anyway. Tim asked when I was going to do our closet. I ran errands while Emily watched Micah and Izak. When I got back I made sandwiches for the kids. We were going to a Halloween Carnival at my sister's condo clubhouse. It was so fun. The kids dressed up as you see! Micah was King of the Cows--yeah whatever! They had the food catered by Kneaders (a local deli/bakery) ghost and pumpkin sugar cookies, eclairs, giant chocolate chip cookies, pumpkin bread and cream cheese brownies--delicious! Apple cider with dry ice in it. They had games like the fishing booth, bowling pumpkins, witch hat ring toss...and more but they gave out toys not candy. They had story telling and a hay ride. Each kids could choose a pumpkin and paint it if they want to which Zane did if you look at the collage. The rest we put in our car. As we left they gave each kid a small bag of flavored popcorn! It was really well done and the kids had a blast! Thanks Teresa for including us!!! We got home early enough that they showered and started a movie. Harry Potter 1 but it was a bad DVD copy of the VHS we used to have so they ended up not finishing it. Tim went to Taran's Disney Concert to manage the doors and hand out programs. He didn't want to go to the carnival so I volunteered him for that! He ran home after to watch the Giants beat Philly and then he and the little boys watch the Missouri vs. Oklahoma game and Mizzou upset number 1! Timo went and played basketball with his friends after doing his chores and some homework. I watched The Blind Side with Timo and Emily while I ironed. Tim went to bed. I love that movie! Taran got home late because they had to clean up the auditorium after the concert etc. Then he hung out with some choir friends.

Today was the Primary Program. Gwen was nervous so we said a prayer and she felt better. It's always great but I can rarely see my kids because there are so many people in front of them. I was able to see Micah and Izak most of the time. But Gwen was just too little and Zane was directly behind the chorister in my view. Owell, the spirit was there and I liked how they organized it. I especially loved the music chosen for this year's theme. I got to sub in nursery today and that was fun. Today Tim and the boys did their hometeaching, our hometeachers came and they had choir practice. Emily and Tim also had meetings with their presidencies they are in. So a normal busy sabbath day! Tim taught a nice devotional tonight. Time for bed! Have a great week and enjoy all the Halloween festivities!

Freedom Friday Late

Can't we all get along and be civil? I have been thinking about this a lot after several friends posted a link about a man who almost committed suicide because of how he was treated for being gay. Then I hear about how the media is attacking conservative women who are running for political office. You know if it were a liberal woman being attacked or called a whore it would be a an outrage. Then I thought of my daughter who was sworn at and berated on the bus because of her religion. I understand we are all different. I realize we don't have to like the same things or believe the same things but that shouldn't mean that we can't be kind to one another. When we view others as less than ourselves we put them and ourselves in dangerous circumstances. When dehumanizing occurs through name calling, jokes that belittle and such it leads to people believing that that group is that way. It happened in Germany, the propaganda and lies told about Jews made it easier for the people to buy into Hitler's evil plan. Rwanda also began with government controlled media that demeaned the Tutsis first jokingly then blatantly so the Hutus bought into the idea of killing friends and neighbors--this happened in the 90s not that long ago. But here we are in 2010 and the tea party people who come from all walks of life are called racists, violent and terrorists. All you can really say they have done is criticize all the spending and taxing going on in the government. Whereas when Bush was president protesters burned effigies of him during the height of the Iraq War. As I started out can we all get along and be civil? Our family been reading Jesus Christ's as he taught the people he had fulfilled the law of Moses he had a higher law for them. I quote loosely since I am too lazy to find it exactly right now, "The old law said love your neighbors and hate your enemies. I say bless your enemies... pray for them who despitefully use you..." He goes on to condemn even being angry--we are not able to judge righteously enough to have merit it. In a world where we all feel it our right to be mad he preaches this is not so. He has asked us to love God with all our hearts, might mind and strength and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Anyway, we must not allow the media to sway us from following Christ's admonition. This is a challenge, I know, I am guilty of categorizing those who oppose my views as well. But we are all children of God and He and Son expect more from us. I am trying to teach my children to be caring of those in need of friends. We have discussed treated all people with kindness and understanding. Hopefully some of it is sinking in! But reading the scriptures definitely allows us opportunities to discuss these ideas over and over again since these are the teachings of Jesus Christ. Of course one could say this is common sense that we treat others with kindness and love but in reality there are many who do not naturally do this but esteem themselves better or more worthwhile or deserving than others and this falls on both sides of the economic spectrum. But having a clear religious leader whose whole life exemplified these very things where He could have dismissed us as worthless and not atoned for us is a great blessing indeed. I am so grateful over and over again for His example and His teachings. And it makes me want to be more kind and tolerant than I sometimes act. Although I have a natural curiosity about people and want to know about them and always find things I like about them no matter other differences we may have. What helps you be more kind and tolerant of those different than you?