Anne Denmark and Jeri-lynn Johnson in Hawaii
Saturday, February 13, 2016
Sunday, November 8, 2015
I'm Baaack!
There are so many bloggers now that I quit writing. However, with Hilary in the race again, I just
had to voice my opinion.
had to voice my opinion.
Hilary Clinton for President 2016?
A History Lesson:
When Bill Clinton was president, he allowed Hillary to assume authority over a health care reform. Even after threats and intimidation, she couldn't even get a vote in a democratic controlled congress. This fiasco cost the American taxpayers about $13 million in cost for studies, promotion, and other efforts.
Then President Clinton gave Hillary authority over selecting a female attorney general. Her first two selections were Zoe Baird and Kimba Wood – both were forced to withdraw their names from consideration. Next she chose Janet Reno – husband Bill described her selection as "my worst mistake." Some may not remember that Reno made the decision to gas David Koresh and the Branch Davidian religious sect in Waco, Texas resulting in dozens of deaths of women and children.
Husband Bill allowed Hillary to make recommendations for the head of the Civil Rights Commission. Lani Guanier was her selection. When a little probing led to the discovered of Ms. Guanier's radical views, her name had to be withdrawn from consideration.
Apparently a slow learner, husband Bill allowed Hillary to make some more recommendations. She chose former law partners Web Hubbel for the Justice Department, Vince Foster for the White House staff, and William Kennedy for the Treasury Department. Her selections went well: Hubbel went to prison, Foster (presumably) committed suicide, and Kennedy was forced to resign.
Many younger votes will have no knowledge of "Travelgate." Hillary wanted to award unfettered travel contracts to Clinton friend Harry Thompson – and the White House Travel Office refused to comply. She managed to have them reported to the FBI and fired. This ruined their reputations, cost them their jobs, and caused a thirty-six month investigation. Only one employee, Billy Dale was charged with a crime, and that of the enormous crime of mixing personal and White House funds. A jury acquitted him of any crime in less than two hours.
Still not convinced of her ineptness, Hillary was allowed to recommend a close Clinton friend, Craig Livingstone, for the position of Director of White House security. When Livingstone was investigated for the improper access of about 900 FBI files of Clinton enemies (Filegate) and the widespread use of drugs by White House staff, suddenly Hillary and the president denied even knowing Livingstone, and of course, denied knowledge of drug use in the White House. Following this debacle, the FBI closed its White House Liaison Office after more than thirty years of service to seven presidents.
Next, when women started coming forward with allegations of sexual harassment and rape by Bill Clinton, Hillary was put in charge of the "bimbo eruption" and scandal defense. Some of her more notable decisions in the debacle were:
She urged her husband not to settle the Paula Jones lawsuit. After the Starr investigation they settled with Ms. Jones.
She refused to release the Whitewater documents, which led to the appointment of Ken Starr as Special Prosecutor. After $80 million dollars of taxpayer money was spent, Starr's investigation led to Monica Lewinsky, which led to Bill lying about and later admitting his affairs.
Hillary's devious game plan resulted in Bill losing his license to practice law for 'lying under oath' to a grand jury and then his subsequent impeachment by the House of Representatives.
Hillary avoided indictment for perjury and obstruction of justice during the Starr investigation by repeating, "I do not recall," "I have no recollection," and "I don't know" a total of 56 times while under oath.
After leaving the White House, Hillary was forced to return an estimated $200,000 in White House furniture, china, and artwork that she had stolen.
What a swell party – ready for another four or eight year of this type low-life mess?
Now we are exposed to the destruction of possibly incriminating emails while Hillary was Secretary of State and the "pay to play" schemes of the Clinton Foundation – we have no idea what shoe will fall next. But to her loyal fans - "what difference does it make?"
Electing Hillary Clinton president would be like granting Satan absolution and giving him the keys to heaven!
Please pass this on. Our way of life may depend on it.
When Bill Clinton was president, he allowed Hillary to assume authority over a health care reform. Even after threats and intimidation, she couldn't even get a vote in a democratic controlled congress. This fiasco cost the American taxpayers about $13 million in cost for studies, promotion, and other efforts.
Then President Clinton gave Hillary authority over selecting a female attorney general. Her first two selections were Zoe Baird and Kimba Wood – both were forced to withdraw their names from consideration. Next she chose Janet Reno – husband Bill described her selection as "my worst mistake." Some may not remember that Reno made the decision to gas David Koresh and the Branch Davidian religious sect in Waco, Texas resulting in dozens of deaths of women and children.
Husband Bill allowed Hillary to make recommendations for the head of the Civil Rights Commission. Lani Guanier was her selection. When a little probing led to the discovered of Ms. Guanier's radical views, her name had to be withdrawn from consideration.
Apparently a slow learner, husband Bill allowed Hillary to make some more recommendations. She chose former law partners Web Hubbel for the Justice Department, Vince Foster for the White House staff, and William Kennedy for the Treasury Department. Her selections went well: Hubbel went to prison, Foster (presumably) committed suicide, and Kennedy was forced to resign.
Many younger votes will have no knowledge of "Travelgate." Hillary wanted to award unfettered travel contracts to Clinton friend Harry Thompson – and the White House Travel Office refused to comply. She managed to have them reported to the FBI and fired. This ruined their reputations, cost them their jobs, and caused a thirty-six month investigation. Only one employee, Billy Dale was charged with a crime, and that of the enormous crime of mixing personal and White House funds. A jury acquitted him of any crime in less than two hours.
Still not convinced of her ineptness, Hillary was allowed to recommend a close Clinton friend, Craig Livingstone, for the position of Director of White House security. When Livingstone was investigated for the improper access of about 900 FBI files of Clinton enemies (Filegate) and the widespread use of drugs by White House staff, suddenly Hillary and the president denied even knowing Livingstone, and of course, denied knowledge of drug use in the White House. Following this debacle, the FBI closed its White House Liaison Office after more than thirty years of service to seven presidents.
Next, when women started coming forward with allegations of sexual harassment and rape by Bill Clinton, Hillary was put in charge of the "bimbo eruption" and scandal defense. Some of her more notable decisions in the debacle were:
She urged her husband not to settle the Paula Jones lawsuit. After the Starr investigation they settled with Ms. Jones.
She refused to release the Whitewater documents, which led to the appointment of Ken Starr as Special Prosecutor. After $80 million dollars of taxpayer money was spent, Starr's investigation led to Monica Lewinsky, which led to Bill lying about and later admitting his affairs.
Hillary's devious game plan resulted in Bill losing his license to practice law for 'lying under oath' to a grand jury and then his subsequent impeachment by the House of Representatives.
Hillary avoided indictment for perjury and obstruction of justice during the Starr investigation by repeating, "I do not recall," "I have no recollection," and "I don't know" a total of 56 times while under oath.
After leaving the White House, Hillary was forced to return an estimated $200,000 in White House furniture, china, and artwork that she had stolen.
What a swell party – ready for another four or eight year of this type low-life mess?
Now we are exposed to the destruction of possibly incriminating emails while Hillary was Secretary of State and the "pay to play" schemes of the Clinton Foundation – we have no idea what shoe will fall next. But to her loyal fans - "what difference does it make?"
Electing Hillary Clinton president would be like granting Satan absolution and giving him the keys to heaven!
Please pass this on. Our way of life may depend on it.
Thursday, April 9, 2015
2015 - Is Anybody still reading blogs?????
A lot has happened in my life since 2011.
I
was nursing my dying husband. He finally passed away in January of
2013 and I had to start a new life. The first thing I did was try to
get myself healthy. I've never been good at dieting I tried every diet
out there and I'd lose as much as 17 lbs. then gain it all back within
6 months. So, my new plan was to only try to lose 2 lbs a month. I
did that by always leaving at least 2 Tlbsp. of food on my plate at
every meal. I also joined a gym and worked out twice a week. That's it
and I lost 35 lbs over the next two years...and since then, I've been maintaining that weight. So here I am in 2015 ready to start my new life:
Friday, December 10, 2010
Candy Cane Party
It is a "hit song" because it was recorded by Point of Grace and was on their Christmas album that won a Dove Award (Which is Christian music's "Grammy").
So Congratulations Jennifer!
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Behind the Scenes for Photo Shoot
This is a really FUN look behind the scenes from the North Pole Patrol's photo shoot. Enjoy:
Monday, December 6, 2010
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Eulogy
I ran across this the other day and wanted to save it. It would make a great eulogy. (and if nothing else, it is a great wake up call to what is really important in life. We should all make a New Year’s resolution to live a life that matters.)
"Ready or not, some day it will all come to an end. There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days. All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten, will pass to someone else. Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance. It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed. Your grudges, resentments, frustrations and jealousies will finally disappear. So too, your hopes, ambitions, plans and to-do lists will expire. The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away. It won’t matter where you came from or from what side of the tracks you live on at the end. It won’t even matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant. So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured? What will matter is not what you bought, but what you built; not what you got, but what you gave. What will matter is not your success, but your significance. What will matter is both what you learned and what you taught. What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage or sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example. What will matter is not your competence, but your character. What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you’re gone. What will matter is both your memories as well as the memories that live in those who loved you. What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what. Living a life that matters doesn’t happen by accident. It’s not a matter of circumstance but of choice.’" (paraphrased and edited from a talk by Michael Josephson).
"Ready or not, some day it will all come to an end. There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days. All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten, will pass to someone else. Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance. It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed. Your grudges, resentments, frustrations and jealousies will finally disappear. So too, your hopes, ambitions, plans and to-do lists will expire. The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away. It won’t matter where you came from or from what side of the tracks you live on at the end. It won’t even matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant. So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured? What will matter is not what you bought, but what you built; not what you got, but what you gave. What will matter is not your success, but your significance. What will matter is both what you learned and what you taught. What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage or sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example. What will matter is not your competence, but your character. What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you’re gone. What will matter is both your memories as well as the memories that live in those who loved you. What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what. Living a life that matters doesn’t happen by accident. It’s not a matter of circumstance but of choice.’" (paraphrased and edited from a talk by Michael Josephson).
Friday, December 25, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
A Christmas Prayer
“Help us rightly to remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and the worship of the Wise Men. Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift, and good desire with every greeting. Deliver us from evil by the blessings that Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clean hearts. May the Christmas morning make us happy to be Thy children, and the Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts; forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus’ sake. Amen. “
-- Robert Louis Stevenson
.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
The Spirit of Christmas
To catch the real meaning of the “Spirit of Christmas,” we need only drop the last syllable, and it becomes the “Spirit of Christ."
| --Thomas S. Monson |
Friday, December 18, 2009
"Our Search for Jesus"
Are you serious about putting Christ back in Christmas?
The only way we can really know another person is to "walk in his shoes..." Think what He thinks...learn what He knows...say what He would say...and do what He would do. Christ said, "Be ye therefore perfect." We can only accomplish this as we become like Him. Faithfully follow this 7-day walk with Christ. you will come to know and understand him better.
Day 1: Question: How can I follow His steps?
Read: 1 Peter 2:21, Abraham 1:2, Moroni 7:48
Ponder: How can I follow in Christ's steps today? In all my decisions I will ask: What would Christ do?
Day 2: Question: Am I seeking Christ's help?
Read: Proverbs 3:5-6, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Jacob 4:7, and Ether 12:27
Ponder: Am I seeking the Lord's help in all I think and do? How can He help me overcome my weaknesses?
Day 3: Question: Who is the vine" Who are the branches?
Read: John 15
Ponder: From whom do I get my strength? How can I bring forth much fruit for the Lord? Is social pressure getting me down?
Day 4: Question: How do I guard against Pride?
Read: Proverbs 6:16-17, Proverbs 8:13, Alma 5:28, D & C 38:39
Ponder: Am I being truly honest with others? Do I do the right things for the right reasons?
Day 5: Question: Do I love Christ?
Read: John 13:34-35, John 14:15, and Nephi 13:2-32, 24, 33
Ponder: Do I keep all the commandments? Have I put another God before Christ?
Day 6: Question: Does Christ love ME?
Read: John 3:16
Ponder: Do I believe?
Day 7: Commit to Daily Scripture Study
(The more you read, the closer you will feel to the Lord. You will start to feel His presence. You will see His hand in your life - AND you will find strength, purpose, peace, and joy.)
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
The Four Stages of Life:
1) You believe in Santa Claus.
2) You don't believe in Santa Claus.
3) You are Santa Claus.
4) You look like Santa Claus.
(I warned you that there would be "tacky" posts this year)
Monday, December 7, 2009
Christmas Bunko
Merry Christmas y'all.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Christmas Ideas
The costumes were all my costumes (part of my Moroccan costume collection).
Go to my last year's blogs for lots of Christmas ideas, like
Holiday parties, Christmas poems, and How to keep Christ in Christmas
nobodycareswhatthisoldgeezerthinks.blogspot.com
for service opportunities, go to:
youngmothersservingothers.blogspot.com
for service opportunities, go to:
youngmothersservingothers.blogspot.com
Saturday, December 5, 2009
My Favorite Christmas Quotes
“There's nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child."
~ Erma Bombeck
“It is the personal thoughtfulness, the warm human awareness, the reaching out of the self to one's fellow man that makes giving worthy of the Christmas spirit."
~ Isabel Currier.
~ Isabel Currier.
“My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?"
~ Bob Hope
~ Bob Hope
"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas... perhaps... means a little bit more."
~ Dr. Seuss From 'How The Grinch Stole Christmas'.
~ Dr. Seuss From 'How The Grinch Stole Christmas'.
Remember this December,
That love weighs more than gold!
~Josephine Dodge Daskam Bacon
"I have always thought of Christmas time, when it came around, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys." ~ Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol
That love weighs more than gold!
~Josephine Dodge Daskam Bacon
Friday, December 4, 2009
Stressed Out?
Christmas has gotten way out of control - and we let it. Why not use the current economic situation as an excuse to cut back. Suggest that family members draw names. Or, have everyone bring a universal gift and just have everyone choose from the lot.
If you still have a long list of people you want to give to, START EARLY. By early, I mean take advantage of sales all during the year, and have all your Christmas shopping done by Thanksgiving (not wrapped, just purchased). This will allow you to enjoy the holiday lights and spirit of the holiday without having to stand in lines (it also frees you up so you can participate in any charity opportunities that arise over the holiday).
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Our Video Christmas Card
.(p.s. the song in the background is one of Jennifer's original Christmas songs and she's singing it)
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Is Christmas in YOUR heart?
“If you ain’t got no Christmas in your heart, you ain’t gonna find no Christmas under the tree.”
Anna Nicole Smith
Well, I swan. That’s about the purtiest words that ever came out of her mouth. She had a reputation for being really ditsy and tacky. But apparently Christmas was important, even to her.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Tacky Décor
Nothing brings out the tacky in us like Christmas. Last year my favorite blogger posted this on her website in December and I thought it deserved another run. Enjoy.
“It really is tragic that people only feel the Christmas spirit one month a year. In our house we try to be better than that, and invite the spirit of Christmas every day into our home. Which is why this-
has a permanent spot in our living room. Nothing says Christmas like a leg lamp, and who are we to hide the leg lamp under bushel? We let that light shine 12 months a year.”
"Spritz the bowl before you go, and no one else will ever know," urge the makers of Poo-Pourri, an all-natural essential oil spray for the loo that claims to trap "embarrassing odors." I ask you…What's more embarrassing--a little bathroom odor or having this sitting on the sink?
Monday, November 30, 2009
Sunday, November 29, 2009
An Open Letter to Congress
GLENN BECK got a letter from a woman in Arizona . She wrote an open letter to our nation's leadership. Here are some of her complaints (to read the entire letter go to http://letterreadonglennbeckshow.blogspot.com)
The STIMULUS bill. I want it repealed and I want no further funding supplied to it. We told you No, but you did it anyway. I want the remaining unfunded 95% repealed. Freeze, repeal.
Czars. I want the circumvention of our constitutional checks and balances stopped immediately. Fire the czars. No more czars. Government officials answer to the process, not to the president. Stop trampling on our Constitution, and honor it.
Universal healthcare. I will not be rushed into another expensive decision that will burden me, my children, and grandchildren. Don't you dare try to pass this in the middle of the night without even reading it. Slow down! Fix only what is broken -- we have the best health care system in the world -- and test any new program in one or two states first.
Growing government control. I want states rights and sovereignty fully restored. I want less government in my life, not more.
I do not want ACORN and its affiliates in charge of our 2010 census. I want them investigated. I also do not want mandatory escrow fees contributed to them every time on every real estate deal that closes -- how did they pull that one off? Stop the funding to ACORN and its affiliates pending impartial audits and investigations.
Redistribution of wealth. No, no, no. I work for my money. It is mine. I have always worked for people with more money than I have because they gave me jobs -- and that is the only redistribution of wealth that I will support. And, what do you have against shareholders making a profit?
Corporate bailouts. Knock it off. Every company must sink or swim like the rest of us. If there are hard times ahead, we'll be better off just getting into it and letting the strong survive. Great things happen in America under great hardship. Give us the chance to innovate. We cannot disappoint you more than you have disappointed us.
Unprecedented quick spending. Stop it now.
Take a breath. Listen to the people. Slow down and get some input from nonpoliticians and experts on the subject. Stop making everything an emergency. Stop speed-reading our bills into law.
I entrusted you with upholding the Constitution. I believed in the checks and balances to keep from getting far off course. What happened?
We want all of you to stop focusing on your reelection and do the job we want done, not the job you want done or the job your party wants done. You work for us and at this rate I guarantee you not for long.
Note: If you agree, make a copy of this letter and send it to your congressmen. (And when the next election rolls around, DON'T VOTE FOR THE INCUMBENTS! - unless you know they are working for US)
Friday, November 27, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving
"Gratitude is of the very essence of worship. … When you walk with gratitude, you do not walk with arrogance and conceit and egotism, you walk with a spirit of thanksgiving that is becoming to you and will bless your lives”.
--Gordan B Hinckley
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Oh Happy Day
Monday, November 23, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Thanksgiving Prayer
As we sit down at our Thanksgiving table once again, we want to thank Thee for all our many blessings.
We thank Thee for meeting our needs every day - for food and shelter and clothing, and for the many extras Thou hast provided that we so often take for granted.
We thank Thee for our family and friends who enrich our lives.
We thank Thee that we are blessed to live in a country where we are free to worship Thee and to read Thy word.
Most of all, we thank Thee for Thy Son, Jesus Christ, who is the 'light of the world.' We are grateful for His sacrifice for our sake.
We ask Thee to bless this food of which we are about to partake, that it may strengthen our bodies so we may have more energy to serve those around us in need - thereby showing our love to Thee.
We say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen
Friday, November 20, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving
May your turkey be plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
Have never a lump.
May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off your thighs!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
What I'm Thankful for
1. Health
2. Eyesight
3. Hearing
4. Speech (I added this one when my sister’s husband had his vocal chords removed due to cancer – I had taken it for granted until then)
5. Husband, children, parents, great son-in-laws, grandchildren
6. Health of family members (husband, children, grandchildren, parents, siblings)
7. Friends
8. Home (not just a beautiful house, but a place everyone enjoys spending time together)
9. Employment (and ability to live on income)
10. Freedom (of Religion, of speech, to pursue individual dreams, free agency, etc.)
11. Living in a peaceful neighborhood (in these days of “drive-by shootings” it’s really a blessing to live in a peaceful neighborhood)
12. The ability to travel (and the fascinating cultures and beauty you find when you do travel)
13. Food (the abundance of it and its variety)
14. Beauty of the earth (sunsets, dawn, trees, flowers, meadows, mountains, rivers, streams, etc.)
15. Memories (What a wonderful gift it is to be able to remember the fun times of our lives.What it we had no memory?)
16. Holidays (great family bonding times)
17. Good books to read
18. Good music to listen to
19. Professions that contribute to the quality of our lives:
20. Authors, poets, musicians, artists
21. Scientists, doctors, surgeons
22. Teachers,
23. Inventions that have improved the quality of our lives
24. Automobiles, airplanes
25. Washing machines, electric dryers, ovens, vacuum cleaners,
26. Telephones, (I’ve added cell phones, ipods, and computers)
27. Recreational facilities for our use: National Parks, Disneyland, Legoland, etc.
28. Resorts, golf courses, tennis
29. Television (My husband added Monday night football)
30. Movies, Videos (I’ve added DVD’s)
31. Live Theatre, Concerts, etc.
32. Talents (not just art, music, and dance – which I love, but the qualities we each have that make us special: Compassion, Ability to negotiate, Thoughtfulness, Being good in a crisis, Patience, Tolerance, Flexibility, Ability to get along well with people, Leadership, Organization, (I’m also grateful for Jennifer’s songwriting talent – I really enjoy listening to her music.)
33. I’m grateful for the callings I’ve had in the church – they’ve made me a better person.
34. I’m grateful for the restoration of the gospel and that we always have a prophet to guide us.
35. And, I’m grateful that there is a God who lives, watches over us, CARES about each one of us and wants to help us with our problems. All we have to do is ASK.
Last, but not least, I'm grateful that I realize all the things I have to be grateful for.
For some ideas of what you can do around your Thanksgiving Table,
click HERE
2. Eyesight
3. Hearing
4. Speech (I added this one when my sister’s husband had his vocal chords removed due to cancer – I had taken it for granted until then)
5. Husband, children, parents, great son-in-laws, grandchildren
6. Health of family members (husband, children, grandchildren, parents, siblings)
7. Friends
8. Home (not just a beautiful house, but a place everyone enjoys spending time together)
9. Employment (and ability to live on income)
10. Freedom (of Religion, of speech, to pursue individual dreams, free agency, etc.)
11. Living in a peaceful neighborhood (in these days of “drive-by shootings” it’s really a blessing to live in a peaceful neighborhood)
12. The ability to travel (and the fascinating cultures and beauty you find when you do travel)
13. Food (the abundance of it and its variety)
14. Beauty of the earth (sunsets, dawn, trees, flowers, meadows, mountains, rivers, streams, etc.)
15. Memories (What a wonderful gift it is to be able to remember the fun times of our lives.What it we had no memory?)
16. Holidays (great family bonding times)
17. Good books to read
18. Good music to listen to
19. Professions that contribute to the quality of our lives:
20. Authors, poets, musicians, artists
21. Scientists, doctors, surgeons
22. Teachers,
23. Inventions that have improved the quality of our lives
24. Automobiles, airplanes
25. Washing machines, electric dryers, ovens, vacuum cleaners,
26. Telephones, (I’ve added cell phones, ipods, and computers)
27. Recreational facilities for our use: National Parks, Disneyland, Legoland, etc.
28. Resorts, golf courses, tennis
29. Television (My husband added Monday night football)
30. Movies, Videos (I’ve added DVD’s)
31. Live Theatre, Concerts, etc.
32. Talents (not just art, music, and dance – which I love, but the qualities we each have that make us special: Compassion, Ability to negotiate, Thoughtfulness, Being good in a crisis, Patience, Tolerance, Flexibility, Ability to get along well with people, Leadership, Organization, (I’m also grateful for Jennifer’s songwriting talent – I really enjoy listening to her music.)
33. I’m grateful for the callings I’ve had in the church – they’ve made me a better person.
34. I’m grateful for the restoration of the gospel and that we always have a prophet to guide us.
35. And, I’m grateful that there is a God who lives, watches over us, CARES about each one of us and wants to help us with our problems. All we have to do is ASK.
Last, but not least, I'm grateful that I realize all the things I have to be grateful for.
For some ideas of what you can do around your Thanksgiving Table,
click HERE
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Lincoln and Emmy at the Pumpkin Patch
Now THEY are certainly something worth being THANKFUL for!
(and their little sister is due any day now - Lucky Gramma J)
[photos by Jessica Davis Photography]
[photos by Jessica Davis Photography]
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Thanksgiving ...All Year
We cannot be bitter, resentful, or mean-spirited when we are grateful.
President Monson said, "While there are some things wrong in the world today, there are many things right. We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious of sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues."
Elder Wirthlin adds this, "Gratitude is a mark of a noble soul and a refined character. We like to be around those who are grateful. They tend to brighten all around them. They make others feel better about themselves. They tend to be more humble, more joyful, more likable."
How can we get ourselves in the habit of daily gratitude? Elder Wirthlin suggests three things:
1. Open our eyes. See the beauty of this world.
2. Open our hearts. Let go of negative emotions and self-pity
3. Open our arms. When was the last time you reached out to someone in need?
The Lord said, "He who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious."
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Gratitude
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” –Melody Beattie
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Jennifer at the Blue Bird Cafe
On the flight home I was reading a book and I ran across the following paragraph about flying – we’ve probably all had these thoughts:
“ When the captain announces we’re beginning our descent, and we’re still pretty high above the city, I’ll think. If the plane went down now, we would definitely not be okay. A bit lower, and no, we still wouldn’t be okay. Maybe now, now we might be low enough that if it crashed, we might be okay.” Amy Krouse Rosenthal
She made another observation about travelling that I found thought provoking:
“You Say: How It Sounds:
I’m going overseas Sounds like you’re going to the Orient, or
Somewhere really far away.
I’m going abroad Has junior-year-in-college undertones
I’ll be out of the country Sounds like you’re a spy. Mysterious,
Ambiguous.
I’m going to Europe Well, la-di-da, good for you. Pretentious
I’m going to France Fine, but compels people to say, ‘I see
London, I see France, I see___’s underpants.’”
Apparently you can’t win. I guess you’re not supposed to tell people when you go overseas/abroad/Europe…. ‘cause you’ll tick them off. So if I ever go again, I’ll just say I’m going on vacation.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
I'm Thankful for GUILT
I love guilt. I wanted my kids to feel guilty when they lied, or disobeyed. Guilt is a good thing. It keeps you on the track to doing what you should be doing, and becoming who you should become.
Where I draw the line is feeling guilty about everything I’m not doing. I refuse to feel guilty if I miss visiting teaching for a month or two. But if I don’t go for a year, yes, I feel guilty and I deserve to feel guilty. I do genealogy, but I don’t do it all the time. I go in spurts. I don’t feel guilty when I’m not doing it, because I know I have done a good job and will continue to do so. There are bigger things to feel guilty about.
My kids happen to be perfect (in my unbiased opinion), but if they weren’t, I wouldn’t feel guilty about it. You can’t feel guilty for things you can’t completely control. When there are other forces working against you, and free agency in the mix, you have to do your best and hope for the best, but the cards will fall where they may and you are not to blame.
The good thing about feeling guilty is that it validates your belief system. If you don’t believe what you’re doing is wrong, you don’t feel guilty. So when you do feel guilty, do something about it.
Where I draw the line is feeling guilty about everything I’m not doing. I refuse to feel guilty if I miss visiting teaching for a month or two. But if I don’t go for a year, yes, I feel guilty and I deserve to feel guilty. I do genealogy, but I don’t do it all the time. I go in spurts. I don’t feel guilty when I’m not doing it, because I know I have done a good job and will continue to do so. There are bigger things to feel guilty about.
My kids happen to be perfect (in my unbiased opinion), but if they weren’t, I wouldn’t feel guilty about it. You can’t feel guilty for things you can’t completely control. When there are other forces working against you, and free agency in the mix, you have to do your best and hope for the best, but the cards will fall where they may and you are not to blame.
The good thing about feeling guilty is that it validates your belief system. If you don’t believe what you’re doing is wrong, you don’t feel guilty. So when you do feel guilty, do something about it.
Monday, November 2, 2009
"No Cigars or Giorgio perfume!"
I’m almost finished with my Christmas shopping and I’m down to buying perfumes. There are sooo many to choose from. But someone suggested that you think about who your favorite designer is, and pick their fragrance – if you admire their taste in clothes, there is a good chance you’ll like their fragrance. I immediately thought, “yes, I’ve always admired Chanel and Chanel No. 5 was my favorite fragrance for years.” The trouble is, nobody I know buys designer clothes. So I started thinking about what designer clothes my friends would look best in. The problem, I discovered, was that designers don’t design for normal people. The clothes we actually wear would look ridiculous on a catwalk – and the last time I checked, Coldwater Creek and Marshall’s don’t have signature scents. So I went to Sephora and just started sniffing the bottles I thought looked attractive and would like to see on my own vanity. I was drawn to “The One” by Dolce and Gabbana. One sniff and I felt like I was on my way to Heaven. Would I ever wear Dolce and Gabbana? (fat chance – even if they designed a plus size line they are too too out there for my taste.) I finally just pictured the person I was shopping for, and imagined them smelling like the fragrance I was testing. That was fun.
One thing I kept in mind was that the fragrance shouldn't be too overpowering. It wasn't long ago that there were actually signs posted in fine restaurants saying, "No cigars or Giorgio perfume!" (and I'm sure we've all been in an elevator with someone who was on perfume overload).
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Faith, Hope, & Charity
November is here and I start thinking seriously about things of the spirit, and things I am thankful for. Today I'm thankful for the blessings that come from "faith," "hope," and "charity."
Faith: “Faith is defined as, ‘an attitude of confidence in the reality and trustworthiness of something that cannot be absolutely proved; as faith in the victory of a righteous cause or in the existence of God.’ Faith is not the same as knowledge, else it would not be faith. One of the great definitions of faith is in the Epistle to the Hebrews: ‘Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.’ (Hebrews 11:1) In this Epistle, faith is conceived as ‘…a vision of the eternal realities of the unseen world – God, His righteousness, His salvation, the better country' – the vision of these realities and the conviction that they are more enduring than the things we see and touch.”
(from Christ’s Ideals for Living by Obert C. Tanner)
.
Hope: “Hope is one leg of a three-legged stool, together with faith and charity. These three stabilize our lives regardless of the rough or uneven surfaces we might encounter at the time. The scriptures are clear and certain about the importance of hope. The Apostle Paul taught that the scriptures were written to the end that we ‘might have hope’….Hope is critical to both faith and charity. When disobedience, disappointment, and procrastination erode faith, hope is there to uphold our faith. When frustration and impatience challenge charity, hope braces our resolve and urges us to care for our fellowmen even without expectation of reward. The brighter our hope, the greater our faith. The stronger our hope, the purer our charity.” President Dieter F. Uchtdorf Second Counselor in the First Presidency
.
Charity: Charity and service are often used interchangeably, however there are differences. Charity is a noun. It is described in the Bible as “the pure love of Christ.” Service is a verb. It requires action. Service is the natural consequence of charity. When you love someone, you have a natural desire to serve them.
Faith: “Faith is defined as, ‘an attitude of confidence in the reality and trustworthiness of something that cannot be absolutely proved; as faith in the victory of a righteous cause or in the existence of God.’ Faith is not the same as knowledge, else it would not be faith. One of the great definitions of faith is in the Epistle to the Hebrews: ‘Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.’ (Hebrews 11:1) In this Epistle, faith is conceived as ‘…a vision of the eternal realities of the unseen world – God, His righteousness, His salvation, the better country' – the vision of these realities and the conviction that they are more enduring than the things we see and touch.”
(from Christ’s Ideals for Living by Obert C. Tanner)
.
Hope: “Hope is one leg of a three-legged stool, together with faith and charity. These three stabilize our lives regardless of the rough or uneven surfaces we might encounter at the time. The scriptures are clear and certain about the importance of hope. The Apostle Paul taught that the scriptures were written to the end that we ‘might have hope’….Hope is critical to both faith and charity. When disobedience, disappointment, and procrastination erode faith, hope is there to uphold our faith. When frustration and impatience challenge charity, hope braces our resolve and urges us to care for our fellowmen even without expectation of reward. The brighter our hope, the greater our faith. The stronger our hope, the purer our charity.” President Dieter F. Uchtdorf Second Counselor in the First Presidency
.
Charity: Charity and service are often used interchangeably, however there are differences. Charity is a noun. It is described in the Bible as “the pure love of Christ.” Service is a verb. It requires action. Service is the natural consequence of charity. When you love someone, you have a natural desire to serve them.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Another Sneak Peek:
Emmy (20 months old) is Tinkerbell by day ...
and Minnie Mouse by night - Trick or Treating at Disneyland!
First Halloween party of the season. Lincoln (3-1/2 yrs old) is Buzz Lightyear, Kyle is Woody, Amy (8 months pregnant) is a bee keeper, and Emmy is a bee.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
How Much Obamacare Costs the Average Family
Monday, October 19, 2009
"Whether or not you now have health insurance, Obama’s health care bill will cost you dearly.
If you don’t have insurance, you will be required to buy it. The legislation specifies how much you will have to pay for the coverage before any subsidy kicks in. All during the campaign, Obama kept speaking about affordable coverage. Now it appears that his definition of “affordable” might be a bit elastic.
If your household income is $66,000 a year, slightly above the national average, Obama’s health care bill will require you to spend 12 percent of your income -- about $8,000 a year or almost $700 a month -- to buy health insurance before you get any federal subsidy.
Even those making less will have to reach deep into their meager resources to satisfy Obama’s statutory requirement. Families scraping by on only $44,0000 a year will have to pay 7 percent of their income (about $3,000) on insurance. Even those making just $33,000 will have to ante up 4.5 percent of their income (about $1,500) for health insurance. The required payments reach so far down the scale that those who are living at the federal poverty level of $22,000 will have to shell out 2 percent of their totally inadequate incomes ($440) for insurance.
That Obama is charging premiums to those living at or on the border of poverty is absolutely incredible! And this from a candidate who pledged that he would not tax the middle class!
If you have insurance, you will get hit by his proposed 40 percent tax on insurance premiums.
When the tax -- and the legislation -- takes effect in 2013, all families making about $120,000 or more in combined household income (14 percent of all families or one in seven) will have to pay the tax.
By the next year, 2014, the tax will hit every family making more than $100,000 (about 18 percent of all families or one in six).
By 2019, 10 years hence, the tax will reach down to affect every family making more than $75,000 a year (31 percent of families or one in three).
The tax will take 40 percent of all premiums above $21,000.
So if you don’t have insurance, you will be socked with a mandate to buy coverage and pay a hefty proportion of your income to do it; and if you have insurance, you will be hit with an excise tax on the coverage.
(In theory, it is the insurance companies that have to pay the tax, but the Senate Finance Committee “assumes” that they will pass the tax along to their policyholders).
These costs make a mockery of Obama’s oft-repeated pledge to avoid any tax increase that would impact those making under $250,000 a year. He finances about half of his health care plan on the backs of the elderly by cutting Medicare and inducing scarcity and the other half by premium taxes and insurance purchasing mandates on the middle and lower middle class."
Just thought you might be interested!!!!! What can you do to STOP Obamacare? Donate to the League of Voters to support their ad campaign. Donate as little as $25 HERE
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