Ok, still upset, but want to start the holidays with cheer!

Yes.  I am bothered by the outcome of the situation in CA with Prop 8 and the literal trauma that it has bequeathed to all those who even thought about for a half a second, much less those who actually did something about it, God forbid.  BUT!  I will move into another, more festive topic.  (but I am still seething a little, fyi)

So.  We have enjoyed another wonderful, grateful Thanksgiving.  Complete with a delicious Larry turkey and way too much food.  It was all lovely and I am grateful for so many things.  I think I am even more aware of those things as we muddle through some rather intense changes in our world.  As we head into December and Christmas, I hope to really adjust the way we celebrate.  I want to share some magic throughout the month of December, rather than build everything up to one morning that always goes by too fast, and equated to a lot of pressure.  So, I am in search.  Search for events and traditions to share with the angels in my house that are now old enough to really appreciate some fun.  I have looked at ICE!  at Gaylord Texan, which is fab,  but a whopping 9 degrees under the tent.  Can we do that?  Dunno.  I will do Holiday in the Park at Six Flags and remember the incredible times had there as a teenager, so many years ago.  We will possibly do the North Pole Express in Grapevine.  I hear fun things about that.  

But, I am wondering what you do to kick off the season.  Share some ideas with us and let's have a wonderful, magic Holiday season, full of appreciation for a Savior that came to this earth to redeem us and teach us how to be happy, in all circumstances. 

Happy Holidays!

You have got to be kidding me!

This is why this whole Prop 8 thing is so ridiculous.  How can one side of this force a man out of his job because he stood up for something he believes?  How can that be defended!!!  No matter which side you stand for, or what you believe in, or what religion happens to stand up for their beliefs, this is not ok.  There were so many more people and religions involved in raising the money to get that passed.  Why Mormons?  An easy target?  To anyone who would do such a thing: Shame on you and your incredibly un-American actions.  You should be embarrassed!  I know I am.

Film Festival Director Forced out Over Prop 8 Support
by MARK IMPOMENI
NOV 28TH 2008 12:00PM
filed under: eDemocrats, Gay Rights, Ballot Measures

Richard Raddon, Director of the Los Angeles Film Festival, was forced to resign his position after it became known that he donated $1,500 in support of Proposition 8, the recently passed amendment to the California Constitution that defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Raddon, a committed Mormon, was reportedly besieged by angry e-mails and phone calls to his home from supporters of the "No on 8" campaign, looking to punish him for his political views. The Mormon church urged its members to support the amendment and contributed $20 million toward its passage.

Raddon offered to resign his post when the contribution became public, but he was given a unanimous vote of confidence by the board of directors of Film Independent, which sponsors the film festival. The controversy over Raddon's involvement in the passage of Proposition 8 only grew, leading to a second offer of resignation, which was accepted. Proposition 8 passed by a comfortable 52-48 margin, helped by support from religious groups as well as African-Americans and Hispanics.

The political left preaches tolerance and acceptance but lives by a very different standard when it comes to political opinions. There is no room for dissenting political opinions in the salons of the liberal left, as Raddon painfully learned. No American, no matter what his line of work, should be hounded out of his job because of his political or religious views. Unfortunately for Raddon, he works in one of the most liberal job environments in the country, Hollywood. And Hollywood liberals demand conformity to their political orthodoxy in order to remain a member in good standing.

Happy Turkey Day!

I woke up to the most delicious smell that can only be attributed to Thanksgiving.  Larry was already hard at work on gravy and getting the brined bird ready to roast.  Little ones were watching cartoons, oblivious to the magic in the kitchen.  As the day goes on, we will have more and more smells coming from our kitchen, mostly at the hands of a skilled and dedicated chef.  I have discovered that I am not a great sous chef, SLOW is the word, oh and messy.  

And now we have a joyful combination of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade and Larry mocking the performers in the background, an annoying little glitch in our pleasant morning.  But, he is making Bagels & Lox, one of my all time favorite Jewish dishes shared by Larbear.  

Announcement:  The turkey is going in the oven right this minute!  Wahoo!

On the menu today:

Turkey

Stuffing

Mashed Potatoes and Gravy

Corn 

Asparagus

Sweet potatoes (2 versions. one from mom and one from larry)

Rolls

Cranberry relish

And for dessert:

Pumpkin pie/ pecan pie/ apple pie/ cherry pie/ Michelle's Turtle Pie...and the kids get to make their own little personal pudding pies.  Michelle shared that little idea and I loved it so much that we ran out to Walmart last night with Kierstin already bathed and in her Christmas jammies to pick up the crusts.  

So much food and fun and family!  SO much to be grateful for this day.  Have a wonderful day and enjoy all that you have. Freedom and family and faith!  

Curtains: Round 2

SO, round 1 with the curtains didn't receive glowing reviews from anyone, namely Larbear, and for the record, Kaden didn't think they were great.  He said, and I quote, "We've had better".  So, those were returned today and I opted for a more muted selection.  I am going to get this right, even if I have to buy and return 10 times, though that is one of my least favorite things to do.  I will prevail though!  In the name of good design, what do you think of this?  The orange pillow there on the couch is not helping the color scheme as I look at it, so try to ignore that.  The color in the valance over there in the dining room is sort of a cadet blue-ish, and I do mean ISH.  I like the color though.  

Evidence of a productive day

It's true.  Our kids have way too many forgotten toys.  They have become clutter magnets and things to sift through to find the one unfindable item, that means more than anything else in the whole wide world.  It can be a little offensive, if I let it be.  Offensive only because of the lack of regard shown to the toys and the providers of those toys, though I am sure that the toys are far more hurt than we are.  The question does have to be asked though.  Why do we keep giving if the appreciation of the gift has faded?  Almost to disrespect?  

Timeless question, indeed.  

So, between meltdowns and feeding time, I set about sifting through this tragedy myself.  I did this one largely, no completely!  On my own.  It was therapeutic though.  Out with the junk!  Oh so rewarding.  And it is also proof that Larry is not the only one capable of magic. 

You know you are impressed.  

 

Penance update at 8:36 am

They are sick.  All four of my children have some sort of coughing, sneezing, drippy nose, head ache, icky type of sick!!!  It started a couple of days ago with just one and in a matter of 2 days.  all of them.  miserable.  sad.  

YUCK!

Penance

What do you suppose happens when you cancel a trip at the last minute in my house?  We have a party, well a "I am apologizing and trying to make it up to them without spending money" kind of party!  Penance for me.

At one point tonight we had a grand total of...well, let's see...Kimball, Connor, Josh, Jake, Sterling, Joey, Kaden, Lauren W., Aiden, Jackson, Rachel, Kyra, Grace C., Riley, Tate, Kierstin, Lauren L., Skye, Savannah and Stephan...all of them in my house playing, loudly.  That is 20 children, my friends.

Back to the fun stuff of life

Back to the fun stuff of life

Can anyone tell me when this happened?  

Has it been long enough for her to be this big?  She is as much fun as you can imagine, even with a cold.  And now she is getting so big. 

 I just thought I would share a little magic tonight, instead of political and  moral banter.  

I am sure you will appreciate the tiny distraction.  

Enjoy!

My two cents

Adventures in Mormonism » Blog Archive » A people set apart: Mormons and Prop 8

Ok.  So, as I read through and listen to the great debates about Mormons and money and Prop 8, it is actually quite mind numbing.  I have heard of very un-democratic picketing of Temples and read the incredibly harsh words of many and I find it altogether impressive.  Impressive because so many of our members have stepped up to a huge debate, stared it in the face and laid out their time and money to protect something we hold sacred.  I know and fully understand the importance of preserving equal rights for all and that we must keep church and state separate.  I also know that every member of a civilized society must stand up for what they believe and if there are members of this church who stood up for this even in the face of such odds, I am proud of them.  Now, as I say all of this, I am thinking of the blog I just read from a fellow Mormon blogger and I think that he safely knows a heckuva lot more than I do about the whole thing and I think he summed it up really well.

Times won't get easier and the choice to stand for something won't get prettier in these last days.  I am reminded of the quote "You have to stand for something or you will fall for anything".  We stand for something bigger than ourselves and I am proud to still be counted among the faithful.  The separation of the wheat from the tares is hard upon us and this is no exception.  By the way, I am in no way suggesting that those who opposed Prop 8 should or would be counted among the "tares".  I do; however, suggest that the decision to stand by our leaders is one that it seems there are many struggling with in the aftermath of this event.  

That's all you will hear from me on a political rant.  It's less political for me than it is about my faith in this Gospel and in a Great Plan of Happiness for each of us.

Oh you will love this!

SO, this is what I just found in my email. You have to love Larry!

I know how much you hate these but I just want to give you a reminder.

Order a Turkey
Pay the Health Insurance
Take in Car
Take In Cat and Dog
Move cleaners to Thursday before you leave
Confirm you have somebody to take care of the animals when you are gone

Thats all for now.

Love you

Gratitude is a little harder to come by tonight...but it's there.

So.  It's late and I feel as if I have been run over by a big truck, you know the ones that keep wheeling in rocks and dirt to build this massive road that is clogging traffic and causing havoc in the name of progress?  That kind.

But, I would be ungrateful and a bad example if I did not find some measure of thankfulnessness at the end of this day.  First, our sister-in-law Nicole lost her  mother today.  I don't know many details, but my heart hurts for her.  I can't imagine.  Second, Kimball is...well, 12.  12 and in love with some other 12 year old girl that he texts all the time and is now getting not so great grades and talking less than nice to me.  I can take a lot, but enough is enough today.  He made me have to actually parent today.  With actual discipline.  Dangit!  I hate it when I have to do that.  But with all of that...I am grateful for his sweet, young, impressionable spirit that is trying so hard to grow up in very difficult times.  I cannot begin to explain away his actions, but I will tell you that what these kids deal with now is so far beyond anything I experienced when I was young...way back when.  It is truly a difficult road.  He is our first and we are clueless about all of this, and I am sure that we will be much better at it by the time we get to Kierstin.  For now, I am grateful for the chance to wake up tomorrow and try again.  I am grateful for the resources we have in the Scriptures and with all of the great leaders that we have at church to work with.  I can't imagine parenting alone.  There are leaders that he has grown to really respect and love and I am so grateful for them and for their work.  I am grateful for the quiet at the end of these days when I get to cry a little and pray a lot for the strength and the wisdom and the patience to be a better parent to these sweet children.  It was a tough day from start to finish, but I will blame it on the incredibly full moon that hangs tonight and hope that the morning will bring a hugs and smiles from the little ones that now sleep.

In honor of Nicole's mom, I am grateful for mine.  I am grateful for her friendship and tenacity, for her constant search for the "dream house" and for her tireless efforts in continuing to raise these 8 kids that are now accompanied by spouses and children all around.  They just keep showing up!  I am grateful for her testimony and for how much she loves my children, and me...and for how much she loves Larry.  She was the first to welcome him back into our family and has remained his supporter ever since.  She was there when he welcomed Kierstin into our fractured family and she has loved him.  I am grateful for the relationship that she has with my Dad, who I love dearly.  More than he knows I think.  I am so very thankful for the sacrifices they have made to be sealed to each other and to this family for eternity.  It has not always been easy for them either and they are still together, still going after all these years.  Thank you.

A little light reading, for those of you avoiding laundry!

LDS.org - Ensign Article - The Profound Power of Gratitude

I will, of course, post more later.  Today is a busy day in our house, well, in most of our houses I suspect, what with Activity days, Scouts, Young Women/ Men, and such.  I am in the process of preparing my lesson for Activity days this afternoon, which is surprisingly about Gratitude, and I found my way to a few lessons that I love.  I find myself reading the General Conference talks and Ensign lessons much more these days.  A little thirsty I guess.  This one is very applicable to where I want to go in my home and I thought you might like it.  

Oh, and today, right this minute, I am grateful for sitting on the couch eating edamame with a freshly showered Kierstin!  I know, it's silly, but she just kept asking for more and asked me to make more when we had finished the first batch, and then she looked up at me and said, "Mom, these are licious!"  (translation: delicious)  It was FUN!

More gratitude

Hello all!  Well, I have been busy these last two days with kids and the house and Larry heading out of town for 2 weeks.  Today is, in fact, the 14th anniversary of the 1st time Larry and I got married.  Say that 10 times fast, and then tell the long sordid tale of how we divorced and then got back together...no, actually...let's not.  We went through a lot, certainly, but he has always been there...sometimes even when I didn't want him there.  Sometimes when I wanted to kill him, but nonetheless...he kept coming back.  Today I am grateful for him.  I am grateful for the trials that made us realize how much we had to fight for, and there were many trials.  We sure did make a mess of our lives, but somehow, we're here.  I am grateful for every day that we have and for all of the stuff that comes with it.  I am even thankful for the times that he is driving me crazy with the cleaning.  I am grateful for the cleaned out pantry, and the folded laundry, for the lists of things he gives me to do, for his willingness to live here in Texas and travel for work, for how much he loves each of our four children.  The way he looks at them, the way they adore him, it is tremendous.  I am grateful for his ability to "put up" with me.  (and he really does know how)  There used to be so many reasons for this love not to work, but there are more that allow us to be together, to raise this family in love and faith, and to work to build each day as a team.  I have loved him for most of my adult life, and I am proud to call him my husband and best friend.

As for the rest of you...you are not answering my direct question.  What are you grateful for?

Gratitude

Well, it's that time of year.  It seems that the entire month of November is filled with suggestions intended to remind us of all that we have to be grateful for. We sit and smile and think of a few things that we know that we are and ought to be grateful for.  We had a visit from our home teachers tonight and they asked our children what they are grateful for.  Here's how that went:  

Kaden said he would have to think about it.

Kimball said...oh wait...Kaden thought of something...

My family.

Kimball is quick to say that he is grateful for food.  (yep, he really did)

Kyra, with a coy little smile, says rather innocently that she is grateful for the Holy Ghost.  (she then tilts her head and bats her eyelashes at the unsuspecting visitors.)

Now.  In my thoughts on what I can do to improve and strengthen my family, I have thought many times that we need to work on this one aspect, gratitude.  But what's critical to that is recognition.  If we don't recognize something as a blessing, or a gift, then how can we truly be grateful.  Here's the goal:  To spend one week, or even one day, pointing out all of the things, big and small, that we are given on a daily basis that we could be, should be, grateful for.  

I will start a little list, and please...feel free to add to the list in your comments.  What are you grateful for today?

Day One:

Quiet at the end of a busy Sunday

Larry, sitting in church with us today.

Larry, leaving early enough to come home and make us lunch.

Kimball, for interviewing and accepting the call to receive the Priesthood.  Very sweet.

Kaden, for his warm and enveloping example.  I can't tell you the number of people who tell me how great they think he is.  It's in his spirit, and I am honored to be his mother.

Kyra, for being Kyra and for giving Kierstin a horsey ride tonight.  Big laughs.

Kierstin...for the unending joy that she is.  There was great heartache to get her here, but there is a truly divine reason for her addition to our family.  

Lucy, for telling me a sweet story that Kaden had shared with her about Kierstin and how much he loves her.

Mom, for agreeing to drop everything and go to help a family in need.  (while she is finishing up helping another family while they are traveling.)

Dad, for insisting on being there when Kimball is set apart.

The great joy that baseball season has ended.  (and that Kaden DID get a game ball!)

My sweet family for coming to Kaden's game last night.

Primary programs in Sacrament meeting.

I believe that I could just keep going on and on if I sat and thought about it more, but I am also grateful for sleep which is needed in order to continue appreciating tomorrow.

Ask your children what they are grateful for...and if it's video games and tv, it might be time to have a gratitude lesson.  :)  I know it is time in my house.

Good night!

It's been a week of firsts!

Well, obviously it has been a big week of firsts.  Monday, Kierstin went to the dentist for the first time.  We found out that she is cutting 4 molars!  Uh, huh.  You should feel bad for us.  Kaden and Kyra had NO CAVITIES!  How that happened, I have no idea.  

And then on Tuesday Kaden became a Bear in Scouts and received lots of awards which he is very proud of.  Kimball moved into 12 year old Scouts and, drum role please, the Young Men program at church.  Makes me feel old!

(Another little thing happened on Tuesday night about some black guy and the white house.)

And then today!  The wind and the leaves and all the kids.  Kierstin had her very first experience with playing in piles of leaves, or should I say one gigantic magical pile of leaves!  Kyra had a new friend with us for the afternoon, making everyone have an enjoyable day.  If one child is left out, then no one can really have a good time, unless you get really good at ignoring the whining.  

It was a beautiful Fall day with a nice breeze, strong enough to blow down a good 1/3 of our leaves...oh, there are so many more.  We made cookies and enjoyed this playful day without one word from me about how many bugs there must surely be in that pile of leaves.  I kept my mouth shut while they laughed!

And now, they are all sleeping!  

Oh, you missed some fun today!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

God Bless America

Well, well, well. No matter what side you vote for or how you might feel about either of these candidates and their lofty promises, we are witnessing history tonight. I could not be more proud of our great country and the incredible change that has happened.

President Barack Obama.

I just hope we got it right. :)

My turn to be a car. :)

I'm a Porsche 911!

You have a classic style, but you're up-to-date with the latest technology. You're ambitious, competitive, and you love to win. Performance, precision, and prestige - you're one of the elite,and you know it.

Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.