Truisms

I received this in an email recently; my edit is in red:

You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
You cannot help small men by tearing down big men.
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot lift the wage-earner by pulling down the wage-payer.
You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich.
You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class(or racial)hatred.
You cannot establish security on borrowed money.
You cannot build character and courage by taking away men's initiative and independence.
You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.

Rev. William Boetcker, 1873 - 1962

These are truisms. A truism is a self-evident truth; something our children would say "duh" to.
It seems to me that all these "cannot's" are being done already by our government. To us.
Read each of them carefully, and you will find it's companion in the daily headlines.
Bailouts
"Spreading the wealth"
Taxing business
Taxing us
Welfare
Multiculturalism
Handouts

I would suggest everyone read "A Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley and "Animal Farm" by George Orwell. It will give you a good picture of what will happen by not heeding the truisms above.

10 Days

OK, so there are 10 days left until the inauguration of the 44Th President of the United States of America. 10 Days.

The day I have been dreading is around the corner. I think I'm going to buy some black balloons and arm bands. It's the least I can do for our Republic.

This man is proposing more spending; that we can "spend our way out of this."(He actually said this!) His immaturity and lack of experience are not only glaring, but seem to be a gaping wound. He is appointing reruns from past administrations to hide this severe weakness. So much for "Change We Can Believe In."

On a silly side note, Ben and Jerry's ice cream has named a new ice cream--or rather re-named one. "Yes! Pecan." Yawn. Also, have you noticed the new Pepsi logo? It looks remarkably like the "O" from campaign posters. Subliminal advertising? Probably. Pepsi is a heavy supporter of the homosexual agenda, and Obama is on that bandwagon.

The liberal left is just giddy over their supposed messiah. They are foaming at the mouth that those on the far right--Me for example, are nowhere NEAR excited. How can we be? The tax, spend, tax, spend crowd just got their way. This is not, NOT change.

The only REAL change I have seen recently is the change in the fortunes of everyday Americans. Our current president has bailed out just about anyone who whined. Don't get me wrong, I voted for W, and I would most likely do it again, but I am extremely less than happy with his current solutions to the pressing issues.While he was far and away the superior choice over Gore or Kerry; he has gotten a little fiscally irresponsible. You can't please all of the people all of the time, and he seems to want to.

The government now owns many of our banks, our auto industry, and today I read about a newspaper in I believe it was CT that the state owns. Seems they needed a handout to stay operational. It USED to be called "out of business" if you didn't make a product that enough people wanted, or wanted to pay your price for. Today the government will take care of you. Don't look for that little newspaper to be objectively reporting the news on bailouts, auto industry dealings, local or state government. They aren't going to bite the hand that feeds them.

Obama and his minions will only make it worse. The man is a socialist/marxist. The most liberal senator EVER has been elected to the highest office in the land. How could we have let this happen?
Part of it stems from that not biting the hand that feeds you thing. Obama has promised the moon, and people want it
It reminds me of an email I received recently. It talked of a teacher who decided the best way to teach her class about the election was to hold a mock election in her room. The kids made posters, had to have a platform etc.
Candidate #1 had some good ideas, and was very popular.
Candidate #2 had some fair ideas, and was less popular.
Candidate #2 decided to add to his platform that he would make sure that ice cream was served every day at lunch; free to everyone.
He never explained how he would pay for it, or how it would be accomplished; he just knew he needed a carrot.
Election day came, and Candidate #2 won! By the promise of giving something he knew they wanted(nevermind he had no idea how to supply it) the children decided he was the better candidate. HE would give them what they desired.

I saw a news clip of a woman who was just in tears she was so happy Obama had won. She said wouldn't have to worry any more about how to pay the mortgage, or buy groceries.
Excuse me?? Is she planning for him to come and write her a check??
Sadly, they think he is the savior. With all the scandals that are brewing around him, hopefully they will see that he isn't. That he is immature and inexperienced, and we won't have to put up with him for two terms.

A Love of Reading

I recently read an article by Karl Rove, about a reading contest he has had the last three years with President Bush. It made me realize that I need to read more. One year Rove read 110 books!! ONE HUNDRED TEN!! I'm feel lucky if I finish three or four in a twelve month period.

There is no way I can read 110 books this year,( or, let's be honest--ANY year!) but I could read 24. I could turn off the TV, spend less time on the Internet, and READ! I love to read. I want to read. I want to expand my mind. I doubt much of it will be fiction, but who knows. The idea will be to read whatever suits my fancy at the time, and keep myself a small notebook of what I read. My goal will be to read 24 books this year, that's two per month. I will also be reading in my Book of Mormon daily, and my Sunday School and Seminary lessons as well.

It's not going to be easy, I'm not kidding myself there. But we DO homeschool; reading aloud to the kids can be part of what I'm reading. I really want to do this.

So I hereby make a proposal; a reading contest of sorts. Anyone want to play? I won't be keeping track or anything, and I won't know if you don't make your goal, but make one! Even if it's only to read the Book of Mormon cover to cover, DO IT!

Let me know if you like, tell me what you are reading.

Thoughts on Mothering

I'm sitting here listening to my teens giggle and laugh with friends. I realize the fact that they are home, playing games (CLUE tonight) with friends is, in itself, an anomaly in our day and age. I so enjoy hearing them laugh and giggle.
I have three children left at home. I'm going to miss this. I'm not ready to be an "empty-nester", and as my nest empties I long for the days when they were young. I think in my "busy young mother" days I missed a lot. How many days did I hurry them off to bed? How many times did I dismiss something their little mouths were telling me? How often did I fall into bed and not look back?
Please don't do this. When someone tells you "they grow up so fast": Believe them! Despite the fact you may be changing diapers every half hour, it will not always be so--I promise! The drudgery that you feel from time to time will abate, and you will be left with only what you have cultivated.
Cherish this time; it's worth every crazy, busy moment.

Just my thoughts on this soggy winter night.

Merry Christmas

I have intentionally not posted for a few weeks because I couldn't say anything nice; it is Christmas after all and I didn't want to ruin the spirit :)

I haven't wanted to be grumpy during this beautiful season.

I have been trying to think about my Savior. IT IS His birthday we are celebrating. Have we given Him a gift? Have we been less selfish? Less prideful? Less greedy? Less grumpy (I didn't post because I was grumpy!)?

There is SO very much to be worried and grumpy about to be sure. But let's put that aside for now; let's let the spirit of Christmas wash over us, and help us feel safe and secure for just a little while.

In that Spirit, I do have something to write about.

Yesterday in Church a lady gave a talk on giving. I know, it seems a "no brainer", and an "easy" talk to give at Christmas. Despite that, it made me teary. She talked about not having been able to feel the Christmas Spirit. Her house was in tumult because her daughter and son-in-law finally found a house, and were moving out. Her Christmas decorations were buried under said daughter and son-in-laws "stuff" in the garage. She just was grumpy and to top it off, her mom needed to go to Costco. Because we've had the miracle of snow here in Oregon, she didn't want to drive. So the good Sister took her mom to Costco, and not especially willingly. They shopped, they had lunch, they talked.

It was a gift she hadn't planned on giving.

She said that all her siblings who live out of state have been calling HER to find out "What does Mom want"? My friend said that all her mom REALLY wants is time. Time with her family. Time with loved ones and friends. In other words, nothing she or any of them could buy.

Not coincidentally, this matches up with the type of gifts we can give the Savior. We can serve selflessly. We can offer our shoulders. We can complain less, and do more.

The Lord asks much of us, but gives us strength in the doing. The more we do for the Kingdom, the stronger and more capable we become.

It's my hope and my prayer that we can, in this fearful, socialistic time that's headed our way (see, I couldn't do it!!), be calm. That we will remember the Lord is in charge. If we can remember that, then we can let go, and try to serve our fellowman more freely. Remember Jacob Marley's words to Ebeneezer Scrooge--"MANKIND was my business". I highly recommend watching the movie of "A Christmas Carol". Any version will do, but I love the Patrick Stewart version. Watch Scrooge change, then find ways to change and grow also.

We'll be watching tomorrow night, care to join us?

Beyond Thankful

Today is Thanksgiving Day.

I hope you all had as wonderful a day as we did.
Our day stopped being wonderful about 8 PM.
Our son Justin headed out, with instructions (as usual) to call when he got back to his apartment in Roseburg; about 75 minutes away. Fifteen minutes later he came back in, disheveled and wet. Turns out, he wrecked his car on a tight curve near our home. Not only did he wreck the car, but he ended up UPSIDE DOWN in the CREEK. We are bowing our heads in gratitude this evening for the safety of a child. Of all the children. Justin could have been knocked unconscious and drowned in the blink of an eye. I can't seem to say "Thank You" enough tonight.

You know, it was nothing to have him leave; to go back to his own home and call me when he got there. It is nothing to send the girls to the store, or to let them come home late-like last night-after a late movie with their friends. Do we hug them hard enough when they leave? Do we say "I Love You" enough, just in case? Do we hug them upon returning, happy they are back?
I've also reflected on a habit that we adopted several years ago.
Before we leave the driveway we have a "traveling Prayer". Every time we get in the car.
I have witnessed a couple of occasions when I KNOW--beyond doubt--that the Lord's hand protected us. I know again, after tonight, that He was once again on the road with a member of my family. How humbly grateful I am for the tender mercies of the Lord.

The Right to Win??

First, I would ask you to go and read Thomas Sowell's editorial today:
The Right to Win

OK, now I have a few things to say :D (Are you surprised??)

He asks "How did we get here." For me this answer is fairly easy. We arrived at this awful state because of :

#1 Affirmative Action. It's not right to put someone ahead of someone else because of race or gender. The best man or woman for the job should get it. Period.

#2 Minority Rules. We have, for too long allowed minority groups-be they race, gender, religion, whatever to have a stronger voice than those in the majority; whatever happened to "Majority Rules"?

#3 Self Esteem. The "Establishment", coupled with the Psycho babblers have told us we can't let children lose; they can't get an "F." It's either pass or fail and even then, they are telling us that "fail" brings bad feelings!
We had a couple move into our Ward in OH who were both Child Psychology majors; we were all excited when they offered a parenting fireside.
The wife started by telling us the best way is to let the child decide, whatever the case may be.
If you want something done, you tell the child over and over ad nauseum until the child "decides" it's his idea.
She told a story of an antique quilt on her bed, and the children knew it was off limits. While she was nursing the baby the little boy about 3 or 4 was jumping on the bed, on the quilt. She calmly told him over and over to stop. By the time he "decided" it was "his idea" to leave the quilt alone, he was on the floor rolled up in it. It was at this point I stopped listening to whatever they had to say. Common sense told me this was not how a child should be taught.
*They*(as in the "establishment") have made it so that no one understands what it means to be on the losing team. No one knows the meaning of "No".

#4 and most importantly, we have left God on the sidelines. Something our Founders would be appalled at.

How do we fix this mess??
Well, first of all, speak up! Don't just stand aside when someone wants to tell you that what you want doesn't matter. Don't let *them* walk on you. Be respectful always, but stand up for what is right. There IS a right and there IS a wrong.
Write letters, lots of them. To your Representatives in the Senate and in Congress. Write letters to the editor of your local paper. Be the voice that has been missing for too long.

Secondly, if you lose, try again. Try HARDER next time. Work for what you want. Work to earn the distinction of "winner".

Thirdly, welcome God into the dialogue. He has given us everything we have. Everything. Nothing was made but by Him. Acknowledge Him and let go. See what He has done for us. See what He has provided.

Lastly, Learn. Learn your Constitution. Yes, it is YOUR Constitution. Learn it. Learn the Bill of Rights. Learn what was Divinely inspired for YOUR safety and protection. Read the Founding Documents. Know your rights. Understand what is going on.

New Beginnings

Well, the election is over and I am completely and unequivocally sick!
I am in shock that the voters of this country elected a Socialist/Marxist for their next president.
I suppose I really shouldn't be shocked, FDR started our country on the path toward socialism. They have been clamoring for more ever since.
I also don't understand how anyone who claims to be a Christian could vote for someone who has no respect for life. Obama said that a young girl who get's pregnant shouldn't be "Punished" with a baby. He is for infanticide! WHY doesn't this matter???
That said, John McCain wasn't my guy either. Senator McCain isn't conservative enough. I think the reason Obama was chosen was because if you looked at the candidates side by side, there really wasn't much difference.
SO, the "let's take part in a historic election. Let's vote for the first black candidate." crowd won. I can see that from one side. I am really proud I live in a country that has overcome such racial divisions as have previously divided us. I briefly hoped that we could stop being "African-Americans", "Asian-Americans" and whatever else hyphen you want to name, but honestly, THIS black man will divide us further.
He wants to spread the wealth of the common man and make sure that there is "equality". In reality, there is only one kind of equality and it lies in our creation, nothing else. The Scriptures even tell us that talents are not given equally. Equality is God given at birth; what we do with our lives makes us more or less. Some will be more motivated, and others less. Equality most certainly does NOT come from the government.
Over the course of the next few weeks and months, I will be blogging on the founding documents that make this country great. I can't claim to be a scholar, but I would appreciate an honest dialogue as we learn together about the things that make the United States of America the greatest country under God.
God Bless America!

Thankful

Taking a cue from my friend Audra--http://joshaudramackenzie.blogspot.com/2008/11/i-am-thankful.html , I thought I should list a few of the things I am thankful for also.

Here Goes:

My Heavenly Father

His Son Jesus Christ

Joseph Smith

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

My Testimony of Jesus Christ

Living Prophets and Apostles

Temple Endowments

My husband

My children

My grandchildren

Dear friends

The Constitution of the United States

Our Founding Fathers

Free elections

Now on to the less important ones:

Trees

Grass

Creeks

Modern technology

Indoor plumbing--well aren't YOU??

Great books and their authors

Electricty

Firewood

Woodstoves

Autumn

Snow

Rain

Apples

Homemade bread

Homeschooling

Knitting

Wool socks

Airplanes

Garlic--I know, but I LOVE garlic :D

Farmland

Words--yes, I read the dictionary :P

Language--goes along with words don't you think?

Photography

Tootsie Rolls

Tin roofs

Canning

Vacuum cleaners

Ordinary lightbulbs

I suppose the list could go on. I have such gratitude in my heart for the things large and small that make up my life. I try to be continually thanking my Heavenly Father, but I fear I fall short.

I'll work on that.

Colorado

Well, I went to Colorado to see the new baby, and to get aquainted with her big sister. What a fun time I had! Little Iszabelle is a hoot, and is full of personality--read here, she is also full of vinegar as my Mom used to say. She is going to take some time to get used to her little sister, and not having her mommy to herself anymore. I took Sarah and the children pumpkin shopping--we just went to Safeway, but this little one was so very excited!

She is barely 3, but already quite a firecracker!

It was also a bit sad for me, as she had no reason to trust me, no reason to let me in. By Friday, the day before I left, we had become freinds at least, and I've decided to send her a card once a week, to hopefully help her remember. We are looking forward to to them maybe coming here in January, and I'm really excited.

Addisen is growing fast too. She is so beautiful. Shelooks like an almost identical twin to her big sister at 1 month of age.

Here is the latest photo I have of her:

There is other news. Our second daughter Aubrey is expecting in May. She told us over the phone before I went to Colorado. It's also a bittersweet thing. She also is not married. She and her boyfriend Russ are happy, and I've expressed how happy it would be for me if they married.

It's all in the hands of the Lord.