Faith family and friends...

I have discovered there are three things that I need in my life...Faith, Family, and Friends.  It is because of these three things that one day I will be the person I am trying to be. 

First, Family.  I include all in this group, brothers, sisters, children, spouse, parents, and on and on.  All have helped me to be who I am and incourage me to be who I want to be.  They have been a big help this last week while Steve and I had a week together in South Carolina.  My parents came and stayed with our kids last week, and even stayed an extra day when my plans suddenly changed.  I knew that my babies were being taken care of.  This gave Steve and I a much-needed break to enjoy a few days without having to talk over our kids.  It was great.

Steve and I enjoyed a few days on the coast of South Carolina.  While Steve was at his conference all day I was pampered at the spa, and shopping sprees (I decided I really don’t like shopping).  I also had a little time to myself to think and read.  Steve and I enjoyed the beach, room service, maid service, yummy sweet potato fries, and of course the “turn down service" (I love the treat on the pillow).  Having him all to myself made coming home that much harder to let him go to work.  I want to call, text, and email him all day, but I guess he has to do other things.  I do love being with my kids, but something is always missing until dad comes home.

         Steve is my rock, He is the one to keep me balanced, and bring me back when I let my emotions get carried away (even if I don't like it).  He keeps things in perspective while we are on our path, even when there are bumps along the way.  One of our bumps happened while we were away.  A dear friend (Steve) passed last Friday leaving behind a wife (Amy) and four young children.  All I wanted to do is hold my kids and Steve close, but I was on a flight to Dallas to be with my friend and attend the funeral. 

         That is what brings me to Friends.  My friend Amy is strong and I know that she and her children will be all right.  While they will miss their dad and husband, they know that there is a plan, and that Heavenly Father is in charge.  Amy has such poise.  She spent much of her time during the viewing giving comfort to those who came to comfort her.  I laughed and cried remembering the times we spent together with our families.  While in Dallas (36 hours) I spent time with friends I have not seen in a very long time.  Enjoying dinner and late night snacking while we laughed and cried together.  I learned of births, marriages, missions, callings, children, teens, and divorces.  Even when hearing sad new I was in the safety net of my friends.

         Finally Faith.  It is through my faith in Jesus Christ that I know life will be all right even with these bumps.  He is my Savior, my Comforter; he brings peace into my crazy life (yes, I know I create much of the crazy).  It is through this eternal perspective that I know that Amy and Steve will one day be together again.  I know that Heavenly Father welcomed Steve home and will help him continue on his journey, until it is time for Amy to be by his side.

         While this last week was bittersweet, it had helped me see the things I need to do to get where I want to go.  It has taught me to know what I need to do to be a better mom, wife, sister, aunt, daughter, friend, and of course a child of God.  It is with my Faith, Family, and friends that I will get there.

Halloween revisited...

When I am not so tired I will tell all about the trip with my fabulous husband to South Carolina, and the bittersweet diversion to Dallas.  Having one on one time with Steve was something I have needed for a long time. As for Dallas, I forgot how much I have missed my friends in Texas.  

So on to Halloween.  Steve loves to dress up.  This year is no different than any other.  He is always the same!! This year it scared Marra.  I am the same every year as well, I am a witch.  No costume needed.

 Marra is the beloved Tinker Bell.  Yes she picked it herself.  She LOVES Tinker bell, and would not dream of anything else.  We all know here that the princess is in charge.  Wings and all.

  

Mason is picking his own costumes these days.  He is the Devil.  He even bought the mask on his own (mask is down a few pictures).  He loves to Be anything that involves coloring his hair.  This is the first time to go red.  It took a week to get it all out.  Needless to say he looked great in his shirt and tie.

Cameron is Superman this year.  He said he wanted to be Superman, I said great we have a cape in the "box".  No mom I want you to buy the costume, no homemade stuff.  Picky, picky, it was nice not having to sew anything.  I am still sewing on all the scout badges.  Maybe when Peyton gets his eagle they will all be on.

Peyton on the other hand wanted me to make his costume.  He decided to be Peter Pan.  After no luck on a pattern and a sliced finger,  (thank you Walmart stools), the family talked him into also buying a costume. So this year I managed to not have to sew anything.  Of course I am looking forward to sewing all the princess dresses, they look like more fun than the bloody football player or the ghost we seem to always be doing.

  
Finally Nate, he is too old to enjoy running through the neighborhood filling his bag with candy.  He got to pass out the candy this year.  He dressed of for the occasion.  He is a gangster scout.  I did draw on a mustache and beard.  So a belated Happy Halloween to all.

It is time to move on...

I am proud of the fight my friends fought in California.  Here are a few facts from one of them. I am so thankful for all of the freedoms I enjoy, freedom of speech is just one.  So to all of you "No to Prop 8", it is time to peacefully move on.  I know I have.

1. Mormons make up less than 2% of the population of California .  There are approximately 800,000 LDS out of a total population of approximately 34 million.

 

2. Mormon voters were less than 5% of the yes vote.  If one estimates that 250,000 LDS are registered voters (the rest being children), then LDS voters made up 4.6% of the Yes vote and 2.4% of the total Proposition 8 vote.

 

3. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) donated no money to the Yes on 8 campaign.   Individual members of the Church were encouraged to support the Yes on 8 efforts and, exercising their constitutional right to free speech, donated whatever they felt like donating.

 

4. The No on 8 campaign raised more money than the Yes on 8 campaign.  Unofficial estimates put No on 8 at $38 million and Yes on 8 at $32 million, making it the most expensive non-presidential election in the country.

 

5. Advertising messages for the Yes on 8 campaign are based on case law and real-life situations.  The No on 8 supporters have insisted that the Yes on 8 messaging is based on lies. Every Yes on 8 claim is supported.

 

6. The majority of our friends and neighbors voted Yes on 8.   Los Angeles County voted in favor of Yes on 8.   Ventura County voted in favor of Yes on 8.

 

7. African Americans overwhelmingly supported Yes on 8.  Exit polls show that 70% of Black voters chose Yes on 8.  This was interesting because the majority of these voters voted for President-elect Obama.  No on 8 supporters had assumed that Obama voters would vote No on 8.

 

8. The majority of Latino voters voted Yes on 8.  Exit polls show that the majority of Latinos supported Yes on 8 and cited religious beliefs (assumed to be primarily Catholic).

 

9. The Yes on 8 coalition was a broad spectrum of religious organizations.   Catholics, Evangelicals, Protestants, Orthodox Jews, Muslims – all supported Yes on 8.  It is estimated that there are 10 million Catholics and 10 million Protestants in California .  Mormons were a tiny fraction of the population represented by Yes on 8 coalition members.

 

10. Not all Mormons voted in favor of Proposition 8.  Our faith accords that each person be allowed to choose for him or her self.  Church leaders have asked members to treat other members with "civility, respect and love," despite their differing views.

 

11. The Church did not violate the principal of separation of church and state.  This principle is derived from the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which reads, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof . . ." The phrase "separation of church and state", which does not appear in the Constitution itself, is generally traced to an 1802 letter by Thomas Jefferson, although it has since been quoted in several opinions handed down by the United States Supreme Court in recent years. The LDS Church is under no obligation to refrain from participating in the political process, to the extent permitted by law.  U.S. election law is very clear that churches may not endorse candidates, but may support issues.  The Church has always been very careful on this matter and occasionally (not often) chooses to support causes that it feels to be of a moral nature.

 

12. Supporters of Proposition 8 did exactly what the Constitution provides for all citizens:  they exercised their First Amendment rights to speak out on an issue that concerned them, make contributions to a cause that they support, and then vote in the regular electoral process.  For the most part, this seems to have been done in an open, fair, and civil way.  Opponents of 8 have accused supporters of being bigots, liars, and worse.  The fact is, we simply did what Americans do – we spoke up, we campaigned, and we voted.

Observations by Peyton...

While doing his homework (writing the letter "P").  Peyton proclaims... "Man, all this homework makes me want to poop".  Off he went to the bathroom.

Sea World, Friends, Beach and Prop 8...

... So I left Nate and Steve at home and took the four other children to enjoy a few days in California.  We "had" to go to see Peyton's eye doctor, but that was only one day of the five.  I have to thank our friends, who we lovingly refer to as the Quarterfields for opening there home to three very loud boys, a princess, and a tired mom.  We loved every minute.  The  Library, soft beds, video games, and the great food, even the crunchy enchiladas!  We enjoyed the beach and Sea world, and we were able to see a few of our friends we have missed.

Being in Encinitas I was able to witness my friends standing up for what they believe.  I cheered as I drove by the sign waving of the "Yes to Prop 8" signs.  What a sight to see the youth wearing yes to Prop 8 t-shirts, and standing united against the CTA (or PTA).  

Watching my friends stand up to those who disagree with them, and it being the election it is my turn to stand up for what I believe.  I do not want to live in fear of what someone may think of me and the values I am teaching my children.  

I have the right to raise my children the way Steve and I decide is right for our family.  The school system and the government do not get to tell me the values I have to teach my children.  

So here is what values we are trying to teach our children...

-Marriage is between one man and one women.

-Your are responsible for the choices you make and the consequences that follow.

-Treat others with respect.

-If you do not agree, you have the right to speak against it.

-You get to go to church, because that is what our family does.

-You are a Child of God.

I am sure other values will follow, for we are still in the raising part of our family.  Our goal is to raise honest, respectful, self reliant adults who are ready for the world they will have to live in.