Wordless Wednesday

Upcoming Year

What have I accomplished this year from the 'resolutions' I have set? As you can see, we really didn't accomplish anything on our lists. We did get better with family prayer but the others haven't happened. This year I have decided to focus on one thing personally and one thing as a family *as I have a HUGE tendency to overwhelm myself with the little things - til they get so piled up I just ignore them*. My personal thing that I have pondered and prayed about is to remove everything from my life *little by little* that doesn't uplift me, help me to become a better person, teach me, or doesn't invite the spirit to participate in. Douglas and I still haven't thought about our family goal for the year and his personal one, maybe that will be our FHE this evening. I'm looking forward to the New Year and believe that it will bring grand and wonderful changes into our lives. I have a Christmas post coming this evening (with video!) and re-designing it for the winter months.

2008 In Review

For starters, this annoys me... I don't know if it's a combination of not putting together grammatically correct sentences and ThIs TypE of Spelling (includes using 'z's for 's's) or the fact that it's 100% fake and so many people think it's real and enjoy it.. Rant Done, moving on.

I honestly can't believe that 2008 is almost over, it did seem as though this year has just begun to me, I've met others who feel the same way, so at least it isn't just me!

January
I was in the Young Womens Presidency and Douglas was gone - a lot. I enjoyed my ward and made some great friendships there that I hope last - even if it is only a Christmas Card or simple hello email along the way. President Hinckley passed away - I think this was the hardest thing for me that month. He was really the only prophet I knew and it is strange not hearing his voice or reading his messages each month in the Ensign.

February
What a month! I had knee surgery and then we moved 2 weeks later (Doug being gone in Denver, CO most of the time other than my surgery date and moving date) and the potential candidates for our Nations president began really campaigning.

March
We finally got settled in our home and are still enjoying it today. I never thought I would be able to walk normally again, or that the pain would go away (I know I'm a baby when it comes to pain, those who love me, thank you for putting up with me).

April
I don't really remember much that happened this month, I went to a SF Giants game and throughly enjoyed it. Douglas was gone so my days seemed kind of a blur.

May
We bought a motorcycle and I dyed my hair dark and for the first time in my life I wasn't a blond and I loved it!

June
Buried my friends Guinea Pig in my backyard, Douglas learned how to ride/drive his motorcycle, and I became California State Certified on Aerial Lifts of up to 150ft (scared out of my mind, but nonetheless I did it)!

July
Douglas finally came home to stay for a while! We went camping in the sweltering heat, and I kinda learned how to fish. Made more commitments to myself I'm still working on.

August
Douglas celebrated his 28th year of life and recieved some nice new fishing gear. And I made this for him.

September
We celebrated our 2nd year of marriage and 1 year anniversary of being sealed.

October
I turned a quarter of a century old. I really got into food storage, cooking/baking, and decorating!

November
I feel into the Twilight trap. Hubs and I had a great Thanksgiving at my parents. We celebrated Christmas a little early. We voted.

December
Nothing much has happened this month, we will spend Christmas with both my parents and Hubs mom - which will be fantastical!

Picture Post

Thought I would catch everyone up with a few pictures of the past happenings, too bad I don't have one when we took the bike out for a spin to and from the church Christmas breakfast (the long way of course).

My Personal Best 70
Bugs barely missed the last pin standing!
Us during the festivities.
Davey, Shannon, and Hubs after one of her strikes.
This brings a whole new meaning to playing with your food.

Little Here Little There

I was doing so well at updating and well.... life took control for a while, what can you do? I'm now sitting at my parents in Nowhere, Nevada enjoying the sound of the stove heating the room and seeing the spectacular view of the mountains from the large windows on the back of the house. Minnie is curled up next to me finally glad to have some quiet without Boog & Bud running around rough housing and being loud. It's so cold here - well compared to where I live in the West Coast Sunshine state, it is. In a couple of hours Boog will drive herself home from school and then we'll go pick Bud up and go to town.

I went and saw Twilight on Saturday, after reading the book straight from 1pm - 11pm (still need to finish a little less than a quarter) I'm in love. I've officially become a "TWERD". I'm in love with the book *I can't wait until I can start reading it again*! I enjoyed the movie *I want to own it*. If you knew me about a year and a half ago when Twilight started becoming big, I refused to read it. I didn't want any part in the Twilight saga, nope not me - I thought people were crazy and obsessed *don't get me wrong they still are* but I'm part of it. I'm coming out of my Twilight closet.

So today in town I will be picking up the next book in the series, ingredients for my cheesecake, and whatever the siblings want. *Maybe not whatever they want*

Until next time (hopefully just tomorrow) I'll be enjoying a cup of steaming herbal tea.

Political Standpoint

The more I think about it, I know what I stand for, I know what I want, and I know where I stand in this huge political circle. Someone called me a politic shopper, and that's not what I am or even close to, I know what I want to see and I'm just trying to find the closest person that represents that. I'm not a party or platform voter I vote for the person, some people may say that that's wrong but if you can't trust the person or don't agree with how the person runs his life or don't see eye to eye on his beliefs (spare me the separation of church and state speech or they know how to keep them separated) how can you agree with what he inheritantly thinks which in turn will always play a part in politics run by people? I myself have strong beliefs and values and they affect every choice I make no matter the size of the decision. I read Obamas "Blue Print For Change" and found myself almost drooling over everything that he had written on paper, but the more I hear him, see him, and witness some of the things he has or hasn't done, I'm not so thrilled anymore it actually leads me to be more leary and sometimes downright 'scared' of the man. He can write one thing and then act a completely different way? I have realized that I am conservative, I don't even know if that's the right term for me, is there a left or right that just includes common sense? Maybe I should classify myself and leaning more up instead of right, but on most charts up is libertarian, yah not me either... hmmm, the dilemma of trying to find a party. This is where I fall according to a little test I have taken, so maybe I'll just let people classify me, and I'll just stick to what's in my head and what I want. I used to read Political Science books and watch news and listen to talk radio and get into political and economic discussions on lots of occasions and I used to get so annoyed at how stupid people seemed to me, but I have learned that was because I was 'educating' myself wrong. I never took the time to learn about it for myself I've always listened to what people told me and what was always right there and accused people for being 'dumb' when I was doing the same thing, how hypocritical of me! So for a few years I fell out of the 'political loop'. And lately with being confused on candidates and what's going on (you tend to forget things you don't do or think about for a while) I have recently started picking up books on my own and studying more about the history of the United States and the current events and whatever else I can get my hands on and have to say I really enjoy it, I'm enjoying finding out who I am and what I stand for. My point for writing this was to put up some quotes that bothered me when I heard them so here they are:


"I've got two daughters. 9 years old and 6 years old. I am going to teach them first of all about values and morals. But if they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby." First of all, if you are old enough to make that decision you know what could come of it. Like my mom always said, "If you can lay down and make it you can stand up and take it". What is that teaching about responsibility for actions? That if you do something wrong you can just erase it and make it all go away? No there's adoption there is learning to grow up. I've never thought of children as a punishment and for a father to say that makes me wonder what he really thinks of his own children.

"There is not a liberal America and a conservative America - there is the United States of America. There is not a black America and a white America and latino America and asian America - there's the United States of America." Then stop bringing it up that you 'don't look like the other presidents' that you 'have a funny name' that people aren't supporting you because you're black. Stop playing the race card and run as an individual like you say.

We need somebody who's got the heart, the empathy, to recognize what it's like to be a young teenage mom, the empathy to understand what it's like to be poor or African-American or gay or disabled or old - and that's the criterion by which I'll be selecting my judges. So it's okay to be a young teenage mom? Cause I'm totally confused by the quote above or is it that abortion should be legalized so teenage moms wouldn't have to experience that or learn choices have consequences?. From what I know about being a judge is judges are not sympathetic or empathetic. They are a judge of right and wrong / good and bad. If emotions played a part in our judicial system America would be full of criminals and there would be no standard for anything. Judges are to follow the law and supreme court judges are to determine the constitution and if acts are in or not in accordance with that, I don't see much gray area.

How pompous and arrogant! Isn't it wrong to boast yourself above what you are? How disrespectful to America and the American people to change the presidential seal. That's like putting O's for the stars on the flag. Reminds me of a dictatorship, one person leading and doing what he wants and manipulating people to see the good when there isn't any good to see. People don't see the little things. How many people saw this but didn't say anything about it, or think twice about it? It won't be used again, but isn't the thought of it enough to worry about? I can't express into words how it makes me feel. Are you trying to take over our country?



What about the race card? Why bring it up? Found this on a website today, thought it was funny.
**Borrowed Kindly From Villainous Company: Barack Obama told supporters that Republicans will “try to make you afraid of me” in remarks he made Friday at a Florida fundraiser.

"The choice is clear. Most of all we can choose between hope and fear. It is going to be very difficult for Republicans to run on their stewardship of the economy or their outstanding foreign policy. “We know what kind of campaign they’re going to run,” said the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. “They’re going to try to make you afraid. They’re going to try to make you afraid of me. ‘He’s young and inexperienced and he’s got a funny name. And did I mention he’s black?’" In similar comments at a Chicago fundraiser last Thursday, Obama told supporters that Republicans would try to portray both him and his wife Michelle as "scary." "They’re going to try to make me into a scary guy,” he said last week. “They’re even trying to make Michelle into a scary person. Right?" And so that drumbeat – 'we’re not sure if he’s patriotic or not; we’re not sure if he is too black.' "I don’t know, before I wasn’t black enough," said Obama. "'Now he might be too black. We don’t know whether he’s going to socialize – well, who knows what.'"

I don't know. Could you work the words "fear", "afraid", "scary", and "black" in there just a few more times, Barry? Because I'm "afraid" voters might miss the point. You know, that you're... like, totally ... black.

And the bad, scary Republicans want us to be afraid of you. Because you're so ... black. Even though you're half white. Which we're not supposed to talk about, because that would be focusing on race and you were so hoping we could get beyond that, I know. Damned Republicans. If only they'd quit bringing up the fact. That you're black. And we should fear you.

Odd tactic, for a man liberals keep saying is so likable and non-threatening he may well be our first woman president. The looming menace must express itself in a disarmingly feminine, non-threatening way. Which is why the Republicans have to keep reminding everyone of your essential Blackitude and scariliciousness. It's subtle, man. Under the radar, sub rosa, float like a butterfly sting like a bee .... BAM!!! That's what makes you dangerous. You're a dangerous black man, with an Ivy League education. You use words like numchuks. Boo!

For an ostensibly post-racial candidate raised by a white mother white grandparents (mind you, this is the half of the parental equation these are the only people in Barack Obama's life who actually cared enough to stick around and make sure he was fed, clothed, and received an education) Obama sure spends a lot of time talking about being black. It's almost as though he were trying to convince himself - or us - of his street creds. I don't get it. Oh well. Congratulations Senator. You just joined Cynthia McKinney on my list of people whose arrogant sense of entitlement only serves to deepen the painful divisions this country is already struggling with.**

Ending of January

As I re-evaluate my goals that I had for January, I realized it was mainly preparing for the upcoming months and establishing myself into a good pattern that is flexible and doable no matter where I am or what I am doing. I thoroughly cleaned my house I have been cooking dinner almost every night (what a money saver!). On top of that I have set a pattern of getting up taking my pills getting ready and packing a lunch, things that I had never really done before. I will be adding different things into the mix as the months go by such as; journaling at least once a week, reading at least 1 hour daily for fun, studying my scriptures more, yoga 3-4 times a week, listening to talk radio. Different things that I want to do to better myself. So in February I will add 4 things to my "self improvement plan":

1. No Soda Pop
2. Read scriptures at least 15 minutes per day.
3. Do Yoga 3x a week
4. Eat 5 servings of fruits and vegtables.

If anyone wants to hold me accountable please do, I welcome it. Mr. B came home almost a week ago, oh how that makes me incredibly happy! He will be home for at least a few weeks before he has to go off to New Orleans for a while, and after being offered weekends of fishing at one my dearest friends lake house, he has become excited about leaving, it's been awhile since he has been fishing. I will miss him when he is gone. Last night he had a work party for his VP's birthday and we went to this beautiful little Mexican Restaurant that sat on the water at the Bay. As we were sitting there his old PM came up, she's this cute little Filipino lady, and mentioned that she was trying to rent out her house. And we asked her where it was and how much, and needless to say, I am very excited about this prospect, the thing is we would need to move in on the 1st of March and we are in a lease until the 30th of May, so we have to see how much it costs to cancel our lease and the process and see if it would even be worth it, or just staying where we are, I'm having mixed feelings on the whole thing right now, even though before I was very excited. So tonight Mr. B and I will have to make a PRO/CON list and see what we come up with.

Welcome To 2008

I've thought a lot about this new year these first week. There are so many things I want to do and change that I feel a bit overwhelmed at times. Those of you that read The Family Blog know that this year I am doing monthly-year resolutions. I have never been one for Resolutions, sure I would write down a couple of things that everyone in the world writes down to work on and then never look at it again, never changing who I am or helping myself get better. This year I have really began to feel like an adult, a real live adult who needs to start making changes and becoming that adult. As I was reading many different entries on various blogs at the beginning of this great year, one really struck my eye, as her blogs tend to do. She wrote a great entry on how she goes about setting and accomplishing yearly changes (I substitute the word change for Resolution as in my eye, that is truly what they are). In quoting her she said, "Then I find my self making lists (both in my head and on paper) which I then check with the Lord before applying to my life. If I don't clean house spiritually as well as temporally on a regular basis I find that I loose sight of what is really important, and I drift." How insightful is that? I have never thought to take those so-called Resolutions to the Lord in order to change my life and see what direction He would have me go in. I am in the process of doing my self-inventory and I am quickly seeing many areas I want to improve, not only improve but also things I want to accomplish or begin this year. Hence the feeling overwhelmed with things that I need to download to my life. Some of them are very personal goals and others are not. I am taking the month of January to evaluate and prioritize all that I want to accomplish and start with the first couple in February.

On to other random updates to my life, I have my MRI on my knee this afternoon, I hope it isn't anything seriously wrong with it. While we are on the topic of medical situations. On Saturday I dropped off a prescription for an anti-inflammatory. I went back to this particular drug store 2 hours later and they lost the prescription, they found it approx 30 mins later while I waited and said that it hadn't been filled because the doctor didn't put an amount of pills on the prescription, they said they would have to wait until Monday to call him because his office was closed, which I understand and that was fine, they said they would call me when it was ready to be picked up I then gave them my new phone number and left. It is now Wednesday and I hadn't heard anything back so I called them this morning and they looked up the prescription and said it had been ready since Monday... hmmm should I change Pharmacy's? I'm thinking so.

Today has already been filled with drama - one of our buildings was broken into and vandalized. So I've been on the phone with insurance companies and things all morning and trying to find someone up in that area to go take pictures and file a police report, you would think that it wouldn't be that difficult, well it is. I'm thinking I should go up and take care of it myself, hopefully not as it is about an hours drive up the bay to the city where the building is located.

I wish everyone a wonderful New Year and I promise I'll begin regular blogging at some point in my life.

Brand New Year

Dear Family & Friends,

It is time for a brand new year to start, new goals to make, new things to accomplish. I love this time of year to really sit and evaluate where I/We are and where we want to go and how to go about getting there. This past year has held many wonderful events for us; moving into our first apartment, visiting loved ones, the Sealing of Mr. B and myself, surpassing the one year of marriage mark, new jobs, new friends, and new life experiences. In this upcoming year we hope to purchase a house and go back to school. We hope to take a cruise towards the latter part of the year as well as go to Disney and some other things. We are very much looking forward to 2008!

Mr. B is still currently in Colorado freezing his tail off but loving every minute of it. He believes that job will be done before February. And who knows where he will go from there. (Hopefully home). My Christmas dinner turned out pretty good if I do say so myself, just as a funny story I took the ham out and was so excited that I didn't overcook it and that it wasn't burnt or anything, and Douglas was bummed that it wasn't burnt! He likes the crispy outsides. So I finally think I did a great thing by not burning the dinner and I should have! He had a very great Christmas as did I.

I am doing well loving every minute of my job as well, even though it makes me want to scream sometimes. But I love everyone that I work with and I love what I do. I don't have much to say about myself other than that because basically I don't do anything. I have a few personal resolutions which I will be doing, but this year I believe that I will be doing a yearly "month at a time" type of resolution, commit to a month, do it, evaluate it at the end, and revamp or whatnot and commit the the next month and so on. I think that this break down will be a lot easier to keep up with.

We hope everyone had a great and wonderful holiday season and a wonderful start of the New Year! I will be posting a couple of pictures this evening when I get home from work, so be sure to check back.