I am sorry for my week-long absence from this blog. My brain has suddenly been clouded by my busy-ness. I started going to the little gym down the street EVERYDAY and I had a big-ol' special Fast Sunday lesson to prepare and teach to the Young Women on Sunday. My next (COHERENT) entry will be about that and our preparations for the Trek--a reenactment of a bit of the Pioneers' trek across the plains, to take place near Martin's Cove, where the Martin and Willie handcart companies were rescued in November 1856.
But all is well here. Relatively. Our spring like weather has gone away and temps have plummeted back to highs in the 20's, but they are supposedly going to be 50 again soon. We are waiting to kick butt dry walling our house next week with brother Matt and Cousin Brent, after our little mid-week aniversary trip to Billings. Fun.
Heidi is wailing and my head hurts, so I'll write when things are better.
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
Secure the Blessings of Liberty
I had to watch the C-Span Replay because I was on a wacky scavenger hunt with my Young Women's group (which included driving around with the door of my mini-van open so they could jump in and out, A-Team style, and shining my headlights on the shore of the lagoon as they looked for goose feathers, white rocks, and snowballs). Afterward we ate triscuits, cheeses, and drank delicious apple-passion-mango juice (please--try this juice! it's so good, and I am not an apple juice fan), topped off with some gummi worms. Ahhh, I love my church job.
So the State of the Union was good. It started off with a bunch of yadda, yadda, yadda domestic policy that they are gonna fight over for the next 4 years. I wish thye'd stop making social security such an issue--um, hello, government!?! No matter what any of you say, we 20- and 30-somethings know that in 30 years, there won't be social security as we know it and anybody with half a brain has an IRA or some kind of alternative retirement program, so stop trying to spoon feed us your alternatives or sugar coat the future. Or--if your a stubborn ol' dem--it's okay--you don't have to be in denial. SS as we know it won't survive the baby boomers. Come on, you can say it--it won't hurt anybody to admit it.
Anyway, the good part was the last third or so (and the fact that --ding-dong, the Dachle's gone--Harry Reid gave the democratic response; He's more palatable). Here is the single most useful piece of information communicated tonight, in my opinion:
The United States has no right, no desire, and no intention to impose our form of government on anyone else. That is one of the main differences between us and our enemies. They seek to impose and expand an empire of oppression, in which a tiny group of brutal, self-appointed rulers control every aspect of every life. Our aim is to build and preserve a community of free and independent nations, with governments that answer to their citizens, and reflect their own cultures. And because democracies respect their own people and their neighbors, the advance of freedom will lead to peace. (Applause.)
Thanks for clarifying that, cuz this Judeo-Christian-ethical republic thing might not fly east of Europe.
And it may be the hormones, but I cried when Sefia held up her indigo finger, and then I cried even harder when she turned around and embraced Janet Norwood, mother of fallen marine, Byron Norwood. That one picture speaks the thousand words to explain why our military personnel are doing what they do (at least the ones I have talked to). I think of theatrical moments like "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina" or the Von Trapps singing "Edelweiss" as they had to leave Austria. Think of tyrants violently taking over your homeland. Imagine your father being assassinated or your whole ethnic group or religious group being tortured, murdered, or exiled. Then imagine, decades later, returning to your homeland to vote in the first free election of your lifetime. I don't care what your political affiliations are--if the thought of those things doesn't stir your heart, you have no soul!
I just pray daily that, first, my beloved military brothers, cousins, and in-laws will be safe until this mission is through. I pray that our leaders will be inspired to lead us and protect us and get us home from Iraq ASAP. And I pray for the new leaders and people of Iraq and Afghanistan that they may be able to preserve their own liberty and create their own government.
Rich asked me the other day, "So what exactly is this assembly going to do?" I answered that they'd be like the Continental Congress --they'd draft the constitution and outline how the next "real" election would go. I said, "Remember the preamble?" and proceeded to perform the School House Rock Version (it's my favorite song, doncha know? Great lyrics): "We the people, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare [note--it doesn't say PROVIDE FOR the general welfare], and secure the belssings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity..." That pretty much sums up the duties of the assembly, if the silly sunni insurgents will let them do their job.
Enough. These comments are neither researched or greatly informed--just my reaction and opinions, off the cuff. Forgive my grogginess--must...sleep..now.
So the State of the Union was good. It started off with a bunch of yadda, yadda, yadda domestic policy that they are gonna fight over for the next 4 years. I wish thye'd stop making social security such an issue--um, hello, government!?! No matter what any of you say, we 20- and 30-somethings know that in 30 years, there won't be social security as we know it and anybody with half a brain has an IRA or some kind of alternative retirement program, so stop trying to spoon feed us your alternatives or sugar coat the future. Or--if your a stubborn ol' dem--it's okay--you don't have to be in denial. SS as we know it won't survive the baby boomers. Come on, you can say it--it won't hurt anybody to admit it.
Anyway, the good part was the last third or so (and the fact that --ding-dong, the Dachle's gone--Harry Reid gave the democratic response; He's more palatable). Here is the single most useful piece of information communicated tonight, in my opinion:
The United States has no right, no desire, and no intention to impose our form of government on anyone else. That is one of the main differences between us and our enemies. They seek to impose and expand an empire of oppression, in which a tiny group of brutal, self-appointed rulers control every aspect of every life. Our aim is to build and preserve a community of free and independent nations, with governments that answer to their citizens, and reflect their own cultures. And because democracies respect their own people and their neighbors, the advance of freedom will lead to peace. (Applause.)
Thanks for clarifying that, cuz this Judeo-Christian-ethical republic thing might not fly east of Europe.
And it may be the hormones, but I cried when Sefia held up her indigo finger, and then I cried even harder when she turned around and embraced Janet Norwood, mother of fallen marine, Byron Norwood. That one picture speaks the thousand words to explain why our military personnel are doing what they do (at least the ones I have talked to). I think of theatrical moments like "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina" or the Von Trapps singing "Edelweiss" as they had to leave Austria. Think of tyrants violently taking over your homeland. Imagine your father being assassinated or your whole ethnic group or religious group being tortured, murdered, or exiled. Then imagine, decades later, returning to your homeland to vote in the first free election of your lifetime. I don't care what your political affiliations are--if the thought of those things doesn't stir your heart, you have no soul!
I just pray daily that, first, my beloved military brothers, cousins, and in-laws will be safe until this mission is through. I pray that our leaders will be inspired to lead us and protect us and get us home from Iraq ASAP. And I pray for the new leaders and people of Iraq and Afghanistan that they may be able to preserve their own liberty and create their own government.
Rich asked me the other day, "So what exactly is this assembly going to do?" I answered that they'd be like the Continental Congress --they'd draft the constitution and outline how the next "real" election would go. I said, "Remember the preamble?" and proceeded to perform the School House Rock Version (it's my favorite song, doncha know? Great lyrics): "We the people, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare [note--it doesn't say PROVIDE FOR the general welfare], and secure the belssings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity..." That pretty much sums up the duties of the assembly, if the silly sunni insurgents will let them do their job.
Enough. These comments are neither researched or greatly informed--just my reaction and opinions, off the cuff. Forgive my grogginess--must...sleep..now.
Shall We Dance?
My husband is out of town and I am up late and COLD--I just finished watching the American version of Shall We Dance, and to my surprise it made me cry!
Maybe it was the Peter Gabriel song at the end (PG must have an extraordinary love life because how else would he be able to sing like that? This is a tangent, but seriously! You may or may not know the legend of "In Your Eyes," but suffice it to say my most indelibly romantic pre-marital moments were accompanied by that song. One time on my mission, I heard it just floating on the air as I was tracting in Durham and I literally had to sit down for a minute because it took my breath away).
Maybe it was the refreshing affirmation of marriage and fidelity, and that finding your personal joy always makes you r marriage better.
Maybe it was that it (the movie) reminded me of the precious, fabulous, prayed-for wonder that is my husband, who still surprises me with the things he thinks and learns and knows how to do--and with his bottomless wonderfulness as a father and partner and soother of my worries & furies.
I SO love you, hun...15 days til anniversary #4...what a ride!
Come home safe cuz your girls miss you.
Maybe it was the Peter Gabriel song at the end (PG must have an extraordinary love life because how else would he be able to sing like that? This is a tangent, but seriously! You may or may not know the legend of "In Your Eyes," but suffice it to say my most indelibly romantic pre-marital moments were accompanied by that song. One time on my mission, I heard it just floating on the air as I was tracting in Durham and I literally had to sit down for a minute because it took my breath away).
Maybe it was the refreshing affirmation of marriage and fidelity, and that finding your personal joy always makes you r marriage better.
Maybe it was that it (the movie) reminded me of the precious, fabulous, prayed-for wonder that is my husband, who still surprises me with the things he thinks and learns and knows how to do--and with his bottomless wonderfulness as a father and partner and soother of my worries & furies.
I SO love you, hun...15 days til anniversary #4...what a ride!
Come home safe cuz your girls miss you.
Monday, January 31, 2005
Dancin' With Myself (oh-oh-oh-oh)
This is what I found my daughter doing at 8:16pm in her room when she SAID she was going to play Noah's Ark with Heidi. She put "Billy Idol-Ultimate Collection" on her CD player by herself, then got up on her table and started dancing for Heidi IN HER UNDERWEAR! Should I be concerned? The girl LOVES Billy Idol, especially "Dancing with Myself" and "Mony, Mony." If she starts to dance the pogo, I'm gonna be reeeeeally scared.
Amber Waves of Grain
Isn't Montana gorgeous? Yesterday we took a little roadtrip. First we drove to Three Forks, Montana (where the Madison, Jefferson, and Gallatin Rivers meet to form the Missouri River and where you turn and go north to Helena) and went to church there. Then we ate lunch at the Wheat Montana Deli at the Wheat Montana Farms (this photo was taken just north of there) and drove another hour to Helena to visit Matt, Amie and Jake. We let the kids play, ate tasty venison stew and biscuits, played Scattergories, and watched Iraq election coverage (thank you, by the way, to our friends and family who have been serving in the military to make this happen! Indigo fingers are beautiful!).
Helena Handbasket
Addie watching "Barbie Rapunzel" just north of Three Forks, MT (I like it when she wants to watch that movie because the music is nice--not annoying like most kids' movies).
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