Faith, Family, Freedom.

I watched a portion of the DNC, and it made me cry...literally.  How far from our values have we gotten?  YES to God, YES to Freedom, and YES to Family.  The only thing not free is freedom.  We celebrate our success, and it is not the nemisis or our society.  My father and my husband have built successful companies, the government did not.  I cannot stomach some of the rhetoric that I am hearing cross media waves.  I am sickened by it, sad by it, motivated by it! 

Please watch the link to this from the LA times from the democratic convention.  REALLY????  How have we forgotten by what authority we live and breathe daily?

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/09/mayor-antonio-villaraigosa-dnc-vote.html

 

My thoughts on the issue: I believe that it is imperative that we consider the words of our leaders and those whom they have chosen/allowed to speak for/with them at their respective conventions. When I first watched this vote it greatly ...

bothered me. I believe that governments are instituted by God for the benefit of man -- with the intent purpose of protecting our God given rights. Specifically the right to free exercise of conscience, property ownership, exercise of religion, and the protection of life. We do not derive our rights from government. I believe in sustaining our government - a government that was founded on these same principles, a government that at times is imperfect because of the imperfections of men. I believe that we sustain the government by following the laws it has instituted and SPEAKING OUT against the laws and proposed laws that do NOT uphold these basic God given rights. Party affiliation does not matter, nor does political platform ... what matters is that we STAND for FREEDOM. When the choice is placed before me I choose to stand with God ... when I have chosen otherwise I have found my joy and freedoms severly limited. What also concerned me was the manner in which the Chair - aware of the need for a 2/3 majority and seemingly realizing that he didn't have (calling for a vote 3 times because of the delegates response) still passed the proposed ammendment. He seemed to forgoe the "rules" that governed the convention to fulfil the purposes of the party. Republican or Democrat this is an outright disregard of our nations espoused democractic principals. Let us root out of our government (again Republican and Democrat alike) those who would ignore the voice of the people they represent and the principles upon which our nation stands.

I love this saying...and picture

E'lan is 34 & Joshua turns 7!

Where does the time fly.  We are in our mid thirties now?  What happened and when did I leave my 20's?   E'lan is aging quite beautifully if you ask me.  He got some ties, a book about prophets and the White House, and teeth whitening for his bday.  It was a fairly uneventful day other than cake for breakfast - I spent 2 hours in the early morning making a white cake with orange cream cheese frosting per his request.  Sadly, He only got to eat 1 piece...we devoured subsequently for lunch and dinner, and breakfast again, hahaha.  We went to a wedding that night and danced - which was a bonus :)  He was a good sport about going on his bday.  Then we had Joshua's party.  In the morning when he woke up to a decorated house like normal and he got his present from us first thing - a RED motor scooter, then we went to Krispy Kreme for his free doughnut, a new bday outfit from the mall, a ride on the carousel, then home for a nap.  He stayed up til midnight the night prior at Grandma and Grandpa's on the 4th.  So, we made sure he was rested so as not to be grumpy at his party that night.  We took him and 8 friends/family to Golfland.  He got an hour of playing all the arcade games he wanted, then a round of mini golf.  His cousin Freddy got to spend the night.  They giggled till crazy hours of the night.  It was a great day for him...for me.  I cannot believe he is 1 year from being baptized.  1 page at a time and he will read the Book Of Mormon by next bday:)

Our First Summer Vacation!

Arrival

We arrive at the FREEZING COLD!  Beach...The kids ran from the car, and were surprised at it's cool temperatures, they couldn't help but just dive in.  Poor Naomi got taken by the waves, and she ate sand pretty bad.  Once Joshua caught his first wave, we could hardly get him out. 

 Day 2 Beach and Fathers Day

Linda did not like the water at all.  She loved loved loved the sand.  It was sunny after a day of gloom.  Yeah!  We are loving the weather and have hardly  been inside.

Happy Father's Day to the bestest Dad ever...thanks for showing us life out of the desert!

 Day 3 - La Jolla Cove

This was the most amazing day of our trip as far as I am concerned.  There were seals on the beach...yes and there was a cave and a tide pool to swim in right by them.  We didn't have our suits on, but the kids did.  They got in the water and the seals came over to play.  Joshua and Naomi were pretty brave.  Had we been in the water, I am sure we could have even pet them.  AMAZING!  We couldn't get enough of the animals.  My friend lent me her ultra zoom lens...so I was able to get some awesome shots of the animals.  We walked up to a cave after swimming with the seals, then a picnic, and of course gelato...not ice cream...gelato!  We ended the day "fishing" on the pier.  To E'lans great relief, we didn't catch anything...haha. 

Do you see the seals head????

 Day 4 - USS Midway, the Harbor and Seaport Village

Today, we took a break from cold waters, and decided to sight see a little bit.  We spent almost 4 hours on this aircraft carrier, and the kids loved it.  Joshua did not like the small space for sleeping.  He loved the planes.  He was able to get a headset and learn all kinds of stuff.  He was just pushing in all the codes he saw.  It was such a reminder of what keeps our liberty and who maintains such a great nation.  We then walked over to seaport village and caught a hilarious magic show....and saw this guy stacking rocks, this is for real!  Then my husband took me out to dinner.  Our only dining out this week, and yes it was seafood!  I never ever ever get seafood due to E'lans vegetarian raising....it is z on his list, but he suprised me with not just any ole seafood, some of the best in town. 

 Day 5 - Some more beach...then some more beach....

Oh and Me and Joshua didn't want to leave...E'lan and the girls were DONE, TOAST, FINITO!  So we had a sunset walk on the beach, just the two of us.  He is a beach bum like his mama.  It was a night to remember.  We watched surfers, walked the beach, and gloried in the setting sun over beautiful San Diego!

 I will always remember this night my little man! 

 Day 6 -  we are getting tired!

Good thing Grandma and Grandpa are coming to spice it up!  We walked the pier and beaches with them when they arrived.  The kids were cold, so they went inside to change, they all came out in jammies, and grandpa suggested dessert.  On our way, we ran into a fire show on the shores, and I got to be in the show.  This guy was juggling fire, and put a bike on his chin.  IT was fun. 

 Day 7 - We went to old Town San Diego, Mormon Battalion Museum

Naomi tried on everything she could in every store.  She loves to dress up.  When we discovered the Mormon Batallion Museum, we totally jumped on it.  I had no idea what we did in the early settling days of the west regarding San Diego and the Railroad, and establishing good rapore with Mexico, Indians, etc... We also learned about Desert Farming which they used in settling Utah.  There were nearly 500 men who left their families to serve the USA.  IT was a great museum and experience.  Once again, reminding us of those who have sacrificed so much and paved the way before us.  A reminder that God is always watching over us and always is involved in our life.  A good message for us to hear right now as E'lan is doing his internship and looking for city work :)

 This was a red water pump just like they had in Flomaton Alabama...My mom used to pump one just like this when she was little at her grannies house.  The kids loved using it and the steel washboard. 

 A tree?  What is this about?  The kids had never seen so much grass and vegetation.  They loved this huge shady tree with its gnarly roots.  They didn't want to return to the desert.  I must admit 65 degrees and sunny is amazing. 

Departure -

On our way out, we wanted to see the SD temple, and I am so glad that we did.  Breathtaking does not begin to describe this edifice.  I begged E'lan to let me go in and do some work quickly before we left town.  I brought my reccomend to enter...don't leave home without it.  He agreed, and it was the best way to end our perfect trip.  Beautiful things are good, nice weather is better, Great family is the best!  Thank you E'lan for this marvelous week :)