Sanity Advice

My dad gives me the same piece of advice all the time: "It Just Doesn't Matter" and he also talks about letting things roll off my back, like water on a duck. This is my SIL Tiffany's mantra, "Keep Calm and Carry On." What do you say to help yourself stay sane?

New Leaf

I would really like to loose weight. I hate to exercise and I love to eat. I can't afford surgery. What can I do? Oh, and I have NO SELF CONTROL.

I'd like to turn over a new leaf and be a totally different person in these ways: I'd like to ENJOY exercise. I'd like to be able to say, "No Thanks!" and not even START the whole bag of potato chips, not even BUY the ice cream. Either that, or I'd like to have the money to get some lipo.

Just wishing.

On a side note, Damian surprised me with a weekend trip to Las Vegas. OK, he told me about the suprise months ago, but when he first told me, it was a surprise! I'll write more about the trip when I get home (I'm there right now!)

Master Oogway Wisdom

I think this is appropriate for the holiday season:

"Yesterday is history,

Tomorrow a mystery.

But today is a gift.

That is why they call it the present."

~Master Oogway from Kung Fu Panda

As I prepare for Christmas this year, I am using this old turtle's wisdom to help me stay focused on what is important . . . I'd like to BE THERE for my children/husband, spend less time doing selfish things . . . enjoy the PRESENT. I'm working hard on thinking of some great gifts of TIME, a concept I always promise to give and never follow through with. Any Ideas? What are the best gifts of TIME that you've ever recieved?

My Temple: Desecrated

I'd like to talk about some things that are very important to me: Democracy, Freedom of Speech and Religion. One of the most important things to me is protecting the sancitity of Marriage.

This is a Book of Mormon Hero, Captain Moroni. Normally, in the painting he waves the "Title of Liberty" where he and his warriors fought for religious freedom. In this rendition, he's waving the Proposition 8 banner.

I've been really saddened by some recent events having to do with the Freedom of Speech and Religion and this is why:

Let me set you up to understand this photo. Eight years ago, Damian and I worked on passing Proposition 22, when we lived in California. When it passed with a 62% majority, it declared only marriage between a man and a woman legal.

Last spring, a majority of under 5 California Supreme Court Justices declared that law unconstitutional.

In June, Proposition 8 was placed on the California ballot. This Proposition, if passed, would amend the California Constitution to state that marriage would only be recognized between a man and a woman. Voters in Arizona and Florida took the same course to amend their constitutions with similar Propositions this year. They all passed, CA 51%, AZ 56% and FL 62%.

There are now 30 states that have amended their constitution to allow marriage only between a man and woman and 14 states that have protected marriage by statute. Only 2 states allow same-sex marriages (Connecticut and Massachusetts). We are a nation that has spoken that we want to keep marriage the traditional way, between One Man and One Woman.

Eight years ago, my church asked it's members to dedicate their time, talents and means to helping Prop 22 pass. This year, they stepped up the campaign and asked even more of their members. Members were asked to talk to people outside grocery stores and participate in roadside rallies. This is a photo that brought me to tears. It's of my good friend in So. Cal and her friends and family. She spent hours at peacefull roadside rallys standing up for what she believes is most sacred and dear. She willingly gave her weekends and most likely, her money, to follow our Prophet and protect marriage and the family.

My friend had signs stolen from her yard. She was yelled and cursed at. I heard of others at rallys that had cars swerving to hit their children. Members of my church had their names and contribution amounts published in newspapers, along with their addresses. Some had their homes and cars vandalized, others recieved hate mail.

I used to attend the LDS Temple in Oakland, when I lived near San Francisco. You take a tight freeway exit to get there. It had to be shut down days before the vote because protesters were packed so tight, yelling obsenities at cars trying to get to the temple to worship. Protesters screamed at temple patrons as they entered the temple grounds.

Since Proposition 8 passed, people of my faith have continued to be been targeted with bigotry and hatred. Persecution is nothing new for LDS people, but I've never experienced persecution to this extent, tolerated by the media and the world. I am saddened by this. I am brought to tears by these photos taken outside the Los Angeles LDS Temple.

Yesterday, 8 weddings were scheduled to take place at the LA Temple. Can you imagine, on the happiest day of your life, looking down the temple lawn to see this? As you take your wedding photos you hear people shout, "Shame on YOU!" Can you even imagine a wedding day like that?

Most of you know that Temples are very sacred to me. I would say that second only to my home, the Temple is the place that I can feel closest to my Heavenly Father. It is a special place I go to worship and put off the outside influences of the world. I can't imagine driving through the gates of the Los Angeles Temple and seeing these "notes:"

I used to go to the beautiful Los Angeles Temple, when we lived in Ventura . . . can you see it up on the hill? I've seen those clean, white gates and never been bothered by protests. I was so sad to hear that demonstrators are lining up outside temples in NYC, LA, Oakland and Salt Lake City.

I'm not sad because they're protesting. That is their right under the constitution. I'm sad because they are yelling and screaming at religious people as they go to worship. Their signs are bigoted and hateful. They have the right to wave them, but I feel sad for them, for their lack of integrity disguised as "Freedom of Speech." I am sad when someone is persecuted for their faith, especially when it's people I know and love. We have an important right in the US, the Freedom of Religion and I'm sad when others don't recognize that.

Have you seen or heard about the commercial aired last week?

Supposedly produced by an independent group not affiliated with the official "No On 8" campaign, the thirty second commercial spot shows two scruffy male white actors portraying Mormon missionaries who force their way into the well-kept home of a married lesbian couple.

"Hi, we're from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," one says. "We're here to take away your rights," says his companion. The missionaries then rip the wedding rings from the women's fingers and ransack the house until they find the women's marriage license, which they destroy.

"Hey, we have rights," one of the women says.

"Not if we can help it," answers a missionary. Moving outside the residence, one of the missionaries smugly says, "That was easy." Flexing his muscles, his companion asks, "What do we want to ban next?"

As you know, I have a brother serving a mission in Panama. He and the other 60,000 missionaries all over the world would NEVER do something like that. Our faith teaches tolerance and love. While I was appalled by the commercial, I was even more appalled both MSNBC and The Comedy Channel happily took money to broadcast this overtly hate filled vignette. I cannot imagine a similar commercial, targeted at any other religious or racial group, not being considered a hate crime with a civic outcry for prosecution.

My church has issued a statement that I find profound and reassuring:

"We hope that now and in the future all parties involved in this issue will be well informed and act in a spirit of mutual respect and civility toward those with a different position. No one on any side of the question should be vilified, intimidated, harassed or subject to erroneous information."
"It is important to understand that this issue for the Church has always been about the sacred and divine institution of marriage — a union between a man and a woman."

"Allegations of bigotry or persecution made against the Church were and are simply wrong. The Church’s opposition to same-sex marriage neither constitutes nor condones any kind of hostility toward gays and lesbians. Even more, the Church does not object to rights for same-sex couples regarding hospitalization and medical care, fair housing and employment rights, or probate rights, so long as these do not infringe on the integrity of the traditional family or the constitutional rights of churches." (Quoted from HERE.)

I read an interesting article written by a gay man who condemed those of his sexual orientation for their style of activism. The whole article is found HERE. This is what he said about the protestors lined up outside the NYC Manhattan temple:

"I'm a little scared of the anti-Mormon fervor that I'm seeing in the gay community. All over Facebook today the statues look like we're planning a Night of the Long Knives at the Mormon Temple in NYC at 6:30. Seriously guys, cut it out. I know you're angry. I know you need some way to express that anger, but the Mormon Temple in NYC makes no more sense than your grandparents' retirement community in Sacramento or The Apollo Theater in Harlem. Can't we be better than this?"

"While thousands and thousands of protesters gather outside the Mormon Temple, invoking scenes of Fred Phelps, we'll still be left with a simple fact: We were out-organized and out-fundraised in California. That's why we lost."

"This protest will just confirm the Mormons' fears about us and will certainly be portrayed negatively in the media . . .I'm ready for the fight, as long as I don't have to become a crazy fundamentalist monster to be part of it."

I find it interesting that this writer thinks the gay community lost because they were out-organized and out-fundraised. I think they lost because the people of California wanted to keep marriage the way they voted to keep it 8 years ago. This is the SECOND TIME this has been put to a vote. What some gays didn't learn from BOTH votes is that the general public in California doesn't want to recognize their marriages. Probably some did learn this and are packing their bags to move to Connecticut and Massachusets, where their union is recognized.

I also don't agree with his statement that the protests will "confirm the Mormon's fears" about gays. I have no fears about gays. I have gay friends and family members. I love them. I don't agree with their lifestyle choices, but I love the people. I'm not afraid of them. I don't want their sexual orientation to re-define my idea of marriage and family or re-define what is taught to my children in school, but I care about the people.

The writer's fear that the media would portray gays negatively is unfounded. The reverse is true though, as the LDS people are being portrayed negatively. It's really very unfair. In California, almost ALL Latinos voted for Prop 8, 7 out of 10 blacks voted yes, and the Catholic Church donated money and asked it's members to help Prop 8 pass! No one else is being targeted except the LDS people and church itself.

This temple is less than a mile from my house. When we woke up Saturday morning, the temple had been hit by at least 8 large paintballs on the back side (not pictured). Each panel in between the windows was hit. The paint was quickly powerwashed off, but if you look closely, you can see the residual outline marks.

I don't know if this act of vandalism was directly related to all the demonstrations targeted at other LDS Temples. It may be that some local hoodlums found a nice place to practice their aim. Either way, I feel like someone has taken a shot at me personally and it hurts.

Thank you, Aunt Linda!!

Our good friend Linda loves to spoil our kids with new clothes. She's a master at bargains/sales and has quite a talent for shopping! The kids were all thrilled with all the new things she sent for them and wanted to put on a fashion show for her. Linda asked me to give her my kids sizes 2 "shipments" ago, so here they are!!

Benjamin was delighted with his jersey. He wants to wear it 24-7. Literally. He sleeps in it, wears it the next day, sleeps in it and then I have to peel from his body to wash it. It is getting chilly here and I made him wear it today with long sleeve shirt underneath. I wanted to put him in tights so he wouldn't freeze, but he's too smart (and manly) for that. Dang it! I hate it when they get smart. Luckily, he's smart enough to mop and helped me for about an hour today. What a stylish helper I have!

Ben is a size 4, all around.

Katrina loves her new dress! There were so many cute things that fit her! She rarely gets anything new, she pretty much has to wears her sister's hand me downs. The clothes you sent, Linda, meant more to her than the other kids! She really was thrilled! She wears size 6 in tops and pants.

Little Miss Rachel is quite the fashionista! She had me straighten her hair for her "photo shoot!" She loves this dress, it's a cute style for her. She wears a size 10 all around! She loves trying things on, more than the other kids and had a great time going throught the piles of clothes with Grandma.

Josh is a size 8. He liked the clothes you sent, but wouldn't model for me. He has too much pride for that, I guess. Maybe he overheard me telling Ben to put on tights or something!

Emma buys her own clothes with her babysitting/birthday money. She is pretty much a teenager and won't even let me think about picking things out for her. Too bad. I have great taste, as do you, Linda. Oh well, her loss.

This is your untraditional Thank You card, Linda!! We really appreciate all you sent. We shared all that didn't fit with the other 8 Idiart grandkids and found a home for everything!!

Real Politics by SUE Q

My good friend SuzyQ posted this great commentary on the election. I am pirating it from her site. If you'd like to read more thought from Sue's head, click HERE. She's a daily crack up. Here is something that happened to a friend of hers that teaches us about the different political parties:


"I asked my friend's little girl what she wanted to be when she grows up. She said she wanted to be President some day. Both of her parents, liberal Democrats, were standing there, so I asked her, 'If you were President what would be the first thing you would do?'

She replied, 'I'd give food and houses to all the homeless people.'

'Wow...what a worthy goal,' I told her, 'You don't have to wait until you're President to do that. You can come over to my house and mow, pull weeds, and sweep my yard, and I'll pay you $50. Then I'll take you over to the grocery store where the homeless guy hangs out, and you can give him the $50 to use toward food and a new house.'

She thought that over for a few seconds (while her Mom glared at me), then she looked me straight in the eye and asked, 'Why doesn't the homeless guy come over and do the work, and you can just pay him the $50?'

I said, 'Welcome to the Republican Party.'

Her folks still aren't talking to me."

Candy and Voting

This cracked me up! If you haven't finished your Halloween Candy yet, throw it out, for the sake of Dentists everywhere. AND remember to VOTE!!

20 Worst Habits: PART FOUR

Welcome to the Final Installment of "My 20 Worst Habits." Did you miss the other shocking, self-revealing posts? If so, here are PART ONE, PART TWO, and PART THREE. I know you've all been waiting for the real nasty habits. Here they are. I hope you're satified with knowing my dirty secrets.

5. I'm a Pack Rat. I have saved every little scrap of art and piece of schoolwork me or my kids have ever done. I have one whole room dedicated just to scrapbooking. But now that I blog, I don't have time for it. Poor neglected stuff. If I ever die, Damian will light a big bonfire and toss the whole room in, with gleeful abandon. The guy who has hardly ANYTHING from his childhood and doesn't miss it a bit. Unfortunately, he hasn't influenced 4 of our children. Everyone, except Josh, is becoming my rival at saving JUNK and trinkets. We need help and the kids all want to call that annoying woman on CLEAN HOUSE to help me!! Luckily, they don't know how to dial long distance.

4. I hate grocery shopping as much as going to the doctor. Damian does most of it for me. You know what, hate isn't a strong enough word. I loathe and despise grocery shopping! It's a bad habit because we hardly ever have any food in the house and that rolls to #3:

3. I don't like cooking. It's the actual time it takes that bugs me. I never think about dinner until around 4pm and then it's too late to come up with anything good. My day is too busy to be bothered with planning and prep time before 4, I don't know how other women get to this chore. I know that I need to change my life style to accommodate healthy eating and joyful cooking.

I do like cooking with my son, Josh. He keeps everything from burning and doesn't let me miss ingredients in a recipe. I need to make dinner his responsibility. He can make out a shopping list, plan the cooking prep/baking times and make me a spreadsheet of how we'll implement his menu. Sort of like having a 4' personal chef, except I have to do all the knife work. And I'll get to sit back, watching a junior genius in his element.

2. I am an apparel SLOB. I take clothes off and throw them around the room like a teenager. My husband is the neatest, most orderly person in this universe and he is married to a total clothes looser. Poor, dear man. I wait until I have 5-6 loads of laundry to fold, all neatly piled in baskets along one wall of our bedroom. Then I call in "The Troops" and I manage their folding work. I really am a good manager of working children. I keep up on the washing, doing 1-2 loads first thing in the morning, but the folding comes in spurts.

1. I loose official documents. If you are related to me, you are nodding your head in exasperation right now. I am always trying to find my license and usually drive without it. There are weeks I can't spend any money because I can't find my debit card, license and/or checkbooks. I get a lot of purses as gifts, from helpful relatives. Then, I loose those. I barely found my passport in time to go to the Bahamas. And each year I have a Kindergarten kid I spend weeks finding their birth certificates/immunizations records. Finally, Damian took all those to his office, so I couldn't loose them again.

I don't loose library books, although I do rack up exorbitant fees because I'm not finished with my stack, yet! I don't loose fingernail files/clippers, or chapstick (probably because I have about 30 of each in strategic locations around the house). OK, FINE!! I've never lost a child and that's all that matters.

LASTLY, My ULTIMATE WORST HABIT is that I blog too much. I didn't want to put that on the list because I'm not ready to deal with this new obsession, just yet!

My Boy is OVER Half-Gone!

I didn't post yesterday until noon, so if you missed THE WEDDING photos, scroll down!!

I love this photo of Josh with his Paternal Grandparents. He's only a week old.

Josh will be 10 in a week and I can't believe how time has flown. I'll only have him around another 8 years and then he'll be GONE . . .

Gone to college, on a mission, married and raising his own family. Right now, he wants to be a lawyer and take over the family business, when Damian retires. I hope he does, only so he'll be closer. I can't control my daughters and where they'll end up. Actually, I can't really even control how my laundry turns out, but I'd like to draw ONE of my kids back here.

These are just a few of my thoughts for the day, as I prepare to come home from Italy, to plan Josh's BDay party.

20 Worst Habits: PART THREE

OK, we have made it to my Top Ten Worst Habits. The ones last week were nothing compared to these. You thought I was more normal, didn't you? Sorry to disappoint!

10. I snore. Not such a bad thing, right? WRONG!! When I went camping in Alaska with my Best Friend and she bought earplugs, AFTER ONE NIGHT, for the rest of the trip. . . that was telling. Or how about Girl's Camp, when I was sleeping in a cabin with 4 other women and they ALL begged earplugs off another lady for the week. Hmmmm.

9. I make my kids work hard. My nephew, SpideyHulkMr.Incredible, was over last month and Josh had just finished his first art lesson. Josh complained that he wasn't as good a painter as his teacher's son. My nephew explained the reason, "That's because his mom is an artist. Your mom is a . . . " and he paused to think: "A Make-Kids-Work-All-Day Mom!" Thank you Spidey, for this little insight into my life. Now, if I did this work thing, just to teach the kids a strong work ethic, it would be excusable. I admit, I've bred this CLEANING CREW to save me time and money.

8. I am OCD. I get obsessed and act compulsive: Twilight, blogging, pepperocinis . . . once I find something I like, I sink my teeth into it like a rabid dog and I don't let go. There is a wonderful quote by a prophet in my church that says, "When you put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of your life." My problem is, when I get obsessed, I put my newest obsession first and laundry, cooking, nose and bottom wiping and sleeping drop out of my life. I guess what the prophet is teaching me is that if I'd put God first, I wouldn't get so darn obsessive about stuff.

(Mental Note to self, go read scriptures and ponder/pray after finishing this post!)

7. I'm a Book-AHOLIC. When I start a good book, I obsess all day over it, just waiting to take it to bed or the bath. That sounded a little weird, didn't it? My family doesn't hear from me again until I've finished it. Usually, I wait until everyone else is asleep and then I read all night. I wish I had more self control! It is so hard functioning the next day with a book hangover!

6. I'm a hoarder. I moved into a home 4x the size of my last one and have filled it to the seams in 2 years. I have an 1000 square foot attic that is full, also! I have everything my mom's ever wanted to get rid of, too. If you need anything: props, costumes, craft supplies, games, books or clothes for kids, just call me. I've got it, with plenty to spare.

Wow, we have finally made it to my TOP 5 WORST HABITS!! As you wait for the last installment of this horrifying reveal, try your hand at being a "Make-Kids-Work-All-Day MOM!"
I promise, you'll like it. And then go read a book in the bath, while your minions clean the house!

My New Toy: PHOTOSHOP

Recently, I took 4 photos that I love. I love the subject material, but the photos themselves were lacking, the lighting all wrong. But, with my new toy, PHOTOSHOP, they are pretty darn good. I'm just learning how to play around with it, and just in time for Briana's wedding, too!

The first photo is the original, straight out of the camera. The second is my upgraded, Photoshop version!!

Never has a Capri Sun looked so Classy! This is Miss Addy Cakes, my friend's daughter.

The first photo was WAY over exposed, but with a little PHOTOSHOP magic, Mr. Noah looks Adorable!

Poor Washed out Elise, my neice . . . PHOTOSHOP helps her eyes POP!


This photo of my neice and nephew is much softer with a pretty wash over it. Now I just need to find the way to take my wrinkles off my eyes!!

20 Worst Habits: PART TWO

Let's continue with my 20 Worst Habits. Just in case you didn't get enough last week.

Or maybe you have totally lost your mind.

Alrighty then . . . to continue:

15. I have no self control when it comes to sweets and chips. If I eat one cookie, I have to eat the whole plate. Forget the mini-candy bar bags sold around Halloween. I buy them thinking I'll allot myself one tiny bar a day. Then, I eat the whole bag! I just try not to buy anything sweet. And I hardly ever bake.

14. I eat WAY TOO FAST. I finish dinner and some of my kids are still deciding if what I cooked is palatable. So we play a game . . . they take one bite, I take one bite. Remember? I have 5 kids, so you can see where some bad tasting recipes end up . . . on my BUTT.

13. I don't immunize on time. My kids are all up to date a week before they get kicked out of school. I just hate shots. Not the actual shot, or the theory behind immunizing, don't get me wrong. I just am so annoyed and bothered that I have to take time out of my life to go to the doctor. Too bad you can't immunize by email! Katrina really did ALMOST get kicked out of kindergarten, last year. And Ben had to miss his third day of Pre-school last week to get shots. They told me he couldn't come back unless he was caught up.

12. I am pushy in one area of my life, my kids education. I request teachers every year and about 20 moms call me to ask who I'm requesting and who they should request . . . and how to do it. Sometimes I help them write the letter, word for word. Apparently, I've earned a little name for myself (it might be a swear word for some teachers!) Watch out, TEACH! If you cross me or my kids. . . you'll be on my blacklist and be messed up for life. This is on my "Worst Habit Lis" because some of the Elementary School Staff still bring up the year I got my request in late and used my husbands official Law Firm Stationary. In hindsight that was a little over the top, and they don't let me forget it!

11. My other "High Horse" is my kids moral upbringing. I am a Crazy-Media-Nazi-Mom.

The kids can't watch any shows or read books with characters that are older than them. No Harry Potter, No Twilight, and other inappropriate books for kids under 11. This really limits the Disney Channel, even 'Zach and Cody' have girlfriends now! They can't watch PG-13 at all and many PG movies are out.

Their Internet use is HEAVILY monitored and they have to use my email address. They rarely go play at friends houses unless I know the parents very well and have noticed that they have similar standards. I do let them invite any friends over to our house, but I watch "NEW" kids like a HAWK!

My kids do not attend sleepovers, outside of our extended family. They can stay for "Late-Nighters" and I come pick them up between 9 and 10pm. I am letting Emma have her first sleepover for her 12th birthday party. Next March. She's so excited she has it all planned 7 months in advance. I think this is part of the "Worst Habit List" because my kids hate me for all the above reasons. But I don't care. Hate all you want, Mamma ain't bending the rules.

Now friends, go forth and IMMUNIZE. And then eat a whole bag of my personal favorite: Salt and Vinegar Chips, in my honor! Until next time!

In Honor of Tea

My sister-in-law, Tea has just finished her first month as a "Weekday Widow." Her hubby, JusTea, has been in Law School and is only home on the weekends. Tea also had a baby during this time, so she's One Amazing Lady!

"Keep Calm and Carry On!" is Tea's family motto. She has it posted, and also written on the wall in a strategic location. I've heard her kids recite it, I've heard the Young Women in our ward (congregation) talk about it, after Tea taught them the beautiful simplicity of it and I've been influenced for the better, by Tea's example.

Tea really is someone who KEEPS CALM. She parents with a quiet, loving voice. She is raising her kids (mostly alone, at this point) in a peaceful, sweet environment. Maybe more importantly, she CARRYS ON!! Others might not be able to be a single parent, yet remain so supportive of their husband leaving for school, all week. She continues to serve others through church. She is involved in her kids school lives. She is One Amazing Lady and I am so proud she is my sister.

20 Worst Habits: PART ONE

I thought I'd share the worst about me. Maybe these will make you think, "Hey, I'm not too annoying compared to Sarah!"

When I started, I thought I could fit 20 short, terrible habits into one post. As I self reflect, I realize there is enough material here for a month. I'll condense and horrify you over four days.

20. I have distance judging problems, when driving. Last month I knocked over my friend's 2 garbage cans, as I pulled up to her house for piano lessons. I've knocked down stone walls around my driveway and run over landscaping lights. I've never run over a child or animal, so I've got that going for me.

19. I drive FAST. After I drove my Best Friend, Emily, off a cliff as a teenager, you'd think I would have learned. I enjoy the speed too much. I can't stop myself.

18. When I'm ALONE in the car, I turn the stereo up ALL THE WAY and pretend I'm young, again. This is while hitting curbs going WAY TOO FAST. I especially love to peel out of the church parking lot, to show off (I don't think it's working, none of those church types seem impressed and none will go with me in my car, unless I let THEM drive.)

17. I eat WAY TOO MUCH. I still eat like I'm racing the Butterfly Stroke everyday . . . I probably down enough calories to feed a small nation. I've been exercising every day and REALLY trying to watch this little problem, but my greatest temptation in life is food. And lots of it.

16. I drool in my sleep, and let's face it, sometimes I drool drinking from a glass, when I'm awake. I've learned from my fellow drooler, Allison, to ask for a straw at restraunts.

Well, readers . . . Until next time, Drool and Drive like a MANIAC!

9/11

I never publish twice in one day, but I pushed my OCD tendencies aside to honor this important day in our Country's History.

As I drove the kids to school this morning, I saw an American flag waving in my front yard. I had hoped the Boy Scouts included this day in their yearly service. It will be gone tomorrow, but I am thankful it shows my neighborhood and my family how I feel about today.

I remember exactly what happened that fateful morning, seven years ago. Damian came home from playing early morning basketball and woke me up to come watch the TV with him. It was a horrifying experience to watch those towers fall. I'd ridden to the top of one, on a trip to NYC. They were so tall that they were designed to sway in the breeze, just a fraction of an inch or so. Having been at the top, this terrorism really hit me hard. I had no idea so many people would suffer and die that day. It still overwhelms me to think about it. I took Emma to her second day of Montessori Pre-School across town, came home and worried about her safety the whole 2-3 hours she was gone. I pulled her out that day and did a C0-op Pre-School with neighborhood church ladies, from that day forward. I couldn't stomach her being too far from me.

My friend, Annie Tintle wrote how she felt that day, on her blog. I'm quoting her because she's a great writer and summed up my feelings so perfectly:

"I sat there dazed and glued to my television. I watched as those towers fell, one by one. I watched as our country came to the sick realization that we were under attack. Our land, our homes, our businesses and safety, violated. How could I, in little Moscow, Idaho feel so much fear? I couldn't bring myself to get ready for work as I sat there, staring, listening, watching. I knew Jason was only golfing, but I felt desperate for him to come home and be safe with me.

I worked at a psychology office at the time, and you won't believe what something like this does to people with severe anxiety. I remember one lady in particular coming in. We cried together. It sounds so silly now, but the day felt so dark and the loss was so great. It wasn't just the loss of life, it was the loss of our safety. Our beautiful country, home of the brave and the free, molested.
I have since heard miraculous stories of friends who escaped the tragedy of the Pentagon by moments, and families who still mourn the loss of their loved ones. As our nation turned to God, he heard our rusty prayers and sent miracles.

But how soon we forget.Today I honor those men and women who serve our country in this war of terrorism. I don't care what you think about the war, I feel pride in a country willing to try and root out the evil behind these atrocious acts. I honor families who sacrifice loved ones, women like Julie Newell, with six small boys and a wonderful husband who isn't afraid to fight for our country. Julie and Garth, you amaze me.

The war is half a world away, but there is a war. We should remember it every day. We should pray not only for the end of the war, but for victory. We must be victorious. Generations to come will be affected by the outcome of our success or failure. This isn't about bringing our soldiers home so we're not lonely, or bringing them home because wars hurt people, this is about securing our country a safe harbor in the terrifying seas ahead.

Until you've lived outside this great nation, until you've seen just how good we have it, you can't fully appreciate what those men and women are sacrificing their lives to protect. They aren't just trying to keep another 9/11 from happening, they're ensuring that our children can fearlessly ride buses to school, teenagers can hang out at malls and mother's can safely push their strollers around parks. Do not think for one moment that the evil behind 9/11 would spare our children. It would not. I am humbled to be an American. With a husband who has chosen a career of service in the United States Air Force, I am honored to join the ranks of men and women who sacrifice loved ones to serve this great country. God Bless America. May that phrase echo throughout the Heavens for centuries to come."

Thanks Annie for those beautiful words that sum up my feelings exactly! May you all reflect on this day and take a moment to be grateful.

New Tricks (and Ex-Friends)!!

I have been wanting to learn some new blogging tricks. I asked the smartest woman in the world Blog Guru, LANA , to teach me her tricks . . .

WOW!! Did you see that? I can cross things out and I can make LINKS! I am now the second smartest woman in the world Blog Guru Wanna-Be!!

Now I can reference that picture of me in a swimsuit, flexing my gigantic biceps in 1992, anytime I want. Be forewarned.

And I can cross people off my List of Friends because they haven't commented on my blog in two weeks!!

List of Friends (AND Ex-Friends):
Amy L
Angel S
Anna N
Anna W (Your house flooded, so it's OK)
Annie T
Andrea S
Alisha M
Allison N
Amber H
Ambyr N (being cute doesn't make you exempt!)
Beca M
Becca P
Becky H
Beka H
Briana G (UR planning a wedding, but need U2!)
Cameo S
Cherie T (Where are you?) FOUND!!
Christina L
Christine I
Christy D (You comment on Tiff's blog & I'm jealous!)
Damian I (husbands aren't exempt from STRIKE OUT!)
Danielle B
Diane Z
Eric G (Baby Brother, GET ON IT!)
Elaine G
Emily H
Jared I
Jenny L
Jonathan G (You too, Other Brother!)
Hillary B (You did Emma's hair, I forgive you!)
Kari C
Kari H
Kaycee C
Kelly R
Kim J
Kirsten T THX 4 UR COMMENT (It's about time!)
Kristy S (Just b/c you're preggers, don't forget me!)
Kristi C
Krystal W
Lana U
Leslie A
Magui J
Mandy W(I miss U, come back 2 me!) SHE'S BACK!
Mary J
Michael G (One more slacker BROTHER!)
Michael L
Michelle W
Natalie A (Can you even check blogs on missions?)
Paul G (What's up with these Brothers of mine?)
Shane Z
Stacey K
Stephanie C
Sue Q
Tamara E
Tea I
Valerie D
Virgie C

Now, just so you know . . . I am not a mean-spirited, vindictive person. But if I have blackmail photos of you in the 7th grade, I WILL USE THEM, so you'd better stay on my good side.

And a special note to my 4 brothers (my 5th is on a mission, he doesn't count): Guys, this blog makes me feel closer to you than ever before. I will break out your naked baby photos if I don't get some comment satisfaction!

I vote SARAH!!

Sarah Palin, the Governor of Alaska, is the new Republican VP running mate. She is known as the "Hottest Governor of the Coolest State!"

Voting for her is very natural for me. It feels right. Hearing her speak brings tears of pride to my eyes. Pride in her love of Motherhood/Family and her love for our country. I am thrilled to have her alongside McCain, who I wasn't as excited about. I haven't been very "INTO" this race, since my favorite, Mitt Romney, withdrew from the race. Now, we have the news channels on in every room!

Here are my 8 reasons for Voting for Sarah Palin:

1. We're practically twins, although she's 10 years older. She was raised eating big game, her parents were on the way to hunt Caribou when they got word of her nomination! Her husband is a commercial fisherman and works for the same company as my dad, Alyeska Pipeline Company, (brings the oil from the ground, thru the big pipe, to the Tankers in Valdez)

Sarah loves the outdoors and sports. She's a marathon runner, like I aspire to be. She is beautiful (hey, Damian thinks I am!) and she shares my name. Oh, and she competed in the Miss Alaska Pageant, just as I did (and we both didn't win). These are superficial reasons to vote for someone, so here are some better ones:

2. She is Pro-Life. That is my biggest voting concern. She's a mother of 5, just like me. (Track, 18, Bristol, 17, Willow, 13, Piper, 6, and Trig, 4 months) Her unexpected baby boy was born in April, with Down Syndrome. I'm sure she had the choice to end Trig's life, to make hers easier, but she didn't. She has an 18 year old son that joined the Army last year and will be deployed to Iraq soon, and she is proud of him. She is Patriotic and respects our armed forces. She loves America. These are all very important things to me.

3. She is a life-long NRA member. I believe in the 2nd amendment protecting our right to bear arms and so does she. She thinks education is important. What mother doesn't?

4. She is Pro-Family and supports the sanctity of marriage. Between a man and a woman. I don't doubt that she has gay friends and/or family. Who knows? I certainly do. And I love them. I have strong moral beliefs about what Marriage is, too. That doesn't diminish the respect I have for all of the people on this planet.

6. She is fiscally conservative. She has helped her state fiscally, and Alaskans love her. She has something like an 89% rating in that state . . . some Alaskans at Obama's camp were interviewed and they said they may switch over to vote for Sarah Palin, she is that respected. She has helped that state in a responsible way. She believes in TAX CUTS.

7. She seems to have an excellent Moral Compass. She has a record of standing up for what she feels is right, when she was the Ethics Commissioner of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission she resigned her post in protest over what she perceived as ethics violations by fellow Alaskan Republican leaders. She also held some accountable for unethical behavior and they were punished. She has been known as "Sarah Barracuda", for her leadership style and it was her HS Basketball name, too! McCain says she has INTEGRITY!! I love that.

8. She is smart. Did you see her mention and give honor to Hillary Clinton? We Republicans need someone on our ticket that Hillary-Lovers can identify with. Hopefully, they'll switch to our side, in support of a woman, and vote for Sarah Palin. Geraldine Ferraro was thrilled to hear Sarah Palin thank her for her efforts, too. Geraldine said it's the first time in 24 years that anyone has done that.

I think her nomination is going to shake things up, in a good way and I'll be praying for her success, and that of her family everyday until she WINS!!!

Saturday Re-Evaluation!

I am a non-existent entity to my family, on Saturdays (especially when I was 2000 miles away, in Alaska, a few months ago!)

Damian gives me Saturdays off and I usually check out of the world. He does everything with the kids, does all my chores that need catching up (usually just the one I really hate, grocery shopping) and does all the cooking. I usually read (I know, big surprise) and sometimes I scrapbook all day. But that's rare. Reading is much easier.

Lately, I've worked on camp or trek stuff from sun up to sun down.

I have 4 reasons why I'm thinking about re-evaluating my choice to be so selfish on Saturdays.

Number 1: I have become the butt of MORE Idiart Family Jokes. If I DO go somewhere with my family and Damian's family finds out they tease me unmercifully. A few month of Saturdays ago, he and I took the kids and 5 of their friends to Kung Fu Panda (yes, that was 10 kids, total!!) When Damian's family found out they said. . . "Sarah, YOU went to the movies? . . . Wait, YOU never go anywhere on Saturday . . . Were you dressed? Did you bring a book?"

They already tease me that I hardly go to any of their weekend family parties/pot lucks/boating/camping trips. I see these people everyday, literally. I live next door to some of them. I go to church with them and our kids go to school together. I exercise with some, almost everyday! Apparently, I'm the only Idiart that likes spending time ALONE. I might not need to spend EVERY waking minute with THE FAMILY. But maybe I DO need to spend more time with my own kids on Saturdays. Maybe.

Number 2: Damian babies me from the time he walks in the door, after work, until we fall asleep. And then he gets up with any nightmares/vomiting/bed wetters in the night and I sleep. He also gets up early and gets the kids ready for school, while I sleep off a book hangover, or while I blog for the day.

It wasn't always like that. The first 10 years of marriage I did all that stuff. He was in Law School, or working 3 jobs, and I babied him. But I think I'll re-evaluate how hard I'm making him work now and try to baby him, more. At least, I think I'll try to even it out a little. He really is so good to me and I am becoming very lazy and a bit of a recluse to my own family.

Number 3: The after-weekend mess is usually VERY large. Damian is so busy . . . go, go, going with the kids, that the house gets wrecked. Sundays are usually busy, too and so when Monday rolls around it looks like a bomb has gone off, inside our home. It takes me until Tues. to get the house presentable. And I'd really like to start inviting friends over for Family Night on Mondays! So, I either need to supervise more activities on the weekend, or if everyone leaves, I need to stay and clean, not read. The first choice sounds WAY more fun.

Number 4: Do I really want my kids to remember their mom was a non-existent entity on Weekends? It's kinda weird, I will admit. Do I want them to really believe I loved my computer and books more than them? Do I believe that? Yikes, if I have to ask, I have some changing that I need to do! Plus, all the Idiarts will really be thrown for a loop if I start participating! It will really shake the boat! I can still leave the parties early, while I adjust to the newness of it all, can't I?

You Know it's Summer When . . .

~The scissors are in the "Open" position, AND sticky, from Otter Pops (And the empty wrappers are all over the house and yard). Hasn't anyone ever heard of the TRASH CAN?

~You get to enjoy the aromatics of sweaty, stinky boys . . . WHY EXACTLY DO THEY SMELL LIKE WET DOGS?

~The seats in the car are wet ALL THE TIME, from trips to and from swim lessons. Although, it smells clean in the car, from all the chlorine!

~There are empty cups all over the counter . . . Where's my sharpie so I can label one cup per kid, FOR THE WHOLE DANG SUMMER?!

~The front and back door are both WIDE open, and you can't find anyone to blame . . . DO WE REALLY NEED TO COOL YARD?

~You enjoy the crickets/frogs singing at night . . . if you can hear them, it means all the children are asleep! If you can't hear them, QUICK . . . PUT THOSE KIDS TO BED!

Thank you Kari, my blogging hero, for most of my material for today's post!

Home Sick

Ben and I were supposed to go on Josh's last field trip. Thank Goodness Ben has Pink Eye . . . I was dragging this morning, getting ready to go. I never thought I'd be thankful for Pink Eye, but today I am!

Of course, Emma just called and forgot her mitt and tennis shoes for her class softball game party, and Josh forgot his sack lunch, so I have to get dressed, make a sack lunch and haul myself down to the school anyway. But I don't have to stay and go on ANOTHER field trip. Hallelujah!

Usually I am dreading summer vacation, but I think I'm excited for it, this year. My minions will be home to do my bidding! And if I throw in a few fun memories, they'll think they're getting something for all their hard work. YAY! My bathrooms will be clean, Ben will have someone to entertain him and Josh will have more time in his day to help me cook dinner!