One of my best friends, Cammie put this on her blog and I loved this paragraph so much that I had to put it on mine. Especially with Thanksgiving just a day away!
"Stresses in our lives come regardless of our circumstances. We must deal with them the best we can. But we should not let them get in the way of what is most important—and what is most important almost always involves the people around us. Often we assume that they must know how much we love them. But we should never assume; we should let them know. Wrote William Shakespeare, “They do not love that do not show their love.”3 We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us."
-President Monson
With that being said, I am grateful and blessed to have such family and friends as you in my life. You make me a better person, and through your example I strive to be even better.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
Day 4 - Four-Wheeling with nature
Most likely you are tired of watching my trip to Santo Tomas Mexico, so you will be happy to know that this is officially my last blog on this trip. I personally think this is the funniest video yet, but I should warn you I say a "bad" word during one of the clips...oops!
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Day 4 - The Pueblo
The day started by Richard (my brother) waking my sister Jill and I up 5 minutes before we were to be at church, yes that is why we don't look all that great for church. We drive into town only to find out that it is Stake Conference, and this small Branch will not be meeting at the ward building in town. We drive back to the beach house but I wanted to go back and get photos of the Pueblo. We start off at the only market in town and the market soon became a "central location for all those people in the pueblo". I guess word gets around, the guys in the truck asked us if they could have a ride in our car (we were driving the hummer, which we call the "short bus" due to it's color. We make our way through the rest of the town, see all the interesting sites. We end up stopping to take a photo of a very cute garden and become fast friends with the owners. They end up giving us 2 Mango trees, how cute is that. It turns out Nacho (the boy in the photo with Jill) lived in Kentucky for awhile.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Santo Tomas - Day 3
BubbleShare: Share photos - Find great Clip Art Images.
Today started with peanut-butter pancakes with jelly syrup, apparently my brother saw this on Rachael Ray. They were pretty good, I think you have to be in the right mood.
We then headed off to the Estuary to ride the current into the ocean. It was pretty cool and fun. Jill and I were assigned the four-wheelers and we had some fun. I think we were a little more conservative on the ride over but on the ride back we were dare-devils, okay...maybe more confident would be the right word.
Next event was watching the Utah vs. BYU football game on the most amazing couch ever made. Which made up for the sad loss that BYU had, too many fumbles for the cougars.
The day ended with watching the amazing sunset (see photos) and treats up on the roof.
Another great day in Santo Tomas!
Today started with peanut-butter pancakes with jelly syrup, apparently my brother saw this on Rachael Ray. They were pretty good, I think you have to be in the right mood.
We then headed off to the Estuary to ride the current into the ocean. It was pretty cool and fun. Jill and I were assigned the four-wheelers and we had some fun. I think we were a little more conservative on the ride over but on the ride back we were dare-devils, okay...maybe more confident would be the right word.
Next event was watching the Utah vs. BYU football game on the most amazing couch ever made. Which made up for the sad loss that BYU had, too many fumbles for the cougars.
The day ended with watching the amazing sunset (see photos) and treats up on the roof.
Another great day in Santo Tomas!
Friday, November 21, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Santo Tomas, Mexico
A mini vacation which was greatly needed. Sister-in-law, Julie offered her families beach house for a small vacation to Santo Tomas Mexico, just south of Rocky Point. This is quite the place so I decided I would have to give day my day video's just to show you how great this vacation is turning out to be.
Monday, November 17, 2008
A note from Jill...ones who knows
Jill, my dear sister, I hope you don't mind but I loved your message on my blog and I wanted to share what you wrote.
"Rest assured, friends and family, there are many more letters and articles similar to this one. This past week has brought blessings along with the difficulties.-many letters and phone calls of support (from all over the world, from those who are not LDS) to the temple thanking the church members for their work and expressing sadness at the treatment of church members by many people-Richard Simmons told my friends that he was sad to see Mormons being treated so poorly (they go to his aerobics class, no joke)-a group of professional African-American men standing in front of the LA Temple with signs that read "I voted yes on Prop 8"-missionaries are being stopped and asked about the temple and the church-the media is FINALLY paying a bit more attention to our difficulties, since the "white powder" incident-members seem to attend the temple with greater earnestness and desire; it easy to recognize the blessing of religious worship right nowAnd many more untold stories are small events that continue to strengthen the CA LDS and all others that support the passing of the prop."
November 16, 2008 11:17 PM
"Rest assured, friends and family, there are many more letters and articles similar to this one. This past week has brought blessings along with the difficulties.-many letters and phone calls of support (from all over the world, from those who are not LDS) to the temple thanking the church members for their work and expressing sadness at the treatment of church members by many people-Richard Simmons told my friends that he was sad to see Mormons being treated so poorly (they go to his aerobics class, no joke)-a group of professional African-American men standing in front of the LA Temple with signs that read "I voted yes on Prop 8"-missionaries are being stopped and asked about the temple and the church-the media is FINALLY paying a bit more attention to our difficulties, since the "white powder" incident-members seem to attend the temple with greater earnestness and desire; it easy to recognize the blessing of religious worship right nowAnd many more untold stories are small events that continue to strengthen the CA LDS and all others that support the passing of the prop."
November 16, 2008 11:17 PM
Friday, November 14, 2008
THANK YOU!!!!!
Former Catholic Bishop of Salt Lake City Decries Religious Bigotry in Political Ad; Defends LDS Role in California Ballot Initiative Protecting Traditional Marriage
Last update: 9:26 p.m. EST Nov. 7, 2008
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Nov 07, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The following statement was released today by Bishop William Weigand, head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento and former Bishop of Salt Lake City, in response to attacks on the Mormon Church for supporting California's Proposition 8, defending the traditional definition of marriage:
"Catholics stand in solidarity with our Mormon brothers and sisters in support of traditional marriage--the union of one man and one woman--that has been the major building block of Western Civilization for millennia.
"The ProtectMarriage coalition, which led the successful campaign to pass Proposition 8, was an historic alliance of people from every faith and ethnicity. LDS were included--but so were Catholics and Jews, Evangelicals and Orthodox, African-Americans and Latinos, Asians and Anglos.
"Bigoted attacks on Mormons for the part they played in our coalition are shameful and ignore the reality that Mormon voters were only a small part of the groundswell that supported Proposition 8.
"As the former bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, I can attest to the fact that followers of the Mormon faith are a good and generous people with a long history of commitment to family and giving to community causes.
"I personally decry the bigotry recently exhibited towards the members of the Church of the Latter Day Saints--coming from the opponents of Proposition 8, who ironically, have called those of us supporting traditional marriage intolerant.
"I call upon the supporters of same-sex marriage to live by their own words--and to refrain from discrimination against religion and to exercise tolerance for those who differ from them. I call upon them to accept the will of the people of California in the passage of Proposition 8."
SOURCE: Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento
Saturday, November 8, 2008
A day Trip Up North
A day trip up north to see Jerome, but we took in the sights along the way. Our first stop was Arcosanti, it was very interesting. It's a city that is being built slowly, and I mean slowly. It reminds me of something I would see in Eugene Oregon. I have to read more about it to tell you anything interesting. The best description is what I wrote above "it was very interesting". Second stop, a "Pit House" (old ruin) off of Orme Road. It was pretty cool and I was impressed with Zac's knowledge, he was like our very own tour guide from "Arizona Highways" (magazine here in the desert:)
Next was Jerome, AZ and if you are wondering where the pictures are I am sorry to say that I was enjoying myself with the history and shops that I forgot to take photos until the end of the day. So although you don't see much of Jerome, we did enjoy ourselves. I loved our drive home as it was this very scenic route and the weather was beautiful!
Next was Jerome, AZ and if you are wondering where the pictures are I am sorry to say that I was enjoying myself with the history and shops that I forgot to take photos until the end of the day. So although you don't see much of Jerome, we did enjoy ourselves. I loved our drive home as it was this very scenic route and the weather was beautiful!
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Birthday Girl Jill
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR JILL...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOOOOUUUUU!
I know what your Birthday wish is, and it is a righteous desire. May it come true! I love you little sister and the example you have always been to me.
Monday, November 3, 2008
It's voting day...
It's hard to believe that we are finally going to be able to vote. Yes, yes...I know many of you out there already voted. Trust me next year I will be requesting my early ballot.
However, I want to give a few words to what we are about to experience. I've had a hard time trying to decide what to do about voting for a President. I don't love either candidate, but after talking to a friend that I trust greatly I have decided on McCain...mostly because this friend did say we have a few Supreme Court Judges spots that are opening up and I almost find that just as important as the Presidential Election. More importantly I will be voting for something that means more to me than anything else, Prop 102 "Definition of Marriage between a Man and a Women".
I want my sister Jill to know how proud I am of her and all the work she has done in California on Prop 8. I am proud of my other siblings as well who have put time and effort into the proposition here in Arizona. I am sad when I hear others say that I am one of many people in the support of this proposition that is being discriminate. For those I say, "you are wrong, I am only fighting for my own rights not to be taken away from me". I have had and will continue to have many friends that are living a gay/lesbian life style. I love you, especially my friend Kim, I consider you one of my sisters. However, I can not stand by and watch so much of what I believe in be taken away because I am to passive to do anything about it. To often I think those of us that believe in God have sat back and been easy going and passive, and yet now we finally say we are going to stand and be heard and we are called names for this?
I believe the Bible to be the word of God and I also believe in the Book of Mormon, another testament of Jesus Christ. In both of these books it teaches and testifies of truthfulness, if I know something to be true than do I not have the right to stand for these truths? I will do all I can to protect something that is most precious of all, Family.
Last Sunday we had Stake Conference here in Arizona. We had excellent speakers speak to us about the times we live in. Elder Packer spoke and many of you probably received an email from "someone" who did not have the right to copy down what he spoke of in a meeting in Utah. I had several questions as to how authentic this email was. However, after listening to Elder Packer speak I realized he said many of the same things that went around in this email. It's hard not to be worried and fearful of what is ahead for us. He also gave us the peace of knowing that the only one we can rely on is our Heavenly Father. We are to have faith and live our life according to his teachings, we will be blessed by this. He did not say that these times would pass us by if we did it, he just said that we will find peace and comfort by living our lives in accordance with gospel teachings. It makes me realize that we have been a selfish people, and we have been lacking in so many areas.
Tomorrow I am voting, and I think this is the first time that I am voting with true passion for something I believe in and know to be true, Marriage is between a Man and a Woman.
We might not win this but at least I know that I did my part! That is truth!
However, I want to give a few words to what we are about to experience. I've had a hard time trying to decide what to do about voting for a President. I don't love either candidate, but after talking to a friend that I trust greatly I have decided on McCain...mostly because this friend did say we have a few Supreme Court Judges spots that are opening up and I almost find that just as important as the Presidential Election. More importantly I will be voting for something that means more to me than anything else, Prop 102 "Definition of Marriage between a Man and a Women".
I want my sister Jill to know how proud I am of her and all the work she has done in California on Prop 8. I am proud of my other siblings as well who have put time and effort into the proposition here in Arizona. I am sad when I hear others say that I am one of many people in the support of this proposition that is being discriminate. For those I say, "you are wrong, I am only fighting for my own rights not to be taken away from me". I have had and will continue to have many friends that are living a gay/lesbian life style. I love you, especially my friend Kim, I consider you one of my sisters. However, I can not stand by and watch so much of what I believe in be taken away because I am to passive to do anything about it. To often I think those of us that believe in God have sat back and been easy going and passive, and yet now we finally say we are going to stand and be heard and we are called names for this?
I believe the Bible to be the word of God and I also believe in the Book of Mormon, another testament of Jesus Christ. In both of these books it teaches and testifies of truthfulness, if I know something to be true than do I not have the right to stand for these truths? I will do all I can to protect something that is most precious of all, Family.
Last Sunday we had Stake Conference here in Arizona. We had excellent speakers speak to us about the times we live in. Elder Packer spoke and many of you probably received an email from "someone" who did not have the right to copy down what he spoke of in a meeting in Utah. I had several questions as to how authentic this email was. However, after listening to Elder Packer speak I realized he said many of the same things that went around in this email. It's hard not to be worried and fearful of what is ahead for us. He also gave us the peace of knowing that the only one we can rely on is our Heavenly Father. We are to have faith and live our life according to his teachings, we will be blessed by this. He did not say that these times would pass us by if we did it, he just said that we will find peace and comfort by living our lives in accordance with gospel teachings. It makes me realize that we have been a selfish people, and we have been lacking in so many areas.
Tomorrow I am voting, and I think this is the first time that I am voting with true passion for something I believe in and know to be true, Marriage is between a Man and a Woman.
We might not win this but at least I know that I did my part! That is truth!
Saturday, November 1, 2008
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