We Didn't Start the Madness*

We Didn't Start the Madness*
(A Recap of 2007-2008)

Georgia peach, clerkships teach, barbecue, Atlanta Zoo,
Stone Mountain, Olympic fountain, trouble on the MARTA

Church service, basketball, Aquarium, southern drawl,
Varsity, loved Dixie, but see ya'll later

Arizona here we come, East Valley, where Dave's from,
Bought a house, Jennings Strouss, travel to Ukraine

New job, lawyer snob, crazy boys, breaking toys,
Vegas Bowl, cruise control, Odysseys rock

We didn't start the madness! It’s just part of life to have to deal with strife.
We didn't start the madness! Though it makes us stronger, can it last much longer?

Flood the home, wreck the car, Elders Quorum, canning jars,
Rat race, no space, claustrophobia

Holme Roberts, pre-school, home improvement, stomach flu,
Tile the floor, Nathan's snore, 40 mile commute

Mom and Dad, home from mish, clean like mad, "nine months Trish?"
Advocate, celebrate, Liberty is born

No sleep, laundry heaps, Thomas trains, growing pains,
Paint the house, Mickey Mouse, Tim threw up again?!

We didn't start the madness! It’s just part of life to have to deal with strife.
We didn't start the madness! Though it makes us stronger, can we last much longer?

Litigator, move the neighbors, Denver trips, read my lips,
Help the ward, kids ignored, San Diego beach house,

Food storage, Halloween, save marriage in between (Prop 102)
Pass Prop 8, running late, heaven help our country

Clean out home, Move again, Thanksgiving, yard to tend,
Billing time, nursery rhymes, can't we keep a babysitter?

Home teaching, file that brief, kids screeching, pain relief
Compromise, O be wise, what more can we say.

We didn't start the madness! It’s just part of life to have to deal with strife.
We didn't start the madness! Though it makes us stronger, we must last much longer!

Stay tuned for streaming performance...

*A remake of Billy Joel’s We Didn’t Start the Fire
Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

Did I Miss Something?

Where did the month of November disappear to because I swear I just skipped it. I'm going to post some pictures because my brain is too tired to think of anything exciting or interesting to write.

. . .

. . .


12/7/08 Never did post any pictures. My iPhoto program is all messed up. I'll post something of importance soon.

Reminder to read "From the mouth of Nathan"

I'm sure most of you are aware of my monthly recordings of the funny things Nathan says to us. I added quite a bit today. I try to write them down and now I'm finally getting them blogged. The habit of writing his words down has been very useful in letting me see the joy he brings into our home and hearts. I hope you enjoy them too!

"Mom, take a picture of me!"

Liberty and Mekayla Meet/Family Reunion!

Here are some pictures we took while my family was visiting earlier this month for the blessing of Liberty and Mekayla. Hunsaker family members in town: Mom & Dad (Las Vegas), Jen & Jared (Las Vegas), Steve & Michell (Gilbert), Nate & Lalani (Gilbert), Ben & Sierra (Wasilla, AK), Danny & Corinne (Santa Ana, CA), and Darren (Gilbert). Missing: Melissa & Scott (UT), Elder Matt (Argentina), and Shawn & June (adopted brother)! Enjoy!




Liberty in her "scaredy cat" Halloween outfit, Mekayla in the swing! All three of my kids fell asleep on the way home from the Railroad Park in Scottsdale. Uncle Ben had fun wrestlin' with the boys. The Johnsons came over and had fun taking pictures with our photogenic Liberty! Kaia was zonked out after a fun night with the babysitters! After the blessing, we had lunch at Steve's house. The kids ate great at their little table. The rest of the afternoon was spent visiting and watching the crazy kids and daddies play around in the backyard. Mom, Dad, Ben, Sierra and kids said goodbye to us before they drove back home to Vegas. Probably the next time we see them Liberty and Mekayla will be running around together! Thank you to everyone who made the effort to be with us! We love and appreciate you so MUCH!

I Vote Values Videos

These videos are fabulous! Some show why it is so important for us to vote. The other videos are valid points of view regarding the same-sex marriage debate (genderless marriage) . Below are the links to the videos.


56 Signers



Gay Agenda in Schools



Same Sex Marriage Affects Everyone



A Civil Right?




Please spread the word and share these with your friends and especially those who are on the fence when it comes to protecting the definition of marriage. Homosexuality affects every marriage and individual in this country; do not be blind to the legal ramifications of legalizing same-sex marriage.

Welcome to Despair.com

We LOVE the despair.com website and have since 2004 or so. The demotivators just keep getting better. We bought Nathan and some of his cousins some t-shirts. The following picture is the one we got for Nathan.


The one that best describes me at this point in my life...


I received this one in my email and it got plenty of laughs out of me.


If you are unfamiliar with this site, now is the time to familiarize yourself with their hilarious and sometimes too true for comfort demotivators! ENJOY!

Liberty's Plethora of Birth Announcements

I can never decide on anything it seems and so it was with her birth announcements. Here are the many versions I made. I finally printed the last two with her smiling since it took me nearly two months to figure out!

I had to make one with her brothers.

Why I need a backyard...

Presenting evidence dated, September 10-11, 2008:

I let the boys play outside on our patio while I tried to fix dinner and these pictures show why I am in desperate need of a backyard. Here is the evidence I am presenting to Dave to win my case for a new home! Although with the latest happening on Wall street and the credit crunch it might be safer to just buck up and get by for the next few months. We'll wait and see.

The boy in the red shirt is a neighbor we've never met, but would you pass up getting involved in this mess. Nathan says they were only playing construction. Duh, mom! What did you think you would get when you put construction vehicles, flower pots full of soil, and the male gender together in one evening? Flowers blooming on the concrete or dirt spread out everywhere and anywhere!




This picture was snapped the next morning when I found Nathan had snuck out before I even woke up in the morning. Not only do I need a backyard but I need a key-only dead bolt, too!! We had cleaned up the mess from the night before and he made this mess all over again by himself.

Airline calls for liquids review

I wanted to share this story/video with you about the reasons for the airline liquid ban. I never knew the details and this tells the specifics about it and how some simple ingredients can be explosive.

Scary! Sometimes the little inconveniences at the airport are for a good reason…

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7607043.stm

Why Define Marriage in the Constitution?

Many have questioned the necessity of defining marriage within the Constitution or under any law for that matter. Such persons reason that marriage should be left to individuals and couples to define for themselves. However, as outlined below, defining marriage within the Constitution is the only remaining method of protecting man-woman marriage as the fundamental institution of society.

The purpose of defining anything under the law is to preserve and to promote the order and stability of societal institutions. If people were left to define these social institutions for themselves, there would be no consensus on why these institutions exist and what purpose they serve. In effect the law would have no function. For example, imagine if people were allowed to define for themselves the meaning of terms defined under the criminal law such as "illicit drugs," "child pornography," "speeding," or even "murder." In that scenario, the institution of the criminal justice system would be useless.

The most important institution in our society is the family, and marriage is the foundation of a family. Marriage is and has always been the union of a man and a woman. The institution of marriage is ordained of God for the happiness of His children. Why is man-woman marriage as opposed to genderless marriage so fundamental to our society and so essential for our happiness? Because man-woman marriage is, among other things, the optimal and most effective means of (1) bearing children; (2) raising children and providing for their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual welfare; (3) transforming males into husbands/fathers and females into wives/mothers, (4) bridging the male-female divide, and (5) channeling healthy sexual activity and discouraging unhealthy sexual activity. These well established benefits of man-woman marriage, and the consequences of eliminating these benefits, affect not only individuals, couples, and families, but society as a whole. An omniscient God, knowing all of these things, ordained marriage so that we as His children might be happy.

Of course, man cannot change institutions that God himself has ordained because such institutions are eternal and unchangeable. Nonetheless, God has instituted governments for the benefit of man, and He has given us our agency to allow us to learn between good and evil. He teaches us correct principles and lets us govern ourselves. Unfortunately, although God has taught us correct principles and invites us to accept and live those principles that are necessary for our happiness, there are some who cannot accept or have even denied the divine source of those principles. Turning away from God, they engage in a process of self-discovery and experiment with principles that are contrary to those taught by God. Without accepting and living the principles established by God, the result is always unhappiness.

In our democratic republic, we have the freedom to voice our opinions to establish a moral consensus and develop man-made laws. Those laws not only establish boundaries of right and wrong for society but enable us to exercise our freedoms and to suffer (or to enjoy) the consequences of our actions. Because removing these boundaries does not remove the consequences, such boundaries (or laws) serve to teach and reinforce the consequences.

Until recently, it was unnecessary to define what marriage is through man-made law. Everyone had always known and assumed that marriage is the union of a man and a woman. Unfortunately, today, for the first time in the history of the world, a small minority is questioning this established truth by attempting to remove gender from the equation and establish genderless “marriage.” The central goal of this minority is clear: they are endeavoring to hijack the institution of marriage to push a broader cultural, social, and political agenda—namely, the acceptance and promotion of homosexual activity and lifestyle. Yet, because this minority cannot gain a consensus to create laws through the legislative process, they have turned to the courts to push their agenda. Even with statutes on the books that define what marriage is and what it is not, a few activist judges have struck down these statutes under the guise of principles such as “privacy,” “dignity,” “liberty,” “equality,” and “fairness.” Ignoring precedent and reason, these judges have attempted to create a new kind of “marriage” by legislating from the bench.

The only way to stop the advance of this minority rule and to protect our most fundamental societal institutions from judge-made law is to ingrain them in our constitutions, both state and federal. No state judge has the authority to overturn a state or federal constitutional amendment, and no federal judge has the authority to overturn a federal constitutional amendment. Because our Founding Fathers understood the permanent nature of a constitution and its ultimate supremacy as a form of law, they ingrained certain bedrock principles into our federal Constitution. Many of these principles were those that had been called into question by tyrannical rule and lawlessness—principles such as freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and due process.

Today, the very meaning of marriage—the most fundamental of all institutions in society—has been called into question. Therefore, the time has come to ingrain the definition of marriage into our state and federal constitutions. Without such protection, man-woman marriage as a vital social institution will lose the protection and encouragement of our government, and ultimately society will lose the well established benefits for which man-woman marriage exists.

Get Involved - Marriage Protection Amendment Arizona

Arizonans will vote on November 4, 2008 on Ballot Proposition 102 which reads:

“Only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state.”

I urge you to vote “YES” which will place this statement into the Arizona Constitution and secure this principle for our state law.

From the www.yesformarriage.com website:

On November 4, 2008, Arizonans have the opportunity to protect and reaffirm marriage. You, the voter, have the opportunity to maintain the most important element of society so it can be passed on to our children.

A “YES” vote prevents judges and politicians from redefining marriage and leaves marriage’s essential meaning in the hands of the people of Arizona.

Marriage is about the next generation. Marriage builds up communities family by family and provides for the next generation. It is the bedrock foundation of our society.

Judges should not distort the meaning of marriage. But that is just what is happening in California. On May 15, 2008, the California Supreme Court (by a narrow vote of 4 justices to 3) voted to redefine marriage. This radical and lawless decision struck down a marriage law passed by the people of California in 2000. The California Judges claimed that marriage is “discrimination.” They are just plain wrong! The California decision shows why the Arizona Constitution needs to reaffirm marriage:

• The same thing can happen here. Nothing stops an Arizona court from striking down Arizona’s marriage laws and redefining marriage, just as the courts did in California.
• The California decision means more legal attacks on marriage in Arizona. It’s only a matter of time before redefined marriages from California are used as legal weapons to change the law here in Arizona.
  Marriage should have constitutional protection in Arizona.
• Amending our constitution ensures that the essential meaning of marriage will be preserved, and that no Arizona judge will be able to force us to adopt California’s radical redefinition of marriage.

Moms and dads matter. Reaffirming marriage is the best way to ensure the best possible environment for as many children as possible. There is overwhelming evidence that children raised by a married mom and dad are more likely to do better in school, to be healthier emotionally and physically, and are less likely to commit crimes, use drugs, and have children out of wedlock. No one is saying there aren’t exceptions. But abandoning the meaning of marriage as a society puts more kids at risk.

If you want to get involved please visit www.yesformarriage.com or www.unitedfamiliesarizona.org. They need help in many areas: phone calls, community team leaders, cottage meetings in your home, financial support, etc.

Also please feel free to contact me by email or phone if you have some time to volunteer. All help is needed and wanted. We need to STEP UP and make sure this amendment passes this year because the chance of it coming up to vote on again is highly unlikely. We are at a crossroads. Do we as citizens define marriage or do we allow minority groups, who are always louder than the more passive "la-de-da" majority, and liberal judges define it for us.

I'm not going to sit idle and do nothing when it comes to protecting and defining marriage for what it is and always has been since the beginning of time, a union between one man and one woman.

Edited: I am adding more links to websites in hope that it will help increase the traffic or google rating of these sites. You can also join the Arizona Marriage Protection Amendment (2008) group on Facebook.

http://ProtectMarriage.com

http://isupportmarriage.com/

www.azpolicy.org

The Many Faces of Liberty - Photo Shoot

My posting skills need some help. Some pictures we took of Liberty about 2-3 weeks ago. Time is flying by so fast and I just hope we get some sleep in the coming weeks because I am entering the zombie stage with fury!

What to Wear Now: Ultra-Feminine Tops

I get emails from Gap about once a week and this one intrigued me, so I opened the email thinking that maybe these tops are modest too. I'm trying to wear clothes that are more feminine then the general solid colored shirts and jeans look. I was told by an image consultant back in Atlanta that these clothes (solid shirt and jeans) are meant for boys/men and not for ladies.

So I open the email and found that the "ultra-feminine tops" are nothing more then an excuse to wear lingerie outside of the bedroom. What bothers me is this is now the acceptable apparel for most working women including those who my husband gets to work around. I couldn't ask for anything more than for my husband to be around lingerie-clad women all day, every day. For most women, their husbands spend the majority of their day at work rather than the home. So it is so comforting to know that the "what to wear now" is lingerie inspired, gag!!

The topic of modesty runs deep to my core, probably too deep in some instances. I have a hard time with women who choose to wear clothes that are "sexy". Does it occur to anyone [insert women] that the term sexy is good, even great for the bedroom but not so great outside of it?

I'll step down from my soap box now and let you decide "what to wear now".

The Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread

Liberty Christine was born on Monday, July 7th!

Her entrance into the world...




Weight: 8 pounds 14 ounces
Length: 21 3/4 inches (We say 22 inches!)
Head: 14 inches

This Day in History
Today is Monday, July 7, the 189th day of 2008. There are 177 days left in the year.

Chocolate Day-Commemorating the introduction of chocolate in Europe in 1550.
In 1928 - Sliced bread is sold for the first time by the Chillicothe Baking Company of Chillicothe, Missouri. It is described as “the greatest forward step in the baking industry since bread was wrapped".
In 1930, construction began on Boulder Dam (later Hoover Dam).
In 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Alaska Statehood Act into United States law

We agree that Liberty is the greatest thing since sliced bread (90 years ago to the day). So far she has a delightful temperament and likes to eat, sleep and make messy diapers. We are so grateful for her smooth entrance into the world and know we were blessed because of your (family and friends) prayers and watchful care of our family. We are ever appreciative of your thoughts, prayers, words and deeds!

Hopefully more news to come!! The adrenalin is sure to wear off soon and then the zombie stage will hit! We like to refer to it as the "shock and awe" stage!

Thanks again!!

Nathan's 4th Birthday Pictures

We had some success and captured some cute smiles from our darling red-head. We always get comments from strangers whenever we go anywhere. Almost always we get a sweet comment from a "Grandma" out and about. This time we got two comments from the cute white-haired ladies! I have learned from prior experience to just allow the photographer to do her job and the process goes much smoother!

This is my favorite pose (above)!

Strongest Dad in the World

My brother sent me this story and I just finally read it today. It is extremely touching (music can bring such emotion) and I thought it was definitely blog worthy. Hopefully some of you have not see it already. If you're like me you'll need to grab a tissue before watching the video. I'm beginning to realize that I need to hear stories and experiences like these to ground myself and remember what great blessings I have received from a loving God and then to remember that I need to give much because I have received much.

Here is the link to the story of Rick and Dick Hoyt: Team Hoyt.

This next video is an all-time favorite! Be prepared to smile, laugh and have your spirit lifted--laughing baby video.

Enjoy!

Jolly Ranchers Sour Blasts

First off, I love Jolly Ranchers, but my all time favorite candy is anything super sour--my mouth is already beginning to water. So I first tried these candies while I was in Utah for my sisters' graduation. My sister, Kate, introduced me to them.

I have been on the hunt for these so that I can have them in the hospital when I deliver this baby (EDD: July 8). I have looked for them at Walmart, Target, CVS, Walgreens, Frys, Bashas, etc., and to no avail. So this week I finally got around to donating some of our stuff to Goodwill. We went inside to find some treasures for the boys, basically anything with wheels would work, and while I'm checking out I notice some green bags of candies. Low and behold, it is THE SOUR JOLLY RANCHERS!!! I couldn't believe it. What are the odds of finding the exact candy I've been looking for at a thrift store. I bought four bags (should have bought them all--8 total) and was completely in disbelief.

I truly believe this was a tender mercy from the Lord. I had a HORRIBLE week previous and this was one of those ah-ha moments that I felt the Lord is truly mindful of me. Something so dumb and little as a sour candy and yet the Spirit bore witness that this small miracle was specific for me. We have to notice and appreciate the little and small things before we're able to see the whole picture of how Heavenly Father directs our lives for good.

To blog or not to blog...

Have you ever been in a conversation with people about blogging? It is always interesting to hear other's points of view on the blogging world. I wouldn't characterize myself as a true gung-ho blogger because I don't share with the world every detail that is happening in my family's life, but I do think a blog is an excellent way to keep in contact with family and friends and the major highlights that happen in our lives.

Some blogs are fully given gossip about oneself and those closest to them. I sometimes wonder if people realize they are an open book and how dangerous that might be to blog-stalkers (if that is what they are called). To those non-bloggers out there who assume bloggers spend hours on their computers, not every blogger is glued to their computers every hour of the day.

I will continue to blog and probably continue to read from some of the blogs referred to as gossip blogs. Not sure why I am posting this but it has been on my mind lately.

Family Pictures during April 2008

I just updated our Picasa Web Album online with pictures from April. We had quite the busy month so you can go and check it out if you please!

Family Pictures - April 2008

Album Description: Annecy playground with Daddy, Nathan's train tracks engineering skills, Swimming with Olsens at our pool, Shawn's Ironman, Playing in Nate's backyard, Horseshoe Bend, BYU Graduation for Alyse and Kate, Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point, Lunch at Tucanos

"Where your treasure is there will your heart be also."

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
"But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Matthew 6:19-21)

Is it just me or has the world turned away from Jesus' declaration. I am constantly reminding myself to not be selfish and to remember my purpose here on earth. This is much easier said then done, especially since we are surrounded and bombarded with the world's perception of the good life. What I find interesting is when I sacrifice my own selfish desires and focus on others, I am a happier and better person. Less time focusing on self (own problems) and more time to help others and realizing that my life really isn't so bad.

One of the best quotes I have ever heard: "The laughter of the world is merely loneliness pathetically trying to reassure itself." Elder Neal A. Maxwell

I have to remind myself to really enjoy the time I have with my boys while they are so small and young. They are completely sweet and fully loving of me and my imperfections. Who wouldn't want to be loved so completely and effortlessly? Before I know it they'll talk back and think that their Mom and Dad are complete morons.

A quote from President Monson: "There is no tomorrow to remember if we don't do something today, and to live most fully today, we must do that which is of greatest importance. Let us not procrastinate those things which matter most."

I like to tell myself that my blogging is so sporadic because I'm doing such a good job in the Mommy seat. Truly time is just whizzin' by and you really have to choose what you want to spend your time doing each day.

Timothy - 18 Months



Nathan - 3.75 years ;)



Take the time to cherish the dailiness of life.

Upgrade: Silver to Gold

Well we finally upgraded our silver Accord to a gold! This isn't a picture of our car but very similar.

Dave will now be driving in style! We are very fond of Hondas and it is almost a requirement to being allowed in the family, well that and your political party.

The whole "crashed the car and find a replacement nicer and better than what we originally had, without any stress" is a total miracle and proves that God is very mindful of each of us.

The short of it... a partner at Dave's firm had to take the keys from her 92 year old mother. She has hardly driven the vehicle, so it is in tip-top shape and has extremely low miles. I don't know if she even allowed any one else to ride in it. My only regret is not being able to meet the sweet lady who allowed us to buy it! Dave loves it and appreciates the sherpa covers, especially come summertime!

Do you think it is totaled?

Dave got in a car accident on the 101 last Thursday morning during rush hour. He rear-ended a Dodge Ram, so needless to say it missed the bumper and went straight for the good stuff. Thankfully Dave is okay and went to work the next day and on Saturday too. The work doesn't slow or go away when you are a lawyer, it just continues to pile up like weeds. Actually he even worked from home the day of the accident too. Crazy! We really need to evaluate the worth of his salary compared to the time, pressure and stress involved with his job.

Geico is still figuring everything out, but we're pretty sure it is a total loss.

Here are some pictures:

Nathan's first photo shoot

Nathan's first attempt at using a camera. Peek-a-Dave!

So it takes a picture through this thing?

Nice feet!

Good job taking a picture of Daddy!

Disney Movie Club junk mail.

Tunnel of Death in Russia

Dave's parents live in Ukraine and experience crazy roads like this all year round. In the winter it might be due to ice and any other time it is likely due to the extreme amounts of alcohol in their blood. No restrictions on alcohol sales or consumption limits.



YouTube video from: ChrisGronski-- The 3,150 m long Lefortovo Tunnel in Russia is the longest 'in-city' tunnel in all of Europe. There is a river running over it and water leaks at some points. When the temperature reaches minus 38 degrees like it did last winter, the road freezes and the result is the attached video taken during a single day with the tunnel camera. Congratulations to the driver of the dual bus!!

State rights vs Parental rights

On February 28, 2008, the California Court of Appeals issued a ruling in a juvenile court proceeding that declared that almost all forms of homeschooling in California are in violation of state law. (Private tutoring by certified teachers remains an option.) Moreover, the court ruled that parents possess no constitutional right to home school their children.

Are we to have the government or state control what happens to our children? Should we just hand our children over to the state because apparently they know what is best for our children? Yeah, we see in Russia and other countries where the state does such an incredible job with its youth. YEAH RIGHT! The best environment in which to raise children is a home with a father and mother working together as they keep their children's best interest in mind.

It doesn't take a village to raise a child! What it does take is work, sacrifice, dedication and love from both a father and mother, not to mention the divine help (grace) needed from Jesus Christ. Of course this is the ideal pattern, but we know that children in one-parent homes can thrive also with the help of family and a strong support network.

I do not like the notion that the government knows what is best, especially when it comes to education, religion, or any other right a parent has in the upbringing of their children. Some of you might not know that I was homeschooled and I still cannot figure out how my mom survived it. A vision into the Hunsaker home... My mom trying to teach three boys (14, 10, 8) and two girls (16, 12) math, english, religion, government, science, etc., as we sat together at one table in our home. To put it lightly we were stubborn, selfish, disrespectful snots, but some how it ended up working in various ways as she and my dad sacrificed much on our behalf. How they came out sane from it all is another long and thought-provoking post that no one wants to write! Although some times we feel they are insane from raising six sons and three daughters!

Sorry this post is all over the place. Enjoy!

I found this gem of a picture. Can you spot me? Just kidding! What a great picture though!

Which Disney Princess Are You?

I actually took this quiz and the results are somewhat true. I feel that I lack patience, although I will put up with quite a bit before exploding and then those around me wonder what the hecks wrong with her, hmmmm... maybe I just need a good night's sleep. There is something about lack of sleep that puts me into the zombie-crazy zone.


You Are Cinderella!

Dignified and hard working. With a gentle and soft-spoken manner you have something many people don't. Patience. Even through the moments of heartbreak you're still able to hold onto all of your hopes and dreams. Bide your time; your dream will come true.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

California Court Robs Parents of Choice

Just as a new California law that would essentially indoctrinate children at school about homosexuality is being implemented and many parents are wondering how to protect their children's moral sense, a new wrinkle appears. The opportunity to pull a child out of government education to home school may be blocked in California.

A California Court of Appeals has ruled that unless they have a teaching certificate, parents have no legal right to home school their children. Parents may be criminally prosecuted for failing to comply. The ruling may impact California's 166,000 home schooled children and bar an avenue of choice for those who do not want their children's morality undermined at school.

Also sabotaged is parental rights and choice in choosing the education of their children.

The message is if you don't like what's happening at school and you are sick at heart about exposing your children to it-tough.

Shock waves are reverberating across the state.

The decision came from the 2^nd Appellate Court in Los Angeles in the case of Philip and Mary Long, and the Court said We find no reason to strike down the Legislature's evaluation of what constitutes an adequate education scheme sufficient to promote the 'general diffusion of knowledge and intelligence. We agree ... 'the educational program of the State of California was designed to promote the general welfare of all the people and was not designed to accommodate the personal ideas of any individual in the field of education.'"

Specifically, the appeals court said, the trial court had found that "keeping the children at home deprived them of situations where (1) they could interact with people outside the family, (2) there are people who could provide help if something is amiss in the children's lives, and (3) they could develop emotionally in a broader world than the parents' 'cloistered' setting."

Michael Smith, president of the Home School Legal Defense Association, said the ruling would effectively ban homeschooling in the state.

"California is now on the path to being the only state to deny the vast majority of homeschooling parents their fundamental right to teach their own children at home," he said in a statement.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger called the move by the courts "outrageous" and said that "parents should have the right to decide what's best for their children. "If the courts don't protect parents' rights then, as elected officials, we will."

I'll post my opinion on this some time soon but wanted everyone to be aware of this issue.

Recovering from a flu bug

Hello blog readers! I have been MIA because of an awful flu bug. I plan on updating my web album soon with pictures from February. We hope to recover soon and be back to full health and strength. Being pregnant and sick is not fun at all. I have another ultrasound tomorrow so we'll see how Liberty is doing then. The name Liberty has sort of stuck with us so it will probably end up being her name unless we are struck in the head with something else. I hope to deliver her some time around the 4th of July.

I hate not knowing the side effects on a fetus from taking drugs while sick. I have a bad cough that keeps me up much of the night and I am now resorting to natural cough remedies that I can make in my own kitchen. Here is one of them:

1 t honey
1 T lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
add mixture to a little bit of water and drink immediately.

OR

For those of us who just like it sour, 1/2 lemon, squeezed fresh, with some water and drink immediately. I haven't tried this yet because I don't have any lemons but I'm going to brave the local Sprouts grocery store and find some.

I did concoct this remedy this morning:

• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 Tablespoon honey
• 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar (used white balsamic)
  
• 2 Tablespoons water
  Mix and take by the teaspoon.

WHOA: Be careful with remedy above. I just took it again and this time it was harsh! Yikes, I hope my senses are awakened after that crazy teaspoon!

I will let you all know if this works well for me tonight. I don't think I've got a solid night's rest since early last week. For those stay at home moms out there, you know how this can make you crazy and insane, especially if you have young children surrounding you throughout the day. Oh the joys of motherhood.

I have come to realize that I better be grateful for a healthy body 95% of the year. How amazing our bodies are when they are healthy and strong, not to mention how easy it really is to get things accomplished when we are feeling well.

More exciting news to come.

60 Years of Marriage

A man and woman had been married for more than 60 years. They had shared everything. They had talked about everything. They had kept no
secrets from each other except that the little old woman had a shoe box in the top of her closet that she had cautioned her husband never to open or ask her about.

For all of these years, he had never thought about the box, but one day the little old woman got very sick and the doctor said she would not recover. In trying to sort out their affairs, the little old man took down the shoe box and took it to his wife's bedside.

She agreed that it was time that he should know what was in the box. When he opened it, he found two crocheted dolls and a stack of money totaling $95,000.

He asked her about the contents. 'When we were to be married,' she said, ' my grandmother told me the secret of a happy marriage was to never argue. She told me that if I ever got angry with you, I should just keep quiet and crochet a doll.'

The little old man was so moved; he had to fight back tears. Only two precious dolls were in the box. She had only been angry with him two times in all those years of living and loving. He almost burst with happiness.

'Honey,' he said, 'that explains the doll, but what about all of this money?
Where did it come from?'

'Oh,' she said, 'that's the money I made from selling the dolls.'

I wish I knew how to crochet! All the money I could make on Ebay! Just kidding!

Bar Stool Economics

Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:

The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.

So, that's what they decided to do. The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve. Since you are all such good customers, he said, 'I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20. Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.

The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But, what about the other six men - the paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair share?' They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.

And so:

The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings).
The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).

Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings.

'I only got a dollar out of the $20,'declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man,' but he got $10!'

'Yeah, that's right,' exclaimed the fifth man. 'I only saved a dollar, too. It's unfair that he got ten times more than I!'

'That's true!!' shouted the seventh man. 'Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!'

'Wait a minute,' yelled the first four men in unison. 'We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!'

The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.

The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!

And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.

For those who understand, no explanation is needed.; and for those who don't get it, no explanation is possible!

Dave inserts: The italiced sentence in the second to last paragraph is the only inaccurate statement in this narrative. As the analogy itself reveals, while across-the-board tax cuts benefit everyone, the wealthy typically get the least benefit from such tax breaks as measured by a percentage of how much they already pay. Although a tax cut saves the wealthy a greater amount in terms of dollars, this is because the wealthy pay most of the taxes. As Fred Thompson pointed out last year in an excellent article, the richest 1% of Americans pay 35% of all taxes, and the top 10% pay more taxes than the bottom 60% combined. The bottom line is that when liberals allege that tax cuts favor the wealthy, they are lying through their teeth.

We're having a girl!

So the predictions we had regarding the gender were correct. My mom still has an almost perfect record and I feel like I have a perfect record for my own children!

We went in for our ultrasound on Monday, Feb. 4th and found out we're having a girl. The baby looked good and I'm feeling well. It is a huge relief to have these doctor visits confirm that the baby is healthy, because at this stage I wonder if perhaps I'm just getting fat and clueless as to the health of the baby. I believe I felt her first movements on Sunday but haven't had the time to sit still long enough to concentrate on the feeling in the womb.

I enjoy this stage of the pregnancy when the movements begin and then increase in intensity and quantity. For some time now Nathan has mentioned that we'll have two babies, Timothy and Liberty. We have always talked about naming a daughter Liberty and some how Nathan has picked up on it. I'm not sure what her name will be at this point.

Get out and vote! Super Tuesday!

I believe our country would be stronger and better if more people were interested in American politics instead of sporting events. I have spent the last two days volunteering my time and energy in support of Mitt Romney. The polls show McCain winning in Arizona but I am almost losing sleep over the thought of this liberal candidate being the Republican nominee let alone the president of our country. He is a sell-out and Huckabee is no better. For anyone who reads this post, at this point of the race, any vote for Huckabee or Ron Paul is a vote for McCain. You might as well just vote for McCain and then feel the slap in the face afterward. He is dishonest and must not understand the meaning of a "straight-talker."

His record is horrible when it comes to most of the issues.

DELETED previous comments regarding the issues and where McCain stands. Those who read my posts are intelligent enough to research the issues and get behind a candidate who most represents their views on the future of America.

I kept this youtube video because it is hilarious when John McCain tries to explain his strengths when it comes to economic policy. John McCain & Miss Teen SC on Economics

We'll be voting for Mitt Romney and encourage you to look at the issues and get involved in the great cause of freedom.

P.S. John McCain will never have my vote.

LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley dies

We found out about President Hinckley's death last night around 8:30 pm MST. He passed away around 7 pm. The news was a bit shocking and I really couldn't believe it was happening. So, we searched all over the web until we began finding the news release of his death. It was true, our beloved prophet was dead. This is my first experience with a president of the Church dying during my adulthood and I'm sad to say that I don't like this feeling at all. I know he was old, but he lived so unbelievably healthy and energetic throughout his older years that I thought he would live forever! The feeling I have is almost as if my own grandfather passed away. I am reassured that he is happier than ever to be back in the presence of his sweetheart and other family members. I'm sure the reunion there is a large and exciting celebration.

I have learned so much from this prophet of God and am grateful for his example, service and love. Here is an article I found in the Houston Chronicle

Hope and life, in Gordon B. Hinckley's own words.
From Staff and Wire Reports

"Many people are looking for something that they can hold onto, an anchor to which they can attach their lives. That's one thing. Two: We expect things of our people. We expect them to do things. We expect them to measure up to certain standards. It isn't always easy to be a member of this church. It's demanding. But it's wonderfully fruitful and has a tremendous affect on people."
— On CNN's Larry King Live Sept. 8, 1998, in answer to the question on what attracts people to the Mormon church.

• "What I am suggesting is that we have had missing from our society a buoyant spirit of optimism. What I am asking is that we turn from the negativism that so permeates our culture and look for the remarkable good in the land and times in which we live; that we speak of one another's virtues more than we speak of one another's faults; that optimism replace pessimism; that uncertainty and worry be pushed aside by an enduring feeling of hope."
— Page 101 in Standing for Something: 10 Neglected Virtues that Will Heal Our Hearts and Homes (Three Rivers Press, $14.95).

• "A little play and a little loafing are good from time to time. But it is work that spells the difference in the life of a young man or young woman. It is usually work and effort that explain the difference between the gold-medal athlete and those who finish even a fraction of a second later. It is work that provides the food we eat, the clothing we wear, the homes in which we live, the grades and training we receive. It is work that gives us a feeling of accomplishment. And it is work that allows us to feel that we are making a difference in the world."
— Page 37 in Way to Be!: 9 Ways to be Happy and Make Something of Your Life (Simon & Schuster, $14.95).

• "Those of us who are American citizens stand solidly with the president of our nation. The terrible forces of evil must be confronted and held accountable for their actions. This is not a matter of Christian against Muslim. I am pleased to see that food is being dropped to the hungry people of a target nation. We value our Muslim neighbors across the world and hope that those who live by the tenets of their faith will not suffer. I ask particularly that our own people do not become a party in any way to the persecution of the innocent. Rather, let us be friendly and helpful, protective and supportive. It is the terrorist organizations that must be ferreted out and brought down."
— During an address in Salt Lake City, Oct. 7, 2001.

• "Our desire everywhere is to make bad men good and good men better. Wherever we go, we go in the front door. Our representatives honor the laws of the nations to which they go and teach the people to be good citizens. We teach, we train, we build, we educate, we provide opportunity for growth and development. We give hope to those without hope and there is nothing greater you can give a man or a woman than hope."
— National Press Club address, March 8, 2000.

As a freshman at BYU, we had this quote on our dormitory hall: The gospel makes bad men good and good men better!

I pray we all have the desire to become better through the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know it surely is the truth because I have definitely become a better friend, daughter, sister, mother and wife because of my desire to live the gospel, which is the good news, the word of God.

We will miss you, President Hinckley!