Issues

My friend and I were talking about the scary situation our economy is in, the scary situation with the polygamist group, raising children in the world, the scary situation with health care, child care etc. Everything sounded so despondent. Are any of you like us? We are worried and have anxieties! We don't know whether to go up or down, left or right? Do we pay this bill or that? Has anyone else noticed the price of everything is going sky high? We all know what happens. The price of one thing goes up, causes panic, so everyone else drives up prices of everything else; from home rates, to apples. For instance, grocery items have jumped 57% in the past 12 months and foreclosure rates are on the same rise! YIKES. Matell just came out and said all their prices will increase on ALL toys, and, at the rate that gas is going up we'll be paying a dollar more per gallon at the end of the year, than we are currently paying. I know, I know...oil keeps people employed, keeps our homes warm, our cars running...but it kept people employed, homes warm, and cars running at $0.96 a gallon! In 2001 I remember filling my car up, a 4 door sedan my parents gave me to use for college, for 10 bucks!!! Yup! TEN! I don't want to sound like a raving 90 year old with no teeth, but c'mon, something HAS to change! It's the principle of the thing, whether you can afford it or not! We should tap into our national emergency oil reserve and tell the foreign oil companies to lower their prices or we won't come back for business. They know they can't survive without major countries supporting them, so why don't we set the standard?! We also end the war against an "idea!" We can't fight an idea. We CAN protect our land from the invasion of that idea, but we can't dispell people's thoughts by bombs! British troops tried to dispell our founding father's ideas, and that didn't work either! They stood by the ideal of a free nation. (I'm in NO WAY supporting terrorism, so just take it for what it's worth.) This war was supposed to be a get in - drop bombs - get out fashion. What happened?Did you know that the US employs public relations specialist who work extensively to create a picture perfect situation for the media. For example, "Operation Iraqi Freedom" was staged! When our US soldiers toppled Sadaam's statue our "employee" handed out American flags, gathered in a select group of Iraqi's, and shut out the area to media and other "anti-Operation Iraqi Freedom" citizens until the stage was set to perfection. THEN the cameras were allowed to start rolling! I'm serious. Look at other past wars. You think Kuwait actually happened like it did? It wasn't picture perfect people, it was WAR! But it was made to "look" like we had "smart bombs" that got the enemy only..blah blah. In the book "Imperial Hubris" Michael Scheuer predicted that a slow bleed of our economy would be what loses us the war. He predicted that this war would be won by the "other side" by basically bleeding us dry! I think we know that it's working. We are all scurrying around like ants trying to find every morsel of food to keep existing (well that's what I feel like sometimes). I personally think we need to stop the stage show in Iraq; not in all countries, but Iraq. It's bleeding us dry, and they will win if we keep giving them the chance. I'm not anti war. Well, yeah, I guess I am. But, I do know that it has its purposes. Like, getting rid of Sadaam. I'm happy he's out of power, but what about Bin Laden? DUH! Did we shift focus a bit? Our troops are amazing, and I give them props for their courage. I wouldn't want to see people's homes destroyed because of an ideal. I didn't want this to turn into a philosophical debate or anything, but hey, it's just bleeding us dry. Everyone discounted Michael Scheuer when he wrote his predictions, and now we're paying for it! Diapers are up, produce is up, milk is up, poverty is up...jobs are being out-sourced, people are unemployed at a high rate, and nationally people are living -1% within their income. As members of the church, and in most Christian communities we know that "if ye are prepared ye shall not fear." I have no fear. I'm prepared...to an extent. That being said, there are still anxieties about the future! BUT, I'll call it a skunk when I see a skunk, and this war is a skunk, along with all the problems is has caused. The fear, anxieties, debt, crime, foreclosures, etc...etc... This didn't happen because millions were stupid with their money, it happened because of our Imperial Hubris! So, let's help each other live frugal, live informed, update each other. Anyone know any tips on investing money? Home remedies so we can save co-pays by not going to the dr? Ways to get better gas mileage? How to pay off credit cards the smart way? How to save on tuition expenses (besides just "not going")? Family friendly activities for free? Let's post links and chat it up so we keep each other informed and positive!

Just Because.....

A CRAZY AMAZING SURVEY!!!!
Who were you with last night::	Chris and Coleman
What woke you up this morning::	Coleman waking up
Is tonight going to be a good night::	Yup. Larry King has Hillary Clinton as a guest
What's on your mind RIGHT now::	Chris coming home from school
Would you take a bullet for anyone::	Yup. Anyone I cared about
Do you listen 2 music everyday::	Yup
What is your favorite kind of soda::	Coke Zero
How long til your b-day::	8 days
Does a kiss make you feel better::	Yup
Do you start the water before you get in the shower::	Yup
Have you ever had stitches::	Nope
What are you doing tomorrow::	Nothing much. Just chillin with the Coleman buddy
What is your favorite cereal::	Anything with some chocolate
Have you ever been skinny dipping::	Nope
Funniest thing you heard all day::	I don't know? Give me a minute with Chris and I'll be laughing at a joke or funny story!
Do you snore::	Yup
What are you wearing::	Makeup, perfume, rings...oh, and clothes
What was the last thing you had to drink::	Strawberry Limeade from Sonic, yummm!
What is your favorite kind of soup::	My mom's homemade Chicken Noodle!
Taco sauce- Hot, Medium, or Mild::	Medium
Do you remember your first kiss::	Duh! Yuh!
Have you ever used someone else's toothbrush::	All the time. Coleman constantly loses mine or Chris'
Would you rather get up early or sleep in::	If you know me, you know I have a love affair with sleep!
Tell me about the shirt your wearing::	You spelled "you're" wrong, but I won't hold that against you Mr. Survery person. It's a short-sleeved white sweater hoodie with a button up collar
Do you trust people::	Nope. (Only a select few)
How much do looks matter::	I could care less really. I like to look good, but not for others, just because I like it. Everyone is hot!
Do you tell your parents everything::	Not now that I'm married, but I used to
What color are the walls in your room::	White
What do you order at IHOP:	Waffle House food
Do you want to tell someone something::	No
Who would you want to be stuck in a cave with::	A search and rescue person
Look to your left, what do you see::	Rock Band guitar
What is the weather like::	Balmy 80's
Have you ever glued your fingers together::	Yup
What time do you go to bed::	10ish on a good night
When is the last time you had butterflies::	Flying to Utah with Coleman
What are you going to do this weekend::	Hopefully go to Texas and see Rhys meet with the missionaries! YAYYY!
Do you like to swim::	Yup
Favorite kind of cookie::	My mom's homemade carrot cake kind with homemade orange flavored icing. Haven't had one in years, but they are the bomb!
What is one thing you say WAY too much::	"No" (I have a 14 month old)
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We are mothers

Let's say it together! We are mothers! In this day and age can we afford to be anything else? I am a huge fan of the Today Show, especially Ann Curry. This in NO WAY is to offend her or any others like her, but...with that disclaimer, let me write! After my day today, I was thinking about an episode of the Today Show I saw a while back. Ann Curry was being praised for how amazing she was for keeping up with such a crazy schedule. She had the Today Show to do, so her day started at 4 am with wardrobe and makeup, after the Today Show she was off to some other local station (primped by wardrobe and makeup), then back to the NBC station for the filming of part of the nightly news, then right after, off to another breaking news story, then back to the nightly news to get an interview in before the live show started (preceeded by wardrobe and makeup). Then, her day ended at 11pm. She had a couple of coffees and some late-mocha-fraps in there, and possibly a bagel or something. During this episode the Today Show crew was following her around filming this "crazy" ordeal. They all stated how amazing she was, being a mother and a career woman; being able to juggle with ease both "jobs" and being such a trooper about it. Uhm, I didn't see her tend to the needs of her children, take a phone call from them, change a poopy diaper, wipe a tear, ease a cough, do a carpool, wipe stains out of her carpet, clothes, linens, help with homework, talk to her spouse, play a game, tell a story, swing at the park, give a bath, etc...etc...etc... Would I do the same for a high six figure, combined salary with my husband? That kind of question is only asked by the world. There is a saying that says "anyone can be a father but it takes someone special to be a daddy." Could the same be said for mothers!? They put SO much emphasis on Ann being such a great mother because she could actually juggle a whole day's work (which continues day-in and day-out) along with a family. I didn't see any juggling. I do love Ann Curry. This isn't about her, really, but about the emphasis that the world is putting on being the "IT" and "ALL" mom. We are mothers. That should be plenty! It holds so much weight of it's own. We should never feel like we are not super-moms or worthy of this same praise just because we don't "juggle." We have the future to tend to and raise up, literally! It would have been nice to see the emphasis be on her as a mother. So, while it's okay for Ann to do what she does, and for all of you mothers to do what you do, just remember, we are mothers and I wish the Today Show would have filmed that!

Oklahoma Fun!

The Oklahoma state tree is called the Redbud. (Don't yawn, this won't be on a test) When I first saw these trees in bloom I was blown away! There are a lot of them around our apartment complex, and I think they are soooo pretty, so I took Coleman on a walk and got a few pictures to share with you all. Some are light pink, some are what I call "albino" and some are dark pinkish purple. I love the color purple, so these trees caught my attention. Also, there are some pics of our apartment, in and out, and Coleman playing in and around our complex.

Our third story apartment. It's still in the works of being painted and decorated. We did get some planter boxes and started some tomatoes! Yummm...fresh salsa anyone?

New Beginnings

Today was a good day. I finished painting most of the living room in our new apartment. It's a great color! It's like the color of dried wheat, or light tan...in that range anyway. It's cute! It's crazy how much a little bit of paint transforms stark white walls into something warm and inviting! It wasn't that hard either. I just sectioned off the area I was working on so Coleman couldn't come through. After a few hours with some breaks in between, ta-da, done! My shoulders are sore of course, but that's why I have Chris around (wink). We met with family at Red Lobster to celebrate our brother's birthday and it turned out nicely. Coleman ate okay, screamed a bunch because he wanted out of the high chair, but all in all, not too shabby.

One thing I can't wait for is General Conference! We will have the opportunity to sustain a newly called Prophet of God and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We will hear from him and his counselors and the twelve apostles of the Lord. They are our leaders and servants of God! They testify of Christ and of our divine destiny in the plan of salvation! They are the mouth piece of God our Father and His son Jesus Christ. God has not ceased to give revelation through prophets and I am excited that I live in a day where we have prophets and apostles who lead and guide me. Joseph Smith Jr said "...the standard of truth has been erected; No un hallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the great Jehovah shall say the work is done!" God does speak. There is so much truth, so much knowledge to be had, so much happiness and safety to be found when following His words.