As I watch what is happening in the world around me lately, I am growing more and more concerned for the protection of the basic civil rights protected by the constitution. I am not a Republican or Democrat, I don't fully agree with either party, and often strongly disagree with both. Omar and I both are free from party affiliation and try to vote based on issues and candidates.
As our new president took office, I didn't vote for him, but decided to give him the benefit of the doubt and see what he would do. I thought he had some good ideas about things, like governmental transparency, and I was excited to see that happen. While I disagreed in other areas, I didn't think too much harm could be done.
Now as I read the news each night, I am more and more awe-struck at the freedoms being taken from the American people. It was one thing when the Patriot Act started invading privacy and listening in on folks. It's quite another thing to try and silence and black-list dissenting voices. The White House war with Fox News (which for full disclosure is not where I usually go for news even) shocks and horrifies me. The Pay Czar cutting pay in private companies scares me. Now the White House wants to take down the Chamber of Commerce for disagreeing about health care reform. Every day it seems like there is more news about how freedoms I could never have imagined being threatened in the United States are now being threatened.
I disagree with lots of laws and policies, but I know that even if they are enacted they can be changed. But I am so afraid that we are quietly sitting by while the constitution is eroded, and I don't see any easy way to regain lost freedoms.
Then today when I went to LDS.org I found a speech by Dallin H. Oaks about how our religious freedoms are threatened. I loved what he had to say, and think everyone should read it.
I don't know what the answer is. But I know we the people have got to something, now. Any ideas?
Friday, October 23, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Birthday Month with Disneyland and everything!
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Since both boys have birthdays 9 days apart, the beginning of October turned into a whole birthday month. On Wednesday before Isaiah's birthday we went to John's Pizza to celebrate with our friend Steven, since we wouldn't be in town on his actual birthday.
The servers came and sang to Isa, which he loved, although he couldn't stand to stay and eat the ice cream when there was so much fun to be had in the game room. Almost every game is broken, but the boys had tons of fun playing in the balls anyway (as you can tell by Helaman's face if you look closely at this picture!
[/caption]Since both boys have birthdays 9 days apart, the beginning of October turned into a whole birthday month. On Wednesday before Isaiah's birthday we went to John's Pizza to celebrate with our friend Steven, since we wouldn't be in town on his actual birthday.
The servers came and sang to Isa, which he loved, although he couldn't stand to stay and eat the ice cream when there was so much fun to be had in the game room. Almost every game is broken, but the boys had tons of fun playing in the balls anyway (as you can tell by Helaman's face if you look closely at this picture!
Helaman at 5
[caption id="attachment_1273" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="5"]
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Helaman turned 5 this month. He's such a fun son. (I'm a poet!) He loves the help me with "chores" and I am enjoying that while it lasts. He loves going to school and learning new things and playing with the kids there. He has such a curious mind, and I'm convinced, an almost photographic memory. He reminds me a lot of his dad in so many ways. He wants to know how everything works and is never satisfied with a blow off answer. He has his own ideas, and while he wants to be good, he also wants to do what he thinks he wants to do right then (Omar anyone?)
He's always been a little shy, but in his usual analtical way, he asked me about how to make friends and then has been applying the steps everywhere he goes. He loves to talk to everyone we encounter now, and does it in such a cute grown up way. Like when the lady at Wal-Mart tells us the total, he says,"Okay, great." and then will probably thank her for the receipt before we leave.
He is still in gymnastics and LOVES it. He's getting stronger all the time, and it's been really good for him. He also really loves soccer, especially when his dad is the defender coach and he gets to play defender or goalie. Still anything is cool with dad. And he still loves art. He wants to do a craft everyday, and loves drawing on the computer now, too. Maybe he will be an artist when he grow up, though now he says mechanical engineer. "Like Daddy?" I asked. "No, so I can be a race-car driver." (Most Nascar drivers are mechanical engineers.) Funny kid.
Helaman cracks us up, and fills our lives with little boy joy. Happy Birthday, Buddy. We love you!
[/caption]Helaman turned 5 this month. He's such a fun son. (I'm a poet!) He loves the help me with "chores" and I am enjoying that while it lasts. He loves going to school and learning new things and playing with the kids there. He has such a curious mind, and I'm convinced, an almost photographic memory. He reminds me a lot of his dad in so many ways. He wants to know how everything works and is never satisfied with a blow off answer. He has his own ideas, and while he wants to be good, he also wants to do what he thinks he wants to do right then (Omar anyone?)
He's always been a little shy, but in his usual analtical way, he asked me about how to make friends and then has been applying the steps everywhere he goes. He loves to talk to everyone we encounter now, and does it in such a cute grown up way. Like when the lady at Wal-Mart tells us the total, he says,"Okay, great." and then will probably thank her for the receipt before we leave.
He is still in gymnastics and LOVES it. He's getting stronger all the time, and it's been really good for him. He also really loves soccer, especially when his dad is the defender coach and he gets to play defender or goalie. Still anything is cool with dad. And he still loves art. He wants to do a craft everyday, and loves drawing on the computer now, too. Maybe he will be an artist when he grow up, though now he says mechanical engineer. "Like Daddy?" I asked. "No, so I can be a race-car driver." (Most Nascar drivers are mechanical engineers.) Funny kid.
Helaman cracks us up, and fills our lives with little boy joy. Happy Birthday, Buddy. We love you!
Isaiah at 2
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Isaiah is 2 now, though if you ask him he may say 4 or 5 (because he wants to be exactly like Helaman). He is very proud of being able to get his fingers to make the 2, and then usually wants to sing "Little Bunny Foo-foo." He cracks me up.
I've decided the best way to describe Isaiah is passionate. Everything he does, happy or sad, he is full force, full hearted. He loves you passionately, gets mad passionately (and, alas, violently), runs fast, jumps high, laughs hard. As Dr. Tedford said, he's a pistol! He keeps our life exciting, and we love him so much!
He has an amazing grasp of language. I'm constantly stunned by his vocabulary and sentence structure. He's also really graceful, he moves like a natural athlete (which must come from his dad!) There's just such a lot of person in such a little guy. (34" and 26 lbs).
Helaman and Isaiah are great friends. They love to be silly and crazy together. This usually means someone ends up getting hurt, but that doesn't seem to stop the madness. I was always afraid of having all boys because they are so crazy. And while I was right about that, I sure love my boys.
Happy Birthday Isaiah! We can't imagine what life was like without you.
Just for fun, here's Isaiah saying "Hey Diddle Diddle." One day I was giving him a shower and told him to look up so I could wash the shampoo out of his hair. I asked him if he could see the moon up there, and he said, yes, and the cow jumping over the moon. And then he popped out with the whole poem. Who knew?
[/caption]Isaiah is 2 now, though if you ask him he may say 4 or 5 (because he wants to be exactly like Helaman). He is very proud of being able to get his fingers to make the 2, and then usually wants to sing "Little Bunny Foo-foo." He cracks me up.
I've decided the best way to describe Isaiah is passionate. Everything he does, happy or sad, he is full force, full hearted. He loves you passionately, gets mad passionately (and, alas, violently), runs fast, jumps high, laughs hard. As Dr. Tedford said, he's a pistol! He keeps our life exciting, and we love him so much!
He has an amazing grasp of language. I'm constantly stunned by his vocabulary and sentence structure. He's also really graceful, he moves like a natural athlete (which must come from his dad!) There's just such a lot of person in such a little guy. (34" and 26 lbs).
Helaman and Isaiah are great friends. They love to be silly and crazy together. This usually means someone ends up getting hurt, but that doesn't seem to stop the madness. I was always afraid of having all boys because they are so crazy. And while I was right about that, I sure love my boys.
Happy Birthday Isaiah! We can't imagine what life was like without you.
Just for fun, here's Isaiah saying "Hey Diddle Diddle." One day I was giving him a shower and told him to look up so I could wash the shampoo out of his hair. I asked him if he could see the moon up there, and he said, yes, and the cow jumping over the moon. And then he popped out with the whole poem. Who knew?
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