MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

I hope everyone has a great Christmas! Try to take the time out sometime in the next couple of days to remember what the day is all about. Then forget it and get down to some serious present opening! (totally kidding there)
The Almighty Liz

Bits of This and That

Well, do to a supremely stupid computer, I haven't been able to post. So, some updates are in order, and as an extra special treat, I even have pictures! Your welcome.
We haven't really been up to much around here. It's flu season and it seems we have something or other every week. This puts a damper on our social agenda, but we soldier on.
Had my dad up a couple of weeks ago, and we put in some new lighting. We are going to do some other things as well, but don't feel it is wise to blab about it to the World Wide Web.
Had a big ice storm last night, and everything is slick as snot today. It took John quite awhile to break his car out of the garage, so he was late to work. So was everyone else, so it wasn't a big deal. Jonni is having a snow day, and the kids are uber squirrely and driving me nuts, but I can't send 'em outside, it's too cold, so what're ya gonna do? Throw 'em in bed for naps early, and hope they sleep until their daddy gets home to play with them, of course! (I'm a bit under the weather, and so have no energy for cool and creative snow day activities.)
John had a Christmas party at work that I attended last Friday. I got to see where he works and meet all of his fellow employees as well as some of the company big wigs. The cool thing was that I couldn't tell the big shots from the peons. Everyone was so nice!! We also got a year end bonus, our first ever! I tell ya, I really like this company.
We finally got our Christmas tree on Saturday, and I think it's my favorite so far. It's huge, and I think the best smelling tree we've ever had! The whole house smells like a pine forest, it's great!
So, on to some pics, and I hope everyone's having a merry Christmas so far!
The Almighty Liz

Some random shots of the kids because I think they're adorable, and it's been way too long since I posted any pics of them.

Our new handy-dandy floodlight. It's way bright. Look out intruders! You could play basketball out there! If our driveway weren't so crappy, that is.

This is our cat, Cloud. I don't think I've ever posted any pictures of her before. Isn't she gorgeous? We sure do love her.

This is our backyard covered in ice.

This is a random UPS guy out doing deliveries. I felt super bad for him. He can only go like 3 miles an hour on on the ice. It's going to take him forever to get his job done.

This is the car that is still locked in ice. Ain't no movin' that baby 'till things thaw in my opinion.

This is our Christmas tree. I dunno why you can't see the lights. What a rip-off. We love it though. And John and I made the star on top our very own little selves. Aren't we crafty?

Drumroll Please...

Well, I had a Doctor's appointment today, and there is some good news and some not so good but not exactly bad news either. Which means there IS no bad news, yay!
Good news:
I'm off the penicillin!! Hip, Hip, Hooray!! I'm so sick of taking that stuff, (seven months now!!) and I seriously don't think my digestive tract will ever be the same.
My doctor is super happy with my obedience. He says that my recovery wouldn't have been nearly so quick if I hadn't been doing so good with my diet and exercise and everything he tells me to do. To which I riposted (of course), "That was a fast recovery?!" He replied that he was full on expecting to be treating me for at least a year, because I had had the R. Fever for four months. Yikes!! Perhaps I should learn a little more patience especially because of the not so good news:
It will be another year before my endurance and resistance to disease is back to "normal". Which means that for a good bit more I will be sleeping a lot still, and getting tired easy, and getting whatever illness decides I look tasty. And that is if I keep at the exercise full throttle like I have been. (although that is just my life now. I will never be able to slack off in that area again. Period.)
I also had to get a flu shot, as did my son, and my husband and daughter have to get one ASAP as well. This is in part because Erik is three and in the "danger" group, but mostly because I'm horribly susceptible right now (as I will always be, but right now is just worse), and the next couple of months it is critical that I don't become super-duper sick. My arm is sore. *sigh*
But, all in all, I'm happy with this news. As soon as I started working out, I knew this was going to be a long, hard slog, and so how depressed can I get that I was right? Not very. And getting off the #$^% meds is a HUGE plus. I simply cannot complain about anything since I got that.
In other news, it was also Erik's three year check-up, and *shocker!* he's perfect. No complaints, and no problems. Hoorah!
The Almighty Liz

A Very Exciting Thanksgiving Indeed

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! Ours was...eventful, lol! It started off normal enough for us. Having both sides of the family close, we do two Thanksgiving dinners every year. The only real difference this year was that Jonni decided to be sick, and missed out on both dinners, poor thing. After being stuffed silly, me and the kids headed home, leaving John in Illinois with our recently sort-of repaired car, to hang out with his brothers on Black Friday. I got home with two sleeping children, hauled them inside and into bed, called John to let him know we made it safely home, put some things away in the kitchen and went to lock the door. Why is that significant, you ask? Because somebody else grabbed the doorknob on the other side!! I quickly put my shoulder to the door and slid the deadbolt home, just as that somebody else put their shoulder to the door and tried to bust in!!! Luckily, I got the bolt shot, and I called John. (yes yes, I know, it should have been cops first! it's just a knee-jerk reaction for me) I called them from our cell while John stayed on the landline, and they got there about a minute later. (we live in a very very small town) They didn't find anything or anyone, much to everyone's relief, and John came home after all.
We decided to spend the night at Bruce and Renae's the next night. John still wanted to hang out with his siblings, and I had a hair appointment with my mom on Saturday, so we deemed this a good compromise and I didn't have to spend the night alone in my house. *shudder* Also, my dad is coming this Saturday to install a LOT more light in the front of my house with motion detectors in front and back. I haven't ruled out an alarm system yet either. We'll see.
John and his brothers and sisters went out on Friday night to ogle the crazy people at the malls, whilst Bruce and I manned the fort at home, and kept the kids from burning the place down. We watched a truly stupid movie, Journey to the Center of the Earth, (don't waste your money or time on it), and got the kids in bed just as John and Renae got back. We then watched Get Smart, which was the funniest movie I've seen in awhile.
The next day, while Renae and Bruce were at a race (Renae participating, Bruce volunteering), I got my hair done. I got my blue streaks!! I've wanted to do them forever, and I finally talked my mom into it! (thanks mom!) I totally love it, as do my son, Todd and Suzanne, and maybe Renae and Bruce. (and can't remember their reactions.) Jonni keeps asking me why I had to go and color my hair with a crayon, and John quite simply abhors it. He hasn't been able to look at me without disgust since it was done. It's getting on my nerves. It's already fading though (after only three days!! I'm totally bummed) so that should make him happy. (mean-hearted *grumble-grumble*)
We went home that night and everyone except Jonni woke up sick on Sunday. We're still sick and miserable. I hate flu season!!
So that's about it. Oh! Along with the pics of my hair below, I put the one and only good shot I got of Erik on his birthday. My batteries ran out before we even got to the cake! Also, my mother-in-law recently reupholstered my couch, so I threw in some before and after shots of that. Enjoy!
The Almighty Liz

Erik opening his first present.

The original fabric on the couch.

An in-progress shot.

Finished product! Doesn't it look great?!

One shot of the hair. See how much it's faded? It was a really bright peacock blue. (we were shooting for navy, but didn't quite make it.)

A slightly better shot maybe. None of the pics I took turned out super good. Sorry!

Catching Up

Okay, so I was sick all last week, and of course, we had a busy and blog-worthy week. So, sit back and get comfortable, this is gonna be a long one.
**disclaimer; my camera's batteries went dead, so I have no pics. (stupid technology)

So, going in chronological order, a week ago last Friday, Jonni came bouncing off the bus after school because she lost her first tooth!! Apparently, in letting one of her girlfriends wiggle it, said girlfriend wiggled it a little too hard and it came out! Our tooth fairy was sort of on her game, after some quick maneuvering and a little help. You see, she went to the local Goodwill-type store the day before, and spent all of her change. She still had pennies and such-like, but you can't give a kid a dollar's worth of pennies under their pillow! So, with the help of our good friends the Andrews, she swapped the small change for quarters, and the event was saved! Jonni duly received a dollar the next morning, and was ecstatic.
The next big event was the following Thursday when my little boy turned 3! As I was still sick, we had a quiet affair at home. Just cake and presents and my in-laws, who literally happened to be in the neighborhood dropping off someone at the airport. We will be celebrating with my family on Thanksgiving this Thursday when everyone will be together. (PS, John made the cake, so it turned out just fine, for those of you who remember the Great Cake Debacle of Jonni's birthday a couple of years ago) Erik received a couple of Dr. Suess books, which he loves, a Spiderman shirt from the Grandparents Sever, and a bag full of cars, which he adores more than anything on this Earth, including his mother I think.
Next came the weekend, and the opening of Twilight the movie!! I got a group of mainly girls with some husbands together to go to a matinee on Saturday, and it was a rompin' good time. I liked the movie okay, but I had my problems with it. I'm not going to spoil it for anyone, and I think they did a mainly good job, but I didn't like it as much as say my hubby did, or some of the others there. We went for ice cream afterwards to jaw over the movie, and I think a good time was had by all. We drove to my in-laws house (which was the meeting point for everyone) and got in my car to pick up the kids (who were watched by the ever perfect Erik-Timpani's-husband, more on that in a minute), turned the key in the ignition, and the blasted thing refused to start!! We tried jumping the battery, and cursing (Mormon cursing, c'mon!), and raving to the Car God, but to no avail. The fickle thing just would not respond. So, making the best of it, we spent the night at Renae's, which was a good time. The kids especially enjoyed themselves, loudly and enthusiastically. The next morning, I got it started, but everyone was at church, so I left it there, having nothing else to do with it. After John got home, we went to pick it up, and the @#% thing wouldn't start again!! So, we hitched a ride from my father-in-law, and sent it to a mechanic this morning in Illinois. Hopefully it's something simple and cheap. As it is, I'm without a car this week. It's not been a full day yet, and I'm already stir crazy! I HATE not having the freedom to go where I want, when I want. Ugh! Cars!!
Anyway, back peddling a couple of days, the kids had a blast with Erik whilst we were at the movies on Saturday. Erik planned a Diego Adventure for them, where they had to go through forests, lakes and climb pyramids to get to their destination; treats! He will be posting about that soon I'm sure at http://www.quisandvance.blogspot.com/ . Thanks again Erik!!
So, while we did have lots of fun this past week or so, the ever present Car Demon had to throw somewhat of a wet blanket over everything. But who knows? Maybe we'll be forced to get a new car. Wouldn't that be horrible?
The Almighty Liz
**Update** We heard back from the mechanic, and basically the thing's a piece of junk now. He suggested we get rid of it as soon as possible. Hooray! New car after all!! (that was said with heavy sarcasm. I don't need a car payment on top of my two mortgage payments, thanks anyway.)

Eye Witness Account

This is the email I got written my someone who was there for the LA temple siege. It's from Sunday; does anybody have any fresher news? I can't seem to find anything newer than last Sunday.

From the Front Lines:
I got this email from the wife of a Bishop of a young-adult congregation in LA. Ben is a member of that congregation.
As additional information for those who missed the news, Mormons have been targeted by the gay community in California as having been the main impetus behind the passing of Proposition 8, banning same-sex marriage in the state. Although the population of the state voted on the passing of the constitutional amendment, I will proudly agree that most of footwork was carried out by us. It's funny that our opposition knows where the credit is due, but that's another topic for another day. In light of the gay community's frustration in the passing of the proposition, our temple came under attack. I was at the Los Angeles Temple assisting in the security efforts and it was quite an experience. Our temple is safe and no damage was done on the grounds. It was a sight I never expected to see. At one point we had let in about 20 police vehicles through the gates because they were afraid their vehicles would be damaged as civilian cars were being vandalized. I removed the Utah plates from my truck just so I could drive through the mess and park blocks away. My roommate and I traveled on foot after we had changed out of our dress shirts and ties so as not to be targeted.Two full squads of LAPD in riot gear set up their base inside the temple grounds while SWAT vehicles and hundreds of officers followed the crowds run up Santa Monica and Wilshire Boulevards. I've heard that the crowd was estimated to be over 2,500. When I arrived, all of the gates were shut and a small group of members had to remain outside the grounds as the direction was to turn away others who had come to assist. After about a half an hour two sister missionaries ran up the drive to the East gate. I would have made more jokes with them, asking them trivia questions to prove they were LDS before opening the gate, but they were obviously nervous and had left on their name tags as they wandered the streets. When the crowd turned back towards the temple from West Hollywood, we opened the gate to those members still outside so they would not be trapped in the crowd. The officers inside the temple grounds made a line on the front lawn by the fence. At one point, with 7 news and police helicopters overhead, the crowd began to climb the fence and it looked like there was going to be a lot of trouble. We had it seemed a good forth of a Polynesian ward there so it could have gotten very interesting very fast.With lines of motorcycle cops with sirens wailing up and down the street with the latest outbreak, helicopters continually circling with spotlights cutting through the sky, and the crowd roaring being led my megaphones shouting every synonym they could think of that went along with "evil"...it almost seemed like the very end was at hand. My dad called me every few minutes to give me updates from live news through the Internet because we did not have TVs and the police did not even seem to be informed on the movement of the crowd up and down the streets. I relayed these updates directly to the head of temple security so we could anticipate when to be ready.While I was there, I was not aware of anyone actually breaching the fence, but we were asked to move far across the parking lot as they were anticipating the need to shoot tear gas canisters. I never thought I would see the day when police officers would sit perched on the spire of our temple as lookouts. All of this happened at about 7:30 pm. It should be remembered that most likely many of the law enforcement were not in favor of our stance on Proposition 8, but nevertheless, the men and women were there doing their duty and protecting our property. For that we are grateful. And yes, there was an incident with some of our members who had gone to remove the protest signs from the front fence. One of the protesters did initiate physical contact with one of our sisters so the details are uncertain as to whether the response was fully justified. The lesson to be learned is that it's important to anticipate and avoid such confrontational situations. Remember the world is watching our reaction and the media is everywhere. In the end, when we keep our cool, the video footage speaks the truth regarding which side is really intolerant and appears hateful when we simply do not respond or do so in a loving and controlled manner.In all the commotion, I had the chance to sit alone by the side of one of the fountains and take in all that was happening. It may seem strange to say, but despite the adrenaline rushing in my blood ready for the next incident or next bit of news from my dad; I felt a tremendous peace. It came over me in a wave as I looked up at the spire topped with Angel Moroni. I can testify that I felt the presence of others protecting the temple tonight..those we could not physically see. I would even go as far to say that I felt the presence of someone personally related to me who was there for my safety. We were not alone. We were protected and our Father in Heaven is mindful of our efforts and willingness to withstand persecution. As I later read a quote from Brigham Young, it made more sense why this did not have to be a fearful experience- exciting yes, in a urgency sense, but very clarifying as we were able to glimpse into things as the really are, truth as is really exists, the adversary's war as it really is raging. I wish everyone of you reading this could have been there just to be reminded as I was how real this war is. The great sadness is that so many of our brothers and sisters are unknowing participants, manipulated and deceived by the grand schemer of it all. The issues may be presented as complex, but the adversary's agenda was as clear as day. Be prepared friends and family, it's bound to get much worse before it gets better, but take council from a prophet:
"You that have not passed thro’ the trials and persecutions, and drivings with this people from the beginning, but have only read them, or heard some of them related, may think how awful they were to endure, and wonder that the saints survived them at all.—The thought of it makes your heart sink within you, your brain reel, and your body tremble, and you are ready to exclaim, ‘I could not have endured it.’ I have been in the heat of it, and never felt better in all my life; I never felt the peace and power of the Almighty more copiously poured upon me than in the keenest part of our trials. They appeared nothing to me."-Brigham Young (Deseret News Weekly, 24 Aug. 1854, 83). (L. Aldin Porter, "‘But We Heeded Them Not’," Ensign, Aug 1998, 6)
-Ben

I really like the Brigham Young quote. Totally awesome. Let's keep those prayers going!

The Almighty Liz

Prop 8 Protesters Targeted the LDS Los Angeles Temple

I got this from my mom in an email today. (she is really on fire lately) I thought everyone should know, since I couldn't really find it in any news. Not locally anyway. Even if you are not of my religious persuasion, I think these people need prayers.
I was shocked that the police are not really doing anything but keeping protesters out of the temple grounds. Are these not hate crimes? Are these people not intent on violence? Silent and peaceful protests are a right everyone should have, but this is way beyond that. There is a personal account I will put up later today, but I'm a little busy right now. Peace, Love and Prayers,
The Almighty Liz

The LDS Temple in Los Angeles was under siege yesterday by 2,000 protesters angry over the Church's role in passing Proposition 8, forcing the closure of the temple. According to reports, a gay activist called the temple saying they would be protesting outside the temple permanently until there is gay marriage.Signs were hung from the fence around the temple and protesters screamed in anger, snarled afternoon rush-hour traffic and said, "This isn't going to stop us.If we do this we have a chance." "We're going to fight it until the world changes," protesters claimed."Shame on you," chanted the protesters. Outside the temple, grafitti was scrawled on the walls and signs hung, "Go back to Utah," and "Go to hell Mormons." Their signs said, "No on H8."Protesters promised to go after the Church's tax-exempt status and harass Mormons who had donated to the cause, listed on a website Mormonsfor8.com. The promise was to make the Mormons pay for their role in the passage of Prop 8.One LDS member in the area said, "I don't quite understand our police response (even though I'm one of the police). If this was happening at a Jewish synagogue or a Catholic church, we would be arresting people for hate crimes. As it is at the moment, protestors are sitting on the walls of the temple and the police are on the grounds inside. Church members in our area were called last night to come down to the stake center and spend the night protecting the building from vandalism -- it's like 150 years ago."To see a news report on these events click here. This was the politics of intimidation and harassment, targeting the LDS church, though many other churches had helped in the effort-and a sample of how the homosexual agenda has spread across the nation. It was like San Francisco mayor, Gavin Newsome, said when he illegally started marrying couples in the city before that America was going to have this whether you like it or not.It will not be about people being able to vote their conscience, or calmly assess the issues and consequences, but about threats and vilification. Other churches who participated in the effort have not been similarly targeted.The LDS Church is, of course, in no danger of losing its tax-exempt status. The only donation made to the campaign according to records was $2,078.97, an expense which covered the travel of church leaders who went to California to meet with the coalition. The Church insists that by law it has the right to speak out on moral issues.Threats from Blogs Target Christians A Worldnetdaily.com article noted that homosexual blogs have been boiling with threats toward Christians. Burn their [blank] churches to the ground, and then tax the charred timbers," wrote "World O Jeff" on a blog. On another website "Tread" wrote, "I hope the No on 8 people have a long list and long knives." On another website, a contributor wrote, "Can someone in CA please go burn down the Mormon temples there, PLEASE. I mean seriously. DO IT." On another website "scottinsf" wrote, "Trust me. I've got a big list of names of mormons and catholics that were big supporters of Prop 8. . As far as mormons and catholics . I warn them to watch their backs." Another blog entry: "If you're planning a heterosexual wedding in California . be prepared for picketers. Designate someone to watch the parking lot . You're going to have lots of unexpected expenses. Add $500 to your budget for security. . Be prepared for the flowers not lasting to the reception or the tuxedos showing up two sizes too small or the music at the reception being a way too loud or the cake tasting a little funny," stated another threat. "Be afraid. Be very afraid. We are everywhere." Thus it continues on and on and Matt Barber, director of cultural affairs for Liberty Counsel called the statements "hate crimes" for their intent to create violence against someone based on their beliefs and called on the Human Rights Campaign, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and "other leaders within the homosexual lobby" to call for an end to such threats. Thus, the true colors of some of those who push this agenda are in clear display. It is a kind of domestic terrorism designed to silence and quell anyone who oppose this agenda as it marches through our nation. On the same day, this happened, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, issued a statement calling for mutual civility. "No one on any side of the question should be vilified, intimidated or harassed." Lawsuits against Prop 8 At least three lawsuits have been or are in the process of being filed protesting the passage of Proposition 8. Andy Pugno, attorney for the Protect Marriage coalition said, "The lawsuit filed today by the ACLU and Equality California seeking to invalidate the decision of California voters to enshrine traditional marriage in California 's constitution is frivolous and regrettable. These same groups filed an identical case with the California Supreme Court months ago, which was summarily dismissed. We will vigorously defend the People's decision to enact Proposition 8 . . . "It should also be noted that the ACLU recently made this same "constitutional revision" claim in a nearly identical matter in Oregon and it was unanimously rejected." Family Leader's attorneys agree with this estimation.