It Begins...

Today I watched the inaguration of the new president with mixed feelings. I hope that he can do a good job because America needs him to. We as citizens of this country are counting on him to help us and fulfil his oath to defend the Constitution of the United States of America. I hope that he truly does have the best interests of our country foremost in his mind. My fear is that he will not be able to live up to all the hype. We have seen how his policies have changed already since the campaign and then through the election victory until now. I hope the country remembers that we have elected a democrat to the highest executive office and that democrats can't do anything but what democrats do: tax and spend, regulate everything with big government and dismantle the military. All these things leave our country vulnerable. Hopefully the president will be able to overcome his party and do things in the best interest of the citizenry.

I do take offense with all the references this new president has made to Abraham Lincoln and racial predjudice. Naturally, Lincoln is one of the most revered, respected and honorable presidents this country has ever had. I think it is arrogant presumption on the part of the incoming president to think that he is anywhere near the level of Abraham Lincoln. His policies and decisions will have to stand the test of time, not just flash in the pan to be known at the same caliber of president as Lincoln. With all the references to slavery and other inflammatory racial remarks, I just wish it would die. White people can seem to forgive and forget, but others can't seem to do the same. There is no one person that can apologize for all the sins of white people, so it seems that we can never live it down. Hopefully one day soon Christ will come again and set everything straight once again. We are all brothers and sisters, none better than the other and equal in the eyes of God, so why not equal in the eyes of Man as well?

So today is a beginning, I pray it is not the beginning of the end.

Conner's gap

Conner lost his first tooth last week and he didn't even know it!! A few weeks ago I noticed that there was a gap appearing between two of his bottom teeth. I wiggled them and found that one was loose. I would check it periodically but didn't think much about it...neither did Conner. Last Friday morning he woke up and his tooth was gone! We thought that he might have swallowed it. But our budding detective, Tyler, went on a search for it and found it on Conner's mattress. The tooth fairy came and then Conner got excited about it. Isn't he a cutie!!!

2009...Really!?!

Is it really 2009? In one sense 2008 seemed to last forever but it seems to have gone by so quickly. It is true what they say...the older you get the faster time goes by. I am looking forward to this new year. It is always a great time to assess where I am and to determine the changes that I want to make. In the past I have tended to overwhelm myself with all the things that I need to change or things I need to do differently. This year is different. My motto from this day forward is to "find joy in the journey" (I think Pres. Monson said this). The past is gone, tomorrow is not guaranteed, but right now is a blessing. If I strive to find joy in the journey and enjoy the moments that I have, I know that I will be living the way I should and doing those things that are most important and have the most value to me and my family. I wish all of you a wonderful 2009. We are probably in for some difficult times but remember what Christ taught: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Christmas was a wonderful day for us. Everyone loved their gifts and had a great time together. Our family loves this time of the year. Life can get so busy at times that it is refreshing to slow down and reflect on our Savior, Jesus Christ...His birth, His life, His Atonement, and His resurrection. Because of Him, this life is so wonderful!

Winter Wonderland!

We don't typically get this much snow at one time even though we live in Idaho!! We even received several more inches after these pictures were taken. We love the snow and are thankful for this moisture. It lasted long enough for us to have a White Christmas!

Book Signing

As many of you may know, I am a huge fan of conservative talk show host, Glenn Beck. He has recently written a book entitled "The Christmas Sweater". He is touring with his book and his stage show adaptation of the book and was in Boise yesterday. With book in hand, I had the opportunity to meet Glenn, shake his hand, and get my book signed. I feel that he has a tremendous podium upon which to spread conservative ideals and values which this country was founded on and many have forgotten and others feel are outdated. The book is wonderful and has a great message...one of forgiveness and hope. Don't we need those right now, in these turbulent times in which we live. It was pretty cool!!

Eventful Sunday

Yesterday started out like all the other Sunday's do...rushing around trying to get to church on time. I left church a little early because I wasn't feeling very well. About 1pm Scott told me that Tyler had a cookie and now he doesn't feel very well. I looked at him and he had a few hives on his upper chest and a large fever blister on his lip. He said that his throat hurt and he was starting to itch. We gave him some Benadryl and just watched him. Within about 20 minutes his body was starting to be covered with hives. We put him in a baking soda bath and gave him some more Benadryl. We thought that the bath might help the itchiness, but it really didn't. So, within about an hour of him eating the cookie his entire body was covered with huge hives! I haven't seen hives that big before. He had them on the top of his feet and all the way up and between his eyes. It was incredible how quickly they were spreading. I still wasn't too concerned at this point because it takes a little time for the Benadry to really take effect. I asked Tyler to stand up so that I could put lotion on his back. He told me that he was feeling really weak and then his legs started to give way. That is when I became very concerned. We decided that we needed some help. Scott called 911 and within just a few minutes the paramedics were at our house. We were all concerned, the kids included. They took his blood pressure and it was 88/60...they said that was the minimum it should be. We decided to take him to the emergency room. They started an IV (Tyler was so good with that) and they gave him an albuterol treatment on the way to the hospital because his breathing was raspy. They took a chest x-ray to make sure that his chest was okay and it was. They gave him some steroid medicine to help combat the reaction and just watched him for a few hours. We got to the hospital at 3pm and Tyler was covered in hives. We left at about 6pm and the hives were almost completely gone and he was doing much better. We knew that he was feeling better because he talked all the way home...it was a wonderful sound. We are so thankful for the priesthood because Scott and our home teacher were able to administer to him. Between the blessing and the doctors, Tyler was able to make it through this. The cookie he ate was like a wedding cookie...small, round and covered in powdered sugar. I have seen them made with and without nuts and the ones we had looked like they didn't have nuts. Well, we were wrong. I got the cookies from a cookie exchange...well, I won't be doing that again. We always try to be very vigilant to make sure that he is okay and safe. You cannot let down for a moment, just like everything else in your life. I know that we were blessed yesterday and I am profoundly grateful for that.