tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91313492627489041682024-03-10T08:29:56.667-07:00MamablogAmy Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672277356677238690noreply@blogger.comBlogger328125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131349262748904168.post-54562879438623305572024-03-10T08:17:00.000-07:002024-03-10T08:29:25.676-07:00Monster<p>As always, I appreciate the opportunity to share rational thought. </p><p>I've been meaning to read Imprimis, a publication of Hillsdale College that comes to us in the mail, on the regular. </p><p>Sadly, with the busyness of life, I haven't met that goal as often as I would wish to. .</p><p>Just now, in the quiet of the early morning hours, I couldn't sleep and decided to straighten up and organize a bit. </p><p>Cleaning off our kitchen counter, which sometimes serves as. . well, many things, I happened across a copy of Hillsdale's September's issue, entitled "Inside the Transgender Empire," by Christopher F. Rufo, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute. </p><p>Perusing that article, I found myself at once inspired and deeply disturbed by what I found there. .</p><p>Perhaps this paragraph will sum it up, or at least give you a hint of the gist: </p><p>"This is the great project of the trans-gender movement: to abolish the distinctions of man and woman, to transcend the limitations established by God and nature, and to connect the personal struggle of trans individuals to the political struggle to transform society in a radical way."</p><p>Really? Could this be possible? </p><p>Could this be allowed somehow in Jefferson's America? In Lincoln's? </p><p>Radical leftist have openly, vigorously, and violently pushed, and continue to push, their agenda on all of us, with the hope (?!) of transforming -not in a good way- the very essence of our country, our sacred Constitution, our core beliefs, ideals, etc, without remorse. . And they're not even trying to hide it! </p><p>Have we really descended this far as a nation?</p><p>And a more thought provoking question. . Have we -as an enlightened, God fearing community- allowed it? </p><p>I doubt our Founding Fathers could -or would- even give validity to this type of twisted thinking for a New York second, much less be able to stomach the details of the depravity involved. </p><p>I doubt they would entertain such madness with less than horror and distain. .</p><p>They, having personally experienced intense persecution for their ideas and beliefs and eloquently elaborated upon the crimes of despotism, the joy and despair of the struggle for independence. . They, having led the necessary revolution against tyranny and having overcome the evils of a diabolical oppression, and the unfeeling oppressor bent on taking that freedom away, how would they view us today?</p><p><i>What would they think</i> of the America we have become? </p><p>Have we truly morphed into a Marxist Society so quickly? Have we allowed the deceptions of the adversary to infiltrate our beloved Land of the Free and alter it to the point of complete distortion in such a short amount of time?</p><p>Have we really allowed our National Identity to be changed from inherently rational and good. . to permissive and tolerant <i>to the point of insanity</i> in just 248 short years? Is the sacred legacy of the blood of our ancestors to be spat upon in this manner? How could we have allowed this to happen? </p><p>After what our predecessors <i>gave </i>to bring about the inspired establishment of our Republic, will we not honor their memory more reverently than this?</p><p>Thinking ahead toward Easter, this line from a familiar and patriotic hymn, which I sincerely hope is still represented, come to mind.</p><p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 11pt;">In the beauty of the lilies Christ was
born across the sea,</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">With a glory in His bosom that </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transfiguration_(religion)" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Transfiguration (religion)"><span style="background: white; color: black;">transfigures</span></a><span style="background: white;"> you and me.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crucifixion_of_Jesus" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;" title="Crucifixion of Jesus"><span style="background: white; color: black; text-decoration-line: none;">As He died to make
men holy</span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 11pt;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_War" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none;" title="American Civil War"><span style="background: white; color: black;">let us die to make men free</span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 11pt;">. .</span></p><p><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-size: 13.5pt;">Free.</span></p><p>Have we come this far only to come this far? Have we allowed our collective ideology as Americans to be altered to this extent?</p><p>The word "conundrum" becomes redefined. .</p><p>Having been in an America where "traditional values" were for the most part highly respected, where parents still had charge over their own children and were generally respected by them, I find myself in the crux/dilemma/conundrum experienced by many of my peers</p><p>I am stuck, <i>we</i> are stuck, in the midst of a cultural phenomenon, a perceived yet pervasive transformation of country and culture that I find incredible ironic, highly frustrating and intensely disturbing.</p><p>The rising generation is being heavily influenced by incorrect, destructive propaganda on an unprecedented scale. </p><p>And although I believe -I know- that most of us are inherently good here in the United States of America, I can very clearly see a monster rearing its very ugly head. . </p><p>Having grown up in a less troubled, more free and more structured America, I can see very clearly the distinction between then and now, the confusion and chaos, the conflicting views and values, ideas that our children are currently being subjected to. . and was I was taught.</p><p>It's a miracle that <i>we </i>made it through adolescence with the difficulties associated, without the craziness and blatant depravity that they have to deal with now. </p><p>I think we need to remember more carefully. . We need to think more carefully about our role in this time and place, and about what we allow to slip under the table. . I feel like we, who still remember what it was like to be truly free, etc, have an obligation to fight for what we know is right, for ourselves and for our children.</p><p>We need, for the sake of our posterity, to be involved in civic affairs and to be very aware of what we allow in the name of "fairness" or "individual expression." </p><p>This segment states very clearly one perspective, with which I am in complete agreement.</p><p>NO MATTER HOW ADVANCED TRANS PHARMACEUTICALS AND SURGERIES BECOME, THE BIOLOGICAL REALITY OF MAN AND WOMAN CANNOT BE
ABOLISHED; THE NATURAL LIMITATIONS OF GOD’S
CREATION CANNOT BE TRANSCENDED. THE ATTEMPT
TO DO SO WILL ELICIT THE SAME HEARTBREAK AND
ALIENATION CAPTURED IN THE FINAL SCENE OF
MARY SHELLEY’S NOVEL: THE HULKING MONSTER,
SHUNNED BY SOCIETY AND BETRAYED BY HIS FATHER,
FILLED WITH DESPAIR AND DRIFTING OFF INTO THE
ICE FLOES—A SYMBOL OF THE CONSEQUENCE OF PROMETHEAN HUBRIS.</p><p>Our children, are being subjected to super harmful rhetoric on a scale unprecedented in human history, which, if unchecked, will contribute very sadly, very detrimentally, to our course and direction as a nation. Throughout all generations of time in this world, I can't remember a more depraved, derelict, disgusting, and divisive philosophy ever attempted. .</p><p>The devil is certainly amping it up!</p><p><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Many motivations factor in, not the least
of which is the complete abolition of a recognizable America. Why? To promote
the agenda of the devil, to be perfectly blunt. I can very easily see, having lived in both worlds, the stark difference between </span><span style="font-size: 18px;">the collective ideology and understanding of </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">the country I grew up in, and the borderline satanic mess we find ourselves battling now. . </span></p><p><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Things are becoming more and
more black. and. white. </span></p><p>THE TRANSGENDER MOVEMENT IS INHERENTLY
POLITICAL. ITS RECONSTRUCTION OF PERSONAL
IDENTITY IS MEANT TO ADVANCE A COLLECTIVE
POLITICAL RECONSTRUCTION OR TRANSFORMATION.
SOME TRANS ACTIVISTS EVEN VIEW THEIR MOVEMENT
AS THE FUTURE OF MARXISM. IN A COLLECTION OF
ESSAYS TITLED TRANSGENDER MARXISM, ACTIVIST
WRITER ROSA LEE ARGUES THAT TRANS PEOPLE CAN
SERVE AS THE NEW VANGUARD OF THE PROLETARIAT,
PROMISING TO ABOLISH HETERONORMATIVITY IN THE
SAME WAY THAT ORTHODOX MARXISM PROMISED TO
ABOLISH CAPITALISM.</p><p><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></p><p>https://imprimis.hillsdale.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Imprimis_Sept_8pg_9-23web.pdf</p>Amy Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672277356677238690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131349262748904168.post-1330305288943686182022-07-22T12:49:00.007-07:002022-07-22T12:49:54.932-07:00Repost from August 2021 - Light of Freedom<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">August 20th, 2021</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">When Evil Reigns</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Americans are being left behind in Afghanistan,
while the Taliban returns to power. Our military has been asked to stand down?
What has happened to our country?! God help us and these poor people!</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">August 25th, 2021</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Tuesday</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Just dropped my 4-year-old off at preschool, her
first day officially! </span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">I was doing okay, until one of the younger mamas
asked if I was having a hard time leaving her.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">And then it hit me, and the tears came welling
up.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Driving </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">home, I thought about life and different
things, and then something on the radio took my mind to Afghanistan and all the
little girls living there. 4-year-old little girls. Children who may never have
a first day of preschool or a chance for any kind of education.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">I remember first learning about the plight of
Afghani women years ago, when I happened to pick up a magazine at my grandma’s.
With my cousins, I read a brave young woman’s account of the oppression and
abject abuse that terrorized their daily lives. I couldn’t believe it. How
could this be happening today, in our modern, supposedly enlightened world?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">I was disturbed by this woman's words and the
accompanying images. This type of injustice was simply unacceptable. Something
had to be done.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">But what could I do? </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Thankfully, after the unprecedented attack on
our mainland soil in 2001, action was taken, and these people were subsequently
liberated.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Now, after twenty years of a better life for
those in that far off land, we are at a crossroads again. Evil has been given
leeway, has organized itself, and has no qualms. Afghanis will once again be
enslaved by a fascist regime if things remain as they are. Only this time I
have a feeling it will be worse than before. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Several years ago, my husband had the
opportunity to take a trip to the Middle East as part of a 'thank you' program
for TEDx organizers. Their main destination was Doha, Qatar. It was an
eye-opening experience for sure.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">At one point, Charlie was walking down the
street with a male companion who was native to that area. As they made their
way along, he accidentally bumped into a Qatari woman, dressed in traditional
garb.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">“Oh, sorry.” He apologized.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">At once, he was surprised by his friend’s
immediate and intense reaction.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">“Don’t talk to her!” he growled under his
breath, alarmed. “It is not allowed.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Apparently, addressing a woman in that area of
the world is highly frowned upon. It is breaking with tradition and completely
unacceptable to acknowledge her as a human being. . .</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">And what about all the little girls in
Afghanistan? The young women?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">What will their lives be like, with the rise of
rampant evil happening as we speak? Will they ever be able to go to school or
even walk down the street? To play outside with their faces uncovered?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Their future is not bright, as they are doomed,
sadly, to very imminent and unavoidable oppression.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Best case scenario, opportunities will be taken
away. But let's not fool ourselves. In less than a week, terror will reign
again. A life of unthinkable torment awaits, looming bleak on the horizon. A
more stabbing, electric shock to those who have had a taste of freedom, these
last twenty years, in the sunshine of peacetime and our protection.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">What is it that happens when evil men rule?
History reminds us. .</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">The people mourn. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">We had a blackout here in Salt Lake last night,
a power outage in our area for several hours. There was no light, and our
little ones were scared.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">Symbolically</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">, an impending blackout hovers over
the people of Afghanistan. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">What can be done?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Where is the light?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Now that evil has been unleashed and will be
spreading throughout that country unrestrained, there are bigger concerns than
walks and education.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">In just a few short days, perhaps even now,
tyranny and terrorism will be taking over the lives of the people living there.
It's terrifying to think about.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Members of the Taliban are undoubtedly planning
the destruction of any light and knowledge still available to those unfortunate
enough to call this region home. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">The light of truth and freedom is being snuffed
out. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">In the name of despotism and absolute control,
these evil men, terrorists, intend to extinguish the lights that are these
little girls.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Young women living across the sea, who have been
brought up in the light/glow of relative truth and freedom, will now have no
rights, barely even an existence.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Thank God for men like Tim Ballard, Glenn Beck,
and others who are heading up rescue efforts, taking action to save as many
people as possible, doing what they can to get them out of the country before
oppression takes over.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Before it is too late.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Can we not as a country offer them mercy? Where
is the most powerful nation on earth, as these mercenaries infiltrate,
spreading black terror throughout this area of the world? </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">A question worthy of contemplation.</span></p>Amy Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672277356677238690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131349262748904168.post-30743513244090838852022-07-21T12:59:00.009-07:002022-07-21T13:10:44.709-07:00A Voice for The Unborn<p> </p><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="animation-name: none; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmliYhV-AoLvWeP5fGEDOvQ6XwtNNBNmE7a1aEqZ7tjTs1LJQaxug4iFeor36duIUQ211EudpaNT77Xtjw68BCNflAmIOPK7xes2EkdfYV2eROVNbsGNloPL1I9COYpMXKYaFhWPn3b4et7D9IFvF9ngAcDWWUXheIPnj7AqjP43GgT4-4T-CcYMuyog/s970/A%20Voice%20for%20The%20Unborn%20Photo%20May%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="970" data-original-width="970" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmliYhV-AoLvWeP5fGEDOvQ6XwtNNBNmE7a1aEqZ7tjTs1LJQaxug4iFeor36duIUQ211EudpaNT77Xtjw68BCNflAmIOPK7xes2EkdfYV2eROVNbsGNloPL1I9COYpMXKYaFhWPn3b4et7D9IFvF9ngAcDWWUXheIPnj7AqjP43GgT4-4T-CcYMuyog/s320/A%20Voice%20for%20The%20Unborn%20Photo%20May%202022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;">Okay everyone. Permit me a moment.</div></div><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I have squelched my inner Amidala quite a lot in recent years, but this will not go unsaid. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">There has been the usual controversy, concern, passionate debate, and diabolical deception that comes with discussion of this issue.</span></span></p><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="animation-name: none; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;">But I was born to speak and while this land allows it, <i>and</i> when it doesn’t, I will be free to advocate for the</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">defenseless</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">. <span class="pq6dq46d tbxw36s4 knj5qynh kvgmc6g5 ditlmg2l oygrvhab nvdbi5me sf5mxxl7 gl3lb2sf hhz5lgdu" style="animation-name: none; display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; transition-property: none; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><img alt="❤️" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t6c/1/16/2764.png" style="animation-name: none; border: 0px; transition-property: none;" width="16" /></span></span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="animation-name: none; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;">As a mother of nine beautiful children, a mother of twins, and an unwed teenage mother, I think I have the right to say a little bit about this issue.</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="animation-name: none; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;">I know what it’s like to be afraid of all of it.</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="animation-name: none; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;">I know the trepidation, the humiliation, the joy, the pain, the concern.</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="animation-name: none; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;">I have felt the caring, the compassion, the possibilities, the bonds. . </div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="animation-name: none; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;">I have experienced the work, the exhaustion, the tears, the sleepless nights. </div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="animation-name: none; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;">I am familiar with the ‘road less traveled’ in the most ironic sense. . </div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="animation-name: none; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;">I have endured ridicule, have been consumed by shame and regret, and have walked through the valley of the shadow alone. </div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="animation-name: none; background-color: white; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">But under no circumstances will my face blanch white because I ended the life of a child. </span><span class="pq6dq46d tbxw36s4 knj5qynh kvgmc6g5 ditlmg2l oygrvhab nvdbi5me sf5mxxl7 gl3lb2sf hhz5lgdu" style="animation-name: none; display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; transition-property: none; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><img alt="❤️" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t6c/1/16/2764.png" style="animation-name: none; border: 0px; transition-property: none;" width="16" /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="pq6dq46d tbxw36s4 knj5qynh kvgmc6g5 ditlmg2l oygrvhab nvdbi5me sf5mxxl7 gl3lb2sf hhz5lgdu" style="animation-name: none; display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; transition-property: none; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/262DoeB4Zy4" width="320" youtube-src-id="262DoeB4Zy4"></iframe></div><br /><span class="pq6dq46d tbxw36s4 knj5qynh kvgmc6g5 ditlmg2l oygrvhab nvdbi5me sf5mxxl7 gl3lb2sf hhz5lgdu" style="animation-name: none; display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; transition-property: none; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="pq6dq46d tbxw36s4 knj5qynh kvgmc6g5 ditlmg2l oygrvhab nvdbi5me sf5mxxl7 gl3lb2sf hhz5lgdu" style="animation-name: none; display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; transition-property: none; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><br /></span></div></div>Amy Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672277356677238690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131349262748904168.post-39247978981566167992021-03-21T15:18:00.006-07:002022-07-22T12:56:49.588-07:00Springtime Pleasantries!<p style="text-align: left;">So yesterday we were moving things over to Clint's and Eric's new apartment. It was probably about 8 o'clock at night and we were walking a couple more boxes up to their 3rd floor residence.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The boys' apartment is around the back of one of the buildings, and as we were walking round behind, I was surprised to see an open 2nd story window, with a little Latin boy leaning out.</p><p style="text-align: left;">He was shirtless. The window had no screen and I was semi-shocked to see him leaning out from the top of his bunkbed into the cold night air.</p><p style="text-align: left;">He asked me directly, as if we'd known each other for years: "Do you have any gum in your purse? Can you look and see if you have any gum?"</p><p style="text-align: left;">He was a cute kid, maybe six or seven years old, and I was tempted to toss up some kind of treat, since he was brave enough to ask. Charlie pointed out that the boy shouldn't be asking for candy from strangers. He had a point, so after a minute, we kept walking.</p><p style="text-align: left;">"Hey, Buddy. . You should probably shut the window and to to bed. It's pretty cold out!"</p><p style="text-align: left;">But I couldn't help but smile.</p><p style="text-align: left;">It reminded me a simpler time, when we were all friends, and children didn't necessarily have to be wary of people they hadn't met before. When there was a bit more faith in humanity. When there smiles were more readily exchanged between strangers, who many times became the best of friends.</p><p style="text-align: left;">What a cute kid! I wonder if his parents knew that he was talking out his window to random folk passing by.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I remember hearing stories from my grandparents about a time when neighbors would make a practice of sitting on porches, or walking and talking together in the evening. For the most part, a community was one big happy family. A tight-knit group whose closeness was rarely compromised in any serious way. .</p><p style="text-align: left;">I've also heard stories from my Latin friends about how things are in Mexico and South America. .</p><p style="text-align: left;"> About my parents' childhood in the 1950's, when there "was no fear." Big families and friends, neighborhoods, warm memories and traditions!</p><p style="text-align: left;">I hope, in this past year, this crazy time of introversion and distancing, we haven't lost that perspective, that childlike desire to communicate and connect without reservation. I hope we can bounce back from hiding in our homes and be close and trusting again.</p><p style="text-align: left;">We're about out of the woods, folks! At least where the pandemic is concerned. . </p><p style="text-align: left;">Hope is on the horizon! Let's smile and give each other a piece of gum. 💓</p>Amy Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672277356677238690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131349262748904168.post-57448900203108970002019-03-07T12:54:00.008-08:002022-07-22T13:05:08.015-07:00Tender Mercies<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">An excerpt from my experience with postpartum 'depression.'</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">A couple of years ago, after I had my baby, I was beset upon by an evil that I had not experienced before or since. Sometimes we hit rock bottom, we are at a lower than low point and we can't seem to shake it off. </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">I learned later that all your "feel good" hormones are housed in the placenta, and when your body does not go into labor naturally, those hormones are literally torn out of your system and some people are left defenseless.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">I had heard about postpartum depression. I knew it was a real thing, but I had never experienced it to this extent.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">My shields were literally down. I was in a very dark place. I was having some very dark, horrible thoughts about injuring others, people in my family. . I was terribly claustrophobic and a hundred other things.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">I prayed and cried and fought and fought and FOUGHT.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">Heavenly Father sent me scripture after scripture that seemed as if it were sent directly to me. It was amazing.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">But I was still in extreme distress.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">At one point, the thought crossed my mind, "Well, maybe I'd better just do those horrible things that I've been thinking of. I guess I'd just better succumb to the incredible evil that now surrounds me. Maybe then these darker than dark thoughts, this vicious attack, would subside."</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">WRONG. Satan wants us to think that if we have thoughts that maybe we shouldn't have, inclinations, tendencies, WEAKNESSES, temptations, that we should just give in to them.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">NO. We were sent here to FIGHT and we were sent here to WIN. Our Savior fought for us with all the love that he had in his being. He gave his LIFE. FOR. US. And he WON, because he is Jesus Christ</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">Thanks to him, we. can. fight. back. Whatever situation we are in, we can say NO. We can fight the evil and CHOOSE THE RIGHT! The Savior picks up the rest.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">Many today suggest that evil is good and good is evil. But we don't have to allow ourselves to be deceived. We are smarter than that.</div>
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So one Thursday morning, in the midst of this onslaught, I knew I had to do something right then, or just literally fall down dead.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">I told myself, "That's it." And I drove to the doctor's office.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">The doctor that I saw, beautiful angel that she is, told me: "It's not YOU. It's the hormones." And she sent me up to the hospital with a prescription/recommendation for Zoloft.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">That doctor was a savior to me, as was the beautiful medication she prescribed. I will be forever grateful to her for her advice, her kind words, her insight, her professionalism.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">After a day of tests and diagnoses, I was finally given the medicine that I needed and eventually, within a relatively short period of time, was able to fully recover. I was able to feel hope again, to make friends there at the psych unit, to better understand the ravages of mental illness, to feel the compassion of the Savior for those who are truly in need of His Atonement.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">To be clear, this includes all of us.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">The thing we need to understand about Satan, besides the fact that he is REAL, is that he will. not. hesitate. to beat us down. And he does it when we are at our lowest, weakest point. He DOES NOT love us. His intent is to destroy.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">He will attack us with shafts in the whirlwind, with incredible violence, just as it says in the scriptures when we are all but defenseless.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">But we are NOT defenseless.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">We have an army of angels fighting for us. We have our Heavenly Father and we have our Savior. We have the gift of the Holy Spirit. We have the scriptures. We have a living prophet.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">There is comfort and there is hope.</div>
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We were sent here to Earth, the strongest of our Father's children, saved for this time, saved for the final battle. We can and will fight, and we will win. But it IS a fight and we have to arm ourselves, as cliché as it may seem, with the armor of righteousness, with the armor of God.</div><div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-top: 6px;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-top: 6px;">Despite our weaknesses and the struggles and challenges of this life, we DO NOT have to succumb to the suggestions of the devil.</div></div><div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-top: 6px;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-top: 6px;">We, together, are stronger than that. 💓</div></div>Amy Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672277356677238690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131349262748904168.post-64687572898398626042018-02-16T20:12:00.000-08:002018-02-16T20:23:31.405-08:00Amaya MarieIt's been quite a while since I've attempted to write a blog. . . . Not sure what direction to take. I'm still somewhat in awe, remembering how fast this past year has gone by! I knew it would go by fast, but the days just flew! Our first year with Amaya Marie - precious angel sent to our family at Christmastime, just over a year ago! A beautiful Christmas surprise! : )<br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">I'm not recommending that women should make a practice of having babies when they are 45 years old, I certainly wasn't planning on it, but I wouldn't change things for the world! Miss Amaya has brought so much joy and love to our family. It would be hard to imagine life without her!</span></div>
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<br />Amy Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672277356677238690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131349262748904168.post-90776817668854975792012-11-13T14:59:00.006-08:002022-07-22T13:10:16.963-07:00Issues With Entitlement - My Thoughts after the 2012 Presidential ElectionLast week, it snowed all day Friday and Saturday.<br />
<br />
Last week, we had two birthdays, one election day, and I was sick the whole time. Not just sick physically, not just under the weather, but sick at heart as well.<br />
<br />
I learned something about our country that I just hadn't let myself see before now. America has <i>changed</i>. It became very clear to me, as I sat and watched our hope of a conservative victory dwindle, that things are very, very different than they used to be. This is no longer the America that I know, that I remember.<br />
<br />
I was brought up largely on the East Coast, spent most all of my formative years in Virginia, within view of Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson. A reverence for this brilliant man was instilled in me early on. We were taught, in school, about American history, we learned to appreciate the vision of our founding fathers, we gained an understanding of the workings of the Republic in which we lived. It was this Republic that soldiers gave their <i>lives </i>for, that was set forth under the direction of Almighty God and the men He inspired. The founders of this country had a vision, and it burned within them. They had a desire for <i>freedom</i> above all else. Sadly, over the past few decades, these values, that our country was based upon, have eroded away, and now seem to have disappeared entirely in some circles. Just over half of our country, the United States of America, is now <i>okay</i> with the introduction of a Socialist State. Why do people now value <i>freedom </i>hardly more than . . . I don't know what?<br />
<br />
I could hardly believe it, but sitting there, watching the election coverage, watching it all unfold, state after state . . making their statement. . . It became very clear. Where did the vision go? It would seem that more than half of our beloved country now believes in one thing. And that one thing is . . me. It became very clear to me that the people who voted for President Obama are concerned mainly about themselves. They didn't vote for their children or their grandchildren. They didn't vote for the State of the Union. They didn't vote for the future of America. They want to <i>play</i>, to party, they want to be taken care of, they <i>want </i>Socialism.<div><br />
Entitlement had won out.<br />
<br />
Wow.<br />
<br />
They <i>think </i>they want to be taken care of. . Maybe they just haven't taken the time to think about it, maybe it sounded good in the ads, maybe . . they just don't care. . about <i>freedom . . </i>anymore.<br />
<br />
Here's a Facebook post from Election night:<br />
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<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id=".reactRoot[89].[1][2][1]{comment4427287473303_63442373}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]">"Can we all just team up and abdicate and make Romney our prez? The other side would really struggle then with so few taxpayers."</span></div>
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<span id=".reactRoot[89].[1][2][1]{comment4427287473303_63442378}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][1]">"</span><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id=".reactRoot[89].[1][2][1]{comment4427287473303_63442378}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]">True!"</span><br />
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"Sounds like a relatively peaceful way to split the country right down the middle. It's pretty much 50/50, if votes mean anything. I say we move all the conservatives out west, and all the crazies can go hang out back east! Whadaya say!"<br />
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"We'll be the United States of America, and they'll be the Entitled States of . . . Something Else."<br />
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<br />
We watched a victory that had been expected, to some extent, even <i>projected </i>by experts and analysts, fade steadily away. It became glaringly obvious to me that something about our country is fundamentally different. The Land of the Free, the Home of the Brave. . is on the line.<br />
<br />
Many, if not all, of Obama's ideas are in <i>direct opposition</i> to the teachings of Thomas Jefferson, the author of the <i>Declaration of Independence</i>. Think about that for a minute. Does this statement not seem super scary?! The man that 'leads' our country today, is actively trying <i>his best</i> to unravel the inspired brilliance that was/is our founding Declaration of <i>freedom,</i> secured and protected. Now, in stark contrast to the beliefs outlined in this inspired document, we find ourselves mired in Socialist propaganda, to the eternal detriment of generations yet unborn. The ideologies of the two main political parties in this country are so extraordinarily different that I just don't see how we can come to any kind of a middle ground. Many people are dismayed by the direction in which we are headed. This election has defied history. Can we allow<i> </i>this trend to continue?<br />
<br />
Food for thought: The following are statements made by Thomas Jefferson. Are they congruent with the ideology of our current President?<br />
<br />
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Consolas; font-size: 13pt;">"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."</span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Consolas; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Consolas; font-size: 13pt;">"It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world."</span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Consolas; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Consolas; font-size: 13pt;">"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them." </span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Consolas; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Consolas; font-size: 13pt;">"My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government."</span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Consolas; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Consolas; font-size: 13pt;">"To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical."</span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Consolas; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Consolas; font-size: 13pt;">"The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government."</span></b><br />
<br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Consolas; font-size: 13pt;"><b><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;">John F. Kennedy held a dinner in the white House for a group of the
brightest minds in the nation at that time. He made this statement: "This
is perhaps the assembly of the most intelligence ever to gather at one time in
the White House with the exception of when </span><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204); color: black; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Thomas</span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204); color: black; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Jefferson</span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;"> dined alone."</span></b><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
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<br /></div>Amy Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672277356677238690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131349262748904168.post-33592254117033998502012-10-15T12:42:00.004-07:002022-07-22T13:22:09.254-07:00Giant Cell Tumor Returns AND Tommy is Packing His Bags<span id="internal-source-marker_0.21723700361326337"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The leaves started changing this past week on our maple tree. . . It’s been an interesting few days.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here’s an update I posted last week:</span></div>
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<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span id="internal-source-marker_0.21723700361326337"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="internal-source-marker_0.21723700361326337"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline;">“Life changing weekend. Things have sped up: One son will have major surgery tomorrow, and another will most likely be leaving us for an unknown foreign land in 8 or 9 months, instead of a year and a half or more. Wow, life comes atcha fast!”</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In two days time, we learned that our son Eric’s bone tumor had come back, hence the pain and the limping. </span></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We also learned that our son, Tommy, just younger than Eric, would be leaving on his mission in June, a full year before we’d planned.</span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">This was an announcement that we were excited about, but did not expect. It’s amazing the </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">curve-balls</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> that life will throw at you.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Eric had</span></span></span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> been limping horribly for a month or so before we went in, but for some reason, the possibility of the tumor coming back never really occurred to me. Dr. Jones scheduled surgery for this past Tuesday, which went well, but now we’re back to the medication every three hours, and hoping that Eric’s leg won’t get infected. Last time, it did, and he had to go in for a second surgery. Not fun. This time, the stitches are smaller, and he’s on antibiotics, which should help a lot.</span></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I can </span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">actually <i>feel</i> the prayers that are being offered for us. I can feel us being lifted up. </span></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s been a lot easier this time, in a lot of ways. We’ve known basically what to expect, the nurses have been more attentive, we’re more familiar with the process in general. . Sigh. I just hope that there is no recurrence. Eric will be on crutches for 3 or 4 months, at which point we're hoping he will heal completely, with no further complications. </span></span><br />
<b><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b>
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.21723700361326337" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">A couple of weeks ago, we went to Aleia’s piano recital, Jeffy’s pack meeting, and parent-teacher conferences all in just a couple of days. We thought our lives were pretty hectic. Then, suddenly, we were faced with the aforementioned recent developments. It’s funny how these types of changes can stop you on a dime, flip you around, and slow you down. Little things, that caused stress, that seemed so monumental at the time, now seem inconsequential. 'Perspective is indeed virtual.' </span></span></b></div>
</div>
Amy Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672277356677238690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131349262748904168.post-20004180740767207972011-08-26T21:17:00.000-07:002022-07-22T13:32:59.116-07:00August<p class="MsoNormal">August 26, 2011</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I hate August. Nothing but hot, hot, hot, and there are no holidays! What the heck?!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Jeffy and Tommy ended up going on the big Scout campout with Charlie this evening. . . Lincoln was bitterly disappointed and cried for an hour, before finally falling asleep. Sigh. Poor little guy. These were his words: “I AM a big boy!” Sad.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Lea is starting sixth grade and discovering boys, Laena is looking at Nov 19<sup>th</sup> for the wedding, Clint has started school, and is spending way too much time with the girl down the street.</p><p class="MsoNormal">It has been SO HOT these few weeks that you really have to take 2 showers, one in the morning, and one in the late afternoon. We may as well move to Vegas. Random Facts: Eric watched Binky all day today while I ran errands, Jenny came over night before last, and we finally got rid of the snake. Clint quit his crazy warehouse job, Laena might get a promotion, Tommy has applied at Zupas and KFC. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Aleia and Jeffy started school last week, at Hawthorn Academy, and seem to be doing okay. Lea threw a big ole fit in the Spring, when she was first accepted, didn't want to leave her old school, but now Jeffy’s the one with the problem. We ran over and said hi to his ‘would-have-been’ teacher at Majestic today, and she seems really nice. I wish he could have stayed another year.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Autumn approacheth. Binky wore nothing but his ‘Iron Man suit’ for 2 days this week, before I took it away and chucked it in the laundry. 😊 Halloween’s only 2 months away, you know! We're already in the planning stages.</p><p class="MsoNormal">In other news, Kaylie Jo has recently learned to stand up all by herself, and 2 more teeth have come in. 4 on the top now! 😊 Not sure I’m ready for all this. . . Eleven months old already. They grow up so fast! </p> <p class="MsoNormal">On the flip-side, Aleia lost a tooth today, and is almost ready for braces. Clint wants to work at the NIKE outlet store, and Eric has been drawing a lot recently. We got a couple of calls last week about a possible local service mission. I really hope it works out!</p><p class="MsoNormal">Jeffy’s gonna miss his last basketball game tomorrow, darn it, but probably won’t mind too much, since he’s camping with Daddy. . . Laena has been taking some of her stuff over to Paul’s to store until the wedding. She stayed home sick from work yesterday.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Kaylie Baby Jo is my little Teddy Bear. I just wanna curl up with her and snuggle! 😊 Tommy started school Tuesday. He’s pretty excited about it. Taking Spanish this year. . Finally got his pull-up bar in the mail yesterday. He can't wait to try it out! 😃 Eric spent some time at the Aquarium Wednesday afternoon, checking out the FISH! Also some penguins, etc. He's a big fan! Lea forgot her lunch today.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">On a different note, I've recently discovered that almost all of my close friends that I've made over the years have written and/or published books. When’s it gonna be my turn? I wish there was more time in the day.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Eric just called, and is getting a ride home from work. A movie about the Book of Mormon is coming out soon, and will be playing at his theater! I can’t wait to see it. It will be interesting to see how they put it together.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Charlie started school, his last math class, last night. He’s a little bit nervous about it, since he’s never taken Trig before, but I think he’ll do fine. He’s pretty smart, really. . . Surprised us all and got a B last semester in Math 1050! I was impressed. 😊</p> <p class="MsoNormal">22 years since Charlie’s and my first date. 💜 Laena should be home soon. .</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Eric brought me a sunflower today.<span> <span style="font-family: Wingdings;">😊💙</span></span></p>Amy Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672277356677238690noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131349262748904168.post-74004174418422950062011-01-21T10:56:00.000-08:002021-03-24T13:54:05.277-07:00Holiday Correspondence! 2010<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Holiday Correspondence (A little late, but still entertaining. . .)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">A Joyous Holiday Season to one and all!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">For those of you who dig this sort of thing. . .</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here's our Mason Family News:</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Charlie, after a ten-year run with the Scouting program, has been called back into . . . the Scouting program! </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">J</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> He’s now working with Tommy and the Varsity Scouts here in our neighborhood. Still loves his job with Coke, and has a great time with all our shenanigans here at home! Charlie got to travel to Boston earlier this year, and helped out a bunch with the little kidlets while Amy was ‘out for the count' toward the end of the summer.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Amy survived yet another pregnancy, and not such a fun one at that. But of course, ultimately, good came of it! We welcomed Kaylie Jo Mason into our home Sunday, September 12<sup>th</sup>, 2010, with joy and rejoicing. Happy Birthday to me! </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">😊</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> She is a sweet, pretty baby, beloved and adored by all! Mama is excited to be able to walk again, and has great hopes of finally painting the kitchen and a hundred other things! </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">😊</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Very busy with our now 8 little minions:</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Laena . . has been attending college classes throughout the year, and they have been many and varied. She does very well in school, and if she were to actually <i>study</i>, she’d probably be able to take over the world. </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">😉</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> If you were to Google the phrase “Social Butterfly,” up would pop a picture of our Laenabug. I kid you not! 😄 At one point, she had sworn off men, but has now “rethunk” her decision. Working, dating <i>everybody</i>, having all kinds of fun with her Institute Sorority, (I know, it sounds weird, but seems to be a great program), and besties Stephania and Misty, she continues to enjoy college life to the fullest! Sadly, she has been wearing far too much red. . . 😉💖</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Clinton, Eagle Scout and high school graduate, has also joined the Bruins at Salt Lake City Community College. He made some friends, and lost about 35 lbs this fall, with his weight training class and working out after school. He’s also been following a relatively strict diet of protein and fruit. Clint is excited about school this coming semester, and has signed up for 20 credit hours, his theory being that if most of them of are <i>gym</i> classes, that he won’t have any <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">homework</i> to speak of. 😂 Ha ha ha! Whatever works. And speaking of work, he and Laena have been working off and on for a cleaning company owned by a friend of a friend. With any luck, our eldest son will learn how to break dance before the end of the school year! 😊</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Eric, who also earned his high school diploma and Eagle Scout rank this year, is still working at the theater on 90<sup>th</sup> South and Redwood Road, and not wanting to do much else. We do enjoy the enormous bags of popcorn he brings home on the weekends. 🍿 He is currently signed up for a couple of Institute classes, and should enjoy them, but is still entirely opposed to the idea of growing up, and all that goes with it. It’s so hard to leave Neverland! 😄</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Eric continues to enjoy photography and drawing. He had the opportunity to visit Wyoming and Montana with his Grandma in August, and brought back many beautiful pictures of the scenery there. He also had fun at Aunt Sarah’s cabin, where he met some really cool chipmunks! </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">😎</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tommy, breaking with tradition, has decided to leave West Jordan behind, and give this whole charter school thing a whirl. .</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">:)</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> He really loves Paradigm High School, and is excited for next semester also, looking forward to a Tae Kwon Do class and some other fun things. . Earlier this summer, Tommy spent a week at BYU EFY, had fun at a couple of Scout camps, and somehow lost 40 lbs in the process! </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">:)</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Actually, he was extremely disciplined with both diet and exercise, and the results are evident! He’s enjoyed school this year so far, and just a week or so ago, got to see a fabulous Christmas performance there, which was accompanied by his Seminary teacher, Brother McDonald. Tommy is full of ideas, and is looking forward with great hopes to the future! </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">:)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Aleia, with her beautiful, lyrical voice, got to participate in a local production of the musical “Wicked,” for kids! </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">:)</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> She had a great time in 4</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">th</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> grade with Miss Jeppson, and is now thoroughly enjoying 5th. She’s been recognized for her achievements in art and academics, earning awards for her entry in the Reflections program and other contests. Aleia recently got to sing and play the bells in the Majestic Christmas sing-along. </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">:)</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Our ‘little’ Rosebud loves to play with her friends and hopes to learn more about music and theater in the future. She’s growing up way too fast and prides herself on being a ‘preteen’. I like to call her a ‘tweeny-bopper”, which she, of course, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">loves. .</i> Aleia is still the most goal-oriented of all of us, and is already planning her eleventh birthday party, three months in advance. 😄</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jefferson is now 8 years old, and was baptized in November. He’s all boy, but truly loves his little sister, and writes about her in his stories at school. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: )</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Jeffy got to travel to Yellowstone National Park with Daddy and the Scouts in June, and had all kinds of fun catching fish and exploring the wonders of nature! He also enjoyed visiting Grandma Harshbarger at her 70<sup>th</sup> birthday celebration, and was especially excited about riding the miniature horses! </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">:)</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Jeffy has great fun with his friends and loves to spend time playing with Legos and other favorite toys. As energetic as he is, we are reminded every day of many reasons why he is still our ‘little sweet thing.’ </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">:)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Binky is our sweet, lovable little ball of fire! We love him so, but are still at a loss as to how to get him to relax at times. He’ll beat up on his older brother, for instance, and then proclaim his undying love for everyone, all in the same couple of minutes. 😄 I sometimes wonder. . If you add ‘terrible 2’ and ‘terrible 2’, do you get ‘frightening 4’, or adorable little angel, as they cancel each other out? Maybe a little bit of both. 😉 We just shake our heads. Lincoln loves to play outside and roughhouse with Daddy and Jeffy and Tommy. He and Jefferson are both fast friends and sworn enemies, depending on the time of day. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">:)</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Our lovable little red-head certainly keeps us on our toes!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And Kaylie Jo Mason, our newest addition, is all sweetness and spice and everything nice!</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">:)</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> We love her so, our Kaylie Jo! (Hey, a rhyme! With sort of a Dr. Suess flavor. .) <i>She’s</i> what smiles are made of! Three months old, so chubby and cute! Our little honey, we can’t get enough of her! </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">:) </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She’s recently discovered her hands, and may end up a thumb sucker. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">:)</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> We couldn’t be prouder!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Best wishes to all!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Prospero Ano y Felizidad!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">
</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Love, </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Charlie, Amy, and Minions 🎄</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Amy Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672277356677238690noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131349262748904168.post-58672408295912889552010-05-12T13:51:00.001-07:002022-07-22T13:39:23.081-07:00That Time Of Year. . .<p>You may have heard of a ‘May/December romance’. I don’t have much of a romance with May <em>or </em>December. Because they’re both CRAZY! Eight thousand activities. Concerts, plays, sporting events, recitals, graduations, family get-togethers. . . It never seems to slow down. </p> <p>Now don’t get me wrong. . . I <em>did</em> thoroughly enjoy Jeffy’s Cinco de Mayo Celebration at the school last week. Couldn’t have asked for a better Mother’s Day present. . . And Aleia’s performances on Wednesday and Friday were certainly cute and entertaining. . . Eric’s track meet yesterday was fun, even if he <em>would </em>forget his shorts, or some part of his apparel, each and ever time they held an event. . .</p><p>And Tommy’s upcoming Orchestra concert has me all a-twitter! 😊 But with Laena starting school full time, Clint and Eric graduating from high school and Seminary, and all the other upcoming events on the horizon, it can be a bit overwhelming at times. Especially now that I’m expecting, since I seem to have less than an optimal amount of energy at almost any given time of the day. . . </p> <p>Yes, I think it’s time for a recharge. One of those good, old fashioned remedies for stress and frazzle that never seems to get old, no matter how many times you go back. Yes, my friends, it is time for a NAP! Bua ha ha ha ha! Mama’s taking a break! Could it be true? Do I still have a few minutes before the kids get home from school?</p> <p>Uh-oh, is that the door? Wait a minute, did I ever upload those pictures of the twins’ Eagle Scout extravaganza? I can’t seem to remember. . . Have I mailed the graduation announcements? Does Binky need some juice? Is it time to pick up the kids? Have I caught up the laundry. . ?</p><p>I still can’t believe the cat had kittens the night before Charlie left on his trip! Is there any way to get that rotten peanut butter smell out of the sink in the kitchen? What the heck did those kids <em>do </em>in there?! Or was it Charlie and one of his scouting experiments. . (sigh) </p><p>Still need to plant the flower garden. . . Sure do hope Tommy’s caught up on his homework. . Pretty sure Jefferson needs a bath. . . Does Laena have a ride to work? Will our neighbor be able to fix the car. . ? What time does Aleia get back from her field trip. . . ? Boy, this baby sure likes to kick!</p> <p>Okay, stop. I have one question:</p> <p>Does anybody have any <em>chocolate ice cream</em>?! 😄</p> Amy Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672277356677238690noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131349262748904168.post-50519765631146267202010-05-12T12:11:00.001-07:002021-03-24T14:01:12.256-07:00Entertainment Value<p>Friday before last, Tommy ended up staying home from school so I could run errands. He’d gotten up late, and thought it would be easier to stay home and work for me, than it would be to go to school. </p> <p>Later on that day, he’d changed his mind. His commentary went something like this:</p> <p>“I stayed home ALL DAY, and all I did was fight the Binky. All I did was chase your blinking three year old! I got absolutely nothing done for ME!” as he stormed out the door. </p> <p>HA ha ha ha! Classic! 😊 Haven’t heard anthing so funny in a while. </p> <p>The next day, after a long Saturday at home, Charlie made the comment. </p> <p>“I don’t know <em>why </em>I’m so tired. . .”</p> <p>This was Jefferson’s absent minded response, distracted as he was by the toy cars he was shooting across the kitchen table. </p> <p>“Probably because you’ve been dealing with <em>kids</em> all day. . .” 😄</p> <p>Hee hee hee hee hee!</p> <p>Later that weekend, my inventive husband thought he’d try a new style of beard. No more goatee, more of an actual beard, a groomed framing of the face, minus the mustache. He always <em>was </em>a creative fella!</p> <p>“What do you think”, he asked me in passing. “Does this make me look cool?”</p> <p>Aleia overheard, and remarked gingerly “Well, it makes you look <em>hairy. . .”</em></p> <p>Kids! Life would be ever so dull without them! : )</p> Amy Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672277356677238690noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131349262748904168.post-53699981387741179752010-02-09T12:42:00.001-08:002021-03-24T14:02:36.623-07:00Tarred and Flustered<p>This weekend was interesting. Scoutmaster Charlie had the Klondike winter camp Friday night, where he had fun with the Boy Scouts, and also Tommy and Eric. (Varsity and Venture) There’s a pretty nice campground in Heber Valley with cabins. Saturday afternoon, Charlie had to help bro Calvin with his car, which was broken down somewhere in West Valley. They got tar all over them, which, we learned, does indeed burn your skin off. Charlie “washed” most of it off with gasoline, but still has patches of black on his forearms. Jeffy and Lincoln had fun playing with their cousins, Kanella and Connor, Saturday afternoon/evening. They’re about the same ages, and seemed to get along pretty well. It was a bit of a madhouse though. Nothing like four little kids running through the house on a Saturday night! : ) Good thing I had Singing Time all figured out for Sunday! (Not)</p> <p>What’s that thing people say? </p> <p>“Calgon, take me away!” 😄</p> Amy Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672277356677238690noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131349262748904168.post-88787080217237941082010-02-03T13:27:00.001-08:002021-03-24T14:04:03.328-07:00A Leisurely Drive<p>Monday night, Charlie and I were heading over to Macey's to pick up a couple of things, when out of nowhere, I came upon, and ran over, a street sign that had been left lying in the middle of the road. It was pretty dark out, and I didn't see it until it was too late. Charlie had been on the phone with somebody from work, so we'd decided to trade places, and have me drive so he could concentrate on the conversation. Odd how things work out. . . </p> <p>Once we figured out what was going on, I stopped the car, Charlie hopped out and somehow detached the heavy metal pole and mangled sign from the underside of our car. I backed it off, and he carried the whole mess across the street and out of the way. Fortunately for us, (I guess), a highway patrolman happened to see the whole thing, chased down the guy who'd hit the sign, and called for a city policeman to come file a report. The good thing is, if there <i>is</i> any damage done, now we're covered; bad side, it there isn't, we just lost a good hour of valuable time waiting for the cops, and now our insurance will probably go up regardless. Sigh. Ain't life grand! 😊</p> <p>When you least expect it. . .</p> Amy Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672277356677238690noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131349262748904168.post-39385522564808742592010-01-01T12:32:00.000-08:002021-03-29T19:29:45.085-07:00Christmas Memories!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXPUZb4Ugn-27ZfsgTgxiQKvmDSM0D1lU6dHJnZMj4d6CRF-sqa-q6VlFooQwCZcXXkRK1XhAqhzqv_pxiOftuOZDf_hamUEVYy11llDsEud2LI32suBlbSz7El5Y5qrj2N_sHEa_ZmUVz/s1600-h/KSCN0006.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXPUZb4Ugn-27ZfsgTgxiQKvmDSM0D1lU6dHJnZMj4d6CRF-sqa-q6VlFooQwCZcXXkRK1XhAqhzqv_pxiOftuOZDf_hamUEVYy11llDsEud2LI32suBlbSz7El5Y5qrj2N_sHEa_ZmUVz/s320/KSCN0006.jpg" style="clear: both; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a>
Christmas with the Masons! We had great fun traveling to Missouri for Christmas! Packed up the Suburban, kids and presents and all, and headed east. <img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcE8njzW_zChEu7HrFpNY3if9puzcgAAsCKx_93EHGjR8hYiKe7rMr7YsY8nGS4J40q7secYfN-oshpuoTVQl2sXQM0-yY-0i3N9eVM_RwpKdLF5wlD7jUA1cNNiu6q6Xv__Qi2Dwp4G3N/s320/KSCN0007.jpg" style="clear: both; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" />
A fabulous trip over all. . . Good food, friends, relations. . . lots of presents! And that beast of a truck almost made it all the way back to Utah without giving us fits! As it was, the fan motor on our heater blew out somewhere in <i>Wyoming</i> when we were heading back home. In December. Charlie ended up scraping sculpted ice off the windshield with a credit card, as he was driving, because the man WOULDN'T STOP! He actually drove straight through, -24 hours- straight through, <span style="font-style: italic;">both ways</span>. Thank heaven for caffeine, I guess. . .
But on the upside, there were some good memories made! Tommy really enjoyed walking through random gas stations in his bathrobe and bedroom slippers, Clint actually took pictures of the beautiful ice formations on his window in the back of the truck, and we gained a greater appreciation for the pioneers' adventures. (struggles) in the frigid mountain west. We all grew closer, as we were forced to snuggle up together to keep warm. Back home, after further investigation, we learned that we could have fixed the heater in the Suburban by taking the time to pause and purchase a two dollar FUSE! Can you say speechless?! I was at a loss for words. But these types of experiences do make the best stories. . . : ) Good times.
I think the best part of the trip overall was the time we got to spend with family members that we rarely get to see, and especially our little cousin, Adriana, up from Texas. Such a cutie! Lincoln was missing her for days! Stockings, gingerbread houses, Grandpa reading the Christmas story, little kidlets dressing up and reenacting the 'manger scene,' the big turkey dinner. . . All of these things add up to the tradition that is Christmas! : ) Christmas memories! Candy canes, babies, ribbons and bows, a sparkling tree. . . All beautiful, but none so memorable as the sparkle in the shining eyes of a little child. Brings you back to the true meaning of our Holiday celebration. May we always remember the babe in Bethlehem and the magic that he brings. : )
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBw9N8lfaHT_0_9T4PxjfCQmtrXMasaY69X8_o-8ue-O-M7E-hgnV8xMmVYrhjah67-0twYGeBQGccVxbPKKuRLlzN_j_qmY1fKiMXjZlE_NaflMPBlfDiNLpIRkQhmPe6HkJaRn6r8hSq/s1600-h/KSCN0008.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBw9N8lfaHT_0_9T4PxjfCQmtrXMasaY69X8_o-8ue-O-M7E-hgnV8xMmVYrhjah67-0twYGeBQGccVxbPKKuRLlzN_j_qmY1fKiMXjZlE_NaflMPBlfDiNLpIRkQhmPe6HkJaRn6r8hSq/s320/KSCN0008.jpg" style="clear: both; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-EZnqRXl5C25LRldSYgI6YP2AYAhJI8-Oiz-ptmBc2GJYYOX_msr5FLDs3LW_t3BM-P9KxbWgRIFL8cAOwOVDetKGvMliQFZ8nk9JzlQGh_0FvUvZ-4wFkXv9ISBwlOrxKj95O-qFEr8H/s1600-h/KSCN0041.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-EZnqRXl5C25LRldSYgI6YP2AYAhJI8-Oiz-ptmBc2GJYYOX_msr5FLDs3LW_t3BM-P9KxbWgRIFL8cAOwOVDetKGvMliQFZ8nk9JzlQGh_0FvUvZ-4wFkXv9ISBwlOrxKj95O-qFEr8H/s320/KSCN0041.jpg" style="clear: both; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: none 0% 50% repeat scroll transparent; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>Amy Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672277356677238690noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131349262748904168.post-24207146124568258352009-12-28T21:23:00.000-08:002009-12-28T21:24:17.675-08:00Rivers<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMjc21PhqulsJVk7cVKNPM23D2k907nZarJbEgq_JntJup05PrrKMiqChyphenhyphenTXpwHVkxJOMLF_wH2E9CrRPGciP9enPfASqWfnXqf0l4cjLbedmsKpsokc7YL7rfQEtZObADRcDezB8tpRvC/s1600-h/DSCN1562.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; FLOAT: left; CLEAR: both" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMjc21PhqulsJVk7cVKNPM23D2k907nZarJbEgq_JntJup05PrrKMiqChyphenhyphenTXpwHVkxJOMLF_wH2E9CrRPGciP9enPfASqWfnXqf0l4cjLbedmsKpsokc7YL7rfQEtZObADRcDezB8tpRvC/s320/DSCN1562.JPG" /></a> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7XWa0FcjqJlvGBfqvKI0bml8I59a1t1NIkAyK-DmAd1IucIxvU2CZtVWomojIw8r-4XdEAfwDW0WaYJhHB-urx_YnHFN1253jKX5fJQhKOTcmdaJe-ojGReGcYLIVCL1QQVOW5J18M6KZ/s1600-h/DSCN1564.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; FLOAT: left; CLEAR: both" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7XWa0FcjqJlvGBfqvKI0bml8I59a1t1NIkAyK-DmAd1IucIxvU2CZtVWomojIw8r-4XdEAfwDW0WaYJhHB-urx_YnHFN1253jKX5fJQhKOTcmdaJe-ojGReGcYLIVCL1QQVOW5J18M6KZ/s320/DSCN1564.JPG" /></a> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiehZhpoofH2Vto4R1Des7meVq3qT-RB6HhivdSXJDkYxi-M7HluZItqOWirEnYo2JgQmqQhyphenhyphenfTNj3NTyOG41pHCAvxTWvZOQBPxkWKfLZg60FEllcDr2pFKrPdnuEV29xgmJJIYnct1d1a/s1600-h/DSCN1571.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; FLOAT: left; CLEAR: both" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiehZhpoofH2Vto4R1Des7meVq3qT-RB6HhivdSXJDkYxi-M7HluZItqOWirEnYo2JgQmqQhyphenhyphenfTNj3NTyOG41pHCAvxTWvZOQBPxkWKfLZg60FEllcDr2pFKrPdnuEV29xgmJJIYnct1d1a/s320/DSCN1571.JPG" /></a> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5OAaAA1Yi-zNetqCwTvT1CXq1sWFMhRSc5X04Dlo1Hn3sL29LMai9jnlrgAjdLexFGL8ZdrTe_4chiDWQDjV45Q1ocn6iKTAGW4rBz8gNi3zjwvcO0mydG4jdslyDPbc11lV6-7eMawlR/s1600-h/DSCN1597.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; FLOAT: left; CLEAR: both" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5OAaAA1Yi-zNetqCwTvT1CXq1sWFMhRSc5X04Dlo1Hn3sL29LMai9jnlrgAjdLexFGL8ZdrTe_4chiDWQDjV45Q1ocn6iKTAGW4rBz8gNi3zjwvcO0mydG4jdslyDPbc11lV6-7eMawlR/s320/DSCN1597.JPG" /></a><div style='clear:both; text-align:LEFT'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Amy Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672277356677238690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131349262748904168.post-48008393691555862272009-12-28T20:08:00.001-08:002021-03-29T19:50:54.342-07:00‘Tis the Season<h5>'Tis the Season, Everyone!</h5> <blockquote> <p>Well, here we go! Christmas time again! 😊 Off to Missouri this year to visit Grandma and Grandpa. Hope everything goes well. . . Here’s to a flawless Holiday travel experience! </p> <p>Have a Holly Jolly Christmas! 😊🎄🎅</p> <p>Mason Family Christmas Letter 2009</p> <p>Well, boys and girls, another year has gone by, and here we are at Christmastime again!</p> <p>This year it’s, “Over the Rockies and through Nebraska, to Grandmother’s house we goooooo! The "beast" knows the way to Omaha, through the hopefully clear highway roooa-oaaaaads!”</p> <p>Yes, we’re heading back east to the mid-west! 😊 America’s heartland, where the Tanner Family has made their home for a grand total of 27 years now!</p> <blockquote></blockquote> <p>2009 has been a year full of adventure for us, as would probably be expected, with 4 teenagers and 3 little kids in the house. . .</p> <p>Charlie has passed the 17-year mile marker with Coca-Cola, and is now serving as Systems Administrator with the IS Department. He was given the job of Stake Scoutmaster in May, ran a marathon and a half this summer, and continues to fill his schedule with school and family responsibilities. Charlie wears many hats, and wears them well. 😊 He has a full plate, but yet somehow manages to ‘make it happen’ every day for the Mason Family. We depend on him greatly. Earlier this year, Charlie got his eyes fixed, and for the first time in 25 years, doesn’t have to wear glasses!</p> <p>Amy was able to attend both her 20-year high school reunions this year, in Missouri and Charlottesville, and greatly enjoyed showing Charlie where she grew up in Virginia. She took a couple of classes at the community college, for the first time in as many years, and has learned, without a doubt, that Mommies with 7 children <em>really </em>don’t have time for school, especially math! 😉 Still singing with the kids in Primary Class at church, and wishing her babies weren’t growing up so fast. . . .</p> <p>Laena graduated from high school in June, and after batting around several options, and having fun at her last EFY, she decided to spend some time in Rexburg this fall at BYU-Idaho. Yay! She is currently learning the ins and outs, the ups and downs, of college life, way up there in the frozen North! She got to serve as Ward Choir Director, an experience which proved enriching and entertaining. 😊 Laena drove up to Seattle in the spring, on Choir Tour, with her Mama and four busloads of friends! Our first trip to beautiful Northwest America! 😊</p> <p>Clinton finished up his Eagle Scout project, a blood drive for the Red Cross, back in March, and will soon receive his award. 😎 He’s been working at Westland Elementary this year, as a custodian, and has also been spending a fair amount of time over at a certain neighbor girl's house after school. 😊 We are proud to announce that Clint made the Honor Roll last quarter, and seems to be enjoying his Senior year at West Jordan High! With the ACT, Driver’s Ed, the big birthday and graduation coming up, he has a lot to look forward to!</p> <p>Eric, (or Ricky, as the Binky likes to call him), is also lined up to receive his Eagle Scout award in the next couple of months. He really worked hard on his Food Drive project last spring, enlisting the neighborhood in a worthy cause that undoubtedly helped the community. Eric is such a light in our home! 😊 We are so proud of him, and all the good work that he does, at home, at work, and at school. Eric was able to spend some time camping down at The Narrows in August with the neighborhood youth. He’ll soon hit his 2 year mark as a valued employee at the local movie theatre.</p> <p>Tommy has been busy with middle school, martial arts, and his first job as a sweeper at Majestic Elementary, where Aleia and Jeffy go to school. He’s also been working on learning more about the cello, the piano, and <i>girls</i>! 😄 Tommy has grown several inches these past couple of years, and is almost as tall as his Dad! Could my Hunny Baby be . . growing up. . ? (sniff, sniff) Scout camp, EFY, and Youth Conference in Southern Utah spiced up Tommy’s summer. This fall, he was privileged to sing with the regional Young Men’s Choir in General Conference! Adventures that he will undoubtedly look back upon with fondness. 😊</p> <p>Aleia is loving 4th grade and her fabulous teacher, Miss Jeppson! As usual, our Rosebud is a ball of fire, insisting on games, parties, and projects that would exhaust even the most patient and energetic of parents. 😊💖 Her second year of piano lessons is coming along nicely. Lea really likes to play those Christmas songs! She’s a loving little girl who attracts many friends, at Activity Days and everywhere she goes. 😊 Acting class has taken the place of dance. We’re excited to see her performance at the end of the school year!</p> <p>Jefferson played some Tee Ball earlier this spring, and has been enrolled in the Spanish Immersion Program at his school for the past few months. He’s picking it up fast, but I’m still not sure if he needs to be bilingual at this point. The good news is: He loves his teacher! 😊 Jeffy (Vuffy) also loves to play with his best friend, Evan. They tear through the house, in search of new and exciting adventures with Binky and Lea! It's fun to watch their antics! : ) Jeffy’s an energetic little boy, always ready for whatever lies ahead.</p> <p>Lincoln (Binky) hit the ripe old age of 3 in October, at which point we thought it best to cut off his beautiful baby curls, and proclaim him an official ‘little boy’. (sob, sniffle) It was downright painful to say goodbye to all those precious, strawberry-blond ringlets. 😞 Our Binky is growing up fast! His first day of Primary was last week, and he's learning new words and talking to us more and more every day. All boy, that one is! 😄 His giggle just lights up a room. 💙</p> <p>We hope you have all had a great year, and wish you a happy 2010!</p> <p>Merry Christmas, and have a terrific Holiday Season! 😊💖🎄⭐</p> <p>Love, The Masons</p></blockquote> Amy Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672277356677238690noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131349262748904168.post-70994871203090722682009-11-13T13:06:00.001-08:002021-03-29T19:59:28.283-07:00Nutty November<p>Last week was crazy. </p> <p>Barely recovering from Halloween, we had to pull off two birthdays <img alt="Birthday Cake" src="http://messenger.msn.com/MMM2006-04-19_17.00/Resource/emoticons/cake.gif" />, a party, parent teacher conference, and the annual Primary Program. Jeffy turned <em>seven</em>, which I still can’t believe, and Laena is now 19, a surreal, pseudo-fact that is equally as hard to digest. AAaahhhhhh! Jefferson had a fun birthday party here at the house. He had about 8 friends show up, including his cousins Zealan and Cazlea. It was fun to see everybody. Charlie came up with some cute games that made the 2 hours speed by. <img alt="Party" src="http://messenger.msn.com/MMM2006-04-19_17.00/Resource/emoticons/74_74.gif" /> Surprisingly stress free celebration. </p> <p>Saturday night, our college sweetheart rode the shuttle down to Salt Lake. She wanted to be home for her birthday <img alt="Gift with a bow" src="http://messenger.msn.com/MMM2006-04-19_17.00/Resource/emoticons/present.gif" />, and also for a couple of friends’ missionary farewells. Laena took Tommy with her to one of the luncheons, spur of the moment. It was nice having her around, even if it <em>was</em> only for one day. Sunday night we got to finally meet “the boyfriend," Jeff! He seems like a nice kid. . . I wonder if he knows what he’s getting himself into. 😉</p> <p>Clint and Eric were both on the honor roll this quarter, which is very encouraging. I still can’t believe that they’re so close behind their sister, both on schedule to graduate next year. <em>How did this happen</em>?! </p> <p>Wednesday night, Charlie and I curled up on the couch and watched UP. It was a really cute show. <img alt="Open-mouthed" src="http://messenger.msn.com/MMM2006-04-19_17.00/Resource/emoticons/teeth_smile.gif" /> I’d recommend it to anybody! </p> <p>Yes, my friends, the Holidays are here! November 1st rolls around, and it’s Christmas music non stop until January 2nd! 😍 Halloween is abruptly over, orange and black decorations are put away, and it’s on to red and green glory! Don’t get me wrong. . Halloween was great! We had fun hiding downstairs and watching our traditional Donald Duck and Charlie Brown Halloween shows, but now we’re down to cheapo pink bubblegum, fireballs, and caramel apple pops. It’s just not the same without chocolate. . . Sigh. The magic is gone. <img alt="Thinking" src="http://messenger.msn.com/MMM2006-04-19_17.00/Resource/emoticons/72_72.gif" /></p> <p>So bring it on, Santa! We’re waiting for you to make the season bright, with treats in our stockings! Preferably chocolate mint truffles! <img alt="Star" src="http://messenger.msn.com/MMM2006-04-19_17.00/Resource/emoticons/star.gif" /></p> <p>No pressure. . .</p> <p>The Holidays are here! : )</p> Amy Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672277356677238690noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131349262748904168.post-59426702516994266742009-11-02T08:32:00.001-08:002021-03-29T20:20:19.669-07:00Holiday Train!<p>Well, the holidays are here! Time to put away all things Halloween, flip the pumpkins around, and gear up for Christmas! Can’t have Jack O’ Lanterns out there on the porch confusing people. . . 😉 I can’t believe it’s been a year already! A whole year since holiday 'oh eight.' It’s crazy fast how time is flying by. . . Before you know it, it’ll be 2020 and we’ll all be wondering what the heck happened! </p> <p>We had a relatively peaceful Halloween this year. . . All in all, quite a surprisingly pleasant experience, a relaxing efenink. Charlie and I were too beat to worry about the Fall Festival carnival thing whatever at the elementary school Thursday. . . The 9 am parade was enough for me, and with Charlie aspiring to go to HARVARD, he’s got a full plate. Friday, we had a great time at the church, hanging with the neighborhood crowd. The kids were beside themselves, chowing down on hot dogs, chili, 800 different kinds of soups and stews, and of course lots of candy and cookies. . . My favorite part was the costumes! Seeing all the little kidlets in all their cute, creative costumes was just the icing on the cake! : ) I was sooo disappointed later, however, to discover that most of my pictures from the Halloween party, and our Trick or Treating adventure, had not turned out. Yes, my friends, I have broken another camera. I’m so not happy about this. This hasn’t been the best year for losing pictures. Makes me just <em>sick</em>! Soooo uncool. </p> <p>But we’ll fix THAT! Christmas is a comin', y’all, and Mama’s gotta <em>document</em>! As Sally says on that Great Pumpkin Show, “There will be restitution!” 😄 I’m thinking Nikon. . . </p> <p>So here we go, everybody! Time to jump on that Holiday Train! Cause we’re going for a ride, Baby, and it starts TODAY! 😊 Woo oo Wooooo! <img alt="Gift with a bow" src="http://messenger.msn.com/MMM2006-04-19_17.00/Resource/emoticons/present.gif" /></p> <p>Now I just need to dig out the Christmas music. . . <img alt="Note" src="http://messenger.msn.com/MMM2006-04-19_17.00/Resource/emoticons/note.gif" /> The kids are gonna <em>love</em> it! Jingle Bells and Gloria, 24/7 until New Years Day! <img alt="Star" src="http://messenger.msn.com/MMM2006-04-19_17.00/Resource/emoticons/star.gif" /></p> Amy Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672277356677238690noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131349262748904168.post-28427087649098966122009-10-18T18:21:00.001-07:002009-10-18T18:21:00.412-07:00Charlottesville Trip 2009<p><a title="SDC10974" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/37798495@N07/4024585970/"><img alt="SDC10974" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3479/4024585970_da6f197c98.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p><a title="SDC10963" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/37798495@N07/4023829639/"><img alt="SDC10963" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3622/4023829639_487e5a814d.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p><a title="SDC10998" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/37798495@N07/4024587076/"><img alt="SDC10998" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2604/4024587076_30a4f4bd7f.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p><a title="SDC11085" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/37798495@N07/4024588658/"><img alt="SDC11085" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2456/4024588658_69cc0d925e.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p><a title="SDC11021" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/37798495@N07/4023832171/"><img alt="SDC11021" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3502/4023832171_9a0ed8d31a.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p><a title="SDC11013" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/37798495@N07/4024588118/"><img alt="SDC11013" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2743/4024588118_46ba1f154e.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> Amy Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672277356677238690noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131349262748904168.post-74235235352049117822009-10-18T17:43:00.001-07:002009-10-18T17:43:34.853-07:00Charlottesville High Reunion ‘09!<p><a title="SDC11343" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/37798495@N07/4007263266/"><img alt="SDC11343" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2570/4007263266_ca9aacd41f.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p><a title="SDC11344" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/37798495@N07/4006496867/"><img alt="SDC11344" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3483/4006496867_8fc134822c.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p><a title="SDC11284" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/37798495@N07/4006495969/"><img alt="SDC11284" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2621/4006495969_2f93cbfe56.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p><a title="SDC11347" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/37798495@N07/4007263334/"><img alt="SDC11347" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2500/4007263334_39765c8404.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p><a title="SDC11456" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/37798495@N07/4023489051/"><img alt="SDC11456" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2645/4023489051_e1f1863bc2.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p><a title="SDC11380" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/37798495@N07/4023488393/"><img alt="SDC11380" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2534/4023488393_b9c4329f38.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> Amy Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672277356677238690noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131349262748904168.post-7431336512644292002009-10-11T13:37:00.001-07:002009-10-11T13:37:45.620-07:00Our Girlie-Bob!<p>Last Tuesday, Charlie took Aleia on the Daddy-Daughter-Date of all Daddy-Daughter-Dates. Yes, my friends, he scored 2 tickets to see MILEY CYRUS! In the catered Coke suite, no less. YAY! : ) It was a night to remember! The Rosebud came home with a fancy light-up necklace and a 30 dollar tee shirt. They had ice cream and pizza and who knows what all. . . She was way excited! I . . was not. <img alt="smile_sarcastic" src="http://spaces.live.com/rte/emoticons/smile_sarcastic.gif" /> In the future, on such occasions as this, I’m going to have to keep that credit card at home. <img alt="Smile" src="http://messenger.msn.com/MMM2006-04-19_17.00/Resource/emoticons/regular_smile.gif" /></p> <p>The next night, the day before Charlie and I left for Washington, we all went over to the church to support Aleia at her Activity Days Recognition Night, for girls ages 8 to 12. Lea was displaying her artwork, a crayon drawing that she’d made at school. <img alt="Star" src="http://messenger.msn.com/MMM2006-04-19_17.00/Resource/emoticons/star.gif" /> We had treats, and watched the kids put on their little talent show. It was fun and cute, but it seems lately that there is <em>something </em>going on every single night! I guess that’s the stage of the game that we’re in, and I should probably appreciate the fact that time waits for no man, but when the heck were we going to <em>pack</em>! : )</p> Amy Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672277356677238690noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131349262748904168.post-61845858479538740162009-10-11T13:13:00.001-07:002009-10-11T13:21:21.282-07:00Kid Quotes<p>Yesterday Charlie and I were driving to the store with some of the kids. We happened to stop in front of a body shop with some shnazzy cars parked out front. Charlie, of course, has to comment. . . </p> <p>“Hey Jeffy, do you like those wheels?” </p> <p>Jefferson is all boy, and all about cars. Staring out of the window, wide-eyed, with both hands clutching the top of the car door nearest his seat, he responded. </p> <p>“I like the <em>whole car</em>!” </p> <p><img alt="car" src="http://spaces.live.com/rte/emoticons/car.gif" /></p> <p> </p> <p>Tommy was cleaning out the garage yesterday, when he realized what dirty job it was. Very slightly irritated, he paused while sweeping the front porch.</p> <p>“Boogers.” he stated calmly. “Boogers. . . and sour cream.” </p> <p>Then, not too concerned, ‘cause Tommy’s all about gettin’ it done, he went back to sweeping.</p> <p>Totally cracking me up.  : )</p> <p> </p> <p>Just now, Aleia was sitting at the computer. She’s been working on a story for school, and had found a website that looked sort of familiar. Miss Strawberry Shortcake is hoping to see her story printed in a local creative writing magazine. Not sure if she had permission to be online, I asked her what she was up to. Wound tight, as always, she turned and yelled almost frantically: </p> <p>“I’m just trying to contact the publisher!”</p> <p>Caught completely off guard, I did a double take. </p> <p>What?</p> <p>The child is barely nine years old! : ) Hilarious.</p> Amy Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672277356677238690noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131349262748904168.post-79030199239842338582009-10-06T14:08:00.001-07:002009-10-11T13:18:11.660-07:00Incoming!<p>Yesterday afternoon was a pleasant one. I love this time of year! Brisk Autumn breezes blowing color into little cheeks, rain and snow in the mountains. . . Down here in the valley, partly sunny, patches of blue sky, moving clouds. . . Ya really can’t beat it! : )</p> <p>We turned on the heater yesterday morning, for the first time this season. When the kids left for school, they could see their breath in the cold mountain air. The car was covered with frost, and Charlie had to warm up his truck for a while before heading off to work and classes. . . So different from balmy Virginia, where we spent the weekend. But it’s good to be home! I enjoyed a fun day with the Binky, picking up, (as Charlie likes to say), or rather <em>cleaning</em> up the house a bit, and waiting for our errant luggage to be delivered from the airport. . . Luckily, I checked my email and it was there that I learned about my dentist appointment at two. No cavities! Yay! <img alt="Open-mouthed" src="http://messenger.msn.com/MMM2006-04-19_17.00/Resource/emoticons/teeth_smile.gif" /></p> <p>Later on, after the kids were home from school, Tommy got it into his head that we needed to pick some apples. Our apple tree is bent over double, and the apples still on it are red, juicy, and overripe. Eric’s been bringing them in a few at a time, all polished up and beautiful. . . He’s filled up one of our orange Halloween bowls already with such admirable specimens, and even took the time to mix up some pie filling while we were gone on Saturday. Tommy talked Eric into helping him harvest. I could see the boys out of the kitchen window. Eric had climbed to the top of the tree, and Tommy was on the ground catching apples as brother tossed them to him. Too bad he accidentally beaned Aleia smack in the head. . . She wasn’t too happy. The highlight of their little game of fruit baseball, I would have to say, would probably have been the moment that Eric lobbed a juicy red hand grenade directly at the kitchen window. “Incoming!” he yelled, grinning. Unbeknown to me, Tommy was standing beneath this particular window, and with lighting-fast reflexes, shot his hand up and into my view, just in time to make a spectacular catch, intercepting the apple before it hit the glass. </p> <p>I had to laugh. Really, what can you do? Yes, these are the moments we cherish! : ) </p> <p>Wisely, perhaps, I decided to move away from the kitchen window. Across the street, on the other side of the house, Aleia, and her friends Hope and Emmalee, were jumping on the tramp in their Halloween costumes. It was truly a sight to behold! Lea, in her black witch costume, with her long red hair whipping about as she bounced and spun, bright eyes and rosy cheeks, certainly contributed to the happy scene. The girls flew skyward and back again, shrieking with delight!  : )  Such fun!</p> <p>I think it was then that I got the bug, and decided to throw together some appley pies. Sugar and cinnamon, Baby! That’s what it’s all about! Anyway, it sure smells good coming out of the oven. . . I was very grateful to Eric for taking the time to cut up all those apples. . . But we’re not through yet! An hour later, Tommy hauled in a full box of newly picked bad boys and dropped/set it heavily (and without permission) right on the kitchen table. Such a helpful lad! : ) </p> <p>Guess we’ll be makin’ room in the freezer, cause there’s gonna be a whole lot of apple pie filling stacking up soon! YAY for October!  : )</p> Amy Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672277356677238690noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131349262748904168.post-32022323812238951762009-09-26T11:19:00.001-07:002009-10-11T13:15:53.586-07:00A Nostalgic Evening<p>Jeffy was sick on Wednesday, picked up some sort of flu bug at school. . . But he was not sick enough to stay home from Classic Family Fun Center Thursday night! : ) Every six months our pediatric dentist rents the place out. Children who’ve had good check ups are given free passes, and can bring their whole families! Jeffy wasn’t about to miss this long-sought-after opportunity, and miraculously became ‘better’ around lunch time! : ) I ended up taking him, Eric, and Aleia over to this circus of Family Fun later that evening, where we had a great time amidst the chaos of scootering, skating, pizza, hot dogs, raffle tickets and colored lights. Eric, with his amazing talent and a whole bunch of tokens, somehow rigged one of the games in the arcade so that it spit out a seemingly endless amount of tickets, thus enabling us to choose from an “amazing” assortment of cheapo plastic prizes! This brought enough excitement and smiles, I’m <em>sure, </em>for any one evening. : ) One of these treasures ended up being a pair of toy handcuffs. Jefferson was enraptured! He kept us waiting the next day, walking home from school, when he obligingly offered to demonstrate this amazing new toy, and handcuffed one of the neighborhood kids halfway down the path, hopefully not to the fence. . . Both kids were grinning. Boys, and their toys, right? I haven’t seen his eyes light up like that in a while! Jeffy and crew played Cops and Robbers in the backyard all afternoon! <img alt="smile_shades" src="http://spaces.live.com/rte/emoticons/smile_shades.gif" /></p> Amy Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672277356677238690noreply@blogger.com3