Monster

As always, I appreciate the opportunity to share rational thought. 

I've been meaning to read Imprimis, a publication of Hillsdale College that comes to us in the mail, on the regular. 

Sadly, with the busyness of life, I haven't met that goal as often as I would wish to. .

Just now, in the quiet of the early morning hours, I couldn't sleep and decided to straighten up and organize a bit. 

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. 

Perusing that article, I found myself at once inspired and deeply disturbed by what I found there. .

Perhaps this paragraph will sum it up, or at least give you a hint of the gist: 

"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."

Really? Could this be possible? 

Could this be allowed somehow in Jefferson's America? In Lincoln's? 

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! 

Have we really descended this far as a nation?

And a more thought provoking question. . Have we -as an enlightened, God fearing community- allowed it? 

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. 

I doubt they would entertain such madness with less than horror and distain. .

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?

What would they think of the America we have become? 

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?

Have we really allowed our National Identity to be changed from inherently rational and good. . to permissive and tolerant to the point of insanity 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? 

After what our predecessors gave to bring about the inspired establishment of our Republic, will we not honor their memory more reverently than this?

Thinking ahead toward Easter, this line from a familiar and patriotic hymn, which I sincerely hope is still represented, come to mind.

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me.

As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free. .

Free.

Have we come this far only to come this far? Have we allowed our collective ideology as Americans to be altered to this extent?

The word "conundrum" becomes redefined. .

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

I am stuck, we 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.

The rising generation is being heavily influenced by incorrect, destructive propaganda on an unprecedented scale. 

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. . 

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.

It's a miracle that we made it through adolescence with the difficulties associated, without the craziness and blatant depravity that they have to deal with now. 

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.

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." 

This segment states very clearly one perspective, with which I am in complete agreement.

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.

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. .

The devil is certainly amping it up!

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 the collective ideology and understanding of the country I grew up in, and the borderline satanic mess we find ourselves battling now. . 

Things are becoming more and more black. and. white. 

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.

https://imprimis.hillsdale.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Imprimis_Sept_8pg_9-23web.pdf

Repost from August 2021 - Light of Freedom

August 20th, 2021

When Evil Reigns

 

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!

 

August 25th, 2021

Tuesday

Just dropped my 4-year-old off at preschool, her first day officially! 

I was doing okay, until one of the younger mamas asked if I was having a hard time leaving her.

 And then it hit me, and the tears came welling up.

Driving 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.

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?

 I was disturbed by this woman's words and the accompanying images. This type of injustice was simply unacceptable. Something had to be done.

But what could I do? 

Thankfully, after the unprecedented attack on our mainland soil in 2001, action was taken, and these people were subsequently liberated.

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. 

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.

 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.

 “Oh, sorry.” He apologized.

 At once, he was surprised by his friend’s immediate and intense reaction.

 “Don’t talk to her!” he growled under his breath, alarmed. “It is not allowed.”

 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. . . And what about all the little girls in Afghanistan? The young women?

 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?

 Their future is not bright, as they are doomed, sadly, to very imminent and unavoidable oppression.

 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.

 What is it that happens when evil men rule? History reminds us. .The people mourn. 

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.

Symbolically, an impending blackout hovers over the people of Afghanistan. 

What can be done?

 Where is the light?

 Now that evil has been unleashed and will be spreading throughout that country unrestrained, there are bigger concerns than walks and education.

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.

 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. 

The light of truth and freedom is being snuffed out. 

In the name of despotism and absolute control, these evil men, terrorists, intend to extinguish the lights that are these little girls.

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.

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.

Before it is too late.

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? 

A question worthy of contemplation.

A Voice for The Unborn

 

Okay everyone. Permit me a moment.

I have squelched my inner Amidala quite a lot in recent years, but this will not go unsaid.

There has been the usual controversy, concern, passionate debate, and diabolical deception that comes with discussion of this issue.

But I was born to speak and while this land allows it, and when it doesn’t, I will be free to advocate for the defenseless.

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.

I know what it’s like to be afraid of all of it.

I know the trepidation, the humiliation, the joy, the pain, the concern.

I have felt the caring, the compassion, the possibilities, the bonds. .

I have experienced the work, the exhaustion, the tears, the sleepless nights.

I am familiar with the ‘road less traveled’ in the most ironic sense. .

I have endured ridicule, have been consumed by shame and regret, and have walked through the valley of the shadow alone.

But under no circumstances will my face blanch white because I ended the life of a child.

Springtime Pleasantries!

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.

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.

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.

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?"

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.

"Hey, Buddy. . You should probably shut the window and to to bed. It's pretty cold out!"

But I couldn't help but smile.

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.

What a cute kid! I wonder if his parents knew that he was talking out his window to random folk passing by.

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. .

I've also heard stories from my Latin friends about how things are in Mexico and South America. .

 About my parents' childhood in the 1950's, when there "was no fear." Big families and friends, neighborhoods, warm memories and traditions!

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.

We're about out of the woods, folks! At least where the pandemic is concerned. . 

Hope is on the horizon! Let's smile and give each other a piece of gum. 💓

Tender Mercies

An excerpt from my experience with postpartum 'depression.'

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. 

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.

I had heard about postpartum depression. I knew it was a real thing, but I had never experienced it to this extent.

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.

I prayed and cried and fought and fought and FOUGHT.

Heavenly Father sent me scripture after scripture that seemed as if it were sent directly to me. It was amazing.

But I was still in extreme distress.

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."

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

I told myself, "That's it." And I drove to the doctor's office.

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.

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.

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.

To be clear, this includes all of us.

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.

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.

But we are NOT defenseless.

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.

There is comfort and there is hope.

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.

Despite our weaknesses and the struggles and challenges of this life, we DO NOT have to succumb to the suggestions of the devil.

We, together, are stronger than that. 💓

Amaya Marie

It'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! : )

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!

                

Issues With Entitlement - My Thoughts after the 2012 Presidential Election

Last week, it snowed all day Friday and Saturday.

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.

I learned something about our country that I just hadn't let myself see before now. America has changed. 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.

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 lives 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 freedom 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 okay with the introduction of a Socialist State. Why do people now value freedom hardly more than . . . I don't know what?

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 play, to party, they want to be taken care of, they want Socialism.

Entitlement had won out.

Wow.

They think 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 freedom . . anymore.

Here's a Facebook post from Election night:

• "Can we all just team up and abdicate and make Romney our prez? The other side would really struggle then with so few taxpayers."

  6 November at 23:23 via mobile · Like · 2
• "True!"
  

  6 November at 23:24 · Like
• "People have thrown away freedom in exchange for what they perceive to be security, not knowing the most basic truth: They will end up with neither."

  6 November at 23:28 · Like · 1
• "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!"
  

  6 November at 23:29 · Like
• "We'll be the United States of America, and they'll be the Entitled States of . . . Something Else."
  

  6 November at 23:30 · Like

We watched a victory that had been expected, to some extent, even projected 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.

Many, if not all, of Obama's ideas are in direct opposition to the teachings of Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence. Think about that for a minute. Does this statement not seem super scary?! The man that 'leads' our country today, is actively trying his best to unravel the inspired brilliance that was/is our founding Declaration of freedom, 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 this trend to continue?

Food for thought: The following are statements made by Thomas Jefferson. Are they congruent with the ideology of our current President?

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."

"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."

"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." 

"My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government."

"To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical."

"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."

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 Thomas Jefferson dined alone."

Giant Cell Tumor Returns AND Tommy is Packing His Bags

The leaves started changing this past week on our maple tree. . . It’s been an interesting few days.

Here’s an update I posted last week:

“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!”

In two days time, we learned that our son Eric’s bone tumor had come back, hence the pain and the limping. 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.

This was an announcement that we were excited about, but did not expect. It’s amazing the curve-balls that life will throw at you.

Eric had 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.

I can actually feel the prayers that are being offered for us. I can feel us being lifted up.

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.

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.'

August

August 26, 2011

I hate August. Nothing but hot, hot, hot, and there are no holidays! What the heck?!

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.

Lea is starting sixth grade and discovering boys, Laena is looking at Nov 19^th for the wedding, Clint has started school, and is spending way too much time with the girl down the street.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 😊

22 years since Charlie’s and my first date. 💜 Laena should be home soon. .

Eric brought me a sunflower today. 😊💙

Holiday Correspondence! 2010

Holiday Correspondence (A little late, but still entertaining. . .)

A Joyous Holiday Season to one and all!

For those of you who dig this sort of thing. . .

Here's our Mason Family News:

Charlie, after a ten-year run with the Scouting program, has been called back into . . . the Scouting program! J 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.

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^th, 2010, with joy and rejoicing. Happy Birthday to me! 😊 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! 😊 Very busy with our now 8 little minions:

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 study, she’d probably be able to take over the world. 😉 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 everybody, 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. . . 😉💖

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 gym classes, that he won’t have any homework 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! 😊

Eric, who also earned his high school diploma and Eagle Scout rank this year, is still working at the theater on 90^th 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! 😄 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! 😎

Tommy, breaking with tradition, has decided to leave West Jordan behind, and give this whole charter school thing a whirl. .:) 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! :) 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! :)

Aleia, with her beautiful, lyrical voice, got to participate in a local production of the musical “Wicked,” for kids! :) She had a great time in 4th 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. :) 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, loves. . Aleia is still the most goal-oriented of all of us, and is already planning her eleventh birthday party, three months in advance. 😄

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. : ) 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^th birthday celebration, and was especially excited about riding the miniature horses! :) 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.’ :)

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. :) Our lovable little red-head certainly keeps us on our toes!

And Kaylie Jo Mason, our newest addition, is all sweetness and spice and everything nice!:) We love her so, our Kaylie Jo! (Hey, a rhyme! With sort of a Dr. Suess flavor. .) She’s what smiles are made of! Three months old, so chubby and cute! Our little honey, we can’t get enough of her! :) She’s recently discovered her hands, and may end up a thumb sucker. :) We couldn’t be prouder!

Best wishes to all!

Prospero Ano y Felizidad!

Love, Charlie, Amy, and Minions 🎄