Thanksgiving

At the top of our family's gratitude list this year is living close to good friends. We were all very excited to spend Thanksgiving with the Hollingers who live in a BEAUTIFUL place in S. Cal. (We miss you Craig!)

Just check out these photos (thanks, Carole.)
My girls were loved and spoiled. Hannah figured out quickly who to go to if she wanted something (like a new blanket! because her baby blanket is showing its age and because Carole is very nice.) All the kids got adorable, matching jammies! (again, thanks Carole!) Being there answered the question I've been asking myself for the last several months "Why in the world do I live here???" To be close to a very good friend!

Sign Waving

Here's a website to explain the background of what we've been supporting (protectmarriage.com).

I wish I had a picture of my beautiful girls standing out in the cold wind and rain waving signs to cars. It's a picture I'll always keep in my mind. I'm proud of them. Instead of me bragging about them though, I'll let them describe the experience:
Em--It was really rainy and wet. We got over 150 honks. Three people were kind of a little bit mean. One person got out of his car and started yelling at us. I made a leaf pile and we brought candy with us so that we wouldn't get hungry. (She's being very, very forgiving to all the people who waved with one finger and yelled many words I don't say.)
Ray--We went to a busy corner and did Proposition 8. We held signs saying "Yes on Prop 8". It was really busy and noisy. When we held up the sign for 10 minutes we got to eat some of our Halloween candy. I was sad because some of the people were calling us names like "You're dumb!" The people who were voting yes on Proposition 8 honked at us. We got 150 honks. It was raining. The rain was not fun.
Hannah--We played in the rain. We were in the stroller. I played with Mom. People honked. I like people.

On the ride home we talked about the freedom we have in America to voice our opinion. We talked about our choice to do it in a nice way and not in an angry way (like we saw some people choose to do tonight.) The girls have asked some great questions and however it goes tomorrow our family has had a great opportunity to teach some good lessons to our girls.

Leave a Record!

"Make no mistake about it, brothers and sisters, in the months and years ahead, events are likely to require each member to decide whether or not he will follow the First Presidency. Members will find it more difficult to halt longer between two opinions. President Marion G. Romney said, many years ago, that he had 'never hesitated to follow the counsel of the authorities of the Church even though it crossed my social, professional or political life.' This is hard doctrine, but it is particularly vital doctrine in a society which is becoming more wicked.
In short, brothers and sisters, not being ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ includes not being ashamed of the prophets of Jesus Christ. . . Your discipleship may see the time when such religious convictions are discounted. . . . This new irreligious imperialism seeks to disallow certain opinions simply because those opinions grow out of religious convictions.
Resistance to abortion will be seen as primitive. Concern over the institution of the family will be viewed as untrendy and unenlightened.... Before the ultimate victory of the forces of righteousness, some skirmishes will be lost. Even in these, however, let us leave a record so that the choices are clear, letting others do as they will in the face of prophetic counsel. There will also be times, happily, when a minor defeat seems probable, but others will step forward, having been rallied to rightness by what we do. We will know the joy, on occasion, of having awakened a slumbering majority of the decent people of all races and creeds which was, till then, unconscious of itself. Jesus said that when the fig trees put forth their leaves, 'summer is nigh.' Thus warned that summer is upon us, let us not then complain of the heat." --- Elder Neal A. Maxwell

The girls are I are waving signs today at a busy intersection. I have to admit I wasn't going to because the thought of me and 4 girls in the rain waving signs at people who are going to yell at us didn't seem like fun. But then I read this quote from our Stake President: "Our children are aware of and have seen our efforts in this initiative and will be prepared to mount the same kind of effort in the challenges that they will face in the future. We did this not only for ourselves, but we did it as an example to our posterity."
I envisioned my girls fighting even harder than what Jon and I have done and I wanted them to see me give my all up to the end and this is my small part of leaving a record and not complaining of the heat (or rain!)

Now You See It, Now You Don't

My neighbor noticed my sign was missing one morning. We usually put it away at night, but Sunday night we didn't. I have another sign up now, but I couldn't believe someone came on my property to take something that didn't belong to them!
The 100 hour countdown has started. We've been asked to give all we can at this point and hold nothing back (this was said by Elders Ballard and Cook). I have 60 people left on my list to call. On Saturday our family will go out and hand out voting reminders to as many people as we can. LDS lawyers throughout California will be monitoring polling stations. Groups are holding signs on corners every day. Hundreds of people who are not afraid to stand up for their beliefs are fighting pretty hard and giving a lot. I can't explain the feelings I have as the election draws near. The consequences of the presidential election are nothing compared to the repercussions of Prop 8 not passing. I read 3rd Nephi last night to remind myself that the evils of our day were seen a long time ago. The part I like is that no matter what happens on Tuesday and in the future the good side still wins in the end. Please remember us in your prayers and ask that all those who support Prop 8 feel the need to vote on Tuesday.

Here's an article entitled "Stoning Mormons for standing up for their values by funding Prop. 8" that helps me to know that the injustices are seen by others.

Happy B-Day Ray!

Here's Rachel's October update: Rachel is having birthday week! We started Friday with her first friends' party. She had a great time! We decorated pumpkins and cookies, played games, danced and had a pumpkin hunt.

Today's celebrations include: b-day breakfast, b-day treat at school, b-day dinner and she doesn't have to do her chores! On Friday (Jon's home!) we'll open up presents and go bowling. Not bad for turning 6!

My beautiful Rachel loves school, her long hair, wearing skirts, playing outside, riding her bike, READING, doing her homework, playing with her sisters and friends and going on dates with her dad. She loves to spend her money on candy, stickers and books, but she's also saving up for a pet. She doesn't like doing kitchen jobs, going to bed, not being able to play.

October Update

Showing her Chicago spirit for Sports Day at school. She's a good big sister and loves to plan activities for the family. She was an awesome helper at Rachel's b-day party last week. She was usually 2 steps ahead of me as to what needed to be done.

My little Hannah's growing up, but only when she wants to. She's a big girl when it works to her advantage, but when it's time to clean up she claims she can't because "I too little."

Lizzie's one! She likes to smile, say "Hi", call me "Bup" and Jon "DAD!!!". She gives the sweetest hugs throughout the day in between her tantrums which include throwing her head back into the chair, the hard wood floors (that are throughout our WHOLE house), the church pew, the stroller, the wall, etc.

HI!! I find myself daydreaming about my relaxing days in England where I was always looking forward to our next trip. (I don't think I did much else!) Life has returned quickly back to what it was before our move: chasing after the busy young ones, volunteering in the school, baking treats, cleaning the house (again!), painting the girls' blue room pink, slowly redoing the yard (so far 15 huge piles of what I've taken out), still settling into the house and reading when I can.

Jon's been missing lately when the camera's out. Hours at work are long and traveling has increased a bit. Which also means my hours are long and it explains a little about my absence from the blogging world. I'm no longer looking for when life will settle (it won't), but I'm trying to balance what I can.

Not in the Budget

There's a new motto in our house lately--"It's not in the budget." Even the girls quote it when they hear someone ask for something from the store (Jon asked me to pick up some gum the other day). We made some financial goals after we moved into the house and because we wanted to meet these goals quicker rather than later we are very aware of what we spend. At first it felt so constricting, but I've been surprised at all the positive things that have happened because of our tight budget.
No TV means my nights are filled with catching up on reading (LOVE IT!) and being better about tidying up and sometimes I'm even caught up with Sunday School lessons AND my scripture reading AND my Relief Society lesson!!!! (I don't think that's ever happened before.)
Smaller food budget means I spend the money on what we need, which means I eat better and therefore have more energy and when the girls want a snack all I have is something that falls in one of the good food groups
Smaller gas budget means I walk more and my trips out are better organized
No budget for landscaping and yardwork means I get to do fun things like use a chain saw and cut down my own trees! Whee!!! Way fun!!
No budget for extras means I don't feel any pressure into buying school pictures which I hate anyway (sorry-looking backgrounds, leftover lunch on the front of the shirt, the hair-do that says "I got my pictures taken after recess" and the smile that says "The photographer really doesn't care what I look like!")
Little entertainment budget means we get to check out movies at the library for FREE! (Oh wait, we've always done this.) Well, I guess it means we play more games at home with the girls and swap with our neighbors for babysitting.
Little budget for heating means we're going to play a fun game called, "Put on lots of sweaters because I'm not turning on the heat until I really have to." Thank goodness it's been in the 80s during the day (50s at night).
No house bugdet means I don't have to waste time shopping for things for the house (okay this one isn't really a positive one, but I'm trying!)
No clothing budget means I don't have to waste time shopping for things like desperately needed clothes for me or needed winter clothes for Lizzie. (Just kidding on this one--I actually enjoy shopping for good deals on clothes and dressing my children appropriately and am really looking forward to fitting this into the budget next month, which just means we'll only eat what's in our food storage. Mmmmm, whole wheat bean lentil soup!)
I'm laughing as I write this because I think it's kind of fun. I love a good challenge and I love projects and I love being frugal (most of the time.) This is all our choice and it's also temporary and we've turned it into something funny. Look for a new post next year on all the fun things I'm doing with my new budget!