I had to do
a lot of research to come to this decision, because I really wasn't sure at first about who I would choose.
I have always felt a sense of patriotism for my country and feel I owe a great debt to the men and women who in the very early years of our country's conception were brave enough to take a stand against England and tyranny to create a more perfect union. While I do not have a photographic memory and cannot quote dates or places I do know that the war against England lasted for years and the 13 colonies lost MANY a battle.
On July 4Th when we declared ourselves independent of England, we hadn't even won the war yet. In fact we would still be years away from our victory. But inspired men and women knew that each man and woman had certain "unalienable rights" that should not be denied him. I also know that this was a part of Heavenly Father's plan. He wanted to create a nation in which His gospel could be restored to the earth. (Roughly 40% of the people living in the colonies were still loyal to the crown and did not want to break away.)
There were many times when politicians and congress petitioned to have General Washington removed from his capacity. They said he was not the man who would lead the colonies of the United States to victory. They said he was losing too many battles to make any progress. But time and time again when Washington and his troops were cornered facing certain capture and loss, by of the mercy of our Heavenly Father, Washington led hundreds and hundreds of his troops away from their enemy, right under their noses. Most of the troops went years with out pay, they rarely had adequate clothing for freezing winters or shoes to cover their feet. Often times they were hungry. Often men would want to quit the army and return to their homes, but time and time again Washington reminded them that they were fighting for something greater than themselves, they were fighting for freedom, for an ideal, for a life that was predetermined by each man, a course of his own choosing. Washington inspired them to stay, to see their cause through.
I believe that men and women today are fighting for the same reason. No one likes war. It is an awful and ugly thing. People die, innocents are killed, loved ones mourn losses. I think it was some high ranking official in the Japanese army who told one of his subordinates right before they bombed Pearl Harbor, " A wise man would find away to avoid war." This is true. But thankfully, Washington and his army did not stop fighting a war that they were constantly seeming to lose. Thankfully he had insight and knew that what he and many others were trying to build was worth fighting for and worth working for.
Our war today is awful. I have many friends and family members who have served or are serving in the military during this war. One of my best friends in high school was in Iraq for almost a year. It is a hardship. Something I wish they didn't have to do, but something I am so proud of them for and eternally grateful. "To whom much is given much is required." We Americans have been given a lot. Kai will attest to that after living in a country (Panama) that is close to if not third world. Panamanians will tell you of their gratitude for the Americans in ousting General Noriega who was certain to take a whole country down. I think it is important to take care of other country's around us when their is something they can't do for themselves. We cannot ignore the rest of the world and think that nothing will ever effect us. We (The United States) used help from the French in the Revolutionary War by signing the Treaty of Alliance in 1778 which then became a turning point in the war in our favor. We are all interconnected and when their is injustice, if we can help we should. For those who haven't traveled to any developing countries, I'll tell you there is a lot we can and should do. Sometimes it takes years, lives, hardships and money. Always it takes our prayers that leaders will be guided when they are making their decisions. We are not like Rome who sought to gain more power, nor Germany who felt they were of a superior race. We are part of a country that lives and has a standard of life much higher than anywhere else. Are we above helping those who cannot help themselves in these poor countries?
Being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I believe in living latter day prophets and continuing revelation. What they speak in inspired and comes from God. Just as the prophecies of the bible prophets were fulfilled, so will the prophecies of our latter-day Prophets.
I think this document is important when considering whom to vote for:
The Family: A Proclamation to the World
We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children. All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny.
Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose. In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life.
The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God's commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed.
We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God's eternal plan.
Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. "Children are an heritage of the Lord" (
Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.
The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.
By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation.
Extended families should lend support when needed. We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.
This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah
Three Reasons why Obama will not have my vote
1.Barack Obama believes in abortion. When he was in California at Saddleback church, in his debate hosted/interviewed by Reverend Rick Warren, Obama joked that defining at which time a fetus had civil rights was above his pay grade. He says he supports Roe Vs. Wade because he believes that women agonize over the choice to have an abortion. I am sure they do agonize, but as far as I am concerned, maybe they should have agonized a little more before they engaged in the act of procreation. They had a choice to make then, and pregnancy was a consequence of that poor decision. He says that he wants to promote adoption and work to reduce the number of abortions by making sure women have proper health care, proper support services rendered, and appropriate adoption options. So I asked myself, I wonder what the stats are on abortions? Because I personally know two people who between them had three abortions, simply because they didn't want to be pregnant. So I looked for the stats. If you get a minute you should go to the web site because some of the (detailed) reasons sited for an abortion will truly turn your head.
http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/policy/abortion/abreasons.htmlREASONS FOR ABORTIONS: COMPILED ESTIMATES
rape: 0.3 % (0.1-0.6 %)
incest: 0.03 % (<0.1 %)
physical life of mother: 0.2 % (0.1-0.3 %)
physical health of mother : 1.0 % (0.1-3 %)
fetal health: 0.5 % (0.1-1.0 %)
personal choice: defined in the survey as the following:
(--too young/immature/not ready for responsibility--economic--to avoid adjusting life--mother single or in poor relationship--enough children already)
98% (78-99 %)--(32 %)--25% (21-28 %)--(16 %)--(12-13 %)--(4-8 %)
98% of abortions are due to personal choice, not access to healthcare or inadequate information on adoption.
2. Obama says (also from his Saddleback debate):
"Evil does exist . . .It has to be confronted squarely. And one of the things that I strongly believe . . . we are not going to do as individuals [is] be able to erase evil from the world. That is God's task. But we can be soldiers in that process, and we can confront it when we see it."
I think that is what we are doing right now in our war efforts."
I do not want a commander in chief who is without military experience. I want someone who understands what being in a battle (living on military food, in military housing, digging a hole to sleep in trying to make sure that it was deep enough for a blast to leave you undisturbed- this is what my friend told us he did) means not only to us as Americans but to the soldiers whom he would deploy. I want a president who understands how a military operates. Someone who who is more like General Washington than General Gates in the revolutionary war.
3. Obama's views are way to socialistic (is that a word) for me to want to get on board with him. I don't want the government to dictate how to do EVERYTHING. But how about being Self Reliant. I feel like Obama is pretty sure that we have failed as a society and feels like we need to give him control of everything (health care- which I know isn't perfect now I know, but turning over to be controlled by a federal bureaucracy -yikes, and more taxes and more taxes) so that he can distribute things as he
seems fit and fix all of our problems. That's how I treat my three year old. **And to say that for some people they just can't make it unless the government comes to their rescue??? Education is the solution to poverty. Stay in school, get good grades, and get a scholoarship to go to college. Oh, and stay away from drugs! I have seen people go from very poor to the middle class and even higher. Our economy is in shambles because of people who didn't follow some simple rules given by wise men time and time again (the prophets and simple financial planners). They have taught us to avoid all debt except that of a house and education. Yet we have millions of people who file bankruptcy and max out credit cards they can't pay back. "Live within your means" The housing market is our biggest economical problem and that wasn't any politicians fault. IF you're not smart enough to contact and do some research before buying a home (a humongous investment for most of us) then that's your fault. For that reason I went to my brother who was a loan officer I knew wouldn't scam me. ** (Kai's comments **)
Break down:1. Pro-choice
2. No military Experience
3. Identifies to closely with socialism
These are just my top three reasons why I can't vote for Obama. I encourage you to look at the issues to make an educated vote. I think McCain is a good man, who wants to make America better, I don't agree with him on every aspect and there are some views of his that I plain old just don't like. Having said that, he identifies more closely with my morals. Both of them are for civil unions and I don't like that. Obama, is also a man who cares deeply for our country and wants to make a difference. (I really like his wife) I know America needs a change. I just don't think we are ready for Obama's kind of changes. Besides that, I just can't support his moral views.
Kirra and Bubba - they were so cute. They always seemed to end up next to each other. They didn't really play together, but they were always near one another.
The girls after the marathon
Instant best friends. Ava rode in our car and entertained us by singing, Called to serve, several times.
At Applebee's - everyone had bad hair because of the rain! Except Bubba, his hair is always the same.
This is two of tow:) Thankyou to everyone who came out and supported our grand opening!
