Beauty Is...

"Beauty is..." was the theme of the Reflections program this year in the elementary schools and Savannah submitted a project under the Visual Arts category. Last night her elementary school recognized all the participants so Savannah and I attended.
Savannah's colored pencils drawing was of dolphins swimming in the ocean, her inspiration coming from our encounter with this exact scene last summer at the Outer Banks.

I was really surprised that more kids from her school did not participate. Savannah is already planning on submitting more than one project next year which I think is great; I love to see her express herself artistically.

A Historic Moment

The signing of the Health Care Bill is being lauded as a historic moment. Well, the bombing of Pearl Harbor was a historic moment which just goes to show that not all historic moments are wonderful. This health care bill passing certainly is not. I have been stewing over this for the past two days but, don't worry, I won't go into some long tirade about how unconstitutional this bill is and how angry I still am that Americans actually voted this man into office. I do have to make some comments, though, before my head explodes! There is consolation in the fact that Pelosi has an 11% approval rating (I can't figure out how anyone could approve of her - I get a negative physical reaction whenever I see or hear her), Harry Reid is at 8%, and Obama's rating is in an ever-increasing downward spiral. I'm hopeful that we will be able to vote most of these immoral, corrupt people out and elect some people who actually believe that the government is run by the people FOR the people. My poor kids had to deal with an earful on Monday night; I felt it was a great time to explain to them the purpose of government and that our rights come from God, not the government. David just shook his head and told them that Mommy gets really passionate about this kind of stuff. It's hard not to, though, when after the bill was passed, President Obama had the nerve to make the comments he did. In disbelief I heard him say that they had risen above politics to pass this bill - I'm sorry but I'm pretty sure this is a partisan bill; he said that they had pushed back against special interest groups - sorry once again but no one can ignore that this bill is over 2,000 pages filled with pork, bribes, and the selling of souls; and then Obama closed with the comment that this bill proved that the government was still being run by the people for the people - Ha! More than 70% of the American people were opposed to the bill. I'm sorry, Mr. President, I just can't agree with you on any of your points. But I know that people out there will just lap up his lies, just like they did when he was campaigning.
Okay, I know you are probably all bored reading my rant but I'm just going to finish by saying that A)our Constitution says that the government can not force any of us to buy anything and B)not one cent of mine will ever go towards funding abortion. They can haul me off to jail but I'm not participating in this health care overhaul, as they like to call it, in any way. Some days I just feel so helpless as I watch our freedoms being taken away. On the campaign trail Obama promised that he was going to fundamentally transform this country. Well, he's sure on his way and boy, does it suck! Call me crazy but I've always agreed with the statement made by Ronald Reagan: "Government is not the solution to our problem. Government is the problem."
A friend of mine sent me this Maxine cartoon which I think sums it up pretty well:



Let me get this straight......we're trying to pass a health care plan written by a committee whose chairman says he doesn't understand it, passed by a Congress that hasn't read it but exempts themselves from it, signed by a president that also hasn't read it and who smokes, with funding administered by a treasury chief who didn't pay his taxes, all to be overseen by a surgeon general who is obese, and financed by a country that's broke.

What the hell could possibly go wrong????

Excitement!

It's Monday morning and I'm looking at my house and I have to admit, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed! The laundry is piled up to the ceiling, the kitchen floor is littered with crumbs (yuck!) plus there are some definite sticky patches, the floor has not been vacuumed in a week, there are toys everywhere, dishes in the sink...AHHHH!!!! But you know what? I wouldn't change a thing because there's a perfectly good excuse for the mess:

MARCH MADNESS, BABY!!!

From tip-off time on Thursday, I have been neglecting everything but the TV. The upsets, the last second shots, the jumping up and down, cheering for teams like St. Mary's and Cornell - well, it's just the most exciting time of the year!!! But I must admit that the best game I watched this weekend wasn't even a basketball game. Savannah played in her second playoff game on Friday night and a win would put them in the championship game next weekend. Unfortunately for us, she played the team coached by her outdoor soccer coach so she had several old teammates that she was playing against; that's always hard. I had to give little cheers for some of those cute girls I got to coach in the fall. But ultimately Savannah's team was able to hold onto the win, 6-5. Savannah came so, so close to scoring a goal several times. She hasn't scored yet this season and is very anxious for that goal. David and I were so proud of the way she played and we all can't wait for the big game this Saturday.



Savannah's team after the big win...Go Purple Panthers!

Now I have to catch up on some major housecleaning before Thursday but it's all worth it.

Leprechaun Antics!

Every year the kids work so hard making leprechaun traps in hopes of catching one of the little people and getting three wishes. If they got lucky and caught one, Xander said he would wish for 1) tons of Star Wars guys 2) $100 and 3) a genie. Savannah said her wishes would be 1) millions of books 2) a dog and 3) 5 $1000 bills.

Unfortunately we have not had much success in the past few years and this year proved no exception. Look at the mess the wee leprechauns created in my kitchen and living room! Needless to say, I was NOT pleased.

The leprechauns even ventured into the kids' rooms this year and flung Savannah's stuffed animals all around her room. The little rascals also hung the kids' underwear from their bedposts and dresser knobs; Savannah and Xander both thought that was pretty funny. The good thing, though, is that after making quite the mess the leprechauns did leave the kids some treats - some yummy chocolate gold coins. Savannah was especially excited that one of the leprechauns apparently stepped in some green paint somewhere and tracked footprints in the front foyer.

Of course we had our traditional corned beef and cabbage dinner which was oh, so good.

After dinner the kids and I watched "Darby O'Gill and the Little People", a classic St. Patrick's Day movie. They got to enjoy the green candy rings courtesy of Grandma Schaeffer.

Another wonderful and fun St. Pat's Day! I can't wait to see what those leprechauns will do next year.

Employment Update

Two weeks ago David accepted a job offer from Sears to be the district manager of their auto centers here in Baltimore. So, on Monday, which would have marked 3 months since he was laid off, David headed off to his new job. This job will be very similar to his job with Goodyear which is a plus since he really loved that job. Although I was upset at first (I really saw this as an opportunity for us to get to Cincinnati or back to Salt Lake), we both felt really good about accepting the job and staying here. I have really loved living in Baltimore especially because of all the wonderful friends we have made here. It has been friends and family who have helped sustain us emotionally through this trial in our lives. There were so many times over the past 3 months where someone would call or show up just when I really needed support the most. There were a couple days right in a row that were really rough for me and then 3 of my friends showed up, surprising me with lunch. Sitting around the table, talking with them, lifted my spirits tremendously. Another day a friend of mine, who has been suffering herself from the loss of her newborn, took me to lunch and we ate and talked for 3 hours...definitely therapeutic! Another friend called me up one afternoon saying that I had been on her mind and that she needed to call me. So she did. By her following the promptings of the Spirit she was able to make me feel so loved and definitely brightened my day. That is definitely one of the lessons I will take from this trial: do not wait around for someone to ask for something or say they need something; think of something to do for them and do it! I am so grateful to my friends and family who have been there for us.
I am extremely happy that David is employed once again but I must admit that it was pretty hard to watch him walk out that door Monday morning. These past few days have been such an adjustment for me; I'm sad that my babe isn't with me during the day anymore. We both agree that despite the stress and worry of unemployment hanging over us, the past 3 months have been a special time in our lives. We have spent so much quality time together and the kids have enjoyed all the extra time with their dad. It always surprises me the blessings that are still present despite the difficult trials we go through in life; we just need to open our eyes and there they are. God is good.

Indoor Soccer

This was Xander's first season playing indoor soccer and he had a blast. It was so much fun to watch him improve throughout the season; he even scored a goal! Saturday was his last game and, although his team lost, Xander still had a great time and is sad that the season has ended.


After the game the team headed to the Dairy Queen for ice cream cones and the awarding of medals. Great season, X-man!

Embroidery

Running stitch, back stitch, chain stitch - just the sound of these words conjures up images of extreme torture. And it easily could have been; needles, thread, and fabric have never exactly been friends of mine. But my friend Catherine, the mom in charge of the Keepers activity for March, made embroidery a lot of fun and something I might even try on my own! I know! Who would have thunk it?

The girls had to learn 5 different stitches: the running stitch, back stitch, satin stitch, cross stitch, and the chain stitch. They also had to learn how to transfer a pattern and will have to complete a small embroidery project.


Good thing Catherine doesn't live too far away; Savannah and I might need some extra help finishing this award. As always, though, both the girls and moms had a great evening.

A "Giant" Field Trip

On Friday Xander and I headed to the local grocery store, Giant, for a fun-filled field trip. While Xander and his classmates learned about the various food groups, the food pyramid, and all the different workers at a grocery store, I strolled along behind with a cart, getting some shopping done. Can we do this field trip every Friday?
One of Xander's favorite parts about the trip was all the goodies he gathered along the way - a sucker from the pharmacy, a cookie from the bakery, and cheese slices from the deli.

They put the kids to work in the meat department.

Xander got to package some meat.

Our guide brought out a lobster for the kids to pet...and then she rubbed the lobster's head until he fell asleep. Pretty cool.

Our Faith Pots

Each month for Family Home Evening we focus on one particular topic and Faith is the theme we chose for March. In order to illustrate to the kids how we can help nourish and strengthen our faith, we used the trusted "Faith is like a seed" comparison. On Monday night we read Alma 32 and the kids painted their flower pots.


Last night we got to plant our little seeds of faith; Savannah chose to plant onions, Xander chose peppers, and Noah got the cilantro.
"Now, we will compare the word unto a seed."

"And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it with great care."

"But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it will be a tree springing up into everlasting life."

A Taste of Spring

The weather has been so nice these past few days that the boys were able to enjoy their lunch out on the deck.

Hurry up, spring! We're ready for you!

We Love Our Soldiers

On Sunday Savannah's Keepers group had the great opportunity to sing for our LDS soldiers in their sacrament meeting on base. The girls sang two musical numbers, "Walk Tall" which is their Keepers theme song and "I Am A Child of God". Although there were only 8 or 9 soldiers in attendance, the girls were very nervous as they headed up to the front of the classroom to sing. The soldiers were decked out in their camo-wear which I'm sure was a little intimidating to the girls as well as the fact that they were all these big, macho looking guys. One of the moms had gone up to the front with the girls to lead them so I was able to remain in the back and enjoy looking at our cute girls. I kept smiling at them and encouraged them to smile as well. They had made it through their first number and had just started on the second song when I first noticed one of the soldiers wiping his eyes. I started looking at the other soldiers and, although I could only see the backs of their heads, I suddenly noticed another soldier, head bent, hand over his eyes, his shoulders shaking; another soldier and then another, wiping the tears away. My own tears started coming as I finally opened my eyes and paid attention to how the girls and their songs were affecting these men, these brave soldiers far away from home and family. What a tremendous sacrifice they are making for all of us and I was so proud of our girls for trying to give something back by sharing their sweet spirits and singing voices with these men. The soldiers were obviously very affected by the spirit Savannah and her friends had brought to the meeting. I wish that I had had my camera to take a picture of this Keepers moment. The girls got to meet the soldiers when sacrament meeting was over and thank them for their service to our country. The soldiers in turn thanked the girls for singing for them. This truly was a wonderful experience for us all!