Way better with...?

My sister informed me yesterday that my niece had a young women's activity in which they decorated recipe boxes. Inside the recipe boxes were recipes that the young women leaders had typed up and made for all the girls. Now, there is nothing unusual or blog worthy about this. Except, one of the recipes that was given to the young women was for some kind of fondue and it stated on the recipe that you can add water, milk, or beer. And it emphasized that it was way better with beer. WHAT? Did I hear that correctly? The young women's leaders actually gave a recipe to young impressionable girls which said to use beer? That is absurd. You can't be serious. But yes, this really happened. To my niece. I still can't believe it and I heard the story yesterday.

How can someone who has been called to teach 12 to 18-year-old young women, while sitting at their computer typing up recipes, include the words, "Way better with beer"? Have these leaders never heard of the word of wisdom? Isn't that one of the hallmarks of our religion? Even people who know nothing about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, know that we are taught to avoid alcohol, coffee, tea, tobacco, harmful drugs, etc.

I am completely dumbfounded that this happened in our church, to my niece. These young women have these activities to get away from the bad influences of the world. To strengthen their testimonies. And to become unified as a group. What are these young women learning when their church leaders are teaching them things that are contrary to the teachings of the Church? Well, I will tell you that the converse of what is supposed to be happening is happening. These young girls are very impressionable, and it is wrong for these young women's leaders to teach them things that are contrary to church teachings. Especially in the format of a church activity.

Now, I know what these young women's leaders would say in their defense. But they are WRONG. The alcohol never completely cooks out, and even if it did, it is the principle of the matter. Aren't we taught to avoid even the appearance of evil? Can you imagine going to the grocery store and watching your young women's leader purchase beer? As a matter of fact, along the same lines, in a previous ward my sister was in, one of the priesthood leaders purchased beer for a high Priest group barbecue or something. Can you imagine submitting that for reimbursement? WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE? Are they really that stupid? Apparently so.

Stupid people really bug me. Especially when it concerns me or my family. You would think active members of the Church, who hold callings, would know what is appropriate. Or maybe they just don't care. To me, this is just another reminder of the sad state of our society. Even within the church.

That's my two cents.

Happy 40th Mom and Dad!

Today is my Mom and Dad's 40th wedding anniversary. We will be celebrating this evening with a small gathering, my siblings and their families. I just want to wish my mom and dad a happy anniversary and thank them for all they do for me. They are the greatest! I Love You, Mom and Dad. Happy 40th anniversary!

Relief Society Lesson Courage

May You Have Courage

President Thomas S. Monson
April 2009 General Young Women’s Meeting

1. Courage to Refrain from Judging Others

Mother Teresa, a Catholic nun who worked among the poor in India most of her life, spoke this truth: “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.”

True love can alter human lives and change human nature.-Thomas S. Monson

2. Courage to Be Chaste and Virtuous

Isaiah declared, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness.”

Isaiah 5:20 ¶ Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

The commandments of our Heavenly Father are not negotiable!-Thomas S. Monson

Powerful is this quote from news commentator Ted Koppel, host of ABC’s Nightline program for many years. Said he:

“We have actually convinced ourselves that slogans will save us. ‘Shoot up if you must; but use a clean needle.’ ‘Enjoy sex whenever with whomever you wish; but [protect yourself].’
“No. The answer is no. Not no because it isn’t cool or smart or because you might end up in jail or dying in an AIDS ward—but no, because it’s wrong. . . .
“What Moses brought down from Mt. Sinai were not the Ten Suggestions, they are Commandments. Are, not were.”-Ted Koppel Duke University commencement address 1987

3. Courage to Stand Firm For Truth and Righteousness

Because the trend in society today is away from the values and principles the Lord has given us, you will almost certainly be called upon to defend that which you believe. Unless the roots of your testimony are firmly planted, it will be difficult for you to withstand the ridicule of those who challenge your faith. When firmly planted, your testimony of the gospel, of the Savior, and of our Heavenly Father will influence all that you do throughout your life. The adversary would like nothing better than for you to allow derisive comments and criticism of the Church to cause you to question and doubt. Your testimony, when constantly nourished, will keep you safe.-Thomas S. Monson

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Esther 4:16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

…although there have always been challenges in the world, many of those which you face are unique to this time. But you are some of our Heavenly Father’s strongest children, and He has saved you to come to the earth “for such a time as this.” With His help, you will have the courage to face whatever comes. Though the world may at times appear dark, you have the light of the gospel, which will be as a beacon to guide your way.-Thomas S. Monson

Football Picks Week Nine

Name:____________________________
Score:___________

2009 Football Picks
Week 9

Tuesday, October 27, 2009
East Carolina at Memphis

Thursday, October 29, 2009
North Carolina at Virginia Tech

Friday, October 30, 2009
West Virginia at South Florida

Saturday, October 31, 2009
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Indiana and Iowa
Cincinnati at Syracuse
New Mexico State and Ohio State
Rutgers at Connecticut
North Carolina State at Florida State
Purdue and Wisconsin
Ohio at Ball State
Louisiana Lafayette at Florida international
Akron at Northern Illinois
Mississippi at Auburn
Nebraska at Baylor
Southern Mississippi at Houston
Missouri at Colorado
Southern Methodist @Tulsa
San Jose State at Boise State
UAB at UTEP
Georgia at Florida
Miami at Wake Forest
California and Arizona state
Arkansas State and Louisville
Central Michigan at Boston College
Iowa State at Texas A&M
Duke at Virginia
Michigan and Illinois
Temple at Navy
Kansas at Texas Tech
UNLV at TCU
Air Force at Colorado State
UCLA at Oregon State
Western Kentucky at North Texas
Middle Tennessee State at Florida Atlantic
Hawaii at Nevada
Penn State at Northwestern
Louisiana Tech at Idaho
Utah State at Fresno State
Eastern Michigan and Arkansas
Mississippi State at Kentucky
Kansas State and Oklahoma
Louisiana Monroe and Troy
Georgia Tech at Vanderbilt
Washington State at Notre Dame
New Mexico at San Diego State
South Carolina and Tennessee
Texas and Oklahoma state
USC and Oregon
Tulane at LSU
Wyoming at Utah
Michigan State at Minnesota
　
　
Tiebreaker: Total score in
Utah State at Fresno State __________

Vote!

Today we filled our absentee ballots. It took us most of the afternoon to read through everything and make our decisions. I have always been a voting advocate. I have voted in every election I was able to, even the primaries that didn't really seem to matter. The right to vote is not something you should take lightly. It is a hard-fought right that not many people in the world possess. And with the current presidential administration who knows how long it will last.

So please, go vote! The general election is Tuesday, November 3. If you receive absentee ballots you should already have them and be able to vote. And more than anything, please vote to REJECT referendum 71! This is the referendum to which I was referring in my previous blog posting about political advertisements.

GO VOTE!

That's my two cents.

Highlight of Grandpa's Birthday Celebration

The highlight of Grandpa's 90th birthday celebration, was when Michael and Grandpa serenaded me with a personal concert of Music Maestro Please. It was awesome. Grandpa didn't miss a beat. He remembered all of the lyrics to a tee. That was very special.

Results Week Eight

1..Michael -11
2.Tammy -13
3.Dad -17
4.Lisa -21
5.Mom -25

Happy 90th Birthday Grandpa!

We had a wonderful celebration for my grandpa’s 90th birthday. It was fun to get together with relatives I hadn’t seen in a few years. We had a good time catching up with each other and taking lots of pictures. My aunt Val made a wonderful video for grandpa with lots of old photos that I hadn’t seen before and it even included his own voice recordings. That was very special and I’m sure he will treasure it. HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDPA!

Political Advertisements

Do you know what really irks me?

Well, a lot of things but, yesterday while I was watching Jeopardy I was really getting perturbed. I'm absolutely sick of political advertisements. This time of year, that's practically all you see on TV, besides R-rated television promotions for scumbag sitcoms and dramas. But that's another story.

Up here in the liberal Pacific Northwest, we have been bombarded with political advertisements for a referendum in favor of homosexual rights. I really cannot stomach political advertisements showing homosexuals complaining about the so-called "injustices" they face.

For one thing, these advertisements are shown during prime time family television viewing. It is absolutely wrong to subject children to these sinful lies. Not only children, but all people who are only trying to catch up on the local news or watch an innocent show like Jeopardy. It's absolutely ridiculous.

What happened to the days when people were actually ashamed of committing sin? Now, they are not only proud of their sinful lifestyle, but they flaunt it on TV. In so doing, they are convincing many vulnerable people into believing their lies. It is yet another example of the power the media has over people's lives. Satan is an expert in playing on people's emotions to convince them that lies are truth. This is what these commercials attempt to do. But for me, all they do is make steam come out of my ears, and make my blood boil.

That's my two cents.

Football Picks Week Eight

Name:____________________________
Score:___________

2009 Football Picks
Week 8

Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Tulsa at UTEP

Thursday, October 22, 2009
Florida State at North Carolina

Friday, October 23, 2009
Rutgers at Army

Saturday, October 24, 2009
Texas at Missouri
Clemson at Miami
Oklahoma and Kansas
Colorado at Kansas State
Minnesota at Ohio State
Georgia Tech at Virginia
South Florida at Pittsburgh
Indiana at Northwestern
Central Michigan at Bowling Green
UAB at Marshall
Connecticut at West Virginia
Illinois at Purdue
Arkansas at Mississippi
Iowa State at Nebraska
Oklahoma State at Baylor
Northern Illinois and Miami, Ohio
Maryland at Duke
Louisiana Tech at Utah State
Tennessee and Alabama
Louisville and Cincinnati
Oregon and Washington
Penn State at Michigan
Boston College at Notre Dame
Akron at Syracuse
UCF at Rice
Western Kentucky at Middle Tennessee State
Wake Forest at Navy
North Texas at Troy
Air Force at Utah
San Diego State at Colorado State
Idaho at Nevada
Washington State at California
UCLA at Arizona
Iowa at Michigan State
Vanderbilt at South Carolina
Florida international at Arkansas State
Tulane at Southern Miss
Texas A&M at Texas Tech
Temple at Toledo
Florida at Mississippi State
Auburn at LSU
TCU at Brigham Young
Southern Methodist at Houston
Oregon State at USC
UNLV at New Mexico
Arizona State at Stanford
Fresno State at New Mexico State
Boise State at Hawaii
　
Tiebreaker: Total score in
TCU at Brigham Young __________

Results Week Seven

1.Michael -14
2. Dad -17
3.mom -21 tiebreaker 35
4.Lisa -21 tiebreaker 54
5.Tammy -22
6.Derrinda -24
7.Juliet -27

actual tiebreaker 29

Fall Color

This is the view from our backyard. These are some pictures that my dad took yesterday. I love the spectacular fall color!

17 Seconds

Unranked Arkansas versus number one Florida tied at 20. 17 seconds remaining in the game. Dad and I are watching the game in HD down in the theater. I voted for Arkansas to upset number one Florida. Florida is marching down the field ready to score. The satellite goes out. Aargh! How aggravating. Why does this have to happen in this game at this time? This was one of the most exciting games I have seen this year. I really wanted Arkansas to upset Florida. So, we waited a few minutes for the satellite signal to return. Finally deciding to come upstairs and find out the results of the game on the computer. How anticlimactic. And for those of you who don't know the results, Florida ended up kicking a field goal, winning 23 to 20. :-(

my poor Razorbacks gave the gators a good fight. There were a couple questionable calls which resulted in a touchdown by Florida. And Arkansas missed several opportunities. Including two missed field goals from the mid-30 range. It was a really exciting game to watch. Unfortunately, I didn't get to see the end. I don't think Florida will be ranked number one, or should be, after this performance. I guess we will have to see how Alabama does today.

Anyway, this is how my luck goes. Now of course the heavy rains have lifted and the satellite is back. But it's too late.

That's my two cents.

Religious Freedom Being Threatened

From the LDS newsroom:

Apostle Says Religious Freedom Is Being Threatened

SALT LAKE CITY 13 October 2009 An apostle for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said religious freedom is being threatened by societal forces intimidating those with religious points of view from having a voice in the public square. (See the full text of the speech here)

Elder Dallin H. Oaks made the comments today in a major address to Brigham Young University-Idaho students on the importance of preserving the religious freedoms guaranteed by the United States Constitution.

Elder Oaks has had a front-row seat in observing what he calls the "significant deterioration in the respect accorded to religion" in public life. Prior to his appointment to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Oaks had an illustrious law career. He served as a justice on the Utah Supreme Court, was a professor at the University of Chicago Law School and Brigham Young University's J. Reuben Clark Law School and clerked for Chief Justice Earl Warren of the United States Supreme Court.

Although his address on religious freedom was not written in response to the Proposition 8 battle over same- sex marriage in California, Elder Oaks likened the incidents of outrage against those who prevailed in establishing marriage between a man and a woman to the "widely condemned voter-intimidation of blacks in the South."

He said members of the Church should not be deterred or coerced into silence by threats. "We must insist on our constitutional right and duty to exercise our religion, to vote our consciences on public issues, and to participate in elections and debates in the public square and the halls of justice." 

Elder Oaks also said religious freedom is being jeopardized by claims of newly alleged human rights. As an example, he referred to a set of principles published by an international human rights group which calls for governments to assure that all persons have the right to practice their religious beliefs regardless of sexual orientation or identity. Elder Oaks said, "This apparently proposes that governments require church practices to ignore gender differences. Any such effort to have governments invade religion to override religious doctrines should be resisted by all believers."

Noting that the students he was addressing were among the generation that would face continuing challenges to religious freedom, Elder Oaks offered five points of counsel:
Speak with love and show patience, understanding and compassion to those with differing viewpoints.

Do not be deterred or coerced into silence by intimidation from opponents, insisting that churches and their members be able to speak out on issues without retaliation.

Insist on the freedom to preach the doctrines of their faith.

Be wise in political participation, remaining respectful of those who do not share their religious beliefs and contributing to reasonable discussion.

Be careful to never support or act on the idea that a person must subscribe to a specific set of religious beliefs in order to qualify for public office.

"Religious values and political realities are so interlinked in the origin and perpetuation of this nation that we cannot lose the influence of Christianity in the public square without seriously jeopardizing our freedoms", Elder Oaks concluded. "I maintain that this is a political fact, well qualified for argument in the public square by religious people whose freedom to believe and act must always be protected by what is properly called our "First Freedom", the free exercise of religion. "

I found this article in the LDS newsroom today and thought it was worth posting. Elder Oaks basically backs up things I've posted in my blog before. Except, he says it much more eloquently than I. And he has experience in the justice system, which I do not. It's nice to have an apostle speak about this topic which I have blogged about several times. Reiterating that our religious freedoms are being threatened by so-called civil rights of those who are living sinful lifestyles and those who support them. It's pretty bad when actual civil rights, such as religious freedoms, are being threatened by people who twist civil rights into things that aren't actually civil rights but actually they're sinful lifestyle. Which they try to justify in the name of civil rights.

That's my two cents.

College Football Picks Week Seven

Name:____________________________
Score:___________
　
2009 Football Picks
Week 7
　
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Boise State at Tulsa

Thursday, October 15, 2009
Cincinnati at South Florida

Friday, October 16, 2009
Pittsburgh at Rutgers

Saturday, October 17, 2009
Oklahoma and Texas
Ohio State at Purdue
Iowa at Wisconsin
Louisville and Connecticut
Northwestern at Michigan State
Delaware State at Michigan
Wake Forest at Clemson
Bowling Green at Ball State
George at Vanderbilt
Mississippi State at Middle Tennessee State
Army at Temple
UAB at Mississippi
Miami, Ohio at Ohio
Wyoming and Air Force
Nevada and Utah State
Arkansas at Florida
USC at Notre Dame
Minnesota at Penn State
Texas Tech at Nebraska
Houston at Tulane
California at UCLA
North Carolina State at Boston College
Rice and East Carolina
Marshall at West Virginia
Akron at Buffalo
Central Michigan at Western Michigan
Colorado State at TCU
Virginia and Maryland
Hawaii at Idaho
Virginia Tech at Georgia Tech
Brigham Young at San Diego State
Stanford at Arizona
New Mexico State at Louisiana Tech
Kansas and Colorado
Baylor at Iowa State
Illinois at Indiana
Troy at Florida international
Texas A&M at Kansas State
Memphis at Southern Miss
Florida Atlantic and North Texas
Northern Illinois at Toledo
Miami at UCF
Kentucky at Auburn
South Carolina and Alabama
Navy at Southern Methodist
Washington and Arizona state
Missouri at Oklahoma State
Utah at UNLV
San Jose State at Fresno State
　

Tiebreaker: Total score in
Oklahoma versus Texas __________

Week Six Results

1.Tammy -12
2. Michael -13
3.dad -14
4.Derrinda -19 tiebreaker 35
5.Lisa -19 tiebreaker 47
6.Juliet -21

actual tiebreaker 16

Football Picks Week Six

Name:____________________________
Score:___________

2009 Football Picks
Week 6

Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Middle Tennessee State at Troy

Thursday, October 8, 2009
Nebraska at Missouri

Friday, October 9, 2009
Louisiana Tech in Nevada

Saturday, October 10, 2009
Alabama and Mississippi
Houston at Mississippi State
Georgia at Tennessee
Auburn at Arkansas
West Virginia at Syracuse
Connecticut at Pittsburgh
Kansas State at Texas Tech
Boston College at Virginia Tech
Eastern Illinois at Penn State
Miami, Ohio at Northwestern
Purdue at Minnesota
Vanderbilt at Army
Michigan State and Illinois
Eastern Michigan at Central Michigan
Oklahoma State at Texas A&M
Iowa State at Kansas
Kentucky at South Carolina
Ball State at Temple
New Mexico at Wyoming
Baylor in Oklahoma
Wisconsin at Ohio State
Oregon at UCLA
Georgia Southern at North Carolina
Texas Southern at Rutgers
Navy at Rice
Indiana at Virginia
Bowling Green at Kent State
Marshall at Tulane
Duke at North Carolina State
Arizona State in Washington state
Utah at Colorado State
Maryland at Wake Forest
Florida A&M at Miami
Florida international at Western Kentucky
Stanford at Oregon State
North Texas and Louisiana Lafayette
Western Michigan at Toledo
Colorado at Texas
TCU and Air Force
Southern Mississippi at Louisville
Florida at LSU
Georgia Tech at Florida State
Idaho at San Jose State
Utah State and New Mexico State
UTEP at Memphis
East Carolina at Southern Methodist
Michigan and Iowa
Brigham Young at UNLV
Arizona at Washington
Fresno State at Hawaii
　
Tiebreaker: Total score in
Florida at LSU __________

Week Five Results

1.mom -16 tiebreaker 63
2.Michael -17 tiebreaker 47
3.Juliet -18 tiebreaker 70
4.Tammy -19 tiebreaker 54
5.dad -21 tiebreaker 64
6.Lisa -23 tiebreaker 63
7.Derrinda -26 tiebreaker 37

Actual tiebreaker 52