Welcome Baby Miley!

Last night my niece, Mercedes, gave birth to a beautiful baby girl!

That makes me a Great Aunt.  So exciting!

Mercedes had a rough pregnancy dealing with hyperemesis gravidarum the entire nine months.  Thankfully she has a wonderful husband who is so supportive and helped her tremendously during her pregnancy.  Mercedes is a trooper and completed beauty school while pregnant and dealing with hyperemesis gravidarum.

Baby Miley Noelle Balzer was lovingly welcomed into the world last night at 11:17 PM.  She weighed in at 7 lbs. 13 oz.  And was 20 inches long.

Our family is so proud of Mercedes and baby Miley!

Miley is so lucky and blessed to be born in the covenant to goodly parents who will teach her the gospel of Jesus Christ. She will need it to navigate through mortality!

Mercedes and Miley

Cute little family -- Mercedes and Proud daddy Jason holding Miley

Sweet baby Miley in her first close-up!  :-)

Congratulations Jason and Mercedes!!!  I'm so happy for you and your precious new daughter, Miley!

Blue Jay, Dog Tree, and Dad

Yesterday I took my usual trip down to the dog tree.  As soon as I parked my wheelchair, I saw a Blue Jay come flying towards the dog tree and land at the base of the trunk.  The bird proceeded to forage for seeds then flew up and landed on one of the branches.

This is the first time I have seen a Blue Jay since Dad used to feed the birds every morning and we would watch them eat seeds while we ate our breakfast.

I actually have never seen a Blue Jay at the dog tree before.  I always see lots of birds but the only time I've seen Blue Jays is when Dad would feed them.

So I took this as a message that Dad was with me.  The dog tree is where I go to talk to Dad.  I always imagine him sitting on the bench.  This is where he and I have had many chats in the past.

This is what the bird looked like.

We know that the Spirit World is here but in a different realm.  Our loved ones who have passed on before us are near us.  Some of them may even be our guardian angels.  I know that Dad is near.  I know he was with me at the dog tree yesterday.

That's my two cents.

Gutless Liberals

I love this quote by Rush Limbaugh today:

"Liberalism is the most gutless, easy choice you can make. You never have to solve a problem. All you have to do is claim that you care about it. And, man, people assume you’ve got this gigantic, big heart. And you’re a wonderful person. But you don’t have to do anything. You don’t have to give any money to a charity, you don’t have to save anybody who is in dire straits, you don’t have to get the girls back that were kidnapped by Boko Haram. All you have to do is sign on to the hashtag, #BringBackOurGirls. I’m sorry, but that doesn’t cut it for me."  -- Rush Limbaugh, February 25, 2020

Rush was talking about how Michelle Obama held a sign with a hash tag Bring Back Our Girls and put on a sad face.  As if that's going to stop a human trafficker from kidnapping girls and enslaving them.

He's absolutely right.  Liberals are gutless pansies.  They portray themselves as caring and big hearted but they are just the opposite.  Everything they do is for their own benefit. It's all a ruse. They blame everyone else for everything bad and play the victim card. They want to make others-- mostly conservatives -- look bad and themselves look good.  They have no intentions of ever fixing problems.  If Michelle Obama really cared about those girls being kidnapped and enslaved she certainly could have done more than put on a sad face and hold a piece of paper with a hash tag on it.  For a photo op. It's all about appearance and how they are perceived.

That's all liberals do -- portray themselves in the best light as caring, loving, wonderful humans.  When in fact, they are just the opposite.  It's all a show.  Conservatives are proactive.  They actually look for solutions to problems.  And then do it.  President Trump is a good example of a conservative actually doing something to fix problems.  Instead of just talking about it and feigning to care.  Conservatives actually do care.  That's the difference.  They just don't pretend to care.

Liberals are gutless pansies.  I wish people would quit being hoodwinked by their antics.

That's my two cents.

Eagles, Parrots, Doves, Owls

I read a conservative website called American Thinker.  I don't read all the articles but usually glance the headlines daily.  Today there was an interesting article about personality characteristics and winning presidential elections.  Here is a link to the article if you want to check it out.

Here is a snippet from the article which I found fascinating:

"Eighty-four years of electoral history show that Trump's victory was not at all surprising.  In fact, it was entirely predictable. 

In our forthcoming book, Personality Wins: Who Will Take the White House and How We Know, we show that personality has determined the winner of the last twenty-two U.S. presidential elections, and it will decide who wins in 2020.

Policy, platform, and ideology just don't seem to matter.  Ever since the rise of radio, followed by TV and social media, undecided voters have been drawn to the bigger personality.

There are many systems for categorizing personalities.  Most involve a smorgasbord of letters that no one can remember.  Let's use a system that is easy to apply to presidential politics. All you need to remember is four birds: Eagle, Parrot, Dove, and Owl.  In brief:

Eagles are confident, assertive, blunt, and results-oriented.
Parrots are positive, charismatic, playful, and inspiring.
Doves are empathetic, collaborative, caring, and diplomatic.
Owls are analytical, detail-oriented, inquisitive, and tactical.

Since 1932, the energetic, bigger personalities of Eagles and Parrots have beaten the more reserved, soft-spoken Doves and Owls in all but one presidential election (Richard Nixon is the exception you can read about in our book).  Doves and Owls have won only when they've gone up against other Doves and Owls.  No Eagle has lost to a Parrot, but we think it could happen. 

Trump is an extreme Eagle." (Americanthinker.com, February 20, 2020, Can Any Democrat Beat Trump? Personality and History Say Maybe, Merrick Rosenberg and Richard Ellis)

Of course, when I read this I immediately tried to figure out which bird I am.  I would definitely classify myself as an Eagle.  I'm certainly confident and blunt.  I am also analytical so I might have some Owl in me.  But I think I'm mostly Eagle.  What do you think?

How would you classify yourself -- Eagle, Parrot, Dove, Owl?  Leave me a comment and let me know.

I guess I have more in common with President Trump than I thought.  :-)   Perhaps I should have considered running for President, I might have had a chance.  :-) Ha ha.

That's my two cents.

Rush Limbaugh Nails It

"The Democrat Party has driven away the sane people in their party, and they’re left with a bunch of ill-educated, uneducated, unemployable anarchists who are obsessed with pessimism and the apocalypse. They have no God in their lives, for the most part, so they’re wandering aimlessly looking for something meaningful in politics."  -- Rush Limbaugh, February 18, 2020

Rush Limbaugh hit the nail on the head with this quote.  Democrats are nothing but a bunch of ignorant, angry, miserable, atheists.   Just the other day I was conversing with someone about how people who leave the Church and turn their backs on God always end up being miserable liberals.  And in the process end up losing a significant amount of IQ points.

 It's sad but true.

That's my two cents.

Happy Thanksgiving

I don't remember if I've told this story on my blog or not.  If so, I guess you will hear it again.

Several years ago on Valentine's Day a lady from our ward came to bring us some Valentine's Day goodies.  I think she was a youth leader and for their activity, the youth made cookies to take to various families in the ward.  I guess we were lucky enough to be chosen as one of the recipients.

So it was this particular Sister's assignment to deliver the cookies.  As Dad opened the door after she rang the doorbell, he greeted her warmly -- as he always did to everybody -- and proclaimed enthusiastically, "Happy Thanksgiving!".  It was hilarious.  She was a good sport and, after being taken aback for a second, returned the salutation with her own enthusiastic "Happy Thanksgiving!".

It was a classic Dad moment.  It was hilariously funny.  Perhaps you had to be there to appreciate the humor.  I was, and I do.

So, since today is Valentine's Day -- wish everybody you know a Happy Thanksgiving.  :-)  That's what Dad would do.

That's my two cents.

Blessed

As I reflect on my five decades on planet Earth, one word comes to mind -- blessed.  That one word summarizes my life.  I have been so extremely blessed throughout my life.

The hand of God is obvious throughout my life.  He blessed me with goodly parents who love me, who have sacrificed much for me, and most importantly who have taught me the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I feel so privileged and blessed to have the Gospel in my life. I consider it a privilege to be a member of the Lord's true church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  And to have been taught the Gospel from my youth.  I have never had to experience mortality without the comfort and happiness the Gospel of Jesus Christ brings to my life.  For that I am so grateful.

I am blessed -- as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- to have the privilege of making covenants with the Lord throughout my life through various ordnances including baptism and temple ordinances.  I'm grateful for the opportunity to exercise my agency to try to keep those covenants that I've made and continue to make weekly as I partake of the sacrament. Covenants are always paired with promised blessings from the Lord. The Lord always keeps his end of the bargain.  This much I know.  My life is evidence of His countless blessings.

As hard as mortality is -- having a knowledge of our Heavenly Father's plan for us and striving to live the gospel of Jesus Christ has made my mortal journey much more bearable and much happier.  I honestly can't imagine going through the trials of mortality without the Gospel.  I don't know how people do it.

I have also been blessed with wonderful siblings who have been my angels on earth -- in addition to my parents of course.  My goodly parents sacrificed their golden years to care for me.  I am eternally grateful to be blessed with such a wonderful, loving, caring family.

I am also extremely grateful for the blessing of a beautiful, healthy body.  Now, I know what you're thinking.  Yes, it's true my body is no longer beautiful nor healthy.  And it hasn't been for nearly 2 decades.  But I still have a body which is more than Satan and his one third of the hosts of heaven can say.  So, even though my body is no longer healthy nor beautiful and is now far from perfect -- I am still extremely grateful for it.  And I know -- I don't think or believe -- I absolutely know that I will be resurrected one day with my body perfected.  I am so looking forward to that day when my spirit and body will be reunited in perfect form.  Not even one hair of my head will be lost.  How glorious will that be?

I am so grateful for the blessings of being born in the promised land -- the United States of America -- where I've been able to live in a free country where agency prevails.  That freedom comes at a cost.  I'm thankful for those who have sacrificed to keep this the land of the free and the home of the brave.

I am ever so grateful for the blessing of education in my life.  I have been blessed to receive much formal education and learn many truths in areas of study that interest me.  I am thankful for a sound mind that distinguishes truth from falsehoods.  I enjoy learning and I'm thankful to be blessed with opportunities for formal education.

Even though I grew up poor, I was blessed to always have what I needed and most of what I wanted.  I'm ever so grateful to my loving Heavenly Father who poured down so many blessings from heaven upon me. I'm so thankful for the comforts of life He has provided.

People might look at me and pity me or think I drew the short straw in life.  But they would be wrong.  I have been blessed beyond measure.

I see the hand of God in every aspect of my life.  Granted, our mortal journey is full of trials, hardships, and challenges.  But in a way, even those are blessings because that is how we learn, grow, and progress. Without opposition, without trials, without mortality we could not progress towards exaltation and eternal life.  So as strange as this may sound, I am even grateful for the blessings of the trials and challenges of mortality that help me to grow and progress towards becoming more like my Heavenly Father.

I could go on and on naming all of the blessings I've been given in my life.  But I don't have the energy and this is getting too long anyway.

Looking back over the past five decades, my life truly has been blessed so abundantly.  I am so thankful and eternally grateful for my loving Heavenly Father and older brother and Savior, Jesus Christ for opening the windows of heaven and pouring out blessings so abundantly upon me.

I am blessed beyond measure!

That's my two cents.

There Is a Place Prepared for You

I like reading the last words of prophets at the end of their days.  Most of them talk about being old and going to their grave soon.  Then they usually give some wonderful words of wisdom.

In my daily Book of Mormon study, the words of the prophet Enos stood out to me recently.  The book of Enos is only one chapter.  He didn't write much.  But what he did write is very profound and important. He taught a beautiful sermon on prayer and remission of sins.  You can read it here.

Enos is the grandson of Lehi, nephew of Nephi, and son of Jacob (Nephi's brother/Lehi's son).

Anyway, here are the last two verses of the Book of Enos:

26 And I saw that I must soon go down to my grave, having been wrought upon by the power of God that I must preach and prophesy unto this people, and declare the word according to the truth which is in Christ. And I have declared it in all my days, and have rejoiced in it above that of the world.

27 And I soon go to the place of my rest, which is with my Redeemer; for I know that in him I shall rest. And I rejoice in the day when my mortal shall put on immortality, and shall stand before him; then shall I see his face with pleasure, and he will say unto me: Come unto me, ye blessed, there is a place prepared for you in the mansions of my Father. Amen.

I am no prophet, but I hope that I can say the same thing, as Enos, when I get to graduate from mortality.  I hope that I can say that I declared the word according to the truth which is in Christ in all my days.  And I hope that my Savior and Redeemer will say to me, "Come unto me, ye blessed,  there is a place prepared for you in the mansions of my Father."

This is my hope and prayer.

That's my two cents.

Romney the RINO

Mitt Romney is a disgrace.  A disgrace to our religion.  A disgrace to the Republican Party.  A disgrace to our country.  A  disgrace to the human race.

Mitt Romney was the only Republican to vote to convict President Trump on impeachment charges.  First and foremost President Trump committed no impeachable offense.  The Democrats drummed up false charges against President Trump because they can't stand to see him making America great again.  So sad that they are so miserable.  Secondly, this is akin to scoring a touchdown for the opposing team on purpose. He has deceived his voters by claiming to be Republican then going against everything the Republican Party stands for, thereby not representing his constituents.

But what really irks me the most is that Mitt Romney used his religion as his excuse.  Claiming to be a deeply religious man.  Or something like that.  I'm too sick to go look up the quotes.  Just going off memory from yesterday.  Well, I know many "deeply religious" people who do not live their religion. In fact, I know "deeply religious" people who are an embarrassment to their faith.  Such is Mitt Romney.  I am embarrassed by his actions because we share the same religion.

Claiming allegiance to God by doing something so heinous is blasphemous.

I understand that Mitt Romney is a big pansy with no spine who has obviously been deceived by the dark side.  But to use religion as a crutch, as President Trump said, is despicable.  Mitt Romney is now on the same level as the Lafferty brothers.

Not only has he deceived and betrayed all those who voted for him, but he has also blasphemed God.

Mitt Romney is an embarrassment and a disgrace.

That's my two cents.

Original Three

I know this is out of order but I decided to post the original three.

I tried to do a rough chronological order.  Some are blatantly out of order.  Too bad.  Too much work to move them.

Enjoy the journey!

1971

Colorado Springs 1971

My first birthday
December 1971
Colorado Springs, Colorado

December 1971
Colorado Springs, Colorado

1971

852
Orem Utah
1984-5?

1972

1971
Clearlake Oaks, California

1971
paternal grandparents ranch, Clearlake Oaks, California

1971
Clearlake Oaks, California

December 1980
852
my 10th birthday

May 1989
high school graduation

June 2002

December 2001?
192
Orem, Utah

June 2002
Texarkana, Texas

June 2002
my residency hospital grounds -- Texarkana, Texas

June 2002
Texarkana, Texas

December 1971
Colorado Springs, Colorado

June 2002
moving to Texarkana, Texas from Los Angeles County California

December 2007

2012

May 2017

December 2018
I know this is not original three, and I look terrible, but I like this picture because I think it shows love more than words can say.

December 2018
ditto what I said above.

Father's Day 2019
Just a month before Dad graduated from mortality.

2007
Dad kissing me goodbye.
God be with you till we meet again!

2003
Mom kissing me Goodbye.
Soon.

I can't believe I found pictures with Mom and Dad both kissing me.  The original three is no longer together on earth.  Dad was the first to graduate.  We will join him soon.

The pain of separation is eased a little by knowing God's plan of salvation and understanding that we will be reunited again soon.

That's my two cents.

Happy Groundhog Day

Looks like it's going to be an early spring, according to Punxsutawney Phil.  He did not see his shadow this morning and therefore predicts an early spring.  Hooray!

Happy Groundhog Day everybody.

Kylee's Baptism Talk

Today was a special day.  A couple of weeks ago Kylee asked me if I would give a talk at her baptism on the gift of the Holy Ghost.  Today was the day.  Kylee was super excited about getting baptized.  Grandma was able to give the opening prayer.  Aunt Lisa gave a beautiful talk about baptism.  I spoke on the gift of the Holy Ghost.  And Uncle Rex gave the closing prayer.  Juliet and Kingston were able to be witnesses. And of course, Aaron baptized and confirmed her.

It was a small gathering but the Spirit was strong.  I had a rough ride over to the meeting house where the baptism took place.  But with prayer and some help from on high, I was able to make it through the talk.

I wanted to post a picture but I don't have any.  So I will just post my talk for you all to read.  I am so proud of Kylee for making the choice to be baptized into the Lord's true church.  Everything went well and she received a beautiful blessing during her confirmation.

Here is my talk:

Tammy’s talk on the Holy Ghost for Kylee’s baptism

February 1, 2020

Today, Kylee, you will receive the best gift that you have ever received.  The gift of the Holy Ghost.  This is one of the greatest gifts that our Heavenly Father gives us.

What is the gift of the Holy Ghost?

The gift of the Holy Ghost is the privilege -- given to those who have faith in Jesus Christ and have chosen to join His Church by being baptized and confirmed members of His Church -- to receive the constant companionship, guidance and inspiration of the Holy Ghost.

This is different than those who have not received this gift by the laying on of hands.  Others can receive inspiration and guidance through the Holy Ghost occasionally and temporarily.  But for those who have received the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, we are entitled to the constant companionship and influence of the Holy Ghost continually throughout our lives.  As long as we remain worthy.

We remain worthy by always striving to keep the commandments and obeying the promptings of the Holy Ghost when we do receive them.

The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead.  Heavenly Father and Jesus both have bodies of flesh and bone.   But the Holy Ghost is a personage of spirit without a body.   I like to think about the Holy Ghost’s influence on us like the sun.   The sun is one entity but everyone can feel it’s warmth and see it’s light.   Likewise, the Holy Ghost is one personage of spirit yet we can all feel of his warmth and comfort and guidance.

How does the Holy Ghost communicate with us?

The Holy Ghost communicates through a still small voice.  Usually through feelings more than words.  President Boyd K. Packer explained: “The Holy Ghost speaks with a voice that you feel more than you hear. … While we speak of ‘listening’ to the whisperings of the Spirit, most often one describes a spiritual prompting by saying, ‘I had a feeling …’” He continued: “This voice of the Spirit speaks gently, prompting you what to do or what to say, or it may caution or warn you” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1994, 77; or Ensign, Nov. 1994, 60).

The Holy Ghost has many different roles to help us in our lives.  He is called the comforter.  He comforts us when we are sad or overwhelmed.  He also prompts us to do good and help others.  He will also warn us of dangers or evil that we should avoid.  But his main mission is to testify of all truth.  He testifies of the other two members of the Godhead, Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  By listening to and following revelation from the Holy Ghost, we can become more like Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ as we progress towards our own exaltation and eternal life.

But remember, just because we are given the marvelous gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, doesn’t mean that he will always be with us.  We have to always strive to keep the Commandments to remain worthy of the Holy Ghost’s companionship.  If we don’t remain worthy, the Holy Ghost will leave us.

Kylee, I am proud of your decision to be baptized today.  By being baptized, you are showing Heavenly Father and Jesus that you are willing to follow Them in faith.  In turn, they are giving you an amazing gift.  The gift of the Holy Ghost.  I hope you will always strive to keep the commandments and do what is right.  Today as you covenant to take upon yourself the name of Jesus Christ, always remember who you are representing.  Live your life accordingly.  In doing so, you will be blessed with the unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost to comfort you and guide you throughout your life so that you may return to your Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

(End of talk)

Congratulations on your baptism today, Kylee!  Your Aunt Tammy is proud of you.

That's my two cents.

Okay, Juliet sent me some photos.  So I will add them here:

Aunt Tammy and Kylee

Uncle Rex and Aunt Lisa with Kylee

Grandma and Kylee

The Gerry family with Kylee on her baptism day.
back row: Juliet, Aaron, Kingston
Kylee in front in her pretty white dress