My Future Olympians

Every parent has moments when they are so proud of their children and they think the world of them.  Well I am having one of those moments today.  My children are nothing short of AMAZING!  Nothing else to it.  I could see them as future Olympians.

We had our talent showcase today for gymnastics and I was completely blown away from what they have learned in half a year!  Here are some pictures.

First up was the floor routine.  I didnt know you could do a handstand this straight!  You are awesome buddy!  You were excellent at the rest, except the saluting at the beginning and ending :)

Then the mushroom (horse practice) and then parallel bars.  Sometimes I dont realize how strong you are to hold yourself up for that long like that!  Way to go buddy!

Last was the high bar which is oh so fun!  You are getting so strong and good at kicking yourself up to speed.  

Then the pride of getting a shirt and a medal!

Then J'alee gets her turn.  Im sorry sweetie but your floor routine pictures are horrible.  The lighting and the settings I put did not work very well.  But you were great!  Second was the balance beam.  You did so great!  I cant even balance myself this well while walking normal!

 

Then came the vault.  Of course none of the running pictures turned out but we got some good video of it.  All you needed was a little flip on the feet to ensure you got all the way over!

Then the uneven bar.  I was surprised at how well you were able to hold yourself up and how quickly you learned to nearly kick yourself all the way over!  You can also hold yourself up for quite a long time.  It is amazing how much you have improved on the bar!  And to think you were scared of it at first!

 Hurray you did it!  You made remarkable progress too!

At the end Jamis couldnt restrain himself any longer...and neither could I!  What do you expect for a 5 hour event from a little one!

 Thanks to coaches and trainers!

Heirlooms

I have had the fortune of seeing family heirlooms. They are treasures for sure. While visiting my dad he gave me a tie holder and it said FAA on it. I said to him "what is this from Federal Avaiton administration"? He said "No, those are the initials of my dad".

Please open mouth and insert foot. I told my dad that I didn't mean to be flippant and was going for humor. Naturally now that I know what it is an it's significantly I treasure it.

Birth of the Definitions Man

Yesterday Oct 16 1758 Noah Webster was born in West Hartford, Connecticut. His father was Governor of CT. He attended Yale at the age of 16 and served in the Connecticut militia. Yes he later became the author of Websters dictionary. In America he created the blue speckled book which was a grammar book for schools. At the time people spelled words how they wanted like colour or color. His dictionary unified the spellings and gave us the wonderfully fat resource that it is today!

He also wrote for textbooks, newspapers, loaned money to them and wrote essays for the Federalist political party. He even wrote out and through his cousin (a senator) got the first laws for copyrights set up.

Besides that I wanted to share with you a bit of an essay he wrote

"But every child in America should be acquainted with his own country. He should read books that furnish him with ideas that will be useful to him in life and practice. As soon as he opens his lips, he should rehearse the history of his own country; he should lisp the praise of liberty, and of those illustrious heroes and statesmen who have wrought a revolution in her favor.

A selection of essays, respecting the settlement and geography of America; the history of the late revolution and of the most remarkable characters and events that distinguished it and a compendium of the principles of the federal and provincial governments, should be the principle school book in the United States. These are interesting objects to every man; they call home the minds of youth and fix them upon the interests of their own country and they assist in forming attachments to it, as well as in enlarging the understanding."

The man who was obviously dedicated to education and study, be he was also politically active and a patriot in his own right. While I would think that there maybe study material that is so important in life, he still wrote that the study of the country, history, heroes and its government was of the most importance.

Considering the state of the country now where we listen to someone who stands at a microphone and utters words that we can relate to and throws in the words change and hope as much as possible falls on uneducated ears. We are not studying of these things and most are ignorant of the bills and acts that have been and are being past and debated! Government by the people and for the people. Considering these words, if we are not educating ourselves with these most important things can we then govern ourselves or others adequately?

Today in History

Many times I look up in a book or search online for things that happened in history. Im sort of a history buff so here it is.

Today in 1779 Samuel Huntington is elected head of the Continental Congress. He was from Connecticut and was in the Connecticut Assembly (back then the equavilant of the state congress), a governor there and in the supreme court for that state. He signed the Articles of Confederation and the Declaration of Independence. He was the first to be what was called the President of the United States in Congress. A position at the time was considered to be the president. A farm boy who self taught himself by borrowing books from church, libraries and local lawyers. In his position of head of continental congress he handled, supported and urged for funding of the revolutionary war.

Today in 1781 American forces with the help of french forces and navel fleet started its siege of Yorktown where Gen. Cornwallis was with his force. The story goes that 5500 men landed in Rhode Island with Gen. Washington. The plan was to recapture New York City held by the British. The french Gen. Rochambeau spoke with Gen. Washington and got him to agree that the attempt was futile and that an attack at the less fortified Yorktown in conjunction of the fleet would prove successful. On September 28th, 1781 they started the attack with bombardment by the fleet and then attacks by the French and Americans. Obviously this lead to the surrender of the British there. Cornwallis who said he was sick gave it up to his second in command to surrender. The French fleet blocked the bay so they couldnt get out and the Treaty of Paris was signed and this was the last big battle of the war!

Today in 1787 Congress through a vote approved the constitution and it was sent to the state legislatures to approve! Im so glad for the constitution that we have today. Though people may interpret it different it has given us the freedoms and laws we enjoy today!

Remembering the Attacks

Today is the terrible day in history where so many people brave in the last minutes of their lives and in their everyday lives lost them in the attacks! I remember being on my mission the day it happened and watched the second tower fall in disbelieve that something like this was happening. I couldnt believe it.

I remember knocking on doors to help talk to people in the hopse to lift their spirits. We knocked on the door of a man who told us he found out his wife was dead and he was on the line with the airline right then to try and find out for sure! The look on his face and the sound of his voice is something I will never forget!

This day will always be something for me to remember. I also remember how close everyone was. People treated each other different. People prayed more and business men and country hicks drove around in trucks with flags mounted in the back or all over their cars. Even the politicans seemed to side with each other and that is a rare day indead.

So here is to hoping that the survivors and their families and all the families of those who lost someone may find hope, peace and happiness. I have no trouble seeing pictures because I like to be reminded. But if you are one who will ber traumatized dont scroll down to these the photo.

Defining Moments

In life there are always defining moments were we succeed or we faulter, have fun or not and so on. Im not philosopher or self help guru or anything like that. But I had a difining moment around 9 am as i was getting out the door in Connecticut. Rode my bike to a friends house and watched as the first tower ablaze fell in ashes and smoke.

Since there I have not only been a sucker for September 11th stories, rememberance, but also it drove me to be more open minded and active in politics and in my faith as well.

Please watch this video! Know if you are having a hard time in your circumstance that there is relief and hope!

The Fourth, Our Independence Day

Long post mostly because of pictures, just a warning. We went to the only parade in the county in Morgan Hill. It was quite nice, though there were a lot of gaps. It wasnt too hot like we are used to back home. Here is a shot my wife took of us while the flag was coming around! You will see the flag later.
My georgeous wife and my cute kids (next 2 pictures). They had a good time. See the people in the backgroud, Baby J helped himself to their pretzels they had fun sitting with him. We also sat next to a few people from the ward that we knew under some shade though it started to get cold actually.

Here is all of us just waiting for the parade to start, it was a good time. Pretty low key and it wasnt to busy though we ended up at the end of the parade route on accident. They didnt throw any candy and it was rare we got flyers given out which was sort of odd for us since that is standard at parades back home.

Of course waving and clapping happen at the parade. Baby J prefers to wave and here he is waving mom's hand instead of his own! Found it quite funny so here is a picture of it!

Here is what Baby J calls "Pear Pain" or toddler talk for airplane. These were flying above us several times. Took a few shots but this is the best one I had. Quite nice though and Baby J kept talking about them all day long!

Of course it isnt the Fourth of July without a color guard somewhere! Here is one from veterans around the south bay area! Sure appreciate their hard work and sacrifices for us and those currently serving!

We did go to fireworks later in Morgan Hill, but yours truely remembered the camera but forgot the memory card so the camera wouldnt take any pictures. I have a few measly pictures on my cell phone but they arent much of value since they didnt turn out good.

I sure love the fourth! It is a great time for remembering the soldiers and founding fathers and people who made our country great. I particularly have an interest in the founding fathers and their wisdom in making the government. It may have not been exactly what they wanted to set up but it is a great government and nation! Their hard work, leadership and sacrifice has gotten us to where we are today. Sometimes I reflect on current issues and things that have been said. For example how we are not a Christian nation. I hope the point was that we are a free religious belief nation. But when you have Benjamin Franklin who at the Convention of Congress just a few short days before they approved our current constitution said they often have and should consult the help of the Father of Lights who illuminates all understanding. We are a christian nation. Point is we should remember the founding fathers and their meaning and desires more when laws are made and actions committed!

One of my Heros

Well I must admit that this person is very special in my life. This person used to play everything under the sun with me and endured my bossing around, teasing, bullying and arguing. We had to work on not fighting a few times but at the same time we could play together really good.

This person had a hard time with some friends growing up, cus they were really rude and we would play together a lot! I have fond memories of this. This person was a hard worker in lonely Alaska and has always been a hard worker. I cant think of a better friend and person I could have more fun with. Talk about dedication and sticking to something till it is done. In hard situations there is no running away, this person works on it till it is done right. In life, thought it is hard and there sometimes are struggles, this person ends up choosing the right and being a good example of enduring to the end.

This person is actually a heroine and it is my wonderful little sister Jo! She means the world to me and often times I look up to her. She is one of my best friends and has such a happy personality, "bubbly" as many people call it. I know I can count on her for anything at anytime.

I was able to go to college at the same time and same place as her and it was great because we got to see each other. Now she is off in the Air Force, away from home and I do miss her a bit but I am proud of her. She is learning things and growing and perhaps becoming more beautiful everyday!

I can remember one day when we lived in California at the park with our brother we were on the swings. Two guys came over and were picking on her. My brother and I stood up for her and didnt let them tease her. From that day on I always thought of myself as a protector of my little sister. Now it is reversed. She is in the Air Force, thought currently not deployed, she is apart of the protection I enjoy everyday! My little sister protects me.

I sure love you sis! Hope to see you soon!

Abandoning the Cause

I as well as a few family members and friends enjoy a book called "The American Patriot's Almanac" by William J Bennett and John T.E. Cribb.

A few days ago there was an entry that just got me thinking a lot. April 29th was the day that the U.S. Forces withdrew from Vietnam and also war torn Cambodia. The leader of the Cambodian people that the U.S. forces support was named Prince Sirik Matak. He said to the U.S. Forces in a letter:

"Thank you very sincerely for your letter and your offer to transport me toward freedom. I cannot, alas, leave in such a cowardly fashion. As for you, and in particular for your great country, I never believe for a moment that you would have this sentiment of abandoning a people which has chosen liberty. You have refused us your protection, and we can do nothing about it. You leave, and my wish is that you and your country will find happiness under the sky. But, mark it well, that I shall die here on the spot and in my country that I love, it is no matter, because we are all born and must die. I have only committed this mistake of believing in you."

He was shot by the communists forces that came into take over the country and shot Prince Matak. He got not treatment or care and suffered 3 days before he died. Our great country started with the passions of those patriots who spoke similar statements. "Give me liberty or give me death".

Sometimes I feel that things like this are sold out for the easier way, or a more convenient path by people and politicians alike. Let us keep these kinds of believes and values in our hearts and make them apart of us! We will all be better for it.

Hero and Example

In reading about American history I have found inspiriation and examples in men who served the cause of freedom during the Revolutionary War.
One of the great examples is Henry Knox. When he was 12 he lost his father and worked as a clerk in a bookstore to support his mother. He eventually opened his own bookstore in Boston which was looted by the British and used to house British soldiers and commanders. This is also where he met his wife Lucy Flucker. Sadly her parents were Loyalists and when the Americans surrounded Boston on all three sides her parents chose to flee. Henry Knox and Lucy Flucker Knox chose to separate due to Henry siding with the Americans and her loyalty to Britian and her family. Lucy did not however go back to England as her family did. She never saw her parents again and remained homeless the entire 8 years of the war as Henry served in the war. They did remain loyal to each other and kept in correspondence.
He served under Aretums Ward in Bunker Hill and then introduced himself to General Washington who was impressed. He was named Colonel of Artillery and suggested to Washington that they obtain the artillery they captured at the battle of Fort Ticonderoga. He was sent to go get it. By ox-drawn sled through snow, sleet and heavy mud pits back to Boston aprrox. 300 miles in 56 days. There were a total of 59 cannons are mortars that the ox-drawn sleds bear the whole way. These were the cannons used on Dorchester Heights that were used to scare the British out of the city.
After the many retreats in New York he was with the Army when they crossed the Delaware River from Pennsylvania to Trenton, New Jersey over Christams night through very strong winds and heavy snow and fog. The battle there was successful and he returned his troops back safetly as well.
He was also present in the battle of Princeton and others. During the winter of 1777 while the army was bunkered down for the winter he went back to Springfield, Mass. and improved the artillery there and established the Springfield Armoury which was of use throughout the war.
Washington spoke very fondly of Knox and relied a lot on his expertise and judgement sometimes.
He later served as the First Secretary of War for the United States of America under the Articles of Confederation and continued in Washington's first Presidency. In his position he was in charge of Native American relations. He was actively and publicly opposed to the position of the American Government which was more or less play nice but take as much land as possible. He wanted better treatment and tolerance for the Native Americans. He said it was against the whole belief system that started the American Revolution and warned that it would cause costly wars with the nations. He wanted the government to see them as forgien nations and set up enclaves and work with them as such. Obviously this didnt happen. But it shows that he kept his Revlotionary spirit throughout his life and political career.
For me he was a great man who knew the cause was right and even when he had to separate from his wife for the war and politically so to speak he still chose to serve the country that I now life in and vote in.

Pres. Bush in Utah

I dont know if anyone else knows but President Bush was in utah for the 4th time and met with church leaders and talked about current issues facing the country today that I will not discuss. I think it is great the President no matter who it is would come here. I guess he was here under the premise of fundrasing for the GOP.

There were road closers while he was here of course. The last time he came I got stuck in the speghetti bowl as his motorcade past. I waited a long time and my car needed a new radiator so it was overheating and I just wanted the motorcade to clear out so we could move and I wouldnt overheat my car right there in the middle of the freeway.

Memorial Day

Here's to the people in our Armed Forces today, those retired, and those who have passed on! I am grateful for all the service and sacrifice made in my behalf and everyone elses! For me Memorial Day is also for celebrating the ancestors that have passed on and remembering their lives and who they were.
Because my family was sick and we had family over looking for real estate in the area we didnt get out much. I was also working extra shifts to cover for people calling in "sick" for the holiday. But I am there in spirit offering a space on my blog instead of flowers on a stone!

Connecticut - History

As all of you know CT is a liberal state with a lot of liberal thinking. This seems to have always been the case. The state was founded by the Dutch settlers who left Mass. Bay (Boston area) and settled the "Connecticut Colonies" "New Haven Colonies" and "Saybrook Colonies".
Members of the Connecticut and New Haven colonies (the main population of the state still today) came up with the Foundamental Orders. Bascially it was the first document of its kind in the Colonies. It is compaired to the Constitution and in particular the Bill of Rights. In it are outlined rights of an individual to government structure. It was taken by the governor to England and approved by king Charles II.
In 1662 it was replaced by the Royal Charter which basically was the same thing. This one wasnt approved by the successor king James II. In discussions between the govenor he appointed (Sir Edmund Andros) and the colonial delegate the lights were put out and the document was thrown out the window and hidden in a crevis in a tree which is now called the Charter Oak, named after the charter that it hid.
The story now told is that Gov. Andros demanded the charter. A duplicate was made in advance to his arrival from England and was used in negotiations with the appointed govenor later. The Historical Society in Hartford claims that they have the original charter on display today in Hartford.

Battle of New York

After the "Boston Seige" as I like to call it some of the troops disbanded and went home. G. Washington was asked my the Continental Congress to defend New York which was the next battle ground for the British.
G. Washington and some of the other leaders thought it was silly trying to even defend the city for several reasons, two being it is a hard place to defend since there is lots of water and serveral islands. This meaning you have to divide your forces and you are wide open for naval attacks.
On to New York they went. The Americans came into the city with a mixed feelings from the citizens, which is the second reason for not defending NY. Most of the city were Loyalists, especially those on Long Island which later became the first battle point.
May people dont realize the conditions of the American soldiers during this battle. First the soldiers were barely 18 or just over. Some of the leaders were older but the main force were in their late teens and early twenties. Most of the original main army in NY came from Connecituct (yay for CT). There were groups of men from MA, PA, MD, NJ there.
The men came into the town and I'm sad to say actually acted like their ages. These farm boys away from home probably for the first time were now in a big city full of booze and women. Naturally you can tell what this lead to. Many rapes and disorderly drunken conducts took place which G. Washington took very seriously and started court martials.
Once they were diciplined and became more orderly these crimes were few. Washington and the other leaders orgainzed them as best they could. They were going into a war with young boys who were farmers and only had experience shooting game and birds. They didnt even have their own uniforms, save a few divisions of men. During the fighting on Long Island and just outside Brooklyn they were ordered by Washington to put a small branch of evergreen on their hats to aid with some type of uniform identy. To give you an idea of how bad this was is a story of 5 scouts sent to stand watch in the Jamacia canyon. They were their waiting when they say a small group of soldiers come. Well natually they fell in with the group thinking they were Americans when they were acutally the lead group of the British army going through the back ungarded way at night to attack.
The British out numbered the Americans 2-1 in troop count. And not to mention that the American soliders were mostly sick with disentary, small pox and other diseases. It is bad because they had no place to go to the bathroom cept holes in the ground. All they did was throw a new layer of dirt over it each day, talk about easy way to get sick...Im getting sick just writing it.
Washington decided to divide his forces on the what is now Manhattan and Brooklyn and on Long Island. When the first attack came to Long Island the Americans held them off for 6 hours and within 6 miles. It was said that the fighting was fierce that soldiers were seen running around beside themselves apologizing and forgiving offenses and so shocked from the sight of dead and wounded. Shortly after that attack naval units and troops were to land on the main land and attack as well but the wind shifted as they were getting close and they couldnt sail forward from Staten Island up the East river in between Brooklyn and Manhattan. The blessing of the wind kept it a land battle.

Wise Words

Well on Sunday I was listening to Sounds of Sunday on the way to work and heard the thought from Pres. Eyring. He said that he started to write down ways God has blessed his or someone elses life in his family no matter how tired he was or how early he got up in the morning.
For me this was insightful because I over look this all the time. I first started to look and my life and said well gee Im not thinking of anything. Then I realized that it was how I am looking at it. In the words of Pres. Faust "it doesnt have to be some great thing". We get small blessings all the time.
I havent had a seziure for nearly a year now and that is a blessing and it may not be great but it is still a blessing. If we look at our lives and see the blessings large or small we will start to see more and we will be more grateful to our Heavenly Father for what he has done for us and that will increase our relationship with him and also give us more things to thank him for in our prayers and every day lives.

President Hinkley Died today

One of the greatest people on the earth and one of my heros President Gordon B. Hinkley died tonight about 7pm approx. Here true was a great leader, prophet, humanitarian and example to all of us! He will be sorely missed but imagine the reunion he is having right now with his wife, loved ones and the maybe the Savior himself.

If we go by the revealed instructions the next most senior apostle in line would be president and prophet with a sustaining vote from the body of the 12. Thomas S. Monson would be the next most senior apostle.

Here is a link for an article in the Salt Lake Tribune which is great about the life of President Hinkley. Read

Airman JoJo

Well I finally got to talk to Jonna yesterday. I was good to hear from her. She said that she is now at Stephens AFB and waiting for her classes to start there on the 29th. She went to the doctor and she has been put on sick leave because her sinus infection just hasnt gotten better and she feels terrible.
She hated the training in boot camp but loves the Training Insructor (Drill Officer). They have the same training program as the Marines do so it was hard for her. But she doesnt regret it one but and loves it there. The structure and rules and conditioning.
She will be in school for 9 weeks and then will probably be shipped out to Germany or Italy as those where the two places she put she would want to do extended stay. So we wont see her for a long while. We are all so proud of her and I can wait to see her again.
Also American Idol - Dallas was on last night and in the shots of crowds and people waiting in line I did not see her. Chances were low anyway since 13,000 or more where there.

Update on Jonna

Jonna called us on Christmas and we got to talk to her for about 10 minutes before the Drill Sergant told them they had 10 seconds left. She told us that she was on KP (Kitchen Patrol) duty for Christmas day. This means she was cleaning and washing dishes and the kitchen all day. The day after Christmas as her day for the gas chamber. We dont get to hear from her probably until after Graduation.
Mom and Dad got a letter from the President of the Seventy saying that she has attended church and referenced the things they do with those Saints who serve in the military. It was comforting to read that.
But she seems to be doing really well, happier and better. She told mom that she has noticed that she has changed both inside and out which we are all happier for!
We love Jonna and our faith and prayers will be with her.

STOP YOUR WHINNING AMERICA!

I have just had it up to here with people and their crying about Iraq. The troops know their duty and are willing and we love them and their families for it. Just becase we are in the war doesnt mean that we dont love them.

So as a great line from one of my favorite movies says


"You sit there under the blanket of freedom that I provide and then question the manner in which I provide it. Son, in this world there are walls and there are people who guard those walls someone has to guard them. Are you going to stand against that wall Caffey, you leutinent Wyneburg...otherwise I suggest that you grab a gun and stand at post either way I dont give a damn what you think your entitled too." - A Few Good Men


So if you want to whine and complain about how terrible the war is...why dont you grab your gun and stand at post in Iraq! Dont question the blanket of freedom that is being provided, support it and uphold it people!

Give2thetroops.org This Christmas

Give to our troops this Christmas for a charity gift! You dont have to buy the items or ship it to an APO box or anything like that. It will be so appreciated. Just another way of supporting our troops, even if you dont support the war!

http://www.give2thetroops.org/donations.htm is how to donate.

http://www.give2thetroops.org/pdf/COMPLETELISTOFITEMSTODONATEGTTT.pdf is a list of items they need and request.