So, the whole voting ,election, winner, thing...

Ok, so I'm not too crazy about who won. I was a McCain Supporter, not cause I wanted to be...I am not too proud of my Republican party of late...but I thought I'd be a loyal voter. I know of many adults and youth who aren't too happy about last night's outcome. But, after spending the last 24 hours or so thinking about it, cause truly there was nothing else TO think about. I realized that it's ok.
It was a historical event and I along with millions of others were able to witness it, how cool is that!? I determined that how much worse could this new guy be. We've had such sad disapointment from the guy currently in office. I love this country, mainly because if we don't care for the new guy, don't agree with him, or want ANOTHER change...then in four years we get to vote again! And, how cool is that!?
By all intents and purposes, my mother is an imigrant, She was born in South Korea, and was a teenager during the Korean War, where she lost her family, some may have lost their lives, others lost to her due to circumstance, and perhaps another life a world away, or so we hope. We don't know really what happened to many of them. She came to this country alone with three children in tow at the time. She slowly acclamated to a new way of life and eventually became a citizen. The first time she got to vote was a milestone for her.
She taught me how important freedom is, and most importantly to be able to say what and how you feel. Aren't we truly blessed to sit here on this day and argue and contemplate and agree on who should have won? I don't know what the future holds for this new presidency, I hope it will be good things. I do know that this guy has a lot of work to do, not only with the state of the country, but with the state of mind that many are still in because they can't let go of the past. He has to prove himself, he might have won the battle, but the war isn't over, in more ways than one.
For those that fret or worry, I am right there with you. But I know that the Lord has his hand in everything, and if we continue to pray for this man and ourselves, that good things will come. Trials always come with blessings, so just plan on a few snags along the way. BUT, have faith, we're gonna be OK.

Old Friends in New Places!

Well, we've been in our new home about 11 months now. Almost a year. We've made new friends in the neighborhood, school and church and it's all good...but last week I had a wonderful, amazing and exciting thing happen! I am working with the Cub Scouting program in our church, and I attended what they call the "Roundtable" meeting..No knights, or swords or anything, just poor ol' Cub Leaders old, young, experienced, and new, gathering together to learn more about scouting.

I was approached by a nice gentleman who said I had a nice voice, and would I mind being in a little skit to show the leaders what they can do for their Pack Meetings...Sure, why not I thought, so I did. They called me up, and I did my thing...then when I went to sit down I hear this little voice yell out, "Lari!"I turned to see this sweet little lady, waving wildly at me, so I thought I'd better go over and see her and find out who the heck she is! "It's me Jeanette!" she yelled out. Still waving madly.

Hmmm, Jeanette, Jeanette...as I looked at her, a flash of a younger similar face crossed my mind...JEANETTE! It suddenly dawned on me! IT was a long lost friend, I had known her family for years, her mother was my English Teacher!! She had a sister my age, who is married now with 7 kids! One my sister's age, who sadly hasn't married yet, and Jeanette! Who was about 2 years younger and was the cute, cudly, little tag-along that we all loved!! I hadn't seen her since I had gotten married, and that was 25 years ago!

I was so excited to see someone from my past, someone who knew me and knew who I was...It was marvelous. We began to talk, my husband was there so I introduced her. She mentioned so many experiences we had that I all but forgot! It was so much fun to talk and reminice. I love seeing old friends, it reminds me that the world is smaller than we think, and that the Lord has his hand in everything we do, things happen for a reason, moving here was something we weren't expecting to do, but many things have fallen into place since we arrived, and it's all wonderful!!

Dog Days of Summer!

Oy, it's so stink'n hot! Well, it's actually not as hot as it has been in other Summer's, but it's still hot! The kids are driving each other crazy, and me as well. The two younger ones can't stop pestering each other. The whining, the wailing, the nashing of teeth! Who decided that school didn't need to start till August 25th! who!? Someone with no children or whose children are grown and off on their own with their own families, and who probably are asking the same question that's who!

Luckily the two older ones work, and aren't home much, thank goodness!

We've been seeing a lot of movies, cause it's the coolest place to be, in more ways then one! We have seen, "Prince Caspian" much better than the first movie, the story and action are just better all around! Oh and why are the brits so good at looking good as they get older! The Harry Potter kids, all good looking now, and the same for the Narnia gang...must have something to do with the accents or that stoggy ol' stiff upper lip thing...well it's something!

"Indiana Jones" this last installment was very good, But I was not too crazy about the whole Skull thing, if you've seen it you know what I mean about the ending, typical Steven Spielberg...can I just say, it's time to call home! Shia LeBough (sp?) was awesome, I just like him! He reminds me of a young Tom Hanks, just an every man trying to make do. He's full of energy, which this movie needed, but Harrison Ford was still very dreamy as an older and wiser Indiana. Love, love, loved that they brought back "Marian" or rather, Karen Allen, she was always the best match for Indiana!

"The Dark Knight"-very moving, and dark, and twisted, and suprizingly amazing! Heath Ledger does deserve and award, sad that he's no longer with us, but in his short life he has proven himself a very great actor! Christian Bale was again a great Batman!

"Get Smart"-Steve Carrell is a hoot, and Ann Hathaway had me at "Ella Enchanted", the story is a bit staid, but it was good, not campy like the original TV show, much like the TV Batman was as well, but full of action and Steve Carrell dead pans it well and to his credit made the character his own, and didn't stoop to trying to impersonate Don Adams!

"Wall-E"-very cute, I actually liked it when he was on earth by himself trying to survive! I didn't like that all the humans became balls of fat...but it was a cute story, and well my 10 year old loved it. I was just tired of the simulated "Wall-E" sounds coming out of her mouth for the two days following the viewing of the movie!!

Still waiting to see..."Mamma Mia" and "The Mummy" I love ABBA, I listened to them religiously when I was a teenager! I felt that they got me their music lulled me to sleep on many ocassions. And, the Mummy movies, they are formulaic at best, great escapist entertainment, and hey it has Brendan Fraser, who for some odd reason, appeals to me! So, the kids and hub can go for the action and thrills while I get some great eye candy! :)

Hopefully all this movie watching will bring the Dog Days to a close sooner than it feels! Happy Summer everyone, and stay cool!

Well, we have seen our daughter go and get graduated from college! We are so proud of her and her acomplishments!!

Now, I'm getting tons of new announcements from friends whose high schoolers are graduating! I have to say I am impressed with the new style of announcements out there. it's not your basic tri-fold embossed letterhead, with mascot affixed!

I have gotten some very creative invitations. One had a background super-imposed of the girl in her band uniform and holding her tuba, and a nice graduation formal pic in the foreground, with her announcement written next to it. Another one looked almost like a wedding invitation. It had the transparent mylar paper with the announcment on it, with the boys picture from his prom underneath in black and white.Another, was a nice formal photo of a boy, whose announcement was under his photo, and all was on photo paper in his school colors.

I wish we had that when I was graduating! It was just in the past 10 years or so that kids were adding a picture of themselves with their announcements! Now with our computer generated, tech savvy kids, it's all done on computer, and a whole heck of a lot cheaper!Well, with the price of gas these days, you gotta save money somewhere and why not with graduation announcements! I think it's all very cool!

Well, it's late Sunday night, I'm hacking and caughing away, allergy season! My eyes are watering, and I'm trying to write this between sniffles. I just have two days to get my act together so that my three kids and myself can get to a plane headed toward Salt Lake City!

My oldest is graduating, and I'm excited and a little apprehensive. I want her to come home and spend time with us, but I also know that four years away from us has changed us and her. It will be an adjustment, but we'll see how it all goes.I have a lot on my mind, but don't know if I should write it all down or wait. So much to do and so little time and so many personal and familial things going on it's making my brain throb, or it could be that the sinus meds haven't kicked in yet!

My husband was gone for two weeks, came home for five days then was off again, driving this time to Utah. We'll meet up two days from now when he has to get us from the airport. I wish we could have all drove up together, but with the three younger kids in school I didn't want to pull them out for any longer than we had to. Even now they'll miss two days, but the whole family wanted to go and be there for their sister.

I have great kids, and I'm not being boastful, they have their faults and drive me nuts, but when push comes to shove, they are always there for each other and for me and their dad! They are wonderful children and I love them dearly. I think I'm rambling now, the meds must finally be kicking in!! I'll close for now and try to write more after the graduation!!

Ok, so...Mattie and my dear friend Berniece turned me onto the "Twilight" book series written by author and fellow LDS member, Stephenie Meyer. She's written a a young adult novel that is very different and very sophistcated series of books about a vampire, a girl and true love with an old fashion set of values. I love it all. The hero in the story is a true, blue, bonified, chilvarous hero.
Ms. Meyer has a legion of fans, you'd think the obvious, teenagers,right? But no, she has a slew of middle-age mom's who totally love her stories. I am now one of them, darn it! I can't help myself. I had a dear friend, Kathy who turned me onto a website dedicated to this whole world of Twilight, called Twilightmoms.com the ladies there are your average women, all are married and majority have children. They share their thoughts and feelings about the books, the upcoming movie, etc. and also share ideas, recipes, parenting, with each other. They are a group of fascinating women, and the majority of them, oh about 75 % are LDS moms.
I am still trying to figure out what the fascination for me is for the whole thing, but I am learning that what is great about this book and this website is that it does hold those old fashioned morals and values that seem to be lost in most books, even some YA novels these days. I have read many, many books, and the classics stay classics because they are about the story not the sex and violence within the story. I believe that's why Ms. Meyer's books are so popular, especially among these particular women. Ms. Meyer's story although rife with conflict, both scary and personally emotional, there is an underlying theme of true love and decency. It's refreshing to read a love story that has no gratuitous sex and violence, and shows love in an eternal perspective, unselfish, long suffering, bittersweet.
I give these books a big thumbs up, they are easy, fun reads and you do get caught up in the story, and maybe even find yourself wishing you were a teenager again, for at least a brief moment and that a young man like the lead character Hero, Edward was someone that lurked at your high school. I know I do!

Thoughts about the move...

Well, I have been busy, not at writing, darn it! But, at the every day life that continues to get busier. I thought when we moved that thing would slow down, and it has in some ways, but hasn't changed in others just cause we moved. Life here out near the country is slower paced, but I still have to run errands, shop, (Dave and I are into the Grocery Game thing right now! I'll talk about that later) and keep up with the kids and their activities. Well, the boys anyway. They both still have Scouts, and Cameron was invited to the Allen High School Prom, by a senior. Luckily someone we knew when he was in Elementary. A young lady who went to school with Cameron at the elementary school he attended, who moved away here to Allen, and now they have reconnected.

Cameron has done remarkably well in this move, he's made friends quickly at church, finding boys who like to do the same things he does, which he didn't have at our old church. He's keeping up with his grades, but is already getting trouble for being the class clown, somethings never change!

Caulin is fairing ok, but he had to go back into Elementary school since middle school here in Allen starts in 7th grade, not 6th grade like it does in Plano. He had a bit more freedom as a Middle Schooler in Plano, and is finding it hard to reform back to the stricter Elementary rules. He's doing ok and doing his best. But, now he can't wait to hit Middle School for a second time!

Marin left her best friend in Plano, but is making friends easily here. Luckily we aren't too far from our old home, so she and her best friend still get together on the weekends. I see them coming out of the school building at the end of the day, and I can tell they are ok. They talk and laugh to those around them, and wave at their teachers...So I know it's all good. Oh, and the school is only a couple of blocks from the new house which is great! On nice days they ride their bikes or walk, something they didn't do much of before the move.

The kids are all doing suprizingly well.

Dave and I have even gotten better, we're making friends quickly at church, one of the perks of being LDS, is that you gain an instant family when you attend and are active in the ward family!We are doing well health wise as well, we go for walks every night now, Dave's keeping me on my toes as far as that goes, I have lost almost 40 lbs. since he started to lose weight, almost 3 years ago. I still have several more pounds to go, but I'm feeling much better! We also sit on our front porch and stare at the stars, even getting to watch the lunar eclipse last night!

I enjoy the slower pace of life out here and the quiet. Time truly seems to go much slower, not so when we lived in Plano, the days just zoomed by to quickly. I like the slower life, it gives me tim to think and ponder! We had some excitement this evening when we spotted two very big coyotes running through our sub-division! Thankfully we were in our car coming home from an errand and saw these big, beautiful animals gracefully running through the near by field!

Someone asked me if I missed the old house, and I quickly answered, "Heck no!", I love it here, I love our new house and the open spaces out here...But, I do miss our church friends, our school friends, and also the convience of having all the shopping and schooling and churching near by. And now thinking on it, school and church are pretty close, but the shopping is still about 10 minutes away from us, but that's ok. We are making friends here and enjoying our new life. I have definitely decided that "change" is good. It helps you grow and learn and appreciate all that you have!

Finally, I'm able to update my blog! Not much going on really. Still writing and trying to figure out what I'm doing. Moved and settled into our new house. It's great and we love it. We do miss friends and old home town, but we're happy to adjust and get use to the new area and making new friends. Luckily we're not too far away from old home town, so we are able to see old friends still, even if it's not as often as I'd like!