Reverence for Memorial Day

For the very first time our family honored Memorial Day. After hearing that the President was not going to honor our American veterans today, I decided that I needed to step up and teach my children by example and by honoring this sacred day. I am appalled that our President isn't respecting this day, but I am grateful that it gave me the push to bring this tradition to our family.

We began by enjoying a special red, white and blue breakfast of pancakes with strawberries and blueberries - a favorite of every one's.

The program

I just couldn't pass up this opportunity to take a picture of our American Flag, which represents freedom and liberty!

Here the young sea cadets are waiting to release the white doves after a beautiful poem is read.

This was just breathtaking. The doves flew around the audience a few times before they flew away.

I have to say that my heart was especially touched today during this ceremony and I felt the spirit pour into me. This song also brought tears to my eyes as I saw the many veterans stand as their song was sung.

We also enjoyed a fly over by an airplane out of the Air Hawk War Museum. I believe it was a WWII plane. It circled 5 or 6 times above the ceremony before departing.

Also we listened to this bagpiper, two bell ceremony and the sounding of taps.

We also saw and heard this original cannon blast six times - it is also an original piece. The men were all dressed in Civil War uniforms.

Look at the bayonet!

Abraham Lincoln also attended the service!

Afterwards there was a BBQ - which we all enjoyed!

Memorial Day, formerly known as Decoration Day, commemorates U.S. soldiers who died while in the military service. First enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War was expanded after World War I to honor dead Americans from all wars.

We didn’t start celebrating Memorial Day until after the Civil War, but it was during that conflict, November of 1863, that President Abraham Lincoln gave his historic Gettysburg Address and eloquently laid out the simple yet profound idea that lies at the heart of this day:

"It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us - that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion - that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain - that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom - and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

Olivia made the family a Memorial Day card. Here are the different illustrations on the card.

Our family

Olivia holding the American flag!

Have We Heeded His Counsel?

I love the parable of the Ten Virgins because it reminds me that I need to continually add oil to my lamp so that is lit when Christ returns again. This oil is added drop by drop as we are faithful in keeping the commandments of God. (Here is a great article, "Oil in Our Lamps"). The March 2009 Ensign had several great articles discussing this topic, it is an excellent resource. Here is a list of the articles with links:

March 2009 Ensign

The Parable of the Ten Virgins- the Ensign has some great pictures and explanation of the oil, the lamp, the vessel, and the Bridegroom. (you can click on the picture to see it larger)

I took photos of the Ensign itself with my camera.

More articles from the March 2009 Ensign:
Becoming Self-Reliant--Spiritually and Physically
Home Storage: A New Message
The Celestial Nature of Self-Reliance

Today I was able to teach for about 20 minutes in our 5th Sunday combined RS/Elder's Quorum meeting about self-reliance/provident living. I have poured hours of my time into reading and researching many talks and I have been greatly taught - what a privilege!

I like this story that Marion G. Romney shares about how self-reliance and freedom go hand in hand.

“In our friendly neighbor city of St. Augustine great flocks of sea gulls are starving amid plenty. Fishing is still good, but the gulls don’t know how to fish. For generations they have depended on the shrimp fleet to toss them scraps from the nets. Now the fleet has moved. …

“The shrimpers had created a Welfare State for the … sea gulls. The big birds never bothered to learn how to fish for themselves and they never taught their children to fish. Instead they led their little ones to the shrimp nets.

“Now the sea gulls, the fine free birds that almost symbolize liberty itself, are starving to death because they gave in to the ‘something for nothing’ lure! They sacrificed their independence for a handout.

“A lot of people are like that, too. They see nothing wrong in picking delectable scraps from the tax nets of the U.S. Government’s ‘shrimp fleet.’ But what will happen when the Government runs out of goods? What about our children of generations to come?

“Let’s not be gullible gulls. We … must preserve our talents of self-sufficiency, our genius for creating things for ourselves, our sense of thrift and our true love of independence.”

The practice of coveting and receiving unearned benefits has now become so fixed in our society that even men of wealth, possessing the means to produce more wealth, are expecting the government to guarantee them a profit. Elections often turn on what the candidates promise to do for voters from government funds. This practice, if universally accepted and implemented in any society, will make slaves of its citizens.

We cannot afford to become wards of the government, even if we have a legal right to do so. It requires too great a sacrifice of self-respect and political, temporal, and spiritual independence."

He continues by talking about when we are self reliant we are able to serve others.

"...How can we give if there is nothing there? Food for the hungry cannot come from empty shelves. Money to assist the needy cannot come from an empty purse. Support and understanding cannot come from the emotionally starved. Teaching cannot come from the unlearned. And most important of all, spiritual guidance cannot come from the spiritually weak."

President Benson has said, "Too often we bask in our comfortable complacency and rationalize that the ravages of war, economic disaster, famine, and earthquake cannot happen here. Those who believe this are either not acquainted with the revelations of the Lord, or they do not believe them. Those who smugly think these calamities will not happen, that they somehow will be set aside because of the righteousness of the Saints, are deceived and will rue the day they harbored such a delusion.

The Lord has warned and forewarned us against a day of great tribulation and given us counsel, through His servants, on how we can be prepared for these difficult times. Have we heeded His counsel?"

In 1 Nephi 3:5 we hear about Nephi's older brothers response when the Lord asks them to get the plates. "And now, behold thy brothers murmur, saying it is a hard thing which I have required of them; but behold I have not required it of them, but it is a commandment of the Lord." Do we realize that this commandment of becoming self-reliant also comes from the Lord? Do we think that this is too hard, not important, or doesn't apply to us today?

Great blessings are awaiting us, including being prepared for the coming of the Lord, peace, happiness, prosperity, self-worth and freedom!

Other great resources:
M. Russell Ballard, “Becoming Self-Reliant—Spiritually and Physically,” Ensign, Mar 2009, 50–55

Keith B. McMullin, “Lay Up in Store,” Ensign, May 2007, 51–53

Silvia H. Allred, "Principles of Self-Reliance," BYU Women's Conference 2008

Vaughn J. Featherstone, “Food Storage,” Ensign, May 1976, 116

Ezra Taft Benson, “Prepare for the Days of Tribulation,” Ensign, Nov 1980, 32

L. Tom Perry, “‘If Ye Are Prepared Ye Shall Not Fear’,” Ensign, Nov 1995, 35

Emily Freeman, "The Ten Virgins, " CD/Songbook

I especially like this CD soundtrack - the music is beautiful and touching. Here is the description from Desert Book:

"Rediscover the parable of the Ten Virgins with an enthralling presentation that provides a personal, latter-day perspective to the classic New Testament story. Beautiful words and music give an identity and an individual story to each of the Ten Virgins. Each possesses a positive quality or virtue that could be wisely developed. But as their stories unfold, the struggles of their daily lives present each woman with choices that determine her path.

Will she prepare herself with lamps trimmed and burning when the Bridegroom comes? Or will she procrastinate and find herself left outside and alone?"

Gators Take Second

We had a fun and busy soccer season with both Corbin and Porter playing soccer and then Corbin also reffing several games. Soccer is finally over and we are enjoying our free nights and weekends again!

Porter waiting his turn.

Way to go, Porter! Porter loves soccer. He had a great year playing with this new league. It was much more aggressive than Y-ball. He had fantastic coaches that really went the extra mile. And they had a fun end of the year team party!

Porter's team the "Gators" came in second play during the tournament play-offs.

Here is the team after they received their medals!

Awards Ceremony and Pizza Party with Team

We had fun, too!

Vivian!

Me, bouldering on the wall through the hoops.

Hairy Lips and Necks

This jar of wax has already lasted me 10 years and it's still at least 2/3 full, that's why it looks so battered!

Paul approached me the other morning and asked "Would you tell me if my neck was hairy and needed shaved?" Of course, I would. I already shave his neckline for him every 5 days or so. I can't stand hairy necklines because it looks so unkempt. Oh, I wish every wife would help her husband with this (hint...hint), everyone else sees the back of their head!

After asking that question and receiving my answer, he then proceeded to say "Then I'm sure you would like me to tell you when your lip needs waxed." Oh Paul! That was my clue that it was time to address my lip. It's not something I look forward to. I have tried to convince him that I would like to wax some hair off his arms or legs just so he knows how much it hurts. I was able to convince Corbin to let me wax his lip a while ago, I think that was the first and only time that he will do that. He was shocked with the pain!

So I am happy to announce that my lip is hairless right now! I wax introduced to lip waxing while Paul was attending law school. My friend next door was a beautician. She did my lip once and taught me how. So if you are interested, I am more than happy to help you!

Impromtu Pizza Party

Tristan, Corbin, Hayden, and Taylor

I got a call from Corbin around 2:20 pm this afternoon asking to have his friends come over for a party this afternoon. We had discussed the idea of doing this tomorrow briefly as he walked out of the door for school this morning. Okay, I had to kick it into high gear.

We had pizza, homemade rootbeer (click here for recipe) , delicious corn on the cob (the first I have had this season), and chips.

Corbin is leaving soon to stay several weeks with Paul's parents in Wyoming.

Another dry ice use: FOOD STORAGE
Placing Dry Ice in the bottom of a dry food storage container is a very economical way to fumigate and store dry goods for an extended amount of time. Make sure the Dry Ice is not frost covered, as that will add moisture. Put one quarter pound of Dry Ice per five-gallon storage container in the bottom and then pour in the dry food. As the Dry Ice sublimates it replaces the oxygen in the container with CO2. Leave the lid on but not tightly sealed until the Dry Ice completely sublimates. (About 5-6 hours) Then snap the lid tight. Without oxygen, neither bugs nor bacteria can grow. This process is good for seeds, grains, legumes, flower, powdered milk, etc. An excellent site for further information can be found at http://www.fcs.uga.edu/ext/pubs/html/FDNS-E-34-1.html

Special through Memorial Day: Washington Crossing the Delaware

I love this piece of Washington Crossing the Delaware by Steve Penley. It is now available when you make a $100 contribution (it is $725 at his site).

Here is the information :"You’ve seen Steve Penley’s art in Glenn’s radio studio and heard Glenn talk about this master painter. Steve has graciously offered to send anyone who donates $100 to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation (between now and Memorial Day) an unmounted signed print of his “Washington Crossing the Delaware.” Check out the print HERE and donate HERE."

Lagoon Discount Passes

I was at Desert Book and learned about the summer Lagoon special, click here for all the details. Basically if you purchase certain items they earn you credits or discount passes. To check out Lagoon's website, click here.

For example, I bought this Summer Sampler DVD for $1.99 and received 1 credit, plus it has a $3 coupon on the back for some of the featured artists.





The CD includes tracks from the following:

Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Julie de Azevedo

Mercy River

Jenny Oaks Baker

Michael McLean

Dallyn Vail Bayles

Nearer: A New Collections of Favorite Hymns

Another Testament, Reflections of Christ

Sunday Morning Classics: Sunday Morning with String Quartet

So I bought that sampler DVD and then used the $3 coupon (which can be used as many times as you want through the end of the year) on Dallyn Vail Bayles DVD titled "Song of Redeeming Love", which earned me two credits. He was a performing artist at BYU Women's Week - he has an amazing voice and played the part as Hyrum in the Work and the Glory movies.

There are many different items you can purchase to earn credits, even a $0.60 bookmark for one credit! Just look at the link above for all the details of the items, prices and credits. I earned three credits for the two items I purchased - it's pretty easy.
Here is a picture of the discount coupon - you receive one for each credit. This gives you the opportunity to buy a Lagoon Single Day Passport for $29, instead of the regular price of $42.95. You need one of these coupons for each ticket you want to purchase at the special price (1 coupon for each credit).

Here is a close up on the days that this pass is valid (the days in orange). This pass works for the day that my extended family is gathering for a reunion! It looks like it works most summer days, with just a few exceptions.