Tea Party

Last Friday (September 12), I wasn't feeling good, so we just hung around the house all day. We ended up having a tea party in the Family Room. If you watch the video, please remember that 1.) I wasn't feeling good, and 2.) Rebecca helped me pick out my outfit. Enjoy!


Rebecca, Anson, Raggedy Ann, and Raggedy Andy enjoying the tea party.

Video of our tea party. See our cute shoes and outfits plus the bonus of seeing Katie in her cute little bonnet and a close up shot of her lopsided teeth.

Is Life So Dear Or Peace So Sweet?

Aaron and I read through Patrick Henry's famous speech given at a church in Richmond, VA. We found that the speech is very applicable today, and matches many of our sentiments exactly. I wish that people were as fired up about what is happening and letting their discontent be known as some were back then. I would like to share a few excerpts from the speech.

"This is no time for ceremony. The question before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of Freedom or Slavery."

"Should I keep back my opinions at such a time through fear of giving offence, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my Country and of an act of disloyalty towards the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly Kings."

"I have but one Lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the Lamp of Experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British Ministry for the last ten years to justify those hopes...?"

"Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious Reception of our Petition comports with those warlike Preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of Love and Reconciliation? Have we shown Ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our Love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of War and Subjugation, - the last arguments to which kings resort."

"They are meant for us: they can be meant for no other. They are sent over to find and rivet upon us those Chains which... (they) have been so long forging."

"And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer upon the subject? Nothing. We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable, but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty, and humble supplication? What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted?"

"Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves longer. Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the Storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne and have implored is interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the Ministry and Parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned with contempt from the foot of the Throne."

"In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for Hope. If we wish to be FREE; if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable PRIVILEGES for which we have been so long contending; if we mean not basely to abandon the noble STRUGGLE which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained, - we must FIGHT! I repeat it, sir, - we must FIGHT! An appeal to Arms, and to the God of Hosts is all that is left us."

"THEY TELL US SIR THAT WE ARE WEAK -unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. BUT WHEN WILL WE BE STRONGER? Will it be next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are TOTALLY DISARMED, and when a British Guard shall be STATIONED IN EVERY HOUSE? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs, and hugging the delusive phantom of HOPE, until our enemies shall have bound us Hand and Foot?"

"Sir, we are NOT WEAK, if we make a proper use of those means which the God of Nature hath placed in our Power. Three millions of pople armed in the HOLY CAUSE of LIBERTY, and in such a Country as that which we possess, are INVINCIBLE by any force which our Enemy can send against us."

"Besides, sir we shall not fight our Battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of Nations, and who will raise up Friends to fight our Battles for us. The Battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the VIGILANT, the ACTIVE, the BRAVE. Besides, sir, we have no Election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now TOO LATE TO RETIRE FROM THE CONTEST. There is NO RETREAT BUT IN SUBMISSION AND SLAVERY. Our chains are forged. Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston. The War is inevitable. AND LET IT COME! I REPEAT IT, SIR, LET IT COME!"

"It is vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry Peace, Peace, but there is NO PEACE. The War is actually begun. The next Gale that sweeps from the North will bring to our ears the clash of sounding arms. Our Bretheren are already in the field. WHY STAND WE HERE IDLE? What is it that Gentlemen wish? What would they have?"

"IS LIFE SO DEAR, OR PEACE SO SWEET, AS TO BE PURCHASED AT THE PRICE OF CHAINS AND SLAVERY? FORBID IT ALMIGHTY GOD! I KNOW NOT WHAT COURSE OTHERS MAY TAKE, BUT AS FOR ME, GIVE ME LIBERTY, OR GIVE ME DEATH!"

Slipping and Sliding!

On Saturday we had a water balloon fight (really more of a one sided fight with the ground!) and played on the Slip and Slide. Anson loved throwing the water balloons on the ground and breaking them. Enjoy the pictures and video of our backyard fun!


Can this boy be any happier about a bowl of water balloons?

Gotta treat that balloon with care! Use both hands.

YUM!

My friends from High School, Whitney and Kaci, came over Saturday night with their husbands. We had a great time singing karaoke and playing games. It is fun to get together with old friends. I love how some friends are always there and no time seems to have passed at all. Thanks for the fun time!

Christian and Stephanie

About 4 weeks ago, Aaron's cousin Christian and his wife Stephanie were in a terrible plane crash. They were flying back from New Mexico and made a stop in St. Johns to refuel. Witnesses at the airport say that the plane couldn't get the height it needed to successfully take off, which necessitated an emergency landing. The plane may have flown into some electrical or phone lines , causing a fire (they are not exactly sure of all the details yet. Needless to say, they ended up with a fire in the engine when they landed).

They landed the plane and all three were able to get out of the plane. From my understanding right now, Christian went for help, Doug helped Stephanie out of the plane, and they all ran from the plane. When the plane blew up, Doug was the closest, followed by Stephanie. Christian was the farthest away since he had been going for help.

Doug ended up with 90% of his body burned. He died the next night.

Stephanie ended up with 80% of her body burned. Christian has 30% of his body burned and a broken back.

They are both in a burn unit fighting for their lives. They have 4 small children and have not been able to see them since the accident. The children are living with Stephanie's sister in Utah. There have been many successes and setbacks in the recovery of Christian and Stephanie since the accident, but they are in for a long recovery. Stephanie has a 50%-60% chance of making it. It looks like Christian will make it through.

The medical bills are expected to be in the millions before recovery is complete, and costs of keeping their home still need to be made as well. For this purpose, a fund has been set up to help pay for these expenses. There will also be a benefit concert at Mesa High School in Mesa this Wednesday, September 10, 2008 at 7:00. There will be a silent auction as well.

U.S. Congressman Candidate

I have been researching the candidates for the United States Congress the last few days. I did not know anything about a single one of the candidates beforehand. I have found through reading the candidate's statements that Sydney Hay's values, beliefs about the role of government in the lives of citizens, and her love and respect for the Founders of our great Country and Constitution most closely alignes with my beliefs. I support SYDNEY HAY for U.S. CONGRESS. Check out her website to see her views on the issues.

http://sydneyhayforcongress.com/Home.aspx

Elections are Coming - Who are You Voting For?

This election is a very sad thing for me. I do not have a candidate for President of the United States that I feel will do the right thing on every issue for this WONDERFUL country. I just want everyone to know that I LOVE this country. I love the opportunity that it provides. I love the freedom that we enjoy. I love being responsible for myself and helping others because I want to and I can. I believe that America continues to shine as a beacon of freedom and hope for millions around the world. I also believe that it can all be changed.

The change has already started. People do not understand that the same opportunities that were there for their grandparents and parents still exist. It is there for the taking. Many in the rising generation have been on welfare too long to work hard to improve their lot in life. I have many hard feelings for Franklin D. Roosevelt for ever starting a welfare and Social Security System in the first place.

People do not love and fight for their country as they once did. The media and the politicians are on a continual pessimisstic streak about how terrible everything is. I admit that everthing is not perfect, but how can anything ever get better with everyone being down on it all the time? Change does not happen on its own. People have slowly allowed these and many other changes creep up on them.

With that said, I still love this country and believe that we can make it greater. We need less people on welfare and more people responsible for themselves. People should be allowed to help others on thier own instead of the government forcing them to help others (aka taxes and social programs). That is called SOCIALISM!!!! We need less taxes and more money in our pockets. More money in our pockets means more jobs for those currently on welfare that can work. Taxing the "rich" just means that less people will be employed because the "rich" won't be offering as many jobs - especially good paying ones!

I can go on and on, but I'll try to restrain myself. Since I cannot fully stand behind either candidate, I have to make a choice. I can either support John McCain who loves and has fought for our country, whose wife actively tries to help others and alleviate pain, has made tough decisions on many policies and stood behind them, and has the strength necessary to make sure that America stays strong militarily. Check out this link about John McCain's wife, Cindy, and her work to make life better for many people around the world.
http://www.johnmccain.com/about/Cindy.htm

My other choice is Barack Obama. This socialist/marxist does not even like our country, wants the government to run as much as possible, and wants to raise taxes. I believe that we will rue the day we ever heard of Barack Obama if he is elected. Check out this link to see more about Barack Obama.
http://www.eyeblast.tv/Public/Video.aspx?rsrcID=2036

My choice is actually very easy. I vote for America. I vote for John McCain.

Michigan - last time, I promise!

Wednesday: Raining on and off. We still got in a lighthouse, the Colonial Michilimackinac Fort, and a historic working sawmill/nature preserve! I didn't go in the lantern room because you had to be able to walk up the stairs - one thing Katie can't do yet! I stayed down below with her. Becca and Anson dressed up like Lighthouse Keepers and showed their tickets to see the lighthouse.

Lighthouse Keepers! Inside the lantern room.

Outside the Lighthouse. Outside the Fort.

We are a 1700s family! Not even enough room for 2 kids!

In front of the working Sawmill.

Thursday: Mackinac Island! If you've ever seen Somewhere In Time (starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour), you have seen Mackinac Island. The beautiful Grand Hotel is on the island, along with 2 Butterfly conservatories, dozens of fudge shops, and Fort Mackinac (pronounced Mackinaw). One interesting thing about the island is that no cars are allowed. Only horses and bicycles. It was very lovely.

We of course went to one of the butterfly conservatories, because if anyone knows Rebecca, they know she loves Butterflies!

Look at the beautiful Butterflies! This blue one is real!

Rebecca the Butterfly Lover!

The Grand Hotel. Outside Margaret's Garden.

(Aaron's mom's name is Margaret.)

Friday: Fourth of July! BBQ for lunch, family dance in the evening, and our own fireworks on the dock. Lots of people shot off their own fireworks on the lake. You can't do that in AZ, so it was really fun.

Anson- the leader of the pack!

Anson's "talent" of scaring people w/ his dinosaur!

Becca and cousin Sheridan and cousin Neve.

Amy and Katie. Anson getting his groove on!

Michigan Again

Monday: Fun at the lake and Cabin. Right outside of the cabin was a gorgeous lake! There was also a paddle boat, a row boat, and 2 canoes for us to use. Our family went out across the lake in one of the canoes (actually, we left Katie behind). It was a very relaxing, beautiful day. We got to visit with Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and Grandparents too.

Lets go canoeing! Arghhhhh!

We love the water! And the sand!

Playing on the sandy beach and playing with a turtle!

Tuesday: Sault Ste. Marie Locks (pronounced Soo Saint Marie). Aaron, Rebecca, Anson, Katie and I went up to the Michigan/Canadian border to see the Sault Ste. Marie Locks. The St. Mary river flows between Lake Huron and Lake Superior, but Lake Superior is 21 ft. above Lake Huron. So some genious built the locks. A ship coming from Lake Huron goes in this narrow passage way that is blocked ahead of them by a big wall. Then they anchor themselves, the door is closed behind them, and water is pumped into the "lock". Then the "wall" ahead of them opens and they sail out at the level of Lake Superior! We got to take a boat ride on the river and actually go in the lock. To make it even sweeter, a cute couple gave us 2 tickets for free! They had prepaid for their tickets and the other couple was unable to make it, so they offered them to us for free.

Coming towards the Lock. Entering the Lock.


Lock opening at Lake Superior level. Katie loves food!


Rebecca and Anson enjoying the boat ride.


After the boat ride, we went across the border to Canada and Rebecca traded some of ther money for Canada money. It also happened to be Canada Day (July 1). There was a celebration under way, so we went over to join in the fun. It wasn't really very fun though. There were a ton of people, a choir singing weird songs, and huge lines to buy balloons and face painting. We ate a couple of hot dogs and hamburgers, then left. It was a good day though.