Fiona

I got a new name today. One of the boys called mee Mrs. Shrek. I think he may have trying to insult or upset mee. Rather I was confused and asked him to repeat what he said. While I turned the conversation to what Shrek's wife should be called, my mind went another direction.

Although I haven't worn about a Shrek movie I will say I enjoy the story line. 1) The princes wasn't saved by a prince she had only danced with once. 2) They learned to get along and talk and so on. 3) The ever lasting beauty of true loves kiss looked nothing like the airbrushed photoshop models we are regularly bombarded with. Even the second movie maintains the separation of love and the media's ideal look.

I therefore decided I was okay being called Fiona.

to see the video www.alwaysmee.blogspot.com

ginger? house

The task was to make a ginger bread house.

I made a sugar wafer out house. 

 The trees tell you it is out in the forest. Look closely. There is even a moon on the door.

Frost is going in. Hope there is toilet paper.

Say... :)

 Last week I was a girls' camp. We had a lot of fun. One of my goals for the year was to participate in the hike. While near the height of our climb I decided I wanted a picture. 

I stood up on a mountain slope giving a directive; "Say cheese", when another time and place came to mind.

I was in the Missionary Training Center (MTC) for three weeks. While I was there we took lots of pictures, especially the last day or so. One of our MTC Instructors had his own twist on picture taking. Where most might prompt, "Say Cheese" we were prompted with...say...

 

POLYGAMY !!!

Red Skelton's Pledge of Allegiance

I am so grateful for the grace of God which allows mee to live free. Free to choose. Free to worship, or not worship, which ever I choose. We are so blessed. A beautiful land from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The poor among us have more than a majority of the word.

As I heard this on the radio I thought a prayer.

May we never be ashamed of this flag.

Fabric, yes, but so much more.

A reminder of fore fathers who thought more us than their lives or their possessions.

A reminder of soldiers willing to give their lives.

A reminder of soldiers families separated from loved ones.

And most of all

A reminder of God, who has made a preserved us a nation.

God bless America!!!

(you may need to go to alwaysmee.blogspot.com to view the video)

Thank You Soldiers - Veteran's Day/Memorial Day Song

I am American

My computer went to my brothers for a visit. I got a blue screen of death. I am actually blogging from my work computer. It is a work related topic.

A part of my job is data collection. We receive demographic information on our clients. As a sociologist I understand why we collect data about individual race/ethnic identity. There is something about the process which has been bothering mee for a while.

Non/Hispanic
I have been wondering for a while about how the race and ethnic information is reported. The forms include both. Ethnicity is reported as Hispanic or Non-Hispanic. Then there is a separate race selection. I am offended. My ethnic identity, or that of anyone else shouldn't be based on "Are you Hispanic?" There are more then two ethnic groups in the world.

I got an e-mail today telling mee about the new federal guidelines for race and ethnicity categories. Google it. There are a lot of sites to look at. Apparently these forms are within compliance. It seems the purpose was to allow those who are Hispanic it be able to also acknowledge their racial differences within an ethnic group. What about the rest of us?

It is nice that individuals will get to select more than one race. Mind you, race is a genetic physical heritage. Ethnicity on the other hand refers to social and cultural similarities to a group of people. Historically ethnic groups have been of similar race. Thus the oft interchange of word usage. World travel and mixed race relations have altered that reality.

So, what's your ethnicity? You will come across the question on a variety of forms. I cannot deny it is a part of who we are as individuals and groups. My racial heritage is Northern European, mostly. There is also some Native American blood in my veins. I can trace my lines to pre-Revolution America. My lines include Yankees and Confederates. I even have Mormon Immigrates as ancestors.

How do I respond to questions about race and ethnicity? Well, as God fearing Idaho hick, I have been writing in my own option:
6+ generation American.

Flag Day

to view: http://alwaysmee.blogspot.com/

Monday Memory Moment

As children, my brother, sisters and I enjoyed swimming. I remember swimming at Black Canyon Reservoir when we lived in Emmett. Most of memories, however, are of swimming at Eagle Island State Park.

The swimming is in a slow portion of the Boise River. There is a "beach". I really remember the cattails, and swimming out the island. I also remember diving for rocks. There is also a water slide. It was a special treat to enjoy. I do remember trying to keep our bare feet cool on the hot cement. We might follow wet foot prints, or stand on our mat, if we grabbed one.

We often got a season pass. It was close enough we would often go for just an hour or so after dad got home from work. I cannot say there was one particular time I remember the most. All of them sort of run together. However, I do remember what TIME we often went.

If we were wanting to go swimming when dad got home, first we had to eat dinner. Then, we had to clean up from dinner. We where usually given the same time frame as to when the dishes had to be done if we were to go swimming.

Dishes had to be done before...Hogan's Heroes was over.

Monday Memory Moment

I remembered I hadn't completed my memory moment. Right now, I just want to go to bed. I also remembered that I want to share this video. I remember some of the same things Brad does. Enjoy!!!

e-mail and facebook viewers...go to alwaysmee.blogspot.com

Monday Memory Moment

My sister recently asked for "mom" memories. Starlings were the first thing that came to mind. They are little brown birds. While the females are brown the males are more colorful, to attract a mate.

How does this related to my mother?

When I was in elementary school I did a report on starlings. I don't remember if it was suppose to be on an animal or a bird. Whereas I lived in Star I probably felt it was only logical for mee to right a report on STARlings.

If I remember right I had a book with the information I needed. Reading wasn't a strength, and was therefore avoided. Mom read to book onto a tape. I remember looking though the book while listening to the tape. It my have been my first audio book. 

Thanks, Mom. 

Dependence, a weakness

While standing at the kitchen sick I was pondering what story to tell you tonight. My thoughts turned to cleaning my house. Not really anything most people want to remember. However, maintaining a cleaner home is my goal for the year. 

Mission story:

A clean home wasn't really a huge prioriaty growing up. We had chores. Most of us got out of doing the dishes when mom said she would do them if we would cook. (It's always funner making the mess.) Have you ever heard, "Nothing cleans a house like company"? If we new someone was coming over, we cleaned. We also did a good clean before leaving town for a few days. I also remember washing the ceiling a number of times.

Sister Tanner, our mission President's wife, always had about a half hour of so during Zone Conference. About halfway into the mission she talked about keeping our apartments clean. It wasn't until then that I made the connection. I remembered liking the feeling of having a clean room. In D&C 132:8 the Lord says "...my house is a house of order..." It is also recorded in various places and phrasings "...no unclean thing can dwell with God..." So I realized, at 25, the reason my clean room felt so much better was because it was easier for the Spirit of God to be there.

I cannot say I mastered the cleanliness trait. I tend to migrate to cleaner offices when I need a different place to think at work.

Moving on...I started with the thought about developing my cleaning habits. Then my thoughts went to Ether 12:27 " ... I will make weak things strong unto you..."

This thought usually leading my mind back to sitting in my Major Professor's office. In accordance with NCLB I needed a subject area endorsement on my Special Education Certificate. She suggested Reading. Inside I laughed. Then came  " ... I will make weak things strong unto you..." 

While in elementary school I received Special Ed. services with a reading disability. In fact my IQ- achievement discrepancy was 25 points. It only need to be 15 for mee to qualify. (yep, Mee, the Reading Specialist who hates to read.)

Mind jumping back to  " ... I will make weak things strong unto you..." "...There is only one weakness." That was all she had a chance to say. It wasn't the point of the lesson. I was curious.

Ether 12:27

27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their ^aweakness. I ^bgive unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my ^cgrace is sufficient for all men that ^dhumble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make ^eweak things become strong unto them.

She was right. I had always read it as "...I will show unto them their weaknesses..." Don't take this to mean you only have one flaw. The Lord did also tell Moroni "...I will make weak things become strong unto you."

So, what is this weakness? The answer I got, and felt to share via my not so world famous blog, dependence. It drives mee nuts. I work with so many students who feel they need to be coddled every step of the way. They often won't even try to do things by themselves. Oh, and those girls ( I am sure there are guys too) who always need to be in a relationship. Drive mee batty.

Yet, through our imperfect, mortal, probationary state we are dependent on Christ. There is no way home without Him. There is no peace without Him. There is no life without Him. It is through this humble and dependent state with Christ we are strong. With God, all things are possible.

Barack Obama has awakened a sleeping nation

Gary Hubbell: The Readneck tree hugger
Aspen Times Weekly, Sunday, February 28, 2010

Barack Obama is the best thing that has happened to America in the last 100 years. Truly, he is the savior of America's future. He is the best thing ever.

Despite the fact that he has some of the lowest approval ratings among recent presidents, history will see Barack Obama as the source of America's resurrection. Barack Obama has plunged the country into levels of debt that we could not have previously imagined; his efforts to nationalize health care have been met with fierce resistance nationwide; TARP bailouts and stimulus spending have shown little positive effect on the national economy; unemployment is unacceptably high and looks to remain that way for most of a decade; legacy entitlement programs have ballooned to unsustainable levels, and there is a seething anger in the populace.

That's why Barack Obama is such a good thing for America.

Obama is the symbol of a creeping liberalism that has infected our society like a cancer for the last 100 years. Just as Hitler is the face of fascism, Obama will go down in history as the face of unchecked liberalism. The cancer metastasized to the point where it could no longer be ignored.

Average Americans who have quietly gone about their lives, earning a paycheck, contributing to their favorite charities, going to high school football games on Friday night, spending their weekends at the beach or on hunting trips — they've gotten off the fence. They've woken up. There is a level of political activism in this country that we haven't seen since the American Revolution, and Barack Obama has been the catalyst that has sparked a restructuring of the American political and social consciousness.

Think of the crap we've slowly learned to tolerate over the past 50 years as liberalism sought to re-structure the America that was the symbol of freedom and liberty to all the people of the world. Immigration laws were ignored on the basis of compassion. Welfare policies encouraged irresponsibility, the fracturing of families, and a cycle of generations of dependency. Debt was regarded as a tonic to lubricate the economy. Our children left school having been taught that they are exceptional and special, while great numbers of them cannot perform basic functions of mathematics and literacy. Legislators decided that people could not be trusted to defend their own homes, and stripped citizens of their rights to own firearms. Productive members of society have been penalized with a heavy burden of taxes in order to support legions of do-nothings who loll around, reveling in their addictions, obesity, indolence, ignorance and “disabilities.” Criminals have been arrested and re-arrested, coddled and set free to pillage the citizenry yet again. Lawyers routinely extort fortunes from doctors, contractors and business people with dubious torts.

We slowly learned to tolerate these outrages, shaking our heads in disbelief, and we went on with our lives.

But Barack Obama has ripped the lid off a seething cauldron of dissatisfaction and unrest.

In the time of Barack Obama, Black Panther members stand outside polling places in black commando uniforms, slapping truncheons into their palms. ACORN — a taxpayer-supported organization — is given a role in taking the census, even after its members were caught on tape offering advice to set up child prostitution rings. A former Communist is given a paid government position in the White House as an advisor to the president. Auto companies are taken over by the government, and the auto workers' union — whose contracts are completely insupportable in any economic sense — is rewarded with a stake in the company. Government bails out Wall Street investment bankers and insurance companies, who pay their executives outrageous bonuses as thanks for the public support. Terrorists are read their Miranda rights and given free lawyers. And, despite overwhelming public disapproval, Barack Obama has pushed forward with a health care plan that would re-structure one-sixth of the American economy.

I don't know about you, but the other day I was at the courthouse doing some business, and I stepped into the court clerk's office and changed my voter affiliation from “Independent” to “Republican.” I am under no illusion that the Republican party is perfect, but at least they're starting to awaken to the fact that we cannot sustain massive levels of debt; we cannot afford to hand out billions of dollars in corporate subsidies; we have to somehow trim our massive entitlement programs; we can no longer be the world's policeman and dole out billions in aid to countries whose citizens seek to harm us.

Literally millions of Americans have had enough. They're organizing, they're studying the Constitution and the Federalist Papers, they're reading history and case law, they're showing up at rallies and meetings, and a slew of conservative candidates are throwing their hats into the ring. Is there a revolution brewing? Yes, in the sense that there is a keen awareness that our priorities and sensibilities must be radically re-structured. Will it be a violent revolution? No. It will be done through the interpretation of the original document that has guided us for 220 years — the Constitution. Just as the pendulum swung to embrace political correctness and liberalism, there will be a backlash, a complete repudiation of a hundred years of nonsense. A hundred years from now, history will perceive the year 2010 as the time when America got back on the right track. And for that, we can thank Barack Hussein Obama. 

Monday Memory Moment

I received an e-mail of "Texas Facts" from my cousin. It has some pretty interesting information. Read the following and then I'll share a quick mission story.


 Cowboy's Ten Commandments posted on the wall at Cross Trails Church in Fairlie , Texas :

(1) Just one God.
(2) Honor yer Ma & Pa.
(3) No telling tales or gossipin'.
(4) Git yourself to Sunday meeting.
(5) Put nothin' before God.
(6) No foolin' around with another fellow's gal.
(7) No killin'.
(8) Watch yer mouth.
(9) Don't take what ain't yers.
(10) Don't be hankerin' for yer buddy's stuff.


I did a google search for Cross Trails Church. This is the article I liked the best.


Mission Story:
I was in my last area, Holtom City. We had been working with a young father for about a month. His daughter was friends with a girl in the ward, and the families were growing closer. We were getting reading to share Moroni's promise when the seven-year-old came in. Dad asked if she wanted to read...


Moroni 10:3

 3 Behold, I would exhort ya'll that when ya'll shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ya'll should read them, that ya'll would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ya'll shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts...

Dad corrected her before she got too far...but classic.

Monday Memory Moment

I am getting ready for my trip to Nashville. When I thought about taking Boyd I remembered I haven't put up Sun Valley pictures yet.

This is one of my Co-workers, he wasn't this happy to have Boyd on his shoulder when I first put him there. This picture in in the Sun Valley Lodge Dining Room. I wish I was a really good architecture photographer. My pictures won't do it justice.

 This picture is also in the dining room. You can see the pine trees and the sun coming in. It had been snowing. It was also cold in the room. A small group of us took to setting at the window because that it where the heat came in.

 This picture is from our condo. It had more of a late 60's early 70's feel. It was big enough for the 6 of us. From the point where I was standing I could look down to the TV and fire place. Look across I saw...

a little reading nook. It was a great place to do my early morning scripture studying. The stain glass window on the right was in the room I shared with my assistant. It looked pretty neat at night with the only light coming from behind.

 Do you see Boyd?

Phil Vassar, John Wayne Lyrics

hurray!!! another John Wayne Song!!!


Just another 4 wheels on the 2 lane off to work. Just another lunch box, punch the clock, with my 
name across my shirt.
Radio spills the news. Superman has got the blues.

I guess you just lose touch. When too much aint enough. And all that stuff is going to turn to dust and sand... in the
end.

But a real man, loves his God and Momma. Yes a real man is thirsty for the truth. A real man is faithful to his woman.
Because thats what he saw his Daddy do. In a world where love and heroes fade away I wanna be John Wayne.

After my day is done. I lay down with my only one. Girl there aint no holding back the sun. As I watch her sleeping.
Loves a promise thats worth keeping. And holding it together. By holding on forever. Girl that never ever ever let you go.
That's my code.

Cuz a real man loves his God and Momma. Yes a real man is thirsty for the truth. A real man is faithful to his woman.
Cuz thats what he saw his Daddy do. In a world where love and heroes fade away. I wanna be John Wayne. Woooah, you make
me feel strong, so strong.

And a real man, loves his God and Momma. Yes, a real man is thirsty for the truth. A real man is faithful to his woman.
Cuz thats what he saw his Daddy do. In a world where love and heroes fade away. Woooahh, I wanna ride right in and save
the day. I wanna be John Wayne. I wanna be John Wayne. I wanna be strong. I wanna be John Wayne.

I wanna be John Wayne.

Monday Memory Moment

I know, it has been a while. For these pictures as well. I spent some time scanning in pictures during spring break. These pictures were taken at Eastside Marketplace in Moscow. I am guessing they were taken late in 1998 or early 1999.

I believe I knew Sean (on the sax) and Eric (keyboards) were going to be playing there. I knew Sean through various campus activities and Eric through church. I would try to go listen to them when ever I knew they were performing. 

If I am remembering correctly my sister and family just happened to be there as well. We at dinner in the common area and enjoyed the music. As you can see Munchkin also enjoyed the music. She has always loved to dance. 

The Gift and Power of The Book of Mormon...

originally drafted  13 Nov 2009

I am a Special Education Teacher. How I got here is a story of itself. However, it is not the one I am telling today. Today, is a story of thanksgiving. Thanksgiving to earthly and Heavenly Parents.

The Boy at School

I have a new student. I have been working with him for almost a month now. With a huge sigh of irritation I will tell you he is a handful. He is the youngest of our boys. He is according to assessments very low academically. He is regularly moving. He yells. He threatens. He makes noises. He tries hard. He is creative. He works through the problems with determination.

Yesterday I found myself wanting to cry. I was sitting across a small table. I was reading math problems to him. He struggles with reading. The letters get all mixed up. The words get all out of order. I found myself humbled by his level of effort. Not only his effort, but also his method of elimination, and of trail and error.

We moved on to completing an assignment about himself. Raise your hand if you would think to make a "D" into a bow with an arrow? And then to make the following letter is target? Could you spell "Rootee", "Jorgj", and "Rawde"? His spelling skills indicate a knowledge of basic letter sound correlation. If those English people would only have one spelling pattern for sounds like /aw/ and /ee/. And cast out those unstressed vowel sounds... It is at this point I am all for using Spanish. It is way easier to spell. Add they have a much higher percentage of decodable words.

As I was wanting to cry I remember thinking, "How frustrating it must be to be so stuck in his brain without a way to get it all out."

Additional Insights

A couple of months ago I went to a presentation by Ron. D Davis. He is a gentleman who has struggle with profound dyslexia for his whole life. He told us his story. It was amazing. Apparently it is in a book he wrote, The Gift of Dyslexia. I have been thinking a lot about his presentation and finally requested the audio book from the Library.

I have told people I have a mild dyslexia. I have a friend who wants to tell you it is a visual processing disorder. Those who know more about how computers of the brain works might appreciate this statement more. It is a statement I have made more than once.

If you really thought about the effort it takes to read, you wouldn't do it.

Recently my mom gave me a large zip-lock bag with a hanging file of stuff in it. The papers included some of my early special education paper work. The information may not mean much to those outside to jargon of Special Ed. However... the numbers tell me I had a profound reading disorder. I can say, "Hurray for Special Education!"

The Book of Mormon

More than once, in public and private settings, I have praised the power of The Book of Mormon, and a Bishop. When I was 11 or 12 I met with a young Bishop. He asked mee if I was reading The Book of Mormon. I remember telling him it was too hard and confusing. He challenged mee to pray. Take the matter to the Lord and ask for His help.

I did so. It took mee at least two years the first time, but I made it through. I then participated in challenges in Seminary to read it in various lengths of time. The shortest time frame was one month. I took the challenge. Twenty pages a day. I did it!!

I was struggling through a law class in graduate school. Another church leader talked about a situation he had been in when he was in graduate school. He learned to begin his study session with prayer and reading from The Book of Mormon. It helped mee too.

Today

As I woke up this morning I was thinking of my young man at school. I was trying to decide if I had the energy to work with him. I thought of the frustration he feels not being able to express himself as most of the people around him.

Then, I remembered feeling that way. Feeling like a distant island with a gulf separating mee from everything else going on. Yelling at my parents that they didn't understand mee. Learning to fear any attempt of explaining my thoughts because I couldn't do it fast enough. Or with the ease everyone else had.

Then a thought came to mee: You still would if your Dad hadn't read to you everyday.

This morning I learned my dad was and instrument in the hands of the Lord in developing my ability to read. Yes. I put forth a lot of effort in reading too. I have a basic working knowledge of Learning Disabilities and Reading education. My efforts to read were magnified. They were magnified by the grace of God. They were further in enhanced my having heard The Book of Mormon, many, many times.

I don't recall when it started. I remember it all though middle and high school. My dad read to us from The Book of Mormon every week day. And probably Sundays too.

I wonder...

Tonight, I want to bring you into a world you may not be too familiar with. This world I speak of is one where I find myself. I didn't necessarily plot the course to get here. It is not the place I would like to stay. Nevertheless here I am.

Let mee begin by telling you a couple of stories. Names will be changed to protect the innocent, or the guilty, whatever the case maybe.

Story number one: A day in the mountains.

They had been announcing in church the stake would be having a service day. We were responsible for fixing up a camp ground north of us. We were to meet at the stake center and go on up as a group.

When I got to the stake center I was expecting to see families. All I say where men.  

“Did I miss that this was a priesthood responsibility?”

“Oh no, we are glad to have you help.”

I thought about backing out. But, it was free ride to spend the day in the Sawtooths.

I enjoyed the solitude, the fresh air, and manual labor. Solitude? You ask. Yes, there were a number of men there. They were all married or teenagers.

I wonder…

• How uncomfortable or cautious should I feel when talking to married men?
• How long can I just sit and chat with them? At work? At church?
• Do I need to keep it work/church related?
• Is anything personal allowed?
• How do you make friends with others who are in a different world i.e., women married with children?

Story number two: A chance meeting.

It was actually a planned meeting. It was random happenstance that I was there. I had been asked to go only 10 hours before hand. I was excited to go; we were to be talking about Girls’ Camp.

Before we broke up into our separate groups the stake presidency was to give us some instruction. I don’t think I have ever been this fond of a stake presidency. In the past I might have recognized a name, or face of one or all three. I often enjoyed listening to them teach. With my current stake presidency I feel that I can approach each one of them with anything. I looked forward to hearing what they have to say.

The Higher Priesthood, what a blessing it is. It seems the topic has come up a lot. When it does I have a hard time keeping my emotions inside. As President Z talked I doodled. I was trying so hard to not let it bother mee. I agreed with everything said. I would gladly be a member of the choir.

I wonder…

• If home teachers of single sisters know how much they are needed?
• How important it is we feel comfortable enough to call you when we are sick in body or heart?
• How frustrating it is when you feel like you have called half the brethren in the ward to find someone?

Next we are talking about the youth.

***I didn't record the event, so these are not direct quotes***

Question: “What does a young women have to have before going to the temple?”
Responder A: “A testimony”
Questioner: “Yes… what else does she need?”
Responder B: “A worthy man to take her to the temple.”
Questioner: “Yes!” He moves on…
Responder A: “Do we really want our young women believing they have to be getting married to go to the temple?”
I believe there was a side comment.
Questioner: “Or a mission call.”…again moving on…
Responder A: “I went through the temple two years before my mission.” (It was actually three…)

This is an example of a myth which continues to be perpetuated. “Marry a return missionary in the temple and all will be well.”

I wonder…

• Have you ever thought about living on a concrete slab?

I am an idealist. 100% believe being married in the temple is the way to go. It is the way to start. Come along for a quick analogy. YM/YW is a preparation stage. Plans are made, skills are learned and refined. Marriage in the temple is a very solid foundation for a great life. The home still needs to be built.

• Can we talk more about the sweat, the tears?
• What about the frustration with warped boards and imperfect timing?
• Is there fear that if the hard times are talked about they will want to back away?
• What about the possibility of not getting married in this life?
• Do we get to learn how to be single?

I was Responder A. The biggest thing that kept mee from walking out was the two sisters sitting between mee and the isle. I decided later a reason I was so upset. Earlier that same day I had a thought…”I am not married, so what is my purpose in life, what am I suppose to be doing?” And there I had it confirmed. I was supposed to get married.

To be fair, I know President X responded to my statements. It was reported to mee that he validated everything I had said. I however, missed it. My focus was on trying to keep the tears inside. I failed miserably. President C (he he, get it Presidency, President C) stopped mee later to thank mee for my comments.

  

Now what? Only God knows, and I will leave it in his hands. I will also continue to pester HIM. And, continue to do those things which will insure blessings.

I wonder...

• Will I remember to recognize my trails as blessings?
• That each day is another opportunity to become more prepared to return to the home I long for?

Sincerely,

Your Single Adult Awareness Activist

I was some what hesitant about posting this on a public blog. I am a sociologist. I know the manner in which I was raised has an enormous impact on the thoughts I have, and expectations for life. I am also not worried about revealing the truth. For anyone who may want to respond to this with; “See, I knew those Mormons were all {insert negative adjective here}. Know this, I know for myself The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the Lord’s only true and living church on the earth.

No Child Left Behind embraces 'college and career readiness' / The Christian Science Monitor - CSMonitor.com

The Declaration of Independence as set forth, signed, and defend by our forefathers includes:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

This does not include what type of life. Nor, does is define happiness. So when I see a headline such as:

No Child Left Behind embraces 'college and career readiness' / The Christian Science Monitor - CSMonitor.com

I wonder who defines this as the type of life or manner of happiness each US citizen needs to pursue. At this point I have not even read the article. It does, however, irritate mee that someone thinks everyone should be preparing for college or a "career" while in high school.
Yes, there are those who already know what they want to do. Maybe they have decided that they want to go to college, Or a trade school. Sweet. I try helping my student learn skills that an employer would like to see. Some get it, some don't. I am going to venture to say those who "get it" had some quality training at home. So...Then, why are schools teaching work place competencies? 
My understanding is that states are responsible for providing Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). My vote is still out on compulsory education. 1) it is a whole lot easier to teach someone who wants to learn, 2) as a co-worker would say, "the world needs ditch diggers," 3) eventually people learn they want to learn more, or they are content/complacent in their self-determined level of happiness/property 4) most states are more willing to pay for quality jails than schools anyway. Why I am for compulsory education... I have had more than one set of parents who would rather have their child at home taking care of siblings so they don't have to.
A problem with our current system is people who are on unemployment/welfare or are in jail seem to have more right to luxuries than those of us who chose the path of education and self-reliance.


Lets get back to make choices and being accountable for them. 

Resurrection Rolls

I have been slacking on my Monday Memory Moment. And this has nothing to do with that...

I am passing along a blog post I felt was worth sharing.

Happy Easter!!!

Resurrection Rolls

if you are reading this in an e-mail for facebook view video at alwaysmee.blogspot.com




I post this video as a concerned citizen. We need to keep an eye on what our government is doing. I refer to the legislative branch as well as the executive branch. Contact your elected officials at the every level. Follow what they are doing. Let them know how you feel about it.

It is my view the person who desires more government seeks to negate personal responsibility. It is time we spend more time teaching people how to fish.

Following is from McLintock! (1963) with John Wayne. We is offering a translation for the Comanche Nation.

"...If a man lose his pride in manhood he is nothing...It is a Comanche law that no chief ever eats unless first he sees that the pots are full of meat in the lodges of the widows and orphans. It is the Comanche way of life. This that the white man calls charity is a fine thing for widows and orphans. But no warrior can accept it! For if he does he is no longer a man, when he is no longer a man he is nothing...

Way to go BYU!!!

Values.com | Your Motivational Stories & Inspirational Short Stories Young Examples

Values.com | Your Motivational Stories & Inspirational Short Stories Young Examples

Here is just a taste from the websight. Check it out!

Monday Memory Moment

This weekend I got into a discussion about colleges. One of my friends commented on how she doesn't want her daughter to go to the University of Idaho because it is ranked as the # 3 party school in the nation. My first reaction was to laugh. So many alumni are proud of that fact.

I don't remember what I said. What I should have mentioned was that the University of Idaho is also home to the first Institute of Religion, in the world!!!

...it is a fun unique fact to share...I graduated from the first Institute of religion.

My sister included this scrapbook page with a bunch of pictures she recently sent mee.

from the picture: This is the original podium in the Moscow Institute Building. This podium was presented to the church for the Institute's 75th anniversary in May 2001. Elder Eyring asked that it remain in Moscow until the 100th Anniversary of the Institute Program.
Created in 1926 as the first institute for The Church of Jesus Christ of LAtter-Day Saints.
Dan Schoenburg restored the podium to what could be determined as it's original state.


Along with Elder's Erying's CES address we had an Institute Reunion including half hour ceremony for the 75th Anniversary. I have the ceremony and address on VHS. I was in the choir :-). His address Education for Real Life can be found by following the link.

Monday Memory Moment

As a high school student I took the opportunity to brighten peoples day by secretly decorating doors. I usually had one or more friend with mee. We typically had a "theme". 

A couple of themes were "Heart Attacks" and "Egging". A "Heart Attack" included color paper hearts either blank or with happy words, or positive actions noticed. "Egging" was usually done around Easter. Paper eggs where often colored with words including "Your eggcellent", "Thank you for being a good eggsample."

This habit is one that followed mee through college and the mission field. It is one I might need to take up 

again.

Just before the end of my mission I received a Valentine's package from my mother. In it was...

Heart shaped sticky notes. I was so excited! "Heart Attacks" were now so much easier! I am certain at least one district and zone leader fell victim, as well as various others.

From that time sticky notes have come out in a variety of shapes and colors. I often find it hard to pass up a new style. It is to such a level that I have a drawer at work dedicated to them.

One might think with as many as I have I wouldn't get excited about getting any more. What a mistake. I am continually delighted with new ones. These were received from my Little Man for Christmas.

The Good Lord And The Man

I was listening to the Radio when this song came on. Loved it. Found it. I am sharing it with you!!!



Artist: Rich John
Album: Son Of A Preacher Man
Well he was one of the millions
who signed up to defend us
long ago in 1941
when they sucker punched us in Pearl Harbor
he fought under Macarthur seventeen with an army Thompson gun


Well he stormed a lot of beaches slept in jungles with the leaches
he saw things young man should never see
and when they shot him in the shoulder
he got back up and he marched over
left a lot of brothers dead in kawagalie


If it wasn’t for the good lord and the man
there wouldn’t be a breath of freedom in this land
and I see people on my T.V. taking shots at uncle Sam
I hope they always remember why they can
cause we’d all be speakin’ German livin’ under the flag of Japan


if it wasn’t for the good lord and the man
if it wasn’t for the good lord and the man


Well I’m the grandson of a soldier and I’d fight the whole world over
if duty called and freedoms on the line
but thanks to the greatest generation and the ones still fighting for our nation
I’ve never had to kill for my way of life


If it wasn’t for the good lord and the man
there wouldn’t be a breath of freedom in this land
and I see people on my T.V. taking shots at uncle Sam
I hope they always remember why they can
cause we’d all be speakin’ German livin’ under flag of Japan
if it wasn’t for the good lord and the man


if it wasn’t for the good lord and the man
there wouldn’t be a breath of freedom in this land
and I see people on my T.V. taking shots at uncle Sam
I hope they always remember why they can
cause we’d all be speakin’ German livin’ under flag of Japan


if it wasn’t for the good lord and the man
if it wasn’t for the good lord and the man

Lyrics from : 

http://www.cowboylyrics.com/