Become Part of Something Important -- Vote YES on Prop 8

In 1620, a brave group of Pilgrims left their homeland, their friends and family, and virtually all their worldly possessions and ventured into the unknown. Why? Because the King and his handful of advisors were forcing these people to teach their children concepts contrary to their own religious beliefs. The Pilgrims, and those who followed after them, came to this land to found a nation where the people could worship according to the dictates of their consconince, and NOT be dictated to by a handful of self-appointed rulers.

In 1776, the hand of King George III and his cronies in Parliament was growing ever more restrictive. Burdensome taxes were being levied without regard to those affected by those taxes; private homes were being invaded by soldiers; free citizens were being jailed for voicing opinions contrary to the King’s established rules. Our forefathers fought a great war with the then-most-powerful nation on earth for the right to determine our own laws BY THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE, and NOT to be governed by a few self-righteous princes.


In 1860, another great war was fought in this land over issues of freedom and rights. The issues were more complex; it was no longer about freedom of worship, or freedom of speech. The issue was freedom itself — who had the right to be free, and who had the right to decide? It was a bitter conflict, and we still feel the repercussions of it today. But, in the end, it was determined that, in the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, "government OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, AND FOR THE PEOPLE would NOT perish from the earth." We would NOT be a land where a handful of passionate zealots could break away and change the law for everybody else.


And now, it’s 2008, and we face another conflict just as momentous as those that have heretofore shaped this great land. In less than a week, we will decide whether WE, THE PEOPLE of this nation will allow a small minority of loud, overbearing bullies to redefine the foundation of civilization. Make no mistake! That is what Proposition 8 is all about. If we redefine "marriage" to include anything other than "one man and one woman," we remove the underpinnings that hold civilized society in place. No longer will "family" have any meaning; "mother" and "father" will become obsolete words, if not outright outlawed by these crazed few, who have already managed to remove those references from California school books!


Do not be fooled into thinking that this is just another proposition, or that your vote won’t make any difference. EVERY VOTE IS IMPORTANT!!! PLEASE - - - on Nov. 4, Remember the sacrifices of those who have come before us, to make possible our privilege to make OUR voice heard.



On Nov 4 – Vote FOR PROPOSITION 8.

Save Traditional Marriage. Save Society. Save the World.

Preserve Our Religious Liberty -- Yes on Prop 8

We had a wonderful program in church today. It was the Sabbath set aside for the children age 12 and under to gain their first experience with public speaking as they present, for their parents and the congregation, a summary of what they have been learning.

The topic of today’s Primary Presentation was "I Am A Child of God."

I listened to the older children give talks based on "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" which states, in part:
"We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.
"All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose. . . .
"The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity."

I listened to the younger children talk about "Jesus loves me. The Bible tells me so." And "Heavenly Father knows me and loves me. He wants me to be happy."

I thought about the sweet innocence of these tender souls — and how all that will change unless Proposition 8 passes. At best, should Prop 8 fail, these young kids will be taught one thing at church, and something completely different, and wrong, 5 days a week at school; at worst, we could see the type of persecution here that some Canadians now face, as their religious liberties and freedom of speech has been suppressed in the name of tolerance. What a contradiction!

Don’t risk it!! FIRMLY enshrine marriage and family where it has been since before there were politicians. VOTE "YES!" ON PROPOSITION 8!

http://www.preservingmarriage.org

King George III or Abraham Lincoln?

That’s the REAL question behind Proposition 8: Who Rules America? The PEOPLE? Or a small handful of self-appointed Magistrates?

In 1776, This nation fought a war with the then-greatest nation on earth for the RIGHT of THE PEOPLE to establish the laws of this land through the election process.

Now, that RIGHT is being taken away from us, state by state - - - in each case by a few elitist judges (lawyers) who have decided that THEY, not THE PEOPLE, should establish the laws of our land.

What will they decide to take away from us next?

On Nov 4, Vote for Abraham Lincoln – for government "OF the people, BY THE PEOPLE, and FOR the people!" VOTE FOR PROPOSITION 8!

Keep Your Parental Rights -- Vote "YES" on Prop 8

When I was in Jr. High, we had an annual assembly where all the girls in the 9th grade were shown a Disney cartoon describing how puberty affects females. No boys allowed!

When I was in High School, my parents had to sign a permission slip, indicating their desire for me to attend a CO-ED sex-education class, or a waver, indicating to the school that they would prefer to teach me the basics of sex education themselves. They were my parents. That was their right.

When my own children were growing up, we were granted similar options, although the grade levels at which the sex education was being offered got progressively younger. In addition, if the school wanted to show a "R" rated movie to our children, they had to notify us ahead of time, and either get our permission for our under-age child to see the program, or allow us the option of keeping our child out of class that day. We were the parents; that was our right.

But now, all that is changing. . . unless we act IMMEDIATELY to protect our rights as parents.

Click on this link to see the TRUE STORY of one Massachusetts family, where homosexual marriage is already legal, whose father was dragged to jail in handcuffs because he wanted to keep his parental right to decide what his KINDERGARTEN-AGE child would be taught about sex and family life in school!!!

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1815825713/bctid1819819843

Don't think it can't happen here! If we do not pass Proposition 8, we forfeit our rights to object to anything the State decides it wants to teach our children, whether we like it or not.

Please - - - On Nov. 4 - - - Cast your vote FOR Proposition 8!

Save the Family -- Vote YES on Proposition 8

There is a TV ad currently being run in California showing a triumphant Gavin Newsom, current mayor of San Francisco, loudly proclaiming "This door's wide open now. It's gonna happen. Whether you like it or not."

I don't know how people can just sit there and accept it when any public figure figuratively spits in their face and says, "LIKE IT OR NOT, YOUR'E GONNA DO WHAT *I* WANT!!"

I thought bullies were frowned upon in this country.

I thought this was a democracy. I was taught that we VOTED on important issues, and the majority WON.

When did we become a nation of bullies, where the "tough" who screams the loudest can enforce his will on everybody else?

That's not the America I grew up in; that's not the America my ancestors fought to create and preserve; that's not the America I want to leave to my grandchildren.

We already decided this issue when 60% of voters chose Prop 22. Apparently, the rule of law and the voice of the people isn't enough for some people. Let's make it clear ONCE AND FOR ALL that WE WILL NOT BE BULLIED!!!!!

CALIFORNIA - - - VOTE FOR PROPOSITION 8!!!

"When We're Helping We're happy"

I was very interested in this article that came to my inbox today. I have certain found the principles it discusses to be true in my own life, and wnated to share them with you.

Altruism Benefits Everyone- -Here's How!
By Elizabeth Scott, M.S., About.com

It’s often been said that it’s better to give than to receive, but did you know that this cliché is actually backed by research? While many of us feel too stressed and busy to worry about helping others with their burdens, or would like to think about doing good deeds when we have more ‘spare’ time, energy and money, altruism is its own reward, and can actually help you relieve stress. Altruistic acts can improve your quality of life in several ways, and are absolutely worth the effort. Here are some ways that helping others helps you:

Altruism and Psychological Wellbeing -- Studies show that altruism is good for your emotional well-being, and can measurably enhance your peace of mind. For example, one study found that dialysis patients, transplant patients and family members who became support volunteers for other patients experienced increased personal growth and emotional well-being. Another study on patients with multiple sclerosis showed that those who offered other MS patients peer support actually experienced greater benefits than their supported peers, including more pronounced improvement on confidence, self-awareness, self-esteem, depression and daily functioning. Those who offered support generally found that their lives were dramatically changed for the better.

Altruism and Increased Social Support -- Studies also show that what goes around generally does come around. More specifically, when people make altruistic personal sacrifices, they end up reaping what they sow in the form of favors from others. These individuals earn the reputation as altruistic people and end up receiving favors from others who they may not have even directly helped. The favors and social support you ‘earn’ through altruism, combined with the good feelings you get from helping others (see above), more than make up for sacrifices made in the name of altruism.

Keeping Things In Perspective -- Many people don’t realize the strong impact that their comparisons have on their outlook. However, your expectations of life and the people you compare yourself to can make a real difference in your level of life satisfaction. For example, your home may seem shabby to you if you’re comparing it to the living rooms you see in the pages of decorating magazines, or it may seem palatial and opulent compared to the structures inhabited by people in impoverished countries. Helping others in need, especially those who are less fortunate than you, can provide you with a sense of perspective on how fortunate you are to have what you do in life -- be it health, money, or a safe place to sleep, and help you focus less on the things you feel you lack. Helping others with their problems can also help you gain a more positive perspective on the things in life that cause you stress.

Building a Better Community -- When you do something nice for someone else, often the positive effects go beyond just you and that other person, influencing your whole community. One of my favorite illustrations of this phenomenon is in the movie Pay It Forward where one boy’s good deeds have far-reaching positive consequences. When you do nice things for others, you often enable them to do nice things for others, and the phenomenon grows. Your children and your friends may see your good example and behave in more altruistic ways as well. As Ghandi said, “You must be the change you want to see in the world," and you can contribute to a more positive community.

Altruism and Stress Relief -- When you feel stressed and overwhelmed, you may feel like you’re least able to give. However, acts of altruism can be a great form of stress relief. Studies have shown that the act of giving can activate the area of the brain associated with positive feelings, lifting your spirits, and making you feel better the more you give. And given that altruism can lead to lasting emotional well-being, a more positive perspective, a positive effect on others, and better social standing, altruism certainly does the job as a healthy means for relieving stress and increasing life satisfaction.

Sources:
Brunier G, Graydon J, Rothman B, Sherman C, Liadsky R. The Psychological Well-Being of Renal Peer Support Volunteers. Journal of Advanced Nursing. April 2002.
Schwartz CE, Sendor M. Helping Others Helps Oneself: Response Shift Effects in Peer Support. Social Science and Medicine. June 1999.
Harbaugh WT, Mayr U, Burghart DR. Neural Responses to Taxation and Voluntary Giving Reveal Motives for Charitable Donations. Science, June 2007.

Updated: November 24, 2007
About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Welcome Christina C. Cat

I'd like to introduce you to Grammy's new kitten, Christina, or, as she is currently known, Krissy Kat. Isn't she adorable???

But, to really appreciate her charm, you must see her in action. (Since she never stays in the same place for more than a few seconds, a still photo cannot BEGIN to do her justice!)