Christmastime is here!

I don't know why my text is automatically underlined. So annoying and can't figure out how to stop it. Anyway, these are photos I took for a friend's Christmas card. Aren't they adorable? I don't know why they don't look quite as striking on the web as they do on my computer...something lost in translation I guess. Ronna, your kids are so cute!!

Fairy Photo Shoot

I wanted to try out my new lens. What better model than London in her fairy dress-up costume?

Intro to Photoshop

My neighbor recently gave me photoshop. I've been trying to teach myself how to use it. Here's what took me many late nights to do:

Before: It's really embarrassing how poorly I composed this. The lighting is just wrong. But I liked her pose and expression, so with some major tweaks...

After:

What do you think??

Who is intolerant?

Prop 8 passed.  Hooray!  But we haven't heard the last of it.  In fact, it appears the persecution of Mormons for their support of Prop 8 is just beginning.  There was a riot at the LA temple, and there will be another one tomorrow (Sunday) at the Oakland temple.  The day before the election, an ad was released depicting two missionaries ransacking the home of a lesbian couple and stealing their marriage certificate.

I want to ask: who is the intolerant one?  Consider:

Mormons make up less than 2% of the population of CA.   Mormon voters were less than 5% of the yes vote.   The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) donated no money to the Yes on 8 campaign.  Individual members of the Church donated whatever they felt like donating, in the interest of their doctrine regarding traditional marriage and family.  

The No on 8 campaign raised more money than the Yes on 8 campaign.  Unofficial estimates put No on 8 at $38 million and Yes on 8 at $32 million, making it the most expensive non-presidential election in the country.  Should I remind you of the substantial donations of PG&E and the California Teachers Association to No on 8?  (If Prop 8 has nothing to do with schools, as the No campaign claimed, then what business did the CTA have in donating a million dollars to oppose Prop 8?)   The No campaign had the support of hot shot celebrities, government leaders, and politicians.  They even got the attorney general to word the prop on the ballot in their favor, stating that Prop 8 would "eliminate the right" of same-sex couples to marry.  And yet, they didn't win. 

Aside:  When was marriage declared a civil right anyway?  The law is already discriminating when it comes to marriage.  Minors can't marry.  Siblings can't marry.  Cousins can't marry.  Pets and their owners can't marry.  Those who are married can't marry additional spouses.  These are limits society has agreed on.    How is Prop 8 different?  

Advertising messages for the Yes on 8 campaign are based on case law and real-life situations. The No on 8 supporters have insisted that the Yes on 8 messaging is based on lies.  Every Yes on 8 claim is supported.  In contrast, consider the aforementioned ad from the No campaign. This ad is completely dishonest and discriminatory.  Had it attacked Jews or Muslims, it never would have aired. 

The Yes on 8 coalition was a broad spectrum of religious and non-religious organizations and individuals, including Catholics, Evangelicals, Orthodox Jews, Muslims...

Not all Mormons voted in favor of Prop 8.  Our faith maintains that each person be allowed to choose for him or herself.  Church leaders have asked members to treat other members with civility, respect, and love, despite their differing views.

The First Amendment to the US Constitution states "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof . . ."  The phrase "separation of church and state" does not appear in the Constitution itself.  Even so, U.S. election law is clear that while churches may not endorse candidates, they may support issues.  In the case of same-sex marriage, the real threat to individual rights (that are actually given by law in our Constitution) is the threat to those who preach traditional marriage in a religious setting.  Those who supported Prop 8 only did what the Constitution provides for all citizens:  they brought the issue to the ballot for the public to decide on,  exercised their freedom of speech to defend their position on the issue, and then vote in the electoral process.  To my knowledge, there was only honesty, respect, and forthrightness on the Yes side.  In contrast, No supporters stole election signs out of yards (which are private property), vandalized church buildings, and personally labeled and attacked Yes supporters as being bigots, homophobes, and more.

The ironic thing is this: the hidden agenda of those who support same-sex marriage is not to support marriage at all. They want to water down the meaning, removing the desire for anyone to marry and make a family.  This will break down the institution of the family and pave the way for the state to take its place as the basic unit of society.  Contrary to contemporary views, the primary purpose of the divine institution of marriage is not to express adult desires, but to provide a home to which children will be born to and reared by parents who will care for, nurture, and love them.  I don't care if you believe the human race was created by God or evolution--either way, this definition of marriage is what ensures not only the continuation of but also the flourishing of the human race.  For now, at least, the majority of citizens consider the definition of marriage to be the same as it was since the beginning:  one man and one woman.

Tim's Concession Speech

This is what Tim stayed up late doing last night to console himself.  His way of saying "good game."

Dear Obama-supporting Friends:

You all know me to be a somewhat sarcastic and jovial fellow, but in all sincerity I am extending my congratulations to you.  I know this moment must be a time of relief and hope for you.  I suppose it is similar to how I felt towards Ronald Reagan as a child and then later on a s an adult  And even though I still feel uncertain and reserve a healthy dose of skepticism, I am extending an olive branch of peace and earnestly wish our country well under President-elect Obama.  I think "losers" in an election have the responsibility to stand back.  Not to do nothing.  But out of respect for the majority who decided, allow the agenda of the "winners" to move forward, adding their input to make the outcomes better for the constituents they represent.  Likewise, the "winners" should in a spirit of good will, work to promote the general welfare.  I think too often we as citizens allow ourselves to be stirred up by the talking heads and pundits to a heightened level of mild hysteria which makes for good news and TV ratings, but does little to quiet the quakings of our common ground.

Our founding fathers gave a few hints as to what those commonalities could include:  love of country, our fellow man, and God.  I only pray that ll three of these commonalities will be strengthened over the next four and perhaps eight years.  For if we are to remain a strong country both in terms of economic prosperity and national security, a love and respect for that trinity must endure--for they are the great assumptions of capitalism and democracy.

One of the things I fear most in the modern liberal movement is secular progressivism.  It is a movement that seeks to perform a global "find and replace" function with the words "God" and "Individual."  When completed, the result will be a world with no anchor of right and wrong, no moral foundation.  We have seen the effects of morality ignored already in our economic crisis, our social structures, and in the sufferings of millions from human rights violations the world over.  In short, the world will ever be in commotion so long as morality plays the part of all things passe.

It is my assertion that capitalism is the most compassionate economic system the world has ever known.  Beginning in the 18th century, its principles gave way to the birth of widespread growth in the middle class.  American, the country that at one time practiced it the best, was the land of opportunity.  Our standard of living has been expanded beyond what any person even 50 years ago could have imagined.  When all of her citizens work tirelessly in pursuit of their own self interest, America is at its best.  If president Obama accomplishes nothing else, he will have given hope without reprise to a rising generation of minorities to know that it is alright to study, to achieve and to escape the bonds of poverty.  But I wish him many more accomplishments that will benefit us all.

So as the torch of leadership passes, let us recall Senator McCain's commonly repeated confession of patriotism: "We are all Americans".  I love my country very much.  My grandfathers fought against her enemies and saw their brothers in arms fall in their advance to protect our shores, defend our way of living and guarantee peace and prosperity for a generation.  But as Ronald Reagan said:

Freedom is just one generation away from extinction.  We don't pass it to our children in the bloodstream; we have to fight for it and protect it, and then hand it to them so that they shall do the same, or we're going to spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children about a time in America, back in the day, when men and women were free.

It is my hope that President-elect Obama uses his new mantle of responsibility to serve out his time in the selfless service of his country, her citizens, and her God.  For he will swear an oath to God to do just that.  Should his service honor that creed, then he will have won this conservative's vote in four more years.

Halloween: Tinkerbell & Wendy

Halloween has always been my favorite holiday next to Christmas.  I think it's because it was the holiday with the most traditions.  My mom would decorate the house, sew our costumes, and line us up by the front door to take pictures with the old polaroid.  There was the church Halloween party with the "trunk-or-treat":  trick-or-treating x 2 nights = double candy!! There was the elementary school carnival, which usually involved taking a goldfish home in a plastic baggie, and yes, more candy.  There was the family home evening of carving pumpkins, and the roasting of the seeds. One year my sweet little pumpkin got smashed on the street (I had even named it and put a bow around the stem)!  And then there was the main event:  the real trick-or-treating on Halloween night, pillowcase in hand, and of course, dumping it all out at the end to sort and trade.  The biggest prize was a full-size candy bar.  (Why are the tiny ones called "fun-size"?  They were never as "fun" as the big ones.)  Also high on the desirable list were snickers, twix, reese's, skittles, starburst, and 100 grands.  On the clearance isle were smarties, raisins and other non-candy items, and those nasty bubble gums in the yellow wrappers.  You know the ones.

This year we went with a Peter Pan theme, minus Peter Pan and the other male characters.  That left Wendy and Tinkerbell.  I suggested London be Tinkerbell, but Tim was opposed, because Eden is smaller, and "I won't have Eden living in London's shadow."  (Tim is a middle child). And there was a costume her size on Craigslist, so it was settled.  What to do for London's nightgown for Wendy?  In case you were wondering, there are no sweet little girl's nightgowns for sale at any normal retailer, except for those that are Dora-themed, which don't really count.  I looked on eBay, and there were none there either.  But there was a vintage 1940's pattern that was perfect.  Do I know how to sew?  No, but it was perfect, so I would find a way.  I asked my mom to do it for me (after all, she made all my Halloween costumes as a child), but she said no.  So I enlisted the help of a grandmotherly lady from my church.  I was making good progress when she went out of town.  I tried to finish it on my own, but got stuck.  Cardall's don't quit, remember?  So I didn't quit.  I asked my mom again, and this time she took pity on me.  I mailed it to her, she finished it for me, and had it back to me within the week!!  Thanks, Mom!  

This is the first year that London understood the whole trick-or-treating=candy=yummy relationship.  For the last 48 hours all she has wanted to consume is candy.  Is this normal?  I don't remember ever being restricted with my candy, and I turned out okay, so I've been taking a permissive approach with it.  Tim wants to enforce limits, so that's something we're going to have to figure out.  My whole philosophy with food hinges on removing good/bad labels, removing authoritative food rules, and trusting in one's internal hunger/fullness cues.  Sort of an "invisible hand" principle, right?  You should appreciate that, Tim.  The moment you feel restricted with food, the desire for that food immediately increases, and when you do have access to it you tend to overeat.  So I say, "Let them eat candy!"

The Most Sincere Pumpkin Patch

Scroll to the end of the post if you want to read my story.  Otherwise, just enjoy the pics!

Okay, so there was one cheesy prop at Bob's.  One.  These next pictures are from Lemos Farm, aka the insincere pumpkin patch.  

Yes, friends, the time has come to take the kiddies to the pumpkin patch!  For those of you who know what I mean when I say, "the most sincere pumpkin patch"--and it should be all of you, for who doesn't appreciate It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown?--you can imagine my disappointment with the majority of modern patches, with all of their kitschy pony rides, petting zoo's, train rides, and the worst offenders: the giant inflatable slides.  Gag.  Some friends and I took our kids to one of these.  It was crowded and tourist-y, the treatment of the ponies was questionable, the petting zoo was disgusting (although I consider that whole concept gross), the bouncy house didn't go with the whole pumpkin theme, and while the train ride was entertaining and London didn't cry, it did involve a long line.  The pumpkins themselves were there mainly for decoration rather than as an attraction in their own right.  Eager parents were snapping pictures everywhere, which is understandable--I do the same thing--yet annoying when you can't get a picture of your kid without someone else's kid/stroller/elbow/rear end in the frame.  

Thank you, Cousin Maret, for finding the most sincere pumpkin patch in Half Moon Bay.  Should the Great Pumpkin visit a patch on Halloween night, surely it would be Bob's. First of all, no slides, no rides, no animals, and not crowded.  Rather than a random parking lot full of pumpkins, this is the actual patch where the pumpkins grow!  Many were even still attached to the vine!  London had such fun picking out her very own pumpkin and one for Eden too.  We got both for $5 (they were small, but still a bargain).  And the part that made me the most happy were the pictures, of course!  The gem of this patch was an old rusted pick-up truck that I thought was a very cool prop.  I couldn't resist taking a plethora of pictures with it.  I had fun editing them too, since I just got iLife '08 from my neighbor.  I also got Photoshop, but haven't worked with that yet.