Windows Live Writer Test Post

Hello, this is Claire doing a test post from Windows Live Writer for Vonnie’s blog! Hope it works! Here are some test pics:

Caught having fun!

Let Freedom Ring!

"Today we are fortunate to live in a choice and promised land. It will remain free and blessed as long as its people remember the God who gave them life and this free land. We must remember that the family is the basic unit of a strong society. We are all part of God’s family; and as our Father, he expects us to build strong family units. It is in the family that the basic morality and righteousness should be taught that will keep America free. Each member of every family plays an important role in America. For several thousand years throughout this land the great fathers and mothers, the noble sons, the patriot sons, the choice daughters have forged America into what we have today.

It is America’s conscience that has preserved her. America is beautiful only when she is good, when children are laughing in her streets, and love abounds in her families. Without this conscience, civilization crumbles, as it has before on this continent. We are all part of America’s future. Our job is to remember the lessons of the past, to patch up the mistakes and the sins of everything that has gone before.

The source of America’s greatness is not a new doctrine to us. The Book of Mormon has declared over and over again that the blessings of heaven are contingent upon the righteousness of its people. In fact, this teaching has been proven in almost every age. Remember in 1831 when the famous French historian Alexis de Tocqueville said:

“I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers, and it was not there; in her fertile fields and boundless prairies, and it was not there; in her rich mines and her vast world of commerce, and it was not there. Not until I went to the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.” (Jerreld L. Newquist, comp., Prophets, Principles and National Survival, Salt Lake City: Publishers Press, 1967, p. 60.)

John Adams understood the potential of a righteous government when he wrote:

“Suppose a nation in some distant region should take the Bible as their only law book and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited. Every member would be obligated in conscience to temperance and frugality and industry, to justice and kindness and charity toward his fellowmen, and to piety, love, and reverence toward Almighty God. In this commonwealth no man would impair his health with gluttony, drunkenness or lust. No man would sacrifice his precious time to cards or trifling with other mean amusements. No man would steal or lie or in any way defraud his neighbor, but would live in peace and good will toward all men. No man would blaspheme his Maker or profane his worship, but a rational and manly, a sincere and unaffected devotion would reign in the hearts of all men. What a utopia, what a paradise this region would be.”

I want to issue you a challenge. I want you who are the best trained, the best educated, who have been given these great advantages here in America to literally become the conscience of America and the molders of its destiny and future. With your knowledge, your training, your understanding of how God works in the hearts of his children here on earth, let us obligate ourselves to temperance, to frugality, and to industry. Let us show justice, kindness, and charity toward our fellowmen. Let us demonstrate the love and reverence we should exhibit toward our Almighty God. Let us not trifle with the things that are holy to God.

Fifty-six men represented 2.5 million in 1776 to bring about a new nation that has literally blessed the whole world. That was one man to every 45,000. Today I’m calling on each of you to exert an influence over about 220 million people in this land. The odds are even better for you; the advantage is on your side. This is the time for you to be bold enough to stand up for what you believe, to let the world know that God still blesses this great land of America—if we will live righteously, according to that which he has commanded."

L. Tom Perry, “God’s Hand in the Founding of America,” New Era, Jul 1976, 45

Cousins

I have a lot of them. On my Dad's side of the family there are 24.

Aunt Edna & Uncle Rex - Utah

*Kay

*Ruth

*Beth

*Scott

*Karen

Aunt June & Uncle Ken (deceased) - California

*Rebecca

*Kenny

*Steven

*Jan

*Susie

Aunt Annie & Uncle Leno - California

*Carl

*Julie

*Jeannie

*Tom

Aunt Lorna & Uncle Val - Utah

*Susan

*Diane

*Roger

*Penny

*Sharon


Uncle Clair and Aunt Marilyn - Utah (raised their family in Missouri)

*David - pictured above

*Margaret - pictured above with her family

*Robert

*Catherine

*Susan

On my Mom's side there are 19.

Uncle Dean & Aunt Anna (deceased) - Utah

*Michael

*Scott

*Leslie

*Neil (deceased)

Aunt Gayla & Uncle Marvin (deceased) - Utah

*Alysa

*Karen (deceased)

*Newell (deceased)

*Dwight

*Bryce

*Gaylamarie

*May

Aunt Rhona & Uncle Bill - Utah

*Lavon

*David

*Dan

*Deana

*Janis

*Annette

*Lee

*Maria

That's 43 first cousins! As you can see, most of them live in Utah.

Last night we invited Margaret and David to come over with their families for a BBQ and to spend the evening. We enjoyed it so very much! It was great to visit with them and get to know their children better. Cousin David and his wife Susie have four wonderful children. They are very musically inclined and are developing their talents on the piano as well as all the instruments that make up a string quartet. Cousin Margaret has recently moved to town from Colorado. She is raising her six children on her own now and I'm so proud of her courage, patience and determination to do what is in the best interest of her family. She is an example of kindness and strengh to me and I love her!

If it were up to me, I would love to have a family reunion about every three or four years with these wonderful cousins and my aunts and uncles. They are amazing people who have raised some impressive children and now many of them have granchildren. They are contributing members of society who are making a difference in the world and I love to associate with them.

This time of year when I hear about families who have family reunions, I have reunion envy. I wish we could get together more often than we do, considering that so many of us live within a two hour drive from each other. I'd even organize the reunions if needed.

I can dream, can't I?

good times at the SCERA shell

Last Monday night we went with some of our friends to see Funny Girl at the SCERA shell. It was well done and entertaining for community theater. Then on Rick's birthday on the 24th, we went to dinner with his parents and then we all went to the Linda Eder concert at the outdoor shell. We thoroughly enjoyed the evening under the stars listening to an amazing talent. In a word...WOW. Her voice was amazing. I think it's the best talent that has come to the SCERA shell, maybe ever. Her concert, range, variety of songs and personality were awesome. Listen to her sing on Pandora and you'll see what I mean. She was a classy performer and we had a lovely evening.