Life's Adventures Tag

My friend Stephanie tagged me to fill out this list of things that I have done.  It is a little bit long, but I promise that it doesn't take as long to read as it looks like it will.  And be sure to check out my Frosted Cocoa Cookies below!

What I've done is bold

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea (does a volcano count?)
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
17. Grown your own vegetables
18. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
19. Slept on an overnight train
20. Had a pillow fight
21. Hitchhiked
22. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
23. Built a snow fort
24. Held a lamb
25. Gone skinny dipping
26. Run a marathon
27. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
28. Seen a total eclipse
29. Watched a sunrise or sunset
30. Hit a home run
31. Been on a cruise
32. Seen Niagara Falls in person
33. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
34. Seen an Amish community
35. Taught yourself a new language (I didn't really teach myself, but I learned)
36. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
37. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
38. Gone rock climbing
39. Seen Michelangelo's David
40. Sung karaoke
41. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
42. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
43. Visited Africa
44. Walked on a beach by moonlight
45. Been transported in an ambulance
46. Had your portrait painted (drawn)
47. Gone deep sea fishing
48. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
49. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
50. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling (I'm Scuba certified!)
51. Kissed in the rain
52. Played in the mud
53. Gone to a drive-in theater
54. Been in a movie
55. Visited the Great Wall of China
56. Started a business
57. Taken a martial arts class
58. Visited Russia
59. Served at a soup kitchen
60. Sold Girl Scout Cookies (I was a Daisy)
61. Gone whale watching
62. Got flowers for no reason
63. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
64. Gone sky diving
65. Visited a Nazi concentration camp
66. Bounced a check
67. Flown in a helicopter
68. Saved a favorite childhood toy (blanket)
69. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
70. Eaten caviar
71. Pieced a quilt
72. Stood in Times Square
73. Toured the Everglades
74. Been fired from a job
75. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London (really boring, I don't recommend it)
76. Broken a bone
77. Been on a speeding motorcycle
78. Seen the Grand Canyon in person (I was like 6 months old)
79. Published a book
80. Visited the Vatican
81. Bought a brand new car
82. Walked in Jerusalem
83. Had your picture in the newspaper
84. Read the entire Bible (almost, Old Testament gets  me every time)
85. Visited the White House
86. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
87. Had chicken pox
88. Saved someone's life
89. Sat on a jury
90. Met someone famous
91. Joined a book club
92. Lost a loved one (animals?)
93. Had a baby
94. Seen the Alamo in person
95. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
96. Been involved in a lawsuit
97. Owned a cell phone
98. Been stung by a bee (a dead one, how embarrassing)

I tag whoever wants to do this.

Yes on Proposition 8!

I know that most of the people who read my blog are not registered to vote in California, but I am going to post this anyway.

Failure to pass Proposition 8 will hurt children.  If gay marriage remains legal, public schools will put it on equal footing with traditional marriage.  Children will likely receive "age appropriate" information about sexual relations within heterosexual and homosexual marriages.

Failure to pass Proposition 8 will hurt churches.  The court's decision will inevitably lead to conflicts with religious liberty and free speech rights.  Society will become more and more hostile to traditional beliefs about marriage and family.  Over time, greater acceptance of non-traditional marriage will be demanded of all people.  This could impact the ability of any religion to teach and practice its beliefs.  Including adoption agencies.

A YES vote will not hurt homosexuals.  In California, the law provides for marriage-related benefits to be given to civil unions and domestic partnerships.  Propsition 8 does not diminish these benefits.

For your information:

On Friday, October 10th, 2008 a first-grade class took a field trip to witness a lesbian wedding in California.  Click here for the article from the San Francisco Chronicle.

A father in Massachusetts was frustrated when his twin kindergartners were taught about homosexuality at school by the teachers.  He insisted he be notified in the future before such things were discussed so he could pull his boys out of school.  He was taken to jail.  Click here for the story.

A Catholic adoption agency in the UK closed their doors because of the government's new homosexual equality laws.  The Equality Act forbids discrimination in the provision of goods and services on the basis of sexual orientation.  The law was forced through Parliament last year despite past Prime Minister Tony Blair's recommendation that the Catholic adoption agencies be exempted from the rules.  Click here for more info.

Earlier this month judges in Connecticut overturned the state law (just as the judges in California did) to legalize gay marriage.  This is not just an issue in California.  We voted years ago to keep traditional marriage as the only marriage recognized in the state of California.  4 judges overturned the vote, and we need to fight back.  That is what this proposition is all about.  This is happening everywhere and the leaders of the church and others have warned that the outcome of California's vote will affect the way the other states vote.  Please, even if you don't live in California, put this on your blog or e-mail this on.  The internet knows no state line.  Please pass this on as it could eventually have an effect on everyone!

"Occasionally discouragement may darken our pathway; frustration may be a constant companion.  In our ears there may sound the sophistry of Satan as he whispers, "You cannot save the world; your small efforts are meaningless.  You haven't time to be concerned for others."  Trusting in the Lord, let us turn our heads from such falsehoods and make certain our feet are firmly planted in the path of service and our hearts and souls dedicated to follow the example of the Lord." - Thomas S. Monson

Click here for excerpts from the broadcast given by Elders M. Russell Ballard, Quentin L. Cook and L. Whitney Clayton.

A good resource mentioned in the broadcast: www.preservingmarriage.org

October 20th: Last day to apply for an absentee ballot if voting out of state.  Click here to get one.

October 27th:  Last day to apply for "Vote by Mail."  Click here for info.

November 4th: Election day.  Polls close at 8:00 pm.  Vote by mail must be received by this time and can be hand delivered if necessary.

Hopefully this information will be helpful.  Even if you don't live in California you can make a difference by e-mailing this to all your contacts and getting the word out.  Whether you are into politics or not this issue is incredibly important.  VOTE YES ON PROP 8!

Tagging Mania

Shauna Phillips tagged me in her blog, so here are some lists of things about me.

Four random things I love about my husband

1. He's better at cleaning than I am
2. He gets up with Kennedy in the middle of the night
3. He makes me laugh
4. He's incredibly honest

Four jobs I've had

1. Mommy to Kennedy
2. Customer Care Agent - Firstline Security
3. Call Center Agent - Firstline Security
4. Cash Register/Cooker - Legends Grille at BYU

Four movies I've watched more than once

1. Jane Eyre
2. Pride and Prejudice
3. Sense and Sensibility
4. Signs

Four TV shows I watch

1. LOST
2. Fringe (newly, as of last week)
3. American Idol
4. Pushing Daisies

Four places I have been

1. Hawaii
2. Kenya
3. Australia
4. Czech Republic

Four of my favorite foods

1. Grandma Emigh's coffee cake
2. Molten chocolate cakes
3. Tortellini (especially with cream sauce)
4. Mimi's honey bran muffins

Four places I would like to visit

1. The pyramids
2. Jerusalem
3. Russia
4. The Titanic

Four things I am looking forward to this coming year

1. Going to Kauai with my family
2. Kennedy's first birthday party
3. Actually being done with school
4. Christmas

Four people I tag

1. Lori Meisinger
2. Kim Waddoups
3. Katie Bennett
4. Kaisa Lee

Let's Try This Tagging Thing

My aunt Sheryl tagged me in her blog, so I am going to tell you six very random things about myself, and then tag six more of you, so look out!

1. Williams-Sonoma is my favorite store in the world: It is my toy store. I love to go there and just look around, try not to buy the $250 food processor that I've been wanting forever, go to their classes, try their samples, get cookbooks, and learn about great products and food. It is by far the best place to go for kitchen stuff because they guarantee everything in the store. If anything breaks or doesn't do what they say it will they will take it back, no questions asked and no receipt, and give you another one. It sounds too good to be true, but I tried it and it worked!

2. I am addicted to LOST: Seriously. I love that show and I really hate that they are only doing half seasons now. It's the only show I can't miss. I even missed the finale of American Idol this year, but I stress if I miss LOST.

3. My cat is more like a dog: She needs tons of attention, tries to get out the door whenever possible, comes when she is called, begs, fetches, goes on a leash, sleeps with me, and more.

4. I have always wished that I could dance: The only time that I really feel jealous about a skill that someone has that I don't is when I watch incredible dancers. I have a real respect for men and women who can dance their hearts out.

5. I love my class on 17th century French literature and art: Most people think that this class sounds horrible when I tell them what it is on, but it's great! Instead of writing a paper we are translating a play from French to English in groups, we have to include a researched critical introduction and we are getting it published. It's so much better than a 10-15 page paper! It's really interesting.

6. I ran 11 minutes today: After starting this week with only being able to run for 3.5 minutes, I ran a full 11 minutes today! I am on my way to my skinny jeans.

Alright, these 6 people are tagged and need to give me 6 random facts about themselves:
1. My aunt Jana - she and Loren crack me up, so we need more from them
2. My friend Blair - I've known her since 3rd grade...seriously
3. My sister-in-law Kaisa - they are always doing such fun things and I love seeing pictures of Jonah
4. My cousin Katie - we need more info on this blog!
5. My cousin Kelli - 2 months is much to long to wait for a post!
6. My friend Melissa - they have lots of fun stories, and I want to hear more

Here are the rules:
1. Link to the person who tagged you
2. Post the rules on the blog
3. Write six random things about yourself
4. Tag six people at the end of your post
5. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up