Red Skelton and the Pledge of Allegiance

This is so unbelievable. In 1969, how did he know?


Some of you may remember him but he passed away before many of you were born. Red Skelton was a good & funny man. He also ended every show by saying, "GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS." Listen to the end of this. It is something he said 39 years ago.

Very important that you listen to the very end! Eerie! Take a moment and listen to it (from 1969). How would he have known that this is what is happening?

Click on the link, and turn your sound on. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kfz2XDXaeqc

FOR THE FEW WHO DON'T KNOW: Red Skelton was a movie star and comedian on television back in the 1950s. He created a number of characters, and his show was watched by millions..

I remember watching rereuns of Red Skelton as a kid, and my dad appreciates his satire. When I got this e-mail, it really struck home to me how important it is that we do remind our children what the Pledge means, and that we continue to use the "under God" because if it weren't for God, we wouldn't have the freedoms we have now. I today's society Red probably wouldn't get much positive attention, but in 1969, this was amazing. ENJOY!!!

"As long as we have tests, there will be prayer in schools!!!"

I say...

As long as we live, there will be prayer in our hearts."

TAG - I'm it....

So Audra tells me - hey tag... your it! Post ten random things about yourself and choose 3 more people to tag! Have fun - thanks!

Random thing 1) I'm not sure how to define random.

Random thing 2) When in doubt, I look stuff up... merriam-webster is no help.

Random thing 3) I love hanging out with my family and my friends. They are the greatest people in the world.

Random thing 4) I love going to operas, like Phantom (where the picture above with Sarah and Wendy was taken). I also love going to bowling alleys!!! (A pic from Kate's b-day party at Champions!)

Random thing 5) I love working for a large corporation where I can go to work in my pajamas, and hang out with some of my best friends, and then have them send me to fancy business dinners at the Embassy in Omaha (picture with Ayla!!!).

Random thing 6) I love taking surveys, which is probably why I spend my days giving them to other people.

Random thing 7) I have a bachelor's degree in elementary education and am certified to teach school in several states.

Random thing 8) I dislike immensely dealing with fruit flies.

Random thing 9) My husband is the most romantic person in the world, and no one knows it - not even him!!!

Random thing 10) When in doubt, i always take a nap!!!

In terms of three people, Ahnah, of course you are doing it. Chelsea, you'll love it, and let's see... whoever else wants to, can!!!

This is how I roll...

My hot dog has a first name.

It's OSCAR

My hot dog has a last name

It's MAYER

I love to eat them everyday

And if you ask for sure I'll say

"Oscar Meyer has a way"

of driving down the street today!!!"


Oh I wish I were an Oscar Meyer weiner

For that is what I'd really like to be....

And if I were an Oscar Meyer weiner

Everyone would be in love with me!!!

Katie's Birthday Party

I finally got around to unloading my pictures off of my camera, so here are some fun shots of Katie's birthday last month!

To the left, Aaron (Uncle Bubby) Katie and Uncle Jason, the baptism party.

Below the kids are the party at Champions!

More Champions pictures!!!

Katie and Uncle Orron blowing out birthday candles!!!


Family dinner at Grandma and Grandpa Hill's house!

His Dark Materials - and the truth

Earlier last year, I was sent an e-mail about The Golden Compass movie, warning me that I should not see it because in the end, the trilogy was about killing God.

I will be the first to admit, that in and of itself, was a bit perplexing, but I am also one to question. I did some research online, and not being able to glean much more than very diverse descriptions of the book, the movie, and the author, ended up investing $12.95 into the trilogy in one volume. WORTH EVERY PENNY!

The story itself is very good. The plot and characters are well thought out. The story line captures attention, and if the religious affiliations had maintained the subtlty of, say, The Chronicles of Narnia, or the Lord of the Rings, it is very possible that I would be recommending this book to everyone with children.

Such is not to be. The truth of the matter is that the books are vividly anti-religious. They depict aspects of religion that are deep, and cite scripture to define the heinous crimes and derisions in which some of the characters engage. Additionally, there are very graphic explanations of these crimes and atrocities.

The author himself is anti-thesitic, and is using a juvenile genre to portray that lifestyle decision. While I support that we need to understand and respect other people's beliefs, we also need to remember that we cannot throw their beliefs into their face as wrong.

Okay, so that was my criticism for the book. I will say this, I personally won't read it again, and odds are good that my children will not have access to it until they are adults. Furthermore, it is probably a given that my children will not be watching the movie either.

I am interested in watching the movie, as I would like to see what Hollywood does with the religion aspect, so if you are interested in watching it, please let me know. I may put a small group together later to watch it when it comes out on DVD. Also, if you are interested in borrowing the book, I will be more than happy to loan it out. I will, however, point out a few passages before I loan it so you know what you are getting into (good passages and bad passages).

I'm glad I invested in it, for the peace of mind that it offered. I consider myself a fairly avid reader with a very open mind, but this book took a lot of effort for me to finish.

Her guy!!!

Who couldn't love guy like this??? (Picture taken at our wedding.)

1. What is his name? DJ - if you call him anything else, he a) won't answer or b) will retaliate.

2. How long have you been together? We have been together for 6 years, married for 2.5. Weird.. where did that time go???

3. Who eats more? I could probably give him a run for his money, but I don't, usually. Chocolate is the biggest excpetion.

4. Who said I Love You first? That would have been me.

5. Who is taller? DJ

6. Who sings better? Oh, he thinks he does. He sings, all the time.

7. Who is smarter? toss up.. we have taken multiple IQ tests and trivias. He wins the IQs and I win the useless trivias.

8. Who does the laundry? We both do laundry. Usually the person who needs the clean clothes the most.

9. Who does the dishes? Hailey and Katie, though today I am going to do them. DJ does them a lot too, and he is the best. I guess that comes from working in a restraunt.

10. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? I sleep on the right side of the bed. It is the one farther from the alarm clock, fan, and bathroom.

11. Who pays the bills? We split them. Each of us pays from our respective accounts.

12. Who mows the lawn? nobody usually. just kidding. he does.

13. Who cooks dinner? DJ - I am usually at work.

14. Who drives when you are together? DJ - and he complains about my driving when I do drive.

15. Who is more stubborn? Again, toss up. We are both pretty hard headed.

16. Who is the first to admit they are wrong? Define wrong??? What I said was right, from my point of view... Your entitled to yours as well.. (That doesn't mean I have to like it. Stubbornness)

17. Whose parents do you see the most? Mine, they live here in Lincoln His are out in Illinois.

18. Who kissed whom first? He did. I was more than willing.

19. Who proposed? what proposal??? we set a date because I needed to know the plans for my summer, and then he told the girls over take out chinese one night about 2 months later that he was going to marry me.

20. Who is more sensitive? I'm not sure. He is a pretty sensitive guy, he just doesn't show it outwardly.

21. Who has more friends? Me.

22. Who has more siblings? Me. I'm oldest of 4, he is oldest of 3.

23. Who wears the pants in the family? Given the choice, neither of us (more fun that way... In my defense, those of you who know me AT ALL should have seen that coming!!!!). No really... it depends on what we are talking about.

Thanks Wendy for letting me steal this one... I love little quizzes like this!!!

I've been tagged!!!

A. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning.
B. Each player answers the questions about themselves.
C. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then go to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

What was I doing 10 years ago? Going to BYU. Loving being pregnant with Miss Hailey bug. Finishing up my general ed stuff so I could go into the el ed practicum in the fall.

What are 5 things on my to-do list? Which to-do list? Home - Clean the kitchen, clean the bathroom, clean the garage, pay the bills, and get the stupid printer to work. Work - Finish my Banker and HCA hours, finish the Monopoly game, put together two presentations for the meeting on the 25th, and chck in with my trainees.

What would I do with a Billion dollars? Pay off every debt my husband and I have. Set up a returement account for DJ and I. Set up education, mission, wedding and retirement accounts for my children. Pay off extended family debt. Buy my house, buy a new car and then travel around the world!!!

3 of my bad habits: Not showering everyday (most of the time, I don't stink...), wearing pajamas to work, and not cleaning out my car.

5 places I have lived: Lincoln Nebraska, Provo Utah, Fairbanks Alaska, San Antonio Texas, New Orleans Louisiana.

5 jobs I have had: Gallup doing phone surveys and training new recruits, mother's helper, day care provider (in-home and with a company), piano teacher, Among Friends.

Things people don't know about me: I'm pretty much an open book... If you want to know, or if I want you to know, odds are good, I will just tell you!!!!

I would love to see all of my friends do this one. It's kinda fun!!!

A Knight's Tale - Heath Ledger

I can't wait to see the latest Batman movie. Okay, so I like comic book movies, and I LOVED Batman Begins. I was especially excited because actor Heath Ledger was cast as the Joker, who is, in my personal opinion an amazingly dynamic character, and a complete stretch for Heath. To my knowledge, he really hasn't done anything like this before.

I love watching movies with Heath Ledger in them. I loved him in "10 Things I Hate About You" with Julia Stiles. And I loved him in "A Knight's Tale." Probably what I love the most are some of the lines in the "A Knight's Tale" movie.

"God love you William... So do I."

"Your men love you... If I knew nothing else about you, that would be enough. But you also tilt when you should withdraw. And that is knightly too."

This is probably my favorite line in the whole movie. What a wonderful thing.. to consider that those who love us can help us show our true colors. Further, that our willingness to never give up will get us to where we want to be.

I was saddened when I heard of the accidental overdose demise of Mr. Ledger. Several months younger than my brother, the father of a small girl, a talented actor (and - let's be honest) an atractive individual, the news defenitely got my attention. Here is a man who's mother is a teacher, father is a mine engineer, who graduated early so he could be an actor. Worked his butt off, and wanted to be more than he was, with aspirations of grandeur as a producer. He had no intention of giving up.

What was further infuriating, even as his body was autopsied, people could not help but slanderize him. Fortunately, there were those who loved him... and that will be enough.

Were we all so lucky!!!

Family Pictures

For those of you who have never seen my family, here are the cutest people in the world. This is my brother, Orron, his wife, Irene, and their baby Elizabeth.

This is the whole family, including mom and dad and Grandpa and Grandma Miller.


This is Aaron and Whitney. They are getting married in April.

Jason and Whitney are here, and adorable as ever!


And here is DJ, Hailey, Katie and I.

Props to the photographer, Alan Brokenicky!!!

SNOW DAY!!!

The phone call last night (Tuesday, February 4th), at 9:30PM stated (and I am paraphrasing) due to weather conditions, they would be closing school "today". Meaning that now that the children are home from school and in bed for the day, they are closing school. I found this particularly funny. Of course, they recgnized the problem, and promptly notified the families that they meant Wednesday, but it was rather entertaining.

I suppose I should be grateful that the phone call came last night. Earlier this year, the snow day notification went out at 4:15am. Basically that means that on the one day I can sneak in and turn off the girl's alarm so all of us can sleep in, my phone goes off loudly at 4 in the morning to tell me I can sleep in, which, of course, wakes my kids up too. IRONY!

I remember the days when those of us attending school would rise early and switch on KFRX 102.7, not 106.3, just to mke sure that we didn't have to go to school. The dragging of feet as we listened to song after talkie go by, halfheartedly preparing for school, and hoping that we wouldn't have to go... the sudden rush of craziness when we realize that the powers that be were going to mandate our attendance, or the joyful collapse back into bed, if we were liberated from the obligation. The sheer adventure of it!!!

In the movie "Hook" Peter says "To live would be the greatest adventure."

So - what am I doing to live today you ask? That's easy... I'm going to get up, take a shower, get dressed, have breakfast, clean house (for me that is an adventure) and then go to work.

Anybody wanna get lost with me???

Yep...

My eternal answer for everything this morning...

Understand before I begin, that I do not get home from work before 11:15pm (last night included) which means that I am not sleeping (no matter how much I want to) before at least midnight. Which, by the time you factor in the 5 am wake up time with the puking kid yesterday equates to way too much awake time.

6:45am - I hear a loud crash and immediately jump out of bed to see what fell. Enter Hailey and Katie's room. A wall mounted shelf had fallen to the ground liberating two china dolls (no, they are not broken). "Mom, can we get up now, instead of at 7?"

Yep. But I am going back to bed.

7:05am - Hailey walks into the room. "Mom, I don't have any clean clothes can you please help me?"

Yep. But I am not getting out of bed.

Child finds and brings me a pair of pants that needs hemmed up (legs too long) and sewing kit. "Mom can you please hem these pants for me?"

Yep. Still not getting out of bed.

I then spend 45 minutes hemming up the pants so she can wear them to school, while helping the other one search for clean pants which are (MIRACLES!!!) exactly where I say they are. On top of that, DJ gets a call from work, and decides that he needs to spend the morning there, so he gets into the bathroom and shower first, even though I am scheduled for a 12 hour shift today. "Is that okay honey?"

Yep. I'll just stink all day and deal with the smell in the bathroom.

"Okay honey, I'm leaving for work. Is there anything I can do for you this morning?"

Yep. Take the kids to school please.

Please understand at this point I have not left my bed since the discovery of the shelf fall...

No one can say I am not positive this morning. As a matter of fact, I don't think I said one thing that was not positive and helpful. (Understand that italics above are my thoughts, not what I actually said.)

Phone rings... "Hero" by Gloria Taylor. (DJ's ringtone) I need a hero, holding out for a hero through the end of the night....

Yep.

"Are you going to work at 9am?"

Yep. That's the plan.

"Can you go with me to my doctor's appointment at 10:30?"

Yep.

"And then we can go out to lunch. See, I just asked you out on a date."

Yep, ya did.

Mina Parker once said "Don't make a habit of surrounding yourself with stress, but when those moments come along, and of course they do, think of them as a blessing. Sometimes, in the eye of the storm, you can find a strength and a focus you never knew you had."

Yep. Blessings....

Strength? Yep!

Focus? Yep, never left!

I still want to go back to bed.

Yep.