I now have a new driver in the house. She has only had her permit for a week and already has driven to Cass Lake and back, twice to Walmart and back, and once to Burger King.
She is doing well, though she tends to take after her father and has a lead foot. Besides that:
1. She takes turns way too fast, causing her to enter the other lane slightly during the turn... I keep telling her she WILL get hit if this continues.
2. She forgets to signal.
3. She hasn't figured out the pedals yet and guns the gas and stops too fast.
4. She complains about the traffic rules as she drives, according to her:
A. Speed limits are useless and she can't drive that slow.
B. Stop signs mean you can do a rolling stop.
C. Slow drivers are stupid idiots.
D. Sisters that are backseat drivers know nothing.
5. When I say STOP, she doesn't stop. When I asked her why she didn't she replied " because I couldn't think of why you wanted me to stop". I then told her .." don't think.... just do, you can ask why later, when I say Stop, you stop or you will not drive anymore." I hope she's got that down now.
I guess I should keep in mind that she has only had her permit for a week and really has made quite a bit of progress. Practice, practice, practice. Practice for me too... as I will have to do this 2 more times. I will be an expert by the next one.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Luna
Savannah and Luna
I have been notified that I have not introduced Mr. Luna yet.
Luna came to us in May of 2010. If you remember, Richard had promised each of the girls they could have a cat. Savannah was firm that she wanted a black boy. They are hard to find. Through text messaging and friends of friends, I received a text notifying me of pure black kittens ready for new homes.
I immediately called the number I was given and received directions to a house here in Bemidji. There were only 2 kittens left, one boy and one girl. One of the children from the family wanted to keep the girl, so we were left with the boy, which is what Savannah wanted anyway.
Isn't he cute?
Savannah named him Luna which means "Moon"
He loves Savannah. She calls him into her room every night for bed and he comes like a dog. He shares half of her bed and is frequently found all stretched out next to her.
And that is it. Hopefully the girls will take their animals with them when they go to college. One can always hope.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Teen Mom
I have become addicted to the MTV show Teen Mom. It chronicles the lives of new teen parents and how hard it is. Some say it "glorifies" teenage pregnancy. I say the opposite, I think it is great birth control.
I watch the show with the girls and constantly bash into their heads that 2 forms of birth control is necessary and that if they are too embarrassed to buy condoms, I will buy them.
Don't get me wrong, we also talk about WAITING to have sex. Paige is convinced she will NEVER have sex. Savannah thinks it's gross (gotta like that), and Madison, well the jury is still out.
We watch these poor girls who almost NEVER stay with the baby's father, and I hope they understand that the guys they date in high school will most likely not be the guy they eventually marry. I point out how little the mom can do now. She can hardly get through a lunch with her friends without a baby fussing and needing something. Babies are a LOT of work and you must be willing to give everything up. Goodbye parties, dances, dates......hello sleepless nights, dirty diapers and bills.... bills ....bills.
Savannah recently had a friend that was pregnant. I felt soooo bad for her, as she really has no one. Her parents are MIA and she lives with her Grandma, whom she is sure would kick her out if she found out she was pregnant. As things work themselves out, there was a miscarriage. I hope she has learned a lesson and uses protection (she didn't use any). Maybe I should buy her a box of condoms. I hope this has taught everyone she knows that yes, it CAN happen to you.
I watch the show with the girls and constantly bash into their heads that 2 forms of birth control is necessary and that if they are too embarrassed to buy condoms, I will buy them.
Don't get me wrong, we also talk about WAITING to have sex. Paige is convinced she will NEVER have sex. Savannah thinks it's gross (gotta like that), and Madison, well the jury is still out.
We watch these poor girls who almost NEVER stay with the baby's father, and I hope they understand that the guys they date in high school will most likely not be the guy they eventually marry. I point out how little the mom can do now. She can hardly get through a lunch with her friends without a baby fussing and needing something. Babies are a LOT of work and you must be willing to give everything up. Goodbye parties, dances, dates......hello sleepless nights, dirty diapers and bills.... bills ....bills.
Savannah recently had a friend that was pregnant. I felt soooo bad for her, as she really has no one. Her parents are MIA and she lives with her Grandma, whom she is sure would kick her out if she found out she was pregnant. As things work themselves out, there was a miscarriage. I hope she has learned a lesson and uses protection (she didn't use any). Maybe I should buy her a box of condoms. I hope this has taught everyone she knows that yes, it CAN happen to you.
There's another driver in the house!
I woke Savannah up today with "do you want to get your permit today?" She only thought a moment before getting up and of course needing to do her hair and makeup because they would be taking a picture.
She was REALLY nervous. The lines weren't bad, but she couldn't read the eye chart .....so.....I had to run back home to get her glasses. In the meantime, she took the test and passed 32/37 questions
She was REALLY nervous. The lines weren't bad, but she couldn't read the eye chart .....so.....I had to run back home to get her glasses. In the meantime, she took the test and passed 32/37 questions
Savannah and her (paper) permit.
She must be wearing her glasses or contacts when she drives as per her vision test.
Afterwards I took her out to the country to drive a little bit. She really likes to hug the shoulder of the road and makes me nervous.
I don't remember learning to drive, so I don't exactly know the best way to go about teaching her. I guess keep taking her out of town until she is comfortable and then start driving on some roads with traffic on them.
If I have a heart attack you know why.
Monday, July 11, 2011
boating
July 3rd, 2011 Cass Lake MN, beached on Star island.
Paige and Maddie, don't they look excited?
There were an unbelievable number of people on Star island that day.
Why is Paige's head in the cooler?
Jen, Andy, Noah, Adam, Myself, Savannah, Madison, Paige, Mom (Connie), Dad (Gene) and Chance all loaded up on the pontoon. It was a beautiful day, hot and sunny. The kids swam and played well together and there was actually very little fighting.
People watching is at it's best on this day. It is very common for people to fill up their drink and take a stroll from one end of the boats to the other. There are numerous drinking games played by the younger "college" aged crowd and they are fun to watch.
There are many dogs brought to the beach by their owners...very nice dogs who love people and get along well with other dogs. The girls love to play ball or throw a stick for any dog that will fetch it.
Next year? I am really glad we got there really early this year as you can see from the pictures that the beach fills up and boats start stacking up. So I would definately arrive early again. It's becoming a family tradition, so let's hope it continues.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Pet Peeves
Moochers. They make you bleed and bleed until you are dry. Why do I let people get away with this. When you go on vacation with other people and they are in charge of meals, I expect them to get made. For me to shoulder the entire time with the food I brought and actually made, makes me angry. What makes you think this is appropriate, and who does this to "friends"? To top it all off, when equipment needs to be cleaned and returned to whom it was ever so graciously borrowed from, you are nowhere to be found. I have had enough and refuse to give anything further. There will be no more "next times". My husband thinks I am over-reacting. I say that if he wishes to have "I am a doormat" written all over his forehead, that is fine. Not me. I feel that I have gone out of my way in the past to help someone out, and sharing what I have. So now I will not feel guilty for electing not to do this anymore.
Rude People. By the way, when you and your children are at someone else's house and the owner of that house says the kids are not allowed to do something, it is unbelievably rude to tell the kids the exact opposite right in front of the owner. In my house, guests follow my rules. I wonder what you teach your kids when they have the balls to say "I am a guest, I don't have to help". No I guess you don't, but you will not be welcomed back.
And please keep your thoughts on what children should be allowed to do to yourself. Telling a 12 year old that it is her hair and she can do anything she wants with it is disrespecful to that child's parents. Keep your thoughts to yourself, I don't tell you how to parent your kids.
Rude People. By the way, when you and your children are at someone else's house and the owner of that house says the kids are not allowed to do something, it is unbelievably rude to tell the kids the exact opposite right in front of the owner. In my house, guests follow my rules. I wonder what you teach your kids when they have the balls to say "I am a guest, I don't have to help". No I guess you don't, but you will not be welcomed back.
And please keep your thoughts on what children should be allowed to do to yourself. Telling a 12 year old that it is her hair and she can do anything she wants with it is disrespecful to that child's parents. Keep your thoughts to yourself, I don't tell you how to parent your kids.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Mitt Romney's religion- does it matter?
I try to know a some personal facts about those running for the post of President of the United States. Unlike some of my peers, I believe that the personal beliefs and actions of a politician are very important. As a leader of our nation, setting a good example is very important, especially for our young people. I teach my children that they must tell the truth, follow the laws established and to take responsibility for their mistakes. For others to not be subject to these values also negates their very existence.
I wanted to do a little bit of research on Mitt Romney's religion- Mormonism, to see how it may or may not impact his future choices. As Faith is very important to me, I feel that it does make a difference in how I may vote. This is what I have found.
Mormonism was founded by Joseph Smith who founded the Book of Mormon. According to Smith's account, and also according to the book's narrative, the Book of Mormon was originally written in otherwise unknown characters referred to as "reformed Egyptian" engraved on golden plates. Smith said that he received these plates in 1827 from an angel named Moroni, whom Smith identified as a resurrected inhabitant of the Americas who had written and abridged parts of the book over a millennium prior to the encounter. According to Smith, Moroni had buried the plates in a stone box, along with other ancient artifacts, in a hill near Smith's home in Manchester, New York.
While living in Conneaut, Ohio in the early nineteenth century, Solomon Spalding (1761–1816) began writing a work of fiction about the lost civilization of the mound builders of North America. Spalding shared his story, entitled Manuscript Found with members of his family and some of his associates in Conneaut, as well as his friends in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. where he lived prior to his death. However, Manuscript Found was never published.
In 1832, Latter Day Saint Missionaries, Samuel H. Smith and Orson Hyde, visited Conneaut, Ohio, and preached from the Book of Mormon. Nehemiah King, a resident of Conneaut who knew Spalding when he lived there, felt that the Mormon text resembled the story written by Spalding years before. In 1833, at the urging of Doctor Philatus Hurlbut, King, Spalding's widow, his brother John, and a number of other residents of Conneaut signed affidavit's stating that Spalding had written a manuscript, portions of which were identical to the Book of Mormon.
The premise of the book, is that voyagers from the Near East (Jerusalem area) around 600 B.C. And created a civilization here in the Americas.
The archaeological, historical and scientific communities have in general been skeptical about the claims of the Book of Mormon. Critics of such tend to focus on four main areas:
As far as the religion itself. Although professed to be christian by its followers.. it has very different views than are held by most Christians.
1. Joseph Smith taught that God was once a man. And that Man can become a god. Mormonism has a little saying "As Man is, God once was... As God is, Man may become."
Joseph Smith taught “that God the Father of Jesus Christ had a Father,” and that “you may suppose that He had a Father also.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith) Orson Pratt said, “If we should take a million worlds like this and number their particles, we should find that there are more Gods than there are particles of matter in those worlds.” (Journal of Discourses, vol.2, page 345)
3. The Book of Mormon is the MOST CORRECT book, even more correct than the bible.
This small book takes an innovative approach to Joseph Smith's well-known statement: "I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book."1 The author divides the statement (and the volume) into three component parts: (1) "the most correct of any book on earth"; (2) "the keystone of our religion"; and (3) "precepts to bring one nearer to God."
As a result of my research, I find I may have issues voting for Mr. Romney........however I cannot say that I have entirely ruled it out. I guess I will have to see what my other choices are and balance that with my belief that Romney's business experience may prove to be helpful (or maybe not).
Thank Goodness I have a lot of time to make my decision. I encourage all of you to do your own research and come to your own conclusions.
The Book of Mormon states that Jesus was born in Jerusalem, Not Bethlehem. Non-religious documents contradict this idea, as does the Bible.
Oh, and as a little side note.... they have employed a number of people whose job it is to look up the names of thoses deceased people... (they are currently gathering names of holocaust victims) and they have a special room dedicated to baptism by "proxy". Basically some living person stands in for the deceased person and is baptized. weird?
I wanted to do a little bit of research on Mitt Romney's religion- Mormonism, to see how it may or may not impact his future choices. As Faith is very important to me, I feel that it does make a difference in how I may vote. This is what I have found.
Mormonism was founded by Joseph Smith who founded the Book of Mormon. According to Smith's account, and also according to the book's narrative, the Book of Mormon was originally written in otherwise unknown characters referred to as "reformed Egyptian" engraved on golden plates. Smith said that he received these plates in 1827 from an angel named Moroni, whom Smith identified as a resurrected inhabitant of the Americas who had written and abridged parts of the book over a millennium prior to the encounter. According to Smith, Moroni had buried the plates in a stone box, along with other ancient artifacts, in a hill near Smith's home in Manchester, New York.
While living in Conneaut, Ohio in the early nineteenth century, Solomon Spalding (1761–1816) began writing a work of fiction about the lost civilization of the mound builders of North America. Spalding shared his story, entitled Manuscript Found with members of his family and some of his associates in Conneaut, as well as his friends in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. where he lived prior to his death. However, Manuscript Found was never published.
In 1832, Latter Day Saint Missionaries, Samuel H. Smith and Orson Hyde, visited Conneaut, Ohio, and preached from the Book of Mormon. Nehemiah King, a resident of Conneaut who knew Spalding when he lived there, felt that the Mormon text resembled the story written by Spalding years before. In 1833, at the urging of Doctor Philatus Hurlbut, King, Spalding's widow, his brother John, and a number of other residents of Conneaut signed affidavit's stating that Spalding had written a manuscript, portions of which were identical to the Book of Mormon.
The premise of the book, is that voyagers from the Near East (Jerusalem area) around 600 B.C. And created a civilization here in the Americas.
The archaeological, historical and scientific communities have in general been skeptical about the claims of the Book of Mormon. Critics of such tend to focus on four main areas:
- The lack of correlation between locations described in the Book of Mormon and American archaeological sites. In other words, with the bible the landmarks, towns vegetation, cattle etc can all be authenticated by archaeological evidence. The places, people etc of the book of Mormon seem to have left absolutely NO trace of their existence.
- References to animals, plants, metals and technologies in the Book of Mormon that archaeological or scientific studies have found no evidence of in post-Pleistocene, pre-Columbian America, frequently referred to as anachronisms. Items typically listed include cattle, horses, asses, oxen, sheep, swine, goats, elephants, wheat, steel, brass, chains, iron, scimitars and chariots. We do not see evidence of these things in the archaeological record until after the Europeans arrived and brought with them foreign plants, animals and technology.
- The lack of linguistic connection between any Native American and Near Eastern Languages. Also no linguistic scholar has ever heard of the language "reformed egyptian'.
- The Lack of DNA evidence linking any Native American Group to the ancient Near East. If they had come, they would have had to inter-breed with the existing native population.
As far as the religion itself. Although professed to be christian by its followers.. it has very different views than are held by most Christians.
1. Joseph Smith taught that God was once a man. And that Man can become a god. Mormonism has a little saying "As Man is, God once was... As God is, Man may become."
2. The idea that there is more than one God."Here, then, is eternal life -- to know the only wise and true God; and you have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all Gods have done before you,... To inherit the same power, the same glory and the same exaltation, until you arrive at the station of a God.... " (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. 346, 347)
Joseph Smith taught “that God the Father of Jesus Christ had a Father,” and that “you may suppose that He had a Father also.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith) Orson Pratt said, “If we should take a million worlds like this and number their particles, we should find that there are more Gods than there are particles of matter in those worlds.” (Journal of Discourses, vol.2, page 345)
3. The Book of Mormon is the MOST CORRECT book, even more correct than the bible.
This small book takes an innovative approach to Joseph Smith's well-known statement: "I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book."1 The author divides the statement (and the volume) into three component parts: (1) "the most correct of any book on earth"; (2) "the keystone of our religion"; and (3) "precepts to bring one nearer to God."
As a result of my research, I find I may have issues voting for Mr. Romney........however I cannot say that I have entirely ruled it out. I guess I will have to see what my other choices are and balance that with my belief that Romney's business experience may prove to be helpful (or maybe not).
Thank Goodness I have a lot of time to make my decision. I encourage all of you to do your own research and come to your own conclusions.
The Book of Mormon states that Jesus was born in Jerusalem, Not Bethlehem. Non-religious documents contradict this idea, as does the Bible.
Oh, and as a little side note.... they have employed a number of people whose job it is to look up the names of thoses deceased people... (they are currently gathering names of holocaust victims) and they have a special room dedicated to baptism by "proxy". Basically some living person stands in for the deceased person and is baptized. weird?
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