Good-bye Arizona

Although we are of course excited to be here in Washington, leaving all of our friends and family there was really hard! The last week or two was filled with lots of packing and cleaning, and lots of lasts:
Last time babysitting my sweet Brooke:
Last time hanging out with Jill and her kiddos:
Last mutual (softball):

All the YW at the end of the game... sorry my flash caught all of the dust that had just been kicked up:
Macey and Sarah:Caitlin after her awesome slide:Megan, Mary, Deanna, and Erika:
Last time seeing Grandad and Tami for a while:
Last dinner with my best friend Jatana: (or as she called it: The Last Supper)Jatana's daughter Alex with Adin:Adin playing with their big dog:I love you all in Arizona, and we really do miss you!!!!

Feeling Sick

Yesterday I was feeling not-so-well. Mostly, I think I was just plain exhausted. Miah got terribly sick last week, and so I spent a few days babying him, until Thursday afternoon, when I had to go to a family in our ward to babysit/house-sit (they won a trip to Hawaii!!!). Miah stayed home, so he wouldn't spread whatever he had (the doc wasn't sure what he had, but gave him antibiotics anyways). At Three in the morning, their son came into my bedroom, because he was having a terrible Asthma attack. I got out of bed to administer a breathing treatment. By morning, he was still wheezing, so I kept him home from school, and by afternoon decided to take him to the doctor. Low and behold, he had contracted Pneumonia!!! (Good thing his mom was prepared, and left me insurance info and money... money intended for us to have fun with- the doctor is fun, right?!?!?). Poor kid, I had to fill FOUR prescriptions for him! If that wasn't enough excitement for me, on Sunday, Adin started having diarrhea - the blow out the diaper, change the clothes, and give him another bath, again, diarrhea! He is barely getting over that today! And of course, on Monday, I came home to a HUGE pile of dirty laundry, and gross sheets (who wants to sleep in the sheets of someone who was sweating terribly with a high fever?!?!), and a house that just smelled of sick. So I spent most of the day doing laundry, cleaning, and doing more laundry! Yesterday, I finally cracked. I was so exhausted, I felt congested, dizzy, and mostly, tired! I decided to do NOTHING! Of course, I am a mom, and I can't just call in sick, but every chance I had, I was laying down- either sleeping, or watching movies. Miah went to the store to get me some chicken-noodle soup in the evening, and I was pleasantly surprised to find a vase of beautiful tulips next to my bed! (Which I have no idea how he got in there without my seeing, I was sitting on the couch when he came in, and he only made one trip... I must have been more out of it than I realized!) I have never received flowers when I was sick/down, and I realized how much they really lift the spirits! So I want to publicly thank my wonderful husband for his loving and thoughtful gesture!!! I truly feel a lot better today. Support and love go a long ways!!!
This morning, Adin is finally feeling a lot better. I set him in his high chair to eat some cheerios (his new FAVORITE thing!!!). I went over into the living room to check something on the computer, and once his cheerios were gone, I noticed him playing peek-a-boo with me, so I had to capture a shot... it was so cute! (Just so you know, the entire box of cereal is not on his tray, even though it looks like it in this pic!)

Family Ties

As I mentioned in my last post, I have a new calling as MiaMaid Adviser. As a part of this calling, it my responsibility to teach the lesson. I found myself with a great struggle this week, as the lesson is on honoring your parents and sustaining family members. How could I stand up there, as a hypocrite, and tell them how to love and support their family, when my own personal relationships are lacking friendship, support, and forgiveness?!?!
I had the opportunity to attend the temple tonight for our ward temple night, and had some time to ponder these things, when it occured to me that I needed to make more effort in the relationships with you all. I realized that having an eternal family is the core of my belief. The core of my faith. I want to be with my husband and my child (hopefully children eventually) forever, and I want to be with my parents, and each and every one of my brothers and sisters. I don't care what has happened in the past, I want to spend eternity with each and every one of you.
I have been grateful for, and inspired by those of you who have had the courage to speak up recently and share your love, regrets and forgiveness for one another. I want to add my voice to the kind words that have been shared. I want each and everyone of you to know how much I love you. I know that I have a lot of faults of my own, including poor communication (especially when it comes to expressing my emotions), I can also sometimes be "blonde" (forgetful, airheaded, etc), among other weaknesses. This is what life is for, to recognize and try to learn from these weaknesses, as we learn in Ether 12. One thing I would like to make clear though, is that no matter what, despite my faults, I love you. I hope that you would know that I am always here for you. I know I live far away, but I hope that you know you could turn to me whenever you need me.
I know this can be a touchy subject for some, but I want you all to know that I don't care what your last name is (or was)! I love you all the same. Perhaps some of us are closer with certain siblings than with others. I think most of that has to do with age and opportunity. For example, I am not bitter that Peter and Paul are best friends because they grew up sharing a room, and many wonderful and even not-so-wonderful experiences together. In fact, I am more than happy for them, I think they are so fortunate to be so blessed to have one another. I am not going to go through every relationship here, but the point I want to make is that I love you, and I want you to be happy in this life, and forever. I pray that you can forgive me for any wrongs I have commited against you at any time in my life. And hopefully, you can desire to be with me and the rest of our family in the here-after.

PS I ask that you be respectful of my blog and those that I love, if you have anything negative to say about me or anyone else in this family, I ask that you first stop and reconsider. And if you still feel the need to share such thoughts, that they be done on a personal level, rather than on my blog. Thank you.

A Simple Testimony

Jesus said love everyone, treat them kindly too.
When your heart is filled with love, others will love you.

Upcoming Elections

I have never been politically involved, in fact, I have often been politically annoyed! But as this years General Elections are approaching, I have realized the weight of the decision that lies ahead. When I first saw/heard Obama running for president, I was impressed. His charisma caught me, and I even felt that if Romney did not make the ticket, then I might swing to the Democratic side this election. But the more I have learned, the more it scares me that I even thought such a thing. I am now to the point that I fear what would happen if he were elected into office! He could destroy our nation from the inside - we would not need to fear terrorism, but our own government! I feel so blessed to live in this free country, and want to keep it that way. I was forwarded this letter written by Huntley Brown. He is a Black, Christian concert pianist. No matter our small differences, I think it is vital that Christians stand up together and fight for the values our country was founded upon. I am sorry that this is so long, but his words are so powerful, and they not only educate, but they bring up points that I cannot word so eloquenty. (The part about partial birth abortion is PAINFUL to read - I had no idea this was ever done... it is absolutely disgusting and Satanistic!!!!)

Why I Can't Vote For Obama
By Huntley Brown

Dear Friends,

A few months ago I was asked for my perspective on Obama, I sent out an email with a few points. With the election just around the corner I decided to complete my perspective. Those of you on my e-list have seen some of this before but it's worth repeating.

First I must say whoever wins the election will have my prayer support. Obama needs to be commended for his accomplishments but I need to explain why I will not be voting for him.

Many of my friends process their identity through their blackness.

I process my identity through Christ. Being a Christian (a Christ follower) means He leads I follow. I can't dictate the terms He does because He is the leader.

I can't vote black because I am black, I have to vote Christian because that's who I am. Christian first, black second. Neither should anyone from the other ethnic groups vote because of ethnicity. 200 years from now I won't be asked if I was black or white. I will be asked if I knew Jesus and accepted Him as Lord and Savior.

In an election there are many issues to consider but when a society gets abortion, same-sex marriage, embryonic stem-cell research, human cloning to name a few, wrong economic concerns will soon not matter.

We need to follow Martin Luther King's words, don't judge someone by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I don't know Obama so all I can go off is his voting record.

His voting record earned him the title of the most liberal senator in the US Senate in 2007.

NATIONAL JOURNAL: Obama: Most Liberal Senator in 2007 (01/31/2008)

To beat Ted Kennedy and Hilary Clinton as the most liberal senator, takes some doing.
Obama accomplished this feat in 2 short years. I wonder what would happen to America if he had four years to work with.

There is a reason Planned Parenthood gives him a 100 % rating.
There is a reason the homosexual community supports him.
There is a reason Ahmadinejad, Chavez, Castro, Hamas etc. love him.
There is a reason he said he would nominate liberal judges to the Supreme Court.
There is a reason he voted against the infanticide bill.
There is a reason he voted No on the constitutional ban of same-sex marriage.
There is a reason he voted No on banning partial birth abortion.
There is a reason he voted No on confirming Justices Roberts and Alito. These two judges are conservatives and they have since overturned partial birth abortion. The same practice Obama wanted to continue.

Let’s take a look at the practice he wanted to continue.

THE 5 STEP PARTIAL BIRTH ABORTION PROCEDURE
A. Guided by ultrasound, the abortionist grabs the (live) baby's leg with forceps.
B. The baby's leg is pulled out into the birth canal.
C. The abortionist delivers the baby's entire body, except for the head.
D. The abortionist jams scissors into the baby's skull. The scissors are then opened to enlarge the hole.
E. The scissors are removed and a suction catheter is inserted. The child's brains are sucked out, causing the skull to collapse. The dead baby is then removed.
God help him.

There is a reason Obama opposed the parental notification law.

Think about this: you can't give a kid an aspirin without parental notification but that same kid can have an abortion without parental notification. This is insane.

There is a reason he went to Jeremiah Wright's church for 20 years.

Obama tells us he has good judgment but he sat under Jeremiah Wright teaching for 20 years. Now he is condemning Wright's sermons. I wonder why now?

Obama said Jeremiah Wright led him to the Lord and discipled him. A disciple is one in training. Jesus told us in Matthew 28:19 - 20 'Go and make disciples of all nations.' This means reproduce yourself. Teach people to think like you, walk like you, talk like you believe what you believe etc. The question I have is what did Jeremiah Wright teach him?

Would you support a White President who went to a church which has tenets that said they have a

1. Commitment to the White Community
2. Commitment to the White Family
3. Adherence to the White Work Ethic
4. Pledge to make the fruits of all developing and acquired skills available to the White Community.
5. Pledge to Allocate Regularly, a Portion of Personal Resources for Strengthening and Supporting White Institutions
6. Pledge allegiance to all White leadership who espouse and embrace the White Value System
7. Personal commitment to embracement of the White Value System.
Would you support a President who went to a church like that?

Just change the word from white to black and you have the tenets of Obama's former church. If President Bush was a member of a church like this, he would be called a racist. Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton would have been marching outside.

This kind of church is a racist church. Obama did not wake up after 20 years and just discovered he went to a racist church. The church can't be about race. Jesus did not come for any particular race. He came for the whole world.

A church can't have a value system based on race. The churches value system has to be based on biblical mandate. It does not matter if it’s a white church or a black church it's still wrong. Anyone from either race that attends a church like this would never get my vote.

Obama's former Pastor Jeremiah Wright is a disciple of liberal theologian James Cone, author of the 1970 book A Black Theology of Liberation. Cone once wrote: 'Black theology refuses to accept a God who is not identified totally with the goals of the black community. If God is not for us and against white people, then he is a murderer, and we had better kill him.

Cone is the man Obama's mentor looks up to. Does Obama believe this?

So what does all this mean for the nation?

In the past when the Lord brought someone with the beliefs of Obama to lead a nation it meant one thing - judgment.

Read 1 Samuel 8 when Israel asked for a king.

First God says in 1 Samuel 1:9 'Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do.'
Then God says
1 Samuel 1:18 ' When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the LORD will not answer you in that day.' 19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. 'No!' they said. 'We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.' 21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the LORD. 22 The LORD answered, 'Listen to them and give them a king.'

Here is what we know for sure.

God is not schizophrenic

He would not tell one person to vote for Obama and one to vote for McCain. As the scripture says, a city divided against itself cannot stand, so obviously many people are not hearing from God.

Maybe I am the one not hearing but I know God does not change and Obama contradicts many things I read in scripture so I doubt it.

For all my friends who are voting for Obama can you really look God in the face and say; Father based on your word, I am voting for Obama even though I know he will continue the genocidal practice of partial birth abortion. He might have to nominate three or four Supreme Court justices, and I am sure he will be nominating liberal judges who will be making laws that are against you. I also know he will continue to push for homosexual rights, even though you destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for this. I know I can look the other way because of the economy.

I could not see Jesus agreeing with many of Obama's positions. Finally I have two questions for all my liberal friends.

Since we know someone's value system has to be placed on the nation,

1. Whose value system should be placed on the nation?

2. Who should determine that this is the right value system for the nation?

Blessings,
Huntley Brown

Welcome

So I finally decided to jump on the bandwagon, and begin my own blog! Tasha and Kerri finally talked me into it - this way I don't have to send emails to everyone, you can just take a look and catch up whenever you have a chance. It might take me a while to catch up to the rest of you in the blogging world though... I don't know much about editing or html.
I titled my blog, "Its all about me" as a sort of joke from when I was in High School (that never really died!). In reality, this blog will probably end up all about Adin! He is pretty much my life right now. I love being a new mom! Adin is such a good baby, I don't think I could have asked for a better first experience. He is so alert and attentive. He loves to smile and laugh for us - I wish you could see him! We are finally taking him in on Saturday to get his portraits done, so hopefully those will turn out well, and I can send you all a picture.
Well, that is all for now. I will try to keep you all updated with all that is happening in our lives, and maybe we can all keep in touch a little easier.