The World Still Needs Pioneers-Something True

Today is Pioneer Day in my home state of Utah.  We celebrate Pioneer Day to commemorate the pioneers that came before us and settled in Utah. 

I am a descendant of the pioneer William Clayton who was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement.  He was also a clerk and a scribe to the prophet Joseph Smith, Jr.  If you are a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints you will most likely know the song he wrote entitled, "Come, Come, Ye Saints."  He wrote the song when he was out on the plains and received word that his wife who was still in Nauvoo had given birth to a healthy baby boy.

I am very grateful for those who went before me and sacrificed greatly so that I could have what I do today!  No matter what religion you are, you too are a descendant of a pioneer.  A pioneer is someone who prepared the way or was the first to explore or develop something.  Someone who provided us a way to follow.  None of us would be where we are today if it weren't for the pioneers who came before us.

"With the complex issues facing our families and our friends, our citizens, our state, our neighbors, our nation, [and] the world, may we remember pioneers of an earlier day,” said Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.   He noted that early pioneers “persevered against injustice, misunderstanding, some intolerance, occasional bigotry, occasional racism, against differences of custom and traditions and faith, [and] labored against all of that to carve out for us, their descendants, the wonderful day and the marvelous miraculous time in which we live.”

 “We owe the same pioneering, persevering legacy to our children and our children’s children.”

“People working together are more successful, more prosperous and much more happy than neighborhoods or ethnic groups or religious faiths that are suspicious of one another, threatened by one another, and all too often hostile, even violent, toward one another,” he said.

I believe the world still needs pioneers today.  We can continue to be pioneers by standing up for what we believe is right and true and preparing a way for the future generations. 

This is what I know to be TRUE!

Celebrating Freedom

FREEDOM to watch our local fireworks as a family!

I took my kids to pick out a treat and drink of their choice to take to the fireworks.  We picked a spot, laid out a blanket, sprayed on some mosquito repellent and got cozy.  The fireworks began and Kam was busy doing what looked to be a stripper dance around the tree in front of us.  (Seriously? Do they show those kinds of things on iCarly?) Myles picked chunks of grass and threw them on everyone.  The hubs and I can't figure out why we even left our front yard.  Next year we'll stay home, put a blanket on the lawn, turn off all the lights and let them dance and pick grass in the comfort of our own yard.

FREEDOM to camp out in Nana and Papa's backyard.

FREEDOM to go to the 4th of July parade as a family!

FREEDOM to sit wherever the heck we wanted.  (Even if it meant the people behind us couldn't see and we blocked a crosswalk entirely.)

FREEDOM to play in Nana and Papa's backyard!

The kids were in heaven!  Why wouldn't they be?  There were 2 trampolines...

....a kiddy car wash,
(Squint real hard.  It's in the background.  My brother made it out of PVC pipe.  It was adorable.  There was water squirting out and sponges and streamers hanging down.)

a miniature water slide,

and this huge blow up ball that the kids had a "ball" rolling around in!  (Pun intended.)

Moose being Moose!  Up and Over. On. Jumping Back Off!

FREEDOM to play MINUTE TO WIN IT!

FREEDOM to light our own fireworks as a family!

FREEDOM to spend time with cousins!

FREEDOM to visit with my grandparents and my children's Great Grandparents!

I love this picture!  The picture on the left my niece snuck into the picture.  Look how annoyed Kam is.  Picture on the right...no niece.  Now look how happy Kam is.

I am so thankful to live in the country that I love and for the FREEDOM that I enjoy!  I'm especially grateful for the past, the present and the future men and women who sacrifice all that they have to keep our country free!

 

God Bless The USA!

Something Old and Something New

Holy Cow!  Life is just busy but summer is the busiest!  I am soooo behind on EVERYTHING!  Blogging included.  Let's just say it hasn't been high on the priority list.  We have been having too much fun spending time with family and playing lots!  I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep if I skipped doing my "Something Old" post that should have been done last week and my "Something New" for this week.  So here you go....

Something Old:

I thought that since it was still summer and maybe some have yet to go on a family vacation (like moi) I would throw out this OLD family favorite to make your travels a little more enjoyable and bearable. 

I grew up in a family of 5 kids.  I'm the oldest of the 5.  We are each only 1 year apart.  My mom had me at the age of 21 and was done having babies by 26.  She's amazing!  If that had happened to me.....well I don't even know.  (Obviously it didn't and I'm waaaay beyond the age of 26 and I'm like soooo over birthing kids!)  Imagine traveling in a station wagon or small mini van with 5 kids for a long period of time.  Not fun right?  So as kids my mom or my grandma would pack us little gift bags with surprises to open along the way.  As a kid I remember how exciting and fun it was and how funny it was when one of my brothers received a girl prize and how ticked they were. 

Last fall some friends of ours were moving across the country and traveling in a car with 4 little kids.  My hubs and I decided we would like to do something to help so we went to the Dollar Store and loaded up on prizes. 

We took them home, wrapped them up and threw them in a bag.  I labeled each prize as a girl or boy prize so they wouldn't have any of the drama that we did as kids.  And just to be mean we bought a harmonic that we knew would drive the parents bananas.  Maybe that defeated the entire purpose of our kindness right there. 

You could play games such as: I Spy, or the licence plate game where they have to find a license plate from every state.  They could color, or sing, or read.  In between each activity and every hour or so they could open a prize. 

Several years ago my entire family (parents, brothers, spouses and kids) went to the Oregon Coast for a vacation.  It is a 13 to 14 hour drive by the time you stop 500 times for potty breaks.  I actually did the travel prizes for my daughter who was 3 at the time and she looooved it!  It helped a TON!  Another fun idea if you're caravaning together is to bring hand held radios to communicate with each car.  The kids will think it is the coolest thing EVER!  And to be honest....it's fun for the adults too. 

So there you go!  Happy and Safe travels!

Something New:

So I was trying to think of what I have done that is new and I was struggling.  But then I remembered I read a really good book just this past week that was "new" to me.  It's called ROOM by Emma Donoghue. 

This book is told from the perspective of a 5 year old boy named Jack.  He has lived his entire life in an 11 X 11 foot room with his mother.  The only person he knows is his mother and a disturbing night time visitor he calls Old Nick.  His mother has been held captive in this particular room since the age of 19. 

The way the story is told from the perspective of a 5 year old was very clever and the games, activities, and ways that Jack's mother taught her son while imprisoned in that room were genius. I loved it!  And if you're worried that it may be too graphic don't.  This story is told through the innocent eyes of a child.  It truly was fascinating!  It's a must read!