in honor of thriller's 25th anniversary...
two nights ago i turned on billie jean in honor of mj and michael busted out with some moves. he wasn't as forth coming in this video, but it's still good times.
where were you when thriller came out? do you remember the first time you saw it?
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
luck of the draw...
it has been time for a new post for little while now. but what to say?
this week, i have been confronted with several cases of mental health quandaries that have gotten me to thinking.
this week amy and i watched a movie where michael douglas and evan rachel wood were delightful in giving a subtle portrayal of a sad family life in a comical and touching way. this week, i also saw multiple teens and pre-teens in the er who were admitted on 5150 holds (you know, the commitment to a mental institution that britney spears underwent recently--the kind where many of your basic human rights are stripped away and psychiatrists and social workers take control of your life in a way few people have to endure?). these kids have been through traumatic life events...sexual abuse by a brother, years of physical abuse from angry fathers. these kids were acting out in dangerous and suicidal ways. really sad and heartbreaking stuff. cute kids. kids you would see at the middle school during recess and think, "boy, that looks like a fun-loving, sharp kid".
what makes for success in this life? lets not go even so far as to say success. what makes for stability and the ability to make it through life without commission to a legal or mental institution where all or most of your rights are stripped from you and you are unable to live a free life?
my answer? i don't know. how about luck and hard work. maybe not even hard work. luck and enough emotional stability to keep plugging away with some semblance of consistency and competency.
for instance, why was i so lucky to have an immediate and extended family where nearly every member...all 100 or so that loved me to varying degrees. sure, there were members who were (and definitely still are) annoyed by me, but none of them ever came close to hurting me physically or even emotionally. most them would never dream of doing that to anyone. this type of love and nurture is not known by all people. in some communities, this type love and nurture is only known by the small majority of its members.
what makes the difference? to say i'm blessed is certainly appropriate when i kneel before God in prayer and gratitude. to say i'm blessed is certainly important in becoming a humble and bearable person with whom to interact. however, it sounds smug and unkind to the child who was abused for years and struggles to interact on an intimate emotional level with his close acquaintances for doubts, fears, anxiety, anger and suicidal thoughts.
this is not to say those with difficult lives can't live full, happy and successful lives. it is to say that they have a steeper hill to climb. it does mean that their successes are that much more hard fought and won.
so here's to luck and consistency. here's to my opportunity to be in an emotionally well state in my life. here's to my need to give back to those around me. to be circumspect and thoughtful in my dealings with others who have been battered by awful things in their life--things out of their control. they deserve my respect and less judgment from me.
this week, i have been confronted with several cases of mental health quandaries that have gotten me to thinking.
this week amy and i watched a movie where michael douglas and evan rachel wood were delightful in giving a subtle portrayal of a sad family life in a comical and touching way. this week, i also saw multiple teens and pre-teens in the er who were admitted on 5150 holds (you know, the commitment to a mental institution that britney spears underwent recently--the kind where many of your basic human rights are stripped away and psychiatrists and social workers take control of your life in a way few people have to endure?). these kids have been through traumatic life events...sexual abuse by a brother, years of physical abuse from angry fathers. these kids were acting out in dangerous and suicidal ways. really sad and heartbreaking stuff. cute kids. kids you would see at the middle school during recess and think, "boy, that looks like a fun-loving, sharp kid".
what makes for success in this life? lets not go even so far as to say success. what makes for stability and the ability to make it through life without commission to a legal or mental institution where all or most of your rights are stripped from you and you are unable to live a free life?
my answer? i don't know. how about luck and hard work. maybe not even hard work. luck and enough emotional stability to keep plugging away with some semblance of consistency and competency.
for instance, why was i so lucky to have an immediate and extended family where nearly every member...all 100 or so that loved me to varying degrees. sure, there were members who were (and definitely still are) annoyed by me, but none of them ever came close to hurting me physically or even emotionally. most them would never dream of doing that to anyone. this type of love and nurture is not known by all people. in some communities, this type love and nurture is only known by the small majority of its members.
what makes the difference? to say i'm blessed is certainly appropriate when i kneel before God in prayer and gratitude. to say i'm blessed is certainly important in becoming a humble and bearable person with whom to interact. however, it sounds smug and unkind to the child who was abused for years and struggles to interact on an intimate emotional level with his close acquaintances for doubts, fears, anxiety, anger and suicidal thoughts.
this is not to say those with difficult lives can't live full, happy and successful lives. it is to say that they have a steeper hill to climb. it does mean that their successes are that much more hard fought and won.
so here's to luck and consistency. here's to my opportunity to be in an emotionally well state in my life. here's to my need to give back to those around me. to be circumspect and thoughtful in my dealings with others who have been battered by awful things in their life--things out of their control. they deserve my respect and less judgment from me.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Sickness is among us...
It started Friday afternoon. Abby was super cranky, crying at the drop of a hat. I kissed her on the cheek and realized she was burning up. Her cough started later that night. Then Michael woke up coughing and crying--he had a fever, too. By the end of Saturday it was clear one of us would be staying home from church with two sick kiddos.
But that night Bekah woke up with a fever and threw up all over her pappa. She joined our bed that night, along with Michael who came in sad at 2am. Sunday we had our own primary lesson at home while dad was gone to teach his. And today was another day at home where I didn't change out of my PJs until the kiddos were down for a nap and I got a bit of one too. But it's been nice and relaxed, and they are all pretty enjoyable as long I keep up their doses of tylenol/ibuprofen.
Kiddos are trading all their symptoms around--fevers, coughs, runny noses, runny diapers... but Abby seems to have it the worst. The result has actually not been too bad. I don't have any outer demands for my time right now. And while I haven't been to the gym since last week and I'm getting a little itchy to get out of the house... my kids are actually kind of fun when they're sick. They're cuddly and sweet (mostly) and we have fun times at home. It is kind of nice to just stay home with them for a few days while they just get better. We've had a lot of fun times.
And I love the expressions that come from Michael. He told me that first morning that "the sun just got me too much heat." We treated the fever. Last night he was "hot and cold all mixed up and yucky"... the chills. But I've been smiling since Saturday morning when he gave this prayer at breakfast: (Paul wrote it down right after...)
"Please bless that I will only cry a few more times until I'm grown up. Until I'm 29 [dad's current age] or something. And I think that I will only throw up in a few more times. Only when something yucky is in my body. Please bless that I will only throw up a few more times when something yucky is in my body, I hope."
So wish us luck to get all better before we have big weekend plans with Grandpappy, Lafe, Grandpatty, and Hannah. They are coming into town for Hannah's show choir competition... and we can't wait to see them!!
But that night Bekah woke up with a fever and threw up all over her pappa. She joined our bed that night, along with Michael who came in sad at 2am. Sunday we had our own primary lesson at home while dad was gone to teach his. And today was another day at home where I didn't change out of my PJs until the kiddos were down for a nap and I got a bit of one too. But it's been nice and relaxed, and they are all pretty enjoyable as long I keep up their doses of tylenol/ibuprofen.
Kiddos are trading all their symptoms around--fevers, coughs, runny noses, runny diapers... but Abby seems to have it the worst. The result has actually not been too bad. I don't have any outer demands for my time right now. And while I haven't been to the gym since last week and I'm getting a little itchy to get out of the house... my kids are actually kind of fun when they're sick. They're cuddly and sweet (mostly) and we have fun times at home. It is kind of nice to just stay home with them for a few days while they just get better. We've had a lot of fun times.
And I love the expressions that come from Michael. He told me that first morning that "the sun just got me too much heat." We treated the fever. Last night he was "hot and cold all mixed up and yucky"... the chills. But I've been smiling since Saturday morning when he gave this prayer at breakfast: (Paul wrote it down right after...)
"Please bless that I will only cry a few more times until I'm grown up. Until I'm 29 [dad's current age] or something. And I think that I will only throw up in a few more times. Only when something yucky is in my body. Please bless that I will only throw up a few more times when something yucky is in my body, I hope."
So wish us luck to get all better before we have big weekend plans with Grandpappy, Lafe, Grandpatty, and Hannah. They are coming into town for Hannah's show choir competition... and we can't wait to see them!!
Sunday, February 24, 2008
thank you stevie...
many years ago, stevie gave me a starwars collectors piece with a large anakin skywalker and a book about the creation of darth vader. he gave it to me before episodes 1-3 came out. this last christmas stephen provided many of the gifts our family received. the gratitude we feel for what he did is hard to describe...
this video will hopefully capture a glimpse of what he has given to our family.
this video will hopefully capture a glimpse of what he has given to our family.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
what does it mean...?
"For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country. And not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change. And I have been desperate to see our country moving in that direction." February 18th, 2008.
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama
born: January 17, 1964
is it a sentiment you relate to? is it something you believe? i'm not sure its import, but it certainly was an unequivocal remark...
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama
born: January 17, 1964
is it a sentiment you relate to? is it something you believe? i'm not sure its import, but it certainly was an unequivocal remark...
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
disney, friends and goodness...
the nielsen family came out for a disneyland vacation and i had a 1/2 day off in between urgent care shifts a conference. we went out and were really happy we did...
we met the nielsen's at university village and saysha and amy became great friends immediately.
saysha and nate are out in kirksville for medical school and it was fun to talk with nate about his plans for choosing a specialty. he is at a fun crossroads as he starts his third year and makes the big decision.
i didn't get enough pictures pf our families interactions, but the most enjoyable part for me was watching michael interact with caitlyn.
we looked at pictures of their family before we left for anaheim and talked about how we knew them. almost from the moment we met up with them michael was taken with caitlyn. they would watch each other quite a bit and talked and played like they were best friends. here are a couple super-cute videos of them holding hands.
so anyway. this trip to disney was our most recent and ended our vacation days for a while. it was great seeing the nielsens again and what better place to reconnect than the happiest place on earth...right?
michael's moments of spontaneity, when he uncharacteristically struck out on his own for one daring maneuver...
oh, and a bonus picture. this is abby and bekah in granpatty's dress up clothes. their actions range from adorable to emotional torture right now and this is one of their sweeter, more loving moments.
we met the nielsen's at university village and saysha and amy became great friends immediately.
saysha and nate are out in kirksville for medical school and it was fun to talk with nate about his plans for choosing a specialty. he is at a fun crossroads as he starts his third year and makes the big decision.
i didn't get enough pictures pf our families interactions, but the most enjoyable part for me was watching michael interact with caitlyn.
we looked at pictures of their family before we left for anaheim and talked about how we knew them. almost from the moment we met up with them michael was taken with caitlyn. they would watch each other quite a bit and talked and played like they were best friends. here are a couple super-cute videos of them holding hands.
so anyway. this trip to disney was our most recent and ended our vacation days for a while. it was great seeing the nielsens again and what better place to reconnect than the happiest place on earth...right?
michael's moments of spontaneity, when he uncharacteristically struck out on his own for one daring maneuver...
oh, and a bonus picture. this is abby and bekah in granpatty's dress up clothes. their actions range from adorable to emotional torture right now and this is one of their sweeter, more loving moments.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
answers to (a)nal questions...
while many of you gave admirable answers here to this question:
358. Which of the following is the most common cause of lower gastrointestinal bleeding in school-aged children?
A. Anal fissures
B. Color of the vomitus
C. History of constipation
D. Presence of high fever
E. Resting tachycardia
all answers were wrong and here is why:
lower gastrointestinal bleeding is uncommon in children and is estimated to account for less than 0.5% of all pediatric emergency department visits. the likelihood of the etiology is age dependent. anal fissures are most common in infants younger than 1 year. it is thought that anal fissures are associated with constipation and the passage of hard stool. these infants typically have blood-streaked stool and pain with bowel movements. infectious diarrhea is the most common cause of lower gastrointestinal bleeding in school aged children. bacterial infections typically infect the bowel wall of the colon and cause local inflammatory effects. because of the vascularity of the bowel lumen wall, bleeding typically accompanies. treatment for bloody diarrhea primarily involves treating any dehydration if present. anti-nausea and anti-diarrheal medications are not indicated and can lead to complications such as excessive sleepiness and bowel hypo-activity/obstruction. antibiotics are seldom indicated in well appearing school-aged children even when a bacterial etiology has been identified. antibiotics prolong the carrier state in cases of salmonella gastroenteritis and increase the frequency of kidney problems in e. coli type infection. only one bacteria known to commonly cause diarrhea is susceptible to a shortened course from antibiotics.
this question was trickier than i realized at first glance.
this is one more reason why going to the doctor to get antibiotics can be frustrating.
thank you all for participating. i'm sad no one gets the prize this time around...we'll try again though. 10 more days of board review till the inservice exam...focus, focus.
358. Which of the following is the most common cause of lower gastrointestinal bleeding in school-aged children?
A. Anal fissures
B. Color of the vomitus
C. History of constipation
D. Presence of high fever
E. Resting tachycardia
all answers were wrong and here is why:
lower gastrointestinal bleeding is uncommon in children and is estimated to account for less than 0.5% of all pediatric emergency department visits. the likelihood of the etiology is age dependent. anal fissures are most common in infants younger than 1 year. it is thought that anal fissures are associated with constipation and the passage of hard stool. these infants typically have blood-streaked stool and pain with bowel movements. infectious diarrhea is the most common cause of lower gastrointestinal bleeding in school aged children. bacterial infections typically infect the bowel wall of the colon and cause local inflammatory effects. because of the vascularity of the bowel lumen wall, bleeding typically accompanies. treatment for bloody diarrhea primarily involves treating any dehydration if present. anti-nausea and anti-diarrheal medications are not indicated and can lead to complications such as excessive sleepiness and bowel hypo-activity/obstruction. antibiotics are seldom indicated in well appearing school-aged children even when a bacterial etiology has been identified. antibiotics prolong the carrier state in cases of salmonella gastroenteritis and increase the frequency of kidney problems in e. coli type infection. only one bacteria known to commonly cause diarrhea is susceptible to a shortened course from antibiotics.
this question was trickier than i realized at first glance.
this is one more reason why going to the doctor to get antibiotics can be frustrating.
thank you all for participating. i'm sad no one gets the prize this time around...we'll try again though. 10 more days of board review till the inservice exam...focus, focus.
and from a canal in st. petersburg, russia, here is amy's requested 'i know you didn't' look:
a look i've come to know and love :)
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Our new nephew!!!
Meet The-Baby-Formerly-Known-as-"Bruiser," born yesterday afternoon to Jonny and Mel.
I just got this picture on my phone from Mom F... and I am jealous that I am not holding him, too.
If he looks big, it is because he is! They haven't been calling him "Bruiser" for nothing, you know. 9 lbs 8 oz and 22 inches of a-week-past-due date growth! Mel is a champion and deserves a purple heart for this delivery!
We are so glad he is here, and can't wait to hear what his name shall be! Let us know when you pick one! We're anxious to meet him, and to see more pictures (which I just know are coming, because Mel will make sure there are plenty of pictures to send, I'm sure!).
Hooray to have a Frandsen cousin! Welcome to our world, little man!
I just got this picture on my phone from Mom F... and I am jealous that I am not holding him, too.
If he looks big, it is because he is! They haven't been calling him "Bruiser" for nothing, you know. 9 lbs 8 oz and 22 inches of a-week-past-due date growth! Mel is a champion and deserves a purple heart for this delivery!
We are so glad he is here, and can't wait to hear what his name shall be! Let us know when you pick one! We're anxious to meet him, and to see more pictures (which I just know are coming, because Mel will make sure there are plenty of pictures to send, I'm sure!).
Hooray to have a Frandsen cousin! Welcome to our world, little man!
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
It's a...
We had our ultrasound yesterday!!
After looking at his ultrasound pictures and explaining a bit about ultrasounds, we asked Michael if he wanted to join us to get a sneak peek of our new baby. He was excited to say yes.
He has an announcement to make about the baby:
and here's photographic evidence of the facts...
He came home and told his sisters that they would have another sister to play with.
Michael is proud that he will be the older brother to protect and watch out for his younger sisters. As the oldest and only girl of 5 brothers, I always secretly wished that just ONE of them could have been my older brother. I don't know... I always just wanted an older brother. You know, a protector or something (like Paul... right Libby/Hannah?). But my younger brother of 14 months did a pretty good job... even though he was on his mission when I met/married Paul.
Anyway... so it looks like she will have plenty of clothes to choose from, and an excited family to welcome her into the world in June.
Now we have to come up with another girl name. It was hard enough the first times. Maybe Michael will have some ideas...???
Maybe not. Better get crackin'. Any suggestions??
After looking at his ultrasound pictures and explaining a bit about ultrasounds, we asked Michael if he wanted to join us to get a sneak peek of our new baby. He was excited to say yes.
He has an announcement to make about the baby:
and here's photographic evidence of the facts...
He came home and told his sisters that they would have another sister to play with.
Michael is proud that he will be the older brother to protect and watch out for his younger sisters. As the oldest and only girl of 5 brothers, I always secretly wished that just ONE of them could have been my older brother. I don't know... I always just wanted an older brother. You know, a protector or something (like Paul... right Libby/Hannah?). But my younger brother of 14 months did a pretty good job... even though he was on his mission when I met/married Paul.
Anyway... so it looks like she will have plenty of clothes to choose from, and an excited family to welcome her into the world in June.
Now we have to come up with another girl name. It was hard enough the first times. Maybe Michael will have some ideas...???
Maybe not. Better get crackin'. Any suggestions??
Monday, February 11, 2008
it's board review time...
give it a shot...it's fun.
358. Which of the following is the most common cause of lower gastrointestinal bleeding in school-aged children?
A. Anal fissures
B. Color of the vomitus
C. History of constipation
D. Presence of high fever
E. Resting tachycardia
good luck. there will be a prize for the winner...
358. Which of the following is the most common cause of lower gastrointestinal bleeding in school-aged children?
A. Anal fissures
B. Color of the vomitus
C. History of constipation
D. Presence of high fever
E. Resting tachycardia
good luck. there will be a prize for the winner...
Thursday, February 07, 2008
The Two are 2!!
I can't believe our girls are 2. Can't really call them babies anymore, can I?
Paul has a few days off this week, and so the celebrations started on Monday when we took a Disney trip just for the girls.
We did lots of rides/activities just for them... including the Princess Fantasy Faire (from which came Bekah's crown that she wore ALL day), Toon Town, and lots of rides in Fantasyland. Too bad Small World is closed right now...
Abby (left) and Bekah (right).
Abby especially loved exploring Tom Sawyer Island.
And we even let them go without the stroller for a while...
Michael picked out birthday presents for them that night... 2 Minnie Mouses that "will make them laugh and giggle." They loooooove to say "Mickey" when they see Mickey ears, etc. at Disneyland, so he wanted to get them Mickeys... but decided on Minnies when he saw them at the store.
Paul was off again on Tuesday (Not-So-Super Tuesday, that is...) and so we had our birthday celebration then...
Here are the flower cakes for our beautiful little flowers...
And a Mickey Mouse pizza (can't you tell??). They got to eat the ears...
The Happy Birthday Song and the blowing of the candles...
You can't see it on the video, but Bekah was mostly blowing saliva instead of air. Mmmmmm...
Enjoying their birthday cakes...
Abby mostly decided to eat the sprinkled frosting very delicately...
Bekah pretty much dug right in...
Michael concentrated on which piece he would select for his...
Bekah thought Abby's cake looked pretty tasty, too...
The end products:
Then it was present time. Michael was so excited to give the girls their Minnies...
They have been cuddling and playing with them ever since.
They wanted to wear their outfits from Grandpatty and Grandpappy right away...
And after opening a few more toys, they had a lot of fun playing...
Their actual birthday was Wednesday, which found Paul working at the urgent care all day. Today (Thursday) he was off again, and we went back to Disneyland for more fun times.
Boy, it is fun to be a two-year-old, isn't it??
Paul has a few days off this week, and so the celebrations started on Monday when we took a Disney trip just for the girls.
We did lots of rides/activities just for them... including the Princess Fantasy Faire (from which came Bekah's crown that she wore ALL day), Toon Town, and lots of rides in Fantasyland. Too bad Small World is closed right now...
Abby (left) and Bekah (right).
Abby especially loved exploring Tom Sawyer Island.
And we even let them go without the stroller for a while...
Michael picked out birthday presents for them that night... 2 Minnie Mouses that "will make them laugh and giggle." They loooooove to say "Mickey" when they see Mickey ears, etc. at Disneyland, so he wanted to get them Mickeys... but decided on Minnies when he saw them at the store.
Paul was off again on Tuesday (Not-So-Super Tuesday, that is...) and so we had our birthday celebration then...
Here are the flower cakes for our beautiful little flowers...
And a Mickey Mouse pizza (can't you tell??). They got to eat the ears...
The Happy Birthday Song and the blowing of the candles...
You can't see it on the video, but Bekah was mostly blowing saliva instead of air. Mmmmmm...
Enjoying their birthday cakes...
Abby mostly decided to eat the sprinkled frosting very delicately...
Bekah pretty much dug right in...
Michael concentrated on which piece he would select for his...
Bekah thought Abby's cake looked pretty tasty, too...
The end products:
Then it was present time. Michael was so excited to give the girls their Minnies...
They have been cuddling and playing with them ever since.
They wanted to wear their outfits from Grandpatty and Grandpappy right away...
And after opening a few more toys, they had a lot of fun playing...
Their actual birthday was Wednesday, which found Paul working at the urgent care all day. Today (Thursday) he was off again, and we went back to Disneyland for more fun times.
Boy, it is fun to be a two-year-old, isn't it??
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Look, we're 2!!!
Here is a little something for anxious grandparents, uncles and aunts until I can get around to a proper post...
Bekah (left) and Abby (right) "blowing out" their candles...
We ask the girls, "How old are you?" and they try to hold up fingers (sometimes) and say "tooooooooo!!" (sometimes). We're working on it. Michael vacillates between doing 2 with them, 4 for how old he is, and 5 for how old he will be in July.
Bekah (left) and Abby (right) "blowing out" their candles...
We ask the girls, "How old are you?" and they try to hold up fingers (sometimes) and say "tooooooooo!!" (sometimes). We're working on it. Michael vacillates between doing 2 with them, 4 for how old he is, and 5 for how old he will be in July.
February 6, 2006...
Today was Abby and Bekah's birthday. With the hopes of posting some pictures of the celebrations, I got caught up in reminiscing through old photos of their birth. Thought I would share them with you on this here blog.
They were born just 7 minutes apart... Abby first (left), then Bekah (right).
They were born to two anticipating parents, and one excited 2 1/2-year-old brother.
We were so blessed with a great pregnancy (2 months of bedrest took them to 38 full weeks! (Thanks to mom and dad Frandsen for helping us through those months!)), a great delivery (no c-section, and although Bekah was breech she was born with no "incidences"), and amazing birthweights for twins (Abby = 6 lbs 14 oz, Bekah = 7 lbs).
We had a great hospital stay (Paul and mom Risenmay were amazing helps)...
and the girls came right home with us.
Thankfully, Paul had scheduled his fourth year to be full at the beginning so that he could have a full month off when the girls were born. I'll always be thankful for a wonderful, dedicated father to our children... he was/is wonderful, and is by far better at "swaddling" newborns in their blankets than I am. He was up with me in the night, helped figure out feeding, and was amazing with blitzing their baths and washings. He is wonderful.
We were able to adjust with lots of help and support in Spanish Fork... thank goodness I didn't have to worry about much else than feeding the girls and getting lots of rest. (Bekah on left, Abby on right.) We watched most of the Winter Olympics during feedings and diaper changes.
It just doesn't seem too long ago that Bekah (left) and Abby (right) joined our family. Now they are 2--it has happened so fast!
They are so lucky to have such wonderful family and friends. Thank you for all the love and support you have all given to us in parenthood and our family adventures!
They were born just 7 minutes apart... Abby first (left), then Bekah (right).
They were born to two anticipating parents, and one excited 2 1/2-year-old brother.
We were so blessed with a great pregnancy (2 months of bedrest took them to 38 full weeks! (Thanks to mom and dad Frandsen for helping us through those months!)), a great delivery (no c-section, and although Bekah was breech she was born with no "incidences"), and amazing birthweights for twins (Abby = 6 lbs 14 oz, Bekah = 7 lbs).
We had a great hospital stay (Paul and mom Risenmay were amazing helps)...
and the girls came right home with us.
Thankfully, Paul had scheduled his fourth year to be full at the beginning so that he could have a full month off when the girls were born. I'll always be thankful for a wonderful, dedicated father to our children... he was/is wonderful, and is by far better at "swaddling" newborns in their blankets than I am. He was up with me in the night, helped figure out feeding, and was amazing with blitzing their baths and washings. He is wonderful.
We were able to adjust with lots of help and support in Spanish Fork... thank goodness I didn't have to worry about much else than feeding the girls and getting lots of rest. (Bekah on left, Abby on right.) We watched most of the Winter Olympics during feedings and diaper changes.
It just doesn't seem too long ago that Bekah (left) and Abby (right) joined our family. Now they are 2--it has happened so fast!
They are so lucky to have such wonderful family and friends. Thank you for all the love and support you have all given to us in parenthood and our family adventures!
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
a crappy night...
well, it looks like the rom is done.
it looks like the republican party has chosen mccain.
i have always admired mccain's willingness to take a stand for moderation when he felt compelled regardless of what the party hardliners thought. however, with his temper and his stance on the war (i want to stay so our 19 year old boys can say they won)...it's looking like i will vote democrat unless he changes his tune over the next 9 months and the democratic candidate makes a big enough case that they are going to really botch healthcare...
it was a run while it lasted mitt. you didn't run the perfect campaign, and would probably have won more votes if you'd spoken your mind more often. but it was fun thinking that we would have a really intelligent president of integrity working on the complex problems we face...
i felt better reading my cousin gabrielle's email venting her frustrations. i could take heart in some of what she says, but it is a pretty critical time in our nation's history and having someone with romney's ability would have been pivotal. but what can you do? it looks likes we'll have a 'community organizer' as president and i will probably have voted for him...
last night i spoke with rob, a friend from medical school who is a stanch ute and he said after florida he felt in a funk like after a loss in a byu/utah game. that was certainly what i felt then and what i'm feeling now.
amy didn't love that fact tonight since we were celebrating the girls two-year birthday, but we got some good pictures and they couldn't tell the frustration i felt as they blew out the candles.
after the crappy results i went up and read the final two chapters of 'where the red fern grows' to michael and he was wiping tears off my cheek as i finished the story. i don't think i've cried like that in years. amy slept through the final moments of the book...but she hasn't been reading it with us and was exhausted from the party preparations. so she is excused, but she did miss seeing me cry outright...something i haven't done for a very long time...
but please don't misinterpret. i didn't cry for romney...i cried for billy, his dogs, and his ultimate faith in god through adversity.
Monday, February 04, 2008
"What is This Thing that Men Call Death"
I was so touched by one of the songs that was a part of President Hinckley's funeral service on Saturday. Entitled "What is This Thing that Men Call Death," the lyrics were written by President Hinckley. I googled it this morning to find out the rest of the story behind it...
The article is found here. I highlighted my favorite parts.
And I think I'd like this at my own funeral. Take note... it would make a great quartet... and a violin obbligato would be gorgeous...
It is originally titled, “What is This Thing that Men Call Death.” Latter-day Saint songwriter Janice Kapp Perry discovered the poem as her own niece was dying and trying to find comfort. Perry asked Hinckley if he would permit her to put the words to music. He approved her request three days before he died.
President Hinckley passed away Sunday January 27. Ms. Perry got the letter of approval in the mail the next day. Then that afternoon came a request from the Mormon Tabernacle choir director Craig Jessop to perform the song at Hinckley’s funeral.
Saturday at President Hinckley’s funeral service the very words of Hinckley’s poem gave others comfort upon his own passing.
“What Is This Thing That Men Call Death”
By President Gordon B. Hinckley
Music by Janice Kapp Perry
What is this thing that men call death,
This quiet passing in the night?
'Tis not the end, but genesis
Of better worlds and greater light.
O God, touch thou my aching heart,
And calm my troubled, haunting fears.
Let hope and faith, transcendent, pure,
Give strength and peace beyond my tears.
There is no death, but only change,
With recompense for vict'ry won.
The gift of Him who loved all men,
The Son of God, the Holy One.
...such a wonderful testimony. Thank you, President Hinckley!
The article is found here. I highlighted my favorite parts.
And I think I'd like this at my own funeral. Take note... it would make a great quartet... and a violin obbligato would be gorgeous...
It is originally titled, “What is This Thing that Men Call Death.” Latter-day Saint songwriter Janice Kapp Perry discovered the poem as her own niece was dying and trying to find comfort. Perry asked Hinckley if he would permit her to put the words to music. He approved her request three days before he died.
President Hinckley passed away Sunday January 27. Ms. Perry got the letter of approval in the mail the next day. Then that afternoon came a request from the Mormon Tabernacle choir director Craig Jessop to perform the song at Hinckley’s funeral.
Saturday at President Hinckley’s funeral service the very words of Hinckley’s poem gave others comfort upon his own passing.
“What Is This Thing That Men Call Death”
By President Gordon B. Hinckley
Music by Janice Kapp Perry
What is this thing that men call death,
This quiet passing in the night?
'Tis not the end, but genesis
Of better worlds and greater light.
O God, touch thou my aching heart,
And calm my troubled, haunting fears.
Let hope and faith, transcendent, pure,
Give strength and peace beyond my tears.
There is no death, but only change,
With recompense for vict'ry won.
The gift of Him who loved all men,
The Son of God, the Holy One.
...such a wonderful testimony. Thank you, President Hinckley!
Saturday, February 02, 2008
super bowl saturday...
amy made a great find this month and i thought i'd share it with you. the first saturday of each month, home depot has a kid's workshop. a parent can bring their kiddo and build a free manly craft. amy pushed for a father son outing and i am glad she did. each kiddo gets an orange apron, a craft and a certificate of completion. michaeal's big moments during the building process included elmer's glue, a hammer and nails. he really enjoyed himself...as did i.
michael gives a detailed description of the process here:
michael was pretty happy with his new acquisition...
when he got home he had to show his best dude his new football stool.
as the sheen of the new stool wore off, we reflected on how we would be using the stool and its significance on a broader scale:
and how about you? do you have big super bowl plans? a big party? only tivo till monday morning? and do you want the patriots to be perfect? or the manning brothers each to have a super-bowl ring...
Friday, February 01, 2008
the endorsement that really counts...
the frandsen twins have officially decided to come out in favor of a candidate.
over the last year we have heard things from many of the candidates we wish we hadn't. some of the most egregious errors came from the esteemed senator from arizona. we sure wish we didn't have to hear the falsehoods he peddled last weekend about our candidate...
some unsightly events over the last year have made us cringe. not least of these have come in the way of uninformed attacks on our own religion...a religion we share with our candidate...
there have been words spoken aloud that would make your ears burn with disbelief. it seems the most reprehensible words over the recent months have come from politicians with southern accents. while we were happy to see these southerners drop from the race, it is probable that they will return as a running-mates to candidates who are far inferior to our own. do not listen to these silver tongued southerners as they try to weasle their way into your hearts and minds. they will lead you astray.
the vote in florida was a shock to us and our daddy.
we were saddened by the inability of floridians to recognize our candidate for the intelligent, compassionate, conservative, reasonable and impeccably qualified man that he is. he is committed to realistic universal coverage for all americans. he will cap spending in relation to the GDP and is committed to decreasing the national debt. his plan for economically engaging our enemies and working to improve their lives in meaningful ways is both compassionate and smart. his immigration rhetoric sounds lame now, but will probably soften during the general election. he may be a technocrat more concerned about results than dogma, but like our father we have never been fans of the overly dogmatic and rigid. our endorsement today is our way of making a plea to voters to think to the future and vote for the most qualified candidate. if you don't vote him in as the republican candidate, our father may have to do something he has only done once before...vote for a democrat.
in summary, hear no evil, see no evil and speak no evil...vote mitt romney for president.
we get giddy just thinking about heading to the polling place this tuesday with our father to vote for a man who will make things right with the world and america...
over the last year we have heard things from many of the candidates we wish we hadn't. some of the most egregious errors came from the esteemed senator from arizona. we sure wish we didn't have to hear the falsehoods he peddled last weekend about our candidate...
some unsightly events over the last year have made us cringe. not least of these have come in the way of uninformed attacks on our own religion...a religion we share with our candidate...
there have been words spoken aloud that would make your ears burn with disbelief. it seems the most reprehensible words over the recent months have come from politicians with southern accents. while we were happy to see these southerners drop from the race, it is probable that they will return as a running-mates to candidates who are far inferior to our own. do not listen to these silver tongued southerners as they try to weasle their way into your hearts and minds. they will lead you astray.
the vote in florida was a shock to us and our daddy.
we were saddened by the inability of floridians to recognize our candidate for the intelligent, compassionate, conservative, reasonable and impeccably qualified man that he is. he is committed to realistic universal coverage for all americans. he will cap spending in relation to the GDP and is committed to decreasing the national debt. his plan for economically engaging our enemies and working to improve their lives in meaningful ways is both compassionate and smart. his immigration rhetoric sounds lame now, but will probably soften during the general election. he may be a technocrat more concerned about results than dogma, but like our father we have never been fans of the overly dogmatic and rigid. our endorsement today is our way of making a plea to voters to think to the future and vote for the most qualified candidate. if you don't vote him in as the republican candidate, our father may have to do something he has only done once before...vote for a democrat.
in summary, hear no evil, see no evil and speak no evil...vote mitt romney for president.
we get giddy just thinking about heading to the polling place this tuesday with our father to vote for a man who will make things right with the world and america...
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