As A Mother Thinketh...

Five and not one more...

2012-01-26T22:08:00.000-07:00

In January of 1994 Joe J. Christensen gave a devotional address at BYU entitled Resolutions. He says you ought to ask a few respected people who you know are readers to share with you the titles of five books besides the scriptures that they feel had the most positive influence in their lives.

My friend Jodi asked me and I didn't get back to her. Sorry Jodi. But she did get me thinking about this is a serious manor. Five books that had a positive influence on little old me...
well I have them and it's not just five!

I'll rank these by number but don't take that to mean anything:

                                                       1. Pilgrims Progress by John Bunyan written in the 1600's: This was the first classic I ever read. It was during the first couple of years in New Orleans. I think about 2003. I didn't keep track of my reading back then as I hardly ever read. What I can recall is being able to see a clear picture of what the author wanted me to realize. The burdens that were still strapped across by shoulders. I became consciously aware of the actual physical pain I had in those muscles that span my upper back. I can happily report that the emotional and physical pain is now lifted. It happened during an experience after Hurricane Katrina while living in Ca. It was Christian that I thought of as I had old old old emotions that felt like burdens pulled out of my body.

                                                      2. Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriett Beecher Stowe written about 1852 just nine years before the American Civil War. This was truly a life changing experience to read. Oh the crying I went through for this wonderful wonderful man called Uncle Tom a slave of the southern way of life yet oh what a Christian he truly was made to be. To be like Uncle Tom...The ending were Tom is beaten by his fellow slaves and forgives them and then they realize who he is , their friend , and they stop but it was too late. Too much damage was done. I felt I went through an emotional catharsis after reading this beautiful life saving novel.

                                                    3. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo written 1862 when I think Victor was in exile. It's the ending that affected me most and the pain of not having an understanding for or a hope or even the knowledge of repentance or the atonement in the main two characters lives. My heart and my eyes cried for Jean Valjean and in a way for Javart. It was so long but what kept me going was listening to the music and setting the stage in my mind more clearly. Having more detailed emotions of the characters. What a sad life so many lead in the book and in real life. Look for something better. Remember to look up. Remember to look for the good, assume the best and doubt the bad. Do you hear the people sing? I think one day the people of our nation will have to sing out and stop a number of wrongs that are building up.

4. You better set down to read this; Atlas Shrugged has totally opened my eyes to what is happening in our nation and the development of Socialism. Point blank that's what is is. Since reading Ayn Rand's 1957 publication I can see numerous instances of what she was talking about 50+ years ago. Declining work ethics, "don't blame me" slogans, shortages, government knows best mentality and so forth. Though I think she sounds very creepy as a person she was right one in this novel. This was not like the other books mentioned. I felt a little sick when I finished ( by the way, there are sex scenes. I was driving and listening so I fast forwarded it so I don't know the extent of details) but then I saw or read something that happened in the U.S. and suddenly I could hear a warning going off in my mind, "that was what Rand said would happen in Atlas Shrugged" . Do we really think giant international corporations with headquarters in America are going to say if they have to pay more taxes for the money they earn outside of America? No.

   5. Jane Eyre written 1847ish by Charlotte Bronte. I had to read this twice. The second and maybe I read it three times I don't recall now and I'm not going to look for those old notes. What was it about this book? Could be the 2006 BBC production?? Well here's the thing, I have this book and Little Woman by Louis May Alcott both in my fifth spot. In ways I want to develop some of the characteristics of all the woman characters in these two novels. Perhaps these two novels really are in a tie with The 5,000 Year Leap: cried when I was reading about the 17th amendment. I felt that I would have something to change in the future with this amendment. Crazy I know. The Peacegiver, & The LDS 12 Step Program both had helped me and prepared me for great difficulty that came a couple years later. Because I had worked to be forgiven and understood forgiveness somewhat more in my very limited and narrow minded way I knew I could do nothing less for another. The miracle of healing that finally comes when we forgive and allow Jesus and his atonement to go to action for us. All of which have had lasting impressions for my betterment.

There you go. Five and yet not just five. Take it or leave it. I'll continue either way.

I love...

2012-01-15T19:57:00.002-07:00

those people in the picture at the top of my blog. I love them I tell you! The husband gives all his joy and trust for managing our money and home to me. The children tell me on numerous occasions each day that they love me and thank me for providing home education for them. It's a lucky and blessed woman that I am.

I guess this is my Happy New Year to all the world. So happy new year everyone! I hope January is finding you feeling healthier. I awoke the day of Christmas feeling absolutely terrible in my abdomen. The next day I awoke knowing I was going back to a raw food diet. Gove has come along with me and that's what we have been doing since. I didn't even wait for a new year resolution to make the change.

This Wednesday evening I have Kathrine Scott of 40 Blades of Grass coming to do a raw food prep class. It's open to the public and cost $5. I am going to have kale chips, veggie burgers and veggie dips for sampling along with what Kathrine is going to share.

Our community room hosted the annual home school Geography Bee on Saturday. Our son Eli came in second and Beth tied for fourth. Tia tied for seventh.

Lots of fun things are taking place in the community our family made last spring. There's the Monday mentoring class, Thursday is the Heralders Choir, they children and youth will be preparing a Lion King medley for June. Yasa continues once a month, and very soon we will have a public speaking class starting for 12 weeks. If you home school and are looking for a room to use for teaching children or youth give me a call maybe we can help you out.

Eli finished with braces. He now wears a retainer at night. Mattia will start her braces in about 2 weeks. It turns out that her mouth has grown and her tongue has enlarged enough that she no longer needs her palate stretched because her tongue helped to push her teeth outward. I look forward to seeing her new smile. Eli's teeth look very nice and straight now.

Gove told me two weeks ago that he was ranked by the students and is 1 of the top 10 professors of all the professors in the Marriott school. Way to go husband. Not to mention he was recently ranked in the top 25 researchers in the world out of 4,000 in his field.

I started adding yoga to my health regime this month. I've been drinking a green veggie juice drink every morning and I am finding that I can now jog better and longer since I started adding the juice. Sadly I did gain a lot of weight back from September through Dec 25th. And I am now removing those fat pounds. I took my last dose of Vitamin D2 last Friday. I don't know if I will return to the MD for a followup blood work. I no longer have the flank pain and I'm now using D3. I will send spring and summer out in the sun each afternoon gaining as much natural vitamin D that I can to see if I can keep my levels up naturally instead of using a pill.

I bought Ann Wigmore's book on Wheat grass juicing. I saw that she said some people sleep better with one or two trays of wheat grass growing near the head of the bed. Something to do with negative ions and increase in oxygenation. I find wheat grass so hard to take but I want to help my health so I am going to work more with it. Tonight Gove said he likes the sunflower sprouts in the salads. Plus I need to start adding rejuvelac. I hear it helps to add rejuvelac to smoothies. But will it work the same way I wonder.

Where's the people?

2012-01-03T19:51:00.001-07:00

Hey, I'm only 10 minutes late for the city council meeting but did it really end before I arrived? What's that? Oh, city council is meeting at the Covey Center due to remodeling of the chambers? O.K. I zip over there, find the meeting, and return home all by 7:35 pm. Council adjourned for the night at about 7:25pm. Needless to say I missed everything regarding the new council members.

Here's what I did learn; Laura Cabanilla is council chair and Gary Winterton is vice chair. I was present for a few thank you words by Midge Johnson and the Mayor's thanks to the out going chair and vice chair of whom the mayor gave flowers to. Sterling Beck was voted in as chair for the city redevelopment agency and the vice is Kay Van Buren. That's it. They went into a closed session.

Now I'm home. I did return Genelle P's pizza cutter that we used last summer during the Colonial Fest. She was covering the story for the DH. Sad news about all of this is that Gove now has Scouts/Mutual on Tuesday's so it looks like I will need to attend by my lonesome self. Not such a fun date in my opinion.

There doesn't seem to be a picture of the new council yet available online so I can't show you what your council members look like. All in due time.

TTFN

Have a gift collecting dust? Brush it off and use it to bless someone else...even yourself

2011-12-17T18:14:00.002-07:00

A Christmas reminder....

2011-12-17T18:10:00.002-07:00

Our first semester of online classes...

2011-12-17T17:09:00.000-07:00

This semester was the first time that two of our three children took online classes. I thought I would say something about the experience.

First of all, I like that the kids can watch the class if they aren't home for the live broadcast. Plus you can review as much as you like.

Bethany took a Latin class from Leadership Education Academy. She did not like using the the camera for other people to see her but other then that she enjoyed the class. There were a few times of stress for her because she doesn't use the web but she managed all the same. She tries to use Latin in all the daily letters she writes to her Dad.

Elijah took his first writing class through Williamsburg Academy in Cedar City. Ben Brown was his mentor. I guess Eli liked it enough that he decided to take the next course in January. I've really enjoyed the essays that he has written. He decided to write about a hymn when asked to write about a favorite modern song. When asked to write about a hero, he chose Captain Moroni and when he had to write his final about a challenge that changed his life, he wrote about a scout 50 miler bike ride. Thank goodness for life experiences to rely upon.

I am considering Harmony for next year. They connect with a number of learning programs both local and online.

It's my turn...

2011-12-17T09:38:00.000-07:00

Go ahead porcelain throne, take my insides....oh dear...just don't move.

Thank you...from Bethany

2011-12-16T11:03:00.005-07:00

Thanks to all of you who voted for Beth at the Provo Library contest. I thought she had quite a few votes but it sounds like someone else had over 100 votes. We had fun all the same. Merry Christmas!

A little Christmas miracle...

2011-12-15T22:00:00.003-07:00

Today, I took our kids and Davin P. to SLC to meet up with friends for a tour of Welfare Square, Temple Square, the church museum, an organ concert, and baptisms by the youth in the Salt Lake Temple.

As we left out home, Tia said she wasn't feeling very well. The day progressed just as her sickness did. Being a little trooper and not wanting to disappoint others, Mattia hung in there until we were three feet from our garage when she opened the car door and began to vomit.

Thank goodness she hit the driveway and not the dashboard. This is a little Christmas blessing for which I'm thankful.

The Welfare Square tour was informative, interesting, enlightening, and delicious if you like freshly made chocolate milk, cheese, jams and bread.

I was a little disappointed with the organ concert. It didn't feel Christmassy enough. However the friends were polite and talkative.

I feel that I'm now finished with activities and can get down to the business of finishing the sewing of gifts, reading more books, and enjoying the warmth and comfort of being at home.

All we need is some snow. Where is the snow! Bring on the white stuff!

City Council...the last of the year!

2011-12-07T12:16:00.000-07:00

Here's my evening chance for a midweek date with Gove...

-The city is recognizing the efforts of the citizens of Rivergrove and Grandview South for the wonderful work that we have accomplished at Lions Park. I say we because Gove and the kids have served three times and I once. Several Eagle Scouts are also being acknowledged for service they gave at the park as part of the eagle projects.

-The issue regarding the business licensing fee adjustments was going to be on the agenda but has been postponed until 2012.

-Next Tuesday at 5:30pm is a reception for the three outgoing council members. Three ladies going and three men coming in...I wonder what the council dynamics will be like??? Midge, Sherrie, and Cynthia just gave their thank you's to the community.

Oops, I'm off on other sites taking care of business. Sorry. Well it's now 8:30pm and I'm tired so off I go.

Update for Bethany's voting

2011-12-05T18:56:00.002-07:00

Go to the Provo Library facebook page and you should see a picture of Beth at the top. Click on her picture and you will find a box (I think it's down at the left corner) Just click on the Like button.

Here is the link to all the pictures. I'm sure you will notice how Bethany really is the right contestant to win the autographed books!

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150385532726191.343363.356795826190&type=1

Beth's picture is at the bottom.

Thank you for your help.

Nickie

Vote for Bethany

2011-12-05T12:58:00.001-07:00

PLEASE VOTE FOR BETHANY! http://www.facebook.com/provocitylibrary

Tonight (12/5/2011), the Provo Library will post pictures from the Christopher Paolini book signing.

There is a contest for the best costume.

Bethany is one of the contestants!

2011-11-19T20:33:00.001-07:00

I spend enough time in the morning writing in my journal that I don't feel the excitement or energy to write something at my blog. I have considered just closing the thing down but then I never go through with it. Ho-hum, hum-ho...

Elijah is at an Etiquette Simulation today and tonight. Yesterday he learned about standing when a young women gets up from the dinner table and to help her by pushing in her chair when she returns. There was dance lessons both yesterday and today along with other classes and tonight there was to be a formal dinner and dance.

I, Gove, and our girls are watching The Wild Wild West series, season three. We found it at DI this evening for $1. It's kind of funny to see again after so many years. When did I last watch this show? I think I was a child in Seattle sometime in the early 70's I imagine.

I found out three weeks ago that I have a vitamin D deficiency. I have been taking a 50,000 unit pill of D2 every week. I started to feel better and had a decrease in my flank pain but this week I have felt uncomfortable. I've also been waking up after sleeping fairly well during the night at about 4:50am. It's a bummer but I stay optimistic and prayerful that I can see and feel gratitude for these experiences I'm going through. But I sure would love a long nights sleep. The blessing is that I've been enjoying reading the new R.S. book, Light in the Wilderness and the scriptures.

My sister decided it was time for a move so about one month ago she found a little place in Salt Lake. We have turned her two rooms into the guest area. New carpet and insulating curtains have helped to make the area feel cozy and warmer.

Gove was good to hang two doors in the learning room for me today while I was painting the three doors in our community room a deep brown. It looks quiet nice to have the area finished and it didn't even take a year. Imagine that.

The kids are singing in the Heralders Children's Choir for Christmas. It's there first time singing and they will also be signing in Latin on Temple Square December 3rd. In January, the classes will be taught in our community room. I love having classes here that I don't need to drive to and get a discount in return.

Beth is reading The Robe by Lloyd C. Douglas for a private class she is attending with our friend Eliza and Eliza's mom Belinda and mentoring the girls together while I take Mattia to her Take Flight class in Lehi every Monday afternoon. This will be the 3rd meeting for Beth. She is marking words she doesn't know the meanings of, color coding geography, literature, facts, memorizing and learning about ancient roman history in the process. She tells me that she really likes this class.

Headache.. time for bed.

I lie...I'm really not back...just at the city council meeting...

2011-10-04T20:14:00.003-06:00

The fact is I'm just plain tired. And honestly I'm not a thrilling or frankly I don't think I'm even an interesting writer. None the less I'll continue, it wont be very often. So no, I'm really not back to posting. Though I do plenty of writing in my notebook and have lots of thoughts regarding faith, scriptures, education, agency, Brigham Young, King Benjamin, The Book of Mormon, protesting in New York City, N. C. governor suggesting there ought not to be congressional elections next year, our city and selling of alcohol on Sunday, our children's education, salvation, happiness/joy, and trials and the list goes on and on and forth.

Welcome to tonight's exciting Provo City Council Meeting: The big question is will the council vote for allowing the city to sell alcohol on Sunday. It is currently Public Comment time and three people have stood to remind all of us that this issue isn't about beer or wine, it's about the Sabbath Day and keeping it holy and obeying the ten commandments.

Wow, I stepped out to see if I could find the posting of the Ten Commandments. I didn't see it, and when I returned, the council was already on the ordinance regarding if beer should be sold for off-premises consumption. There was a lady speaking who owns a couple of convenience stores and she said that on Sunday's that have a holiday fall upon that day, like New Years, you are then allowed to sell that Sunday night after 9pm.
A friend called me just before leaving tonight and asked if I would stand for her. I was not so comfortable with that idea because I'm not sure we should prevent people from buying alcohol on Sunday. It is an exercise of agency. Though I would love it if we all wanted to obverse the Sabbath day and to keep it holy yet even I who doesn't drink has my Sundays when I don't keep the sabbath as holy as I could.
Some people are saying they want Provo to be unique in this fashion even if it's just for one day. Others are saying everyone lives here should be able to buy all things they can on Sunday that they shouldn't be discriminated against. Lots of moral judgments here that aren't ours to make. A moral dilemma...
Council members are talking now. I didn't post but really you need to watch the recoding as they are each worthy. Only Cynthia Dayton is saying she didn't vote earlier in a closed meeting to be accepting of this repeal measure.

The repeal was passed 5 to 1.

I'm back.....

2011-09-20T20:40:00.003-06:00

Life is so busy, at times overly demanding. Yet I hear my children say how they enjoy their classes and activities. I'd like to write about it but here I am at the City Council Meeting after missing a quite a few over the summer months.

What the heck. We have decided to join a home school choir because the youth and children will be singing in Latin this Christmas, at Temple Square. I think it's Vivaldi's Gloria. Eli has a writing class on-line with Williamsburg Academy, Beth has Latin also online with Leadership Education Academy, Mattia continues with Take Flight for dyslexia, she is teaching herself Greek and learning astronomy. Both the older two are taking a Key of Liberty class Tuesday mornings at 7am for 2 hours. All four of us are taking a 9am religious class taught by Susan Black on the history of Joseph Smith twice a week. Beth continues to learn with Simply Music, she is learning accompaniment, transposing, and making her own jazz music besides practicing over 40 other songs. I and my friend Belinda are teaching Shakespeare Wednesday afternoons with 9 youth. We will hold our second class tomorrow. Our community room in the basement is being used on Thursdays for a fun writing class for ages 8-14. I'm not a part of it but I put my head in occasionally and see and feel a large amount of energy and excitement. And last but not lest, the kids make bread to sell at BYU's Farmer market Thursday evenings. Wow no wonder I feel tired when I hit the bed at night. The funny thing is how early I am waking up.

Our kids are holding a Shakespeare movie fest tonight while we are here at the city meeting. The Merchant of Venice, Hamlet and or maybe Romeo and Juliet or they may go with Johnny Tremain for Key of Liberty. Either way they are excited about their learning.

I'm reading a book that's new to me called, Teach The Children and I've been watching a video called Celestial Education. I have felt a strong need to use our faith more fully in our daily education. I found what I was looking for in my gospel study this morning D&C 130:18-19 a wonderful realization and also in D&C 93:39-43&49 This was so neat for me this morning. I'm grateful for the blessing of waking up at 4:30 just for the blessing of turning to the word of God.

Shame on me!!! The city council has been running for 40 minutes now. I heard Mayor Curtis say today on the radio that he plans to ask to have Steve Turley removed from the council now that the finding (which I don't know of) are in regarding some of his activities.
A member of the Provo Library was awarded employee of the month. A husband and wife team was awarded a key to the city for their service within our community over a number of many years.
The room is fairly full this evening as there is going to be talk about parking issues AGAIN in the Joaquin area and what to do about the I-PROVO failure issue.
There is a discussion going on regarding some property to be purchased for housing development for low income. It sounds like Sterling is asking why is there a plan to pay more for the property when an other agency can purchase it for about 30,000 less and the money could be returned to the tax payers. This is between the Redevelopment Agency and the Neighbor Works program. All members, except Sterling, voted for the the property to be bought at the higher price. Was that done just for convenience?
Now turning to the I Provo problem. The city created their own internet service in 2004 but it failed and there is a monthly payment of over $200,000 that needs to be added to pay the 2004 sales tax revenue bonds that were issued to fund the Fiber Optic network. It's going to be long tonight. I think they want to add about $8 /month to residential families to pay for this. Citizens are now speaking about this issue. Oh boy, someone from BYU just got up to say how terrible the city is with the tax its going to place on BYU. The Mayor responded to him and it was clarified that the man was here representing himself. Ouch, Rick Healey just stomped on this guy who I think said he is an engineer at a BYU working with electrical distribution.

Rats...I've got to go home Gove has some work business to take care of. This is so interesting...

It's time for a picnic....

2011-08-10T10:53:00.000-06:00

The 4^th Annual Utah County

Homeschool Picnic In The Park

Date: Friday, September 2, 2011

Time: 11:00am-2:00pm (lunch served at Noon)

Place: South Fork Park Travel up Provo Canyon about 5.8 miles, turn right at Vivian Park and go directly up the paved road about 1.7 miles.

What You Should Bring: A hot or cold side dish that serves at least 10 people (salads, relishes, casseroles, chips, etc.).

The Committee Will Provide: Pulled pork sandwiches on fresh homemade rolls, water, dessert, condiments, plates and utensils.

R.S.V.P. and sign up for one of the following:

Setup Crew (arrive at 10:00)

Clean-Up Crew (detail from 2:30 – 3:00)

Serving Crew (detail from 11:45 to 1:00)

Hydration Crew (bring a 5-gallon cooler with Kool-Aid or Root Beer)

Shade Crew (bring a pop-up canopy)

Bar-B-Crew (bring a propane-fired barbecue)

Advertisement Crew (Duplicate this flier (use the attached document) and post at local library, grocery store, etc.)

Bulletin Board: There will be a place to post announcements for support groups, commonwealth schools, book discussions, clubs, etc. Feel free to bring fliers or a poster of what you are organizing.

Last year more than 500 people attended. We would love to spread the word throughout Utah County with all homeschooling families and organizations. Everyone is welcome.

There's a great creek in which to splash, so bring a towel.

R.S.V.P. and include the number of people coming.

__________________________

P.S.

I'm so excited to have this opportunity to share the day with you and your families. If this is your first time attending, your children will love playing out on the open grass field, walking in the woods, playing in the creek, and seeing how many other children homeschool just like them. Plus there is plenty of mothers and fathers talking and mingling too.

Be generous with the size of the side dish you bring, we don't want anyone going home hungry.

Thank you,

City Council Can Be A Joy...

2011-08-02T20:15:00.000-06:00

IHC representative is here thanking the city agencies for helping with the recent "Take Back" of prescription drugs that aren't being used. The value was quite significant. Sorry my computer wasn't ready and I was distracted from getting the numbers.

Open Comment is to last just 15 minutes with 3 minutes for each person. Rick Healey just said that after the action items are finished they will return to open comment for those who are here to make comments tonight.

Sounds like there is something going on with ethics of Steve T. and Taylor O. responded to this groups accusations against Steve T. I have no idea what is going on. I better check the paper.

Here is the link regarding misconduct by Steve Turley in the Deseret News. Here is an article 5 days ago from the Daily Herald

Sounds like city council has sent a letter to Steve T. requesting his resignation.

A citizen is questioning how Steve Turley can take a leave of absence. Another citizen wonders why a private person can be stopped for misconduct but when misconduct is by local government like over taxing it is validated are not unethical. Another citizen wanted an answer at to why 16% is the proposed property tax increase. One last citizen thanked council members for their work and fast action regarding Steve T.

Action Items:

1. Desire to increase square footage of residential units along Center Street. No it sounds like they want to be able to decrease some size to something like 350 sq. ft. for studio type residences. Public thoughts: Lindsey's concern is the parking in the downtown area. Jason is always for property rights and sees this as a way to grant freedom to the property owners. Gloria supports the idea of small apartments. Glen wants to know how the neighbors around the area feels about it and that they have a chance to express themselves. Dave is requesting this change in the ordinance. He is talking about the desire to get people to move downtown. Sounds like more of the retired community members would be interested in this. It passed by the council.

2. Disclosure of campaign finance disclosure appeals. Passed but there was no public comment for this. I wonder why????

3. Budget change to amend money for the CDB program. Something to do with delays by COngress and HUD. Why must we rely on federal governnmnet for funds? I know there probably isn't any other way, but really I feel like our federal government needs to stop supporting other countries and their problems and many of our own problems and work on eliminating our nations debt.

6. The city has a program where they buy and fix homes and then sell them. But the homes aren't selling at all. Now the redevelopment agency and the HOME and CDBG are agreeing to wanting to rent these homes so that some income is coming in and no longer having the homes vacant. Charlene from the Neighborhood Works Provo is saying that turning to rentals, though it's not part of the goal, they will turn to renting.

5000 Year Leap –

25th Principle

“Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations – entangling alliances with none.”

27th Principle

The Burden of Debt is as Destructive to Freedom as Subjugation by Conquest

26th Principle

The core unit which determines the strength of any society is the family; therefore, the government should foster and protect its integrity.

Principle 7

The proper role of government is to protect equal rights, not provide equal things.

Principle 15

The highest level of prosperity occurs when there is a free-market economy and minimum of government regulations.

Our First Colonial Fest...

2011-07-06T08:58:00.001-06:00

It was sometime this past March when we learned about the Colonial Heritage Foundation which sponsors Colonial Fest in Orem, Ut. during the 4th of July weekend. Our family was asked to participate in the event after the president read a news article about our children and the bakery they run along with the fact that they spent almost three weeks in Colonial America two years ago. The information was enough to get this invitation.

Days and months passed. Soon June came and I started to take the need for sewing very seriously. I spent hours at the bench preparing our colonial clothes. Gove and I also made a canvas tent with four sides that lifted out to provide shade. Gove made a table that was high enough to fit his height. He also made an amazing brick oven called a black oven.

July 1st finally arrived. Actually, on June 29th Gove took all 300 plus bricks and blocks to the Scera Park and began a 6 hour set up process of his oven. You too may be interested in this. You can view his pictures here.
On the 30th we set up our tent and supplies. Elijah and his cousin Gavin slept onsite each night while a fire was burning every night in the oven, heating the bricks and preparing the oven for the following morning. July 1st arrived and we started on a new family adventure.

What fun we had, and some grouchiness too as the children and parents worked many hours and some long into the night. But overall we had a fun time. Gove loved sharing about the history of bread and how it was made back then. I enjoyed running the counter and selling our goods with the children. We saw many friends and many home schoolers who knew me but I didn't know them.

The whole colonial community at this fest was centered around learning and friendship with each other. This is going to be something Gove and I will want to continue even after the children leave home.

Imagine baking four nights in a row, often until midnight or 2am in order to be ready to sell the next day. I'm still tired. We prepared Colonial Applesauce Cake, Macaroon Cookies, and Colonial Molasses Whole Wheat Bread at home. Gove made sourdough rolls and loafs on site.

Gove's oven was a hit, the food was fresh, hot, and delicious. The churning of cream into butter went well in the mornings not so well in the heat of the day. Yet almost everyone enjoyed fresh made butter on their bread. We even sold cookies for another establishment who wasn't having any luck at their price level. That is one thing that Gove and I don't want to do. Hick the prices just because people are hungry. Our cake was 25 cents per slice, slice of bread 50 cents with butter and honey, molasses bread $4/loaf, and the sourdough $5/loaf. All very affordable.

Warning, spititual drainage occurs when over scheduling....

2011-06-26T18:25:00.001-06:00

June has been incredibly busy for I and my family. I learned a good lesson though...

Don't over schedule your summer months!

I had planned out so much for the summer from education to camps I left very little time for family. Why did I do this???? It wasn't the whole summer just the first two months. Learn from this and move onward. Enough of that.

Eli and Beth went on a Pioneer Trek last week. When I find my camera I post the pictures of them. So cute to see them dressed as or near as pioneers. Beth was called upon by our Bishop to share her experience. Poor Beth was brave to go up, she stood silently for maybe two minutes and then the Bishop spoke to her and she was able to say something about the bus breaking down and then she paused again and I could see something come to life quickly in her face and she bore her testimony of Jesus and of the pioneers. I was so happy for her to get up and do this. She is so shy getting in front of people. I think the YASA club is helpful to her for this shyness too. She actually wrote a play that the girls are going to do the end of July and she played so comfortably with the girls, it was a joy to see the interactions.

Gove and I decided to go through a cleaning of the gi tract. We started raw veggies on the 6th of June. We are going through a formulated plan of herbs and raw fruits and veggies as well as a weekly colonic for one month. I decided to attempt this because of my increasing and painful frontal headaches. Gove wanted to do this because he felt he was at a block with weight loss and also that he would like to use the Fit for Life food combing that I have always wanted to avoid and have nothing to do with it.

I have had one major headache and two minor that were alleviated with raw cashews quite quickly. It was by no means been an easy progress for me. I am so sick of kale. I long for a piece of bread mainly sourdough but I'm not sure I want to put it into my body now. Since beginning this journey I have had weight loss. I guess you could call it intestinal weight but it shows on my body. I'm at about 13 pounds less then when I started and I can see less sticking out of my abdomen which is a miracle in my mind. Gove has lost over 20 pounds. I'm not sure how we are going to approach raw foods when we are finished with this cleansing cycle. I have had flank discomfort off and on. I have found this to be an interesting experience. Not sure if I want to do this again but I do feel I need to eat very little if no meat for awhile and now I want to do better combining of our foods. The other thing that has been interesting doing this is how I don't and haven't felt weak. When we were with our trainer earlier this year, I often felt weak after eating and would eat more but still I felt weak and terrible. I have not felt this way at all this month. I do get uncomfortable at times but not weak.

Last of all, we have been preparing for the Colonial Heritage Foundation's colonial fest being held at the Scera Park in Orem next weekend. Our family is going to represent a colonial bakery. Gove has made a brick oven heated with wood. We will be making a whole wheat molasses bread and a sourdough. We may even supply some bread to the local tavern. I have sewn all the clothes for the girls and myself, made caps for the males, learned how to make 60 button holes, and I now need to stitch 20 buttons on to the waistcoat for Gove. The oven Gove designed and made is marvelous. It's been educational is so many ways for he and the kids.

I'm looking forward to less scheduling and more peace for pondering and seeking to live my days with less activity and more promptings of action.

July 1-4 Colonial Heritage Foundation at Scera Park in Orem. We'll be there as a colonial time bakery. Hope to see you.

2011-06-22T11:59:00.001-06:00

I know who John Galt is...

2011-06-02T09:43:00.000-06:00

My sister recently saw the movie. She said she like it though she has not read the book Atlas Shrugged. I have read the book but not seen the movie. Not sure if I'll watch the movie anytime soon. However, the other day I and Gove were getting ready for a book discussion and were reading from The Annals of America #2 when we see the name John Galt. Turns out he was an author, entrepreneur, and founder of Guelph in Canada.

I haven't looked for the reason why Ayn Rand choose this name but could it be this guy who no one really knows of today except maybe some Canadians?

I dislike unknown feelings

2011-05-26T12:55:00.000-06:00

I have a feeling that I need to do something. I can't put my finger on it. I felt a couple of nights ago that I need to learn more about government. But I'm not sure that is what I feel right now. I feel like I need to go and do... something.

I've prayed about it this morning but no comfort for the feeling. It feels like tension in a way but not stress. Perhaps this is a sense of a need to do or MAYBE it's more like a need to become. Be come what?, I ask myself.

I felt so uneasy with President Obama saying to Israel that they should have borders similar to the 1960's. But I don't know why I feel uneasy about this. I feel emotional concerns for my country but I can't pinpoint what it is and I'm more sure that I don't even know myself because I haven't learned it yet.

There it is again! That negative thought " How can I do this when I don't have enough time." Ugh, I don't like having this feeling, so I'm going to get active with YASA stuff and see if it goes away. No, I don't want it to go away necessarily but rather if I can feel guided in some direction to take with it.

2011-05-26T12:20:00.003-06:00

“Don't say you don't have enough time.

You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michaelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein.”

H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Happy 12th Birthday...

2011-05-18T14:08:00.000-06:00

Here is the birthday girl on her 12th birthday which was celebrated yesterday. She and her mom got up at 5am and went to the Provo temple to do baptisms with the young women who happen to attend every Tuesday morning. It was wonderful to sit with my oldest daughter, second child, and talk about her growth and development as a daughter of God. We talked about rose buds opening into beautiful roses and how our journey from girlhood into womanhood can be related to the maturing of a rose bud into a rose flower. We hugged and held hands and so many people smiled and welcomed us because we were sitting at the entrance, waiting for the other girls to arrive.

My Tribute to Beth goes something like this. I am at times overwhelmed by the determination of this girl. She awakes herself about 6am showers, practices the piano, reads her scriptures. She already read the Book of Mormon this year and is working on the Doctrines and Covenants currently. She feeds her animals and loves to spend every spare minute in reading. And if that isn't enough, she is teaching herself Latin. I administered her first exam through the Christian Latina program and learned about derivatives from her. It was fun to find English words that originated in Latin.

Here's what's overwhelming to me. She isn't asked to do these things. She does it herself and has for many months now. Sometimes I worry she is going to be a major type A perfectionist and possibly have a hard time living with herself. I hope I can offer wise counsel though I feel completely inadequate for the greatness of the responsibility. I know, let the holy spirit guide...

I look at her and my other children and wonder who they really are or are to become potentially speaking. Beth is creative in writing and has enjoyed the idea of being a veterinarian or some form of an animal keeper since she was able to walk comfortably through the bayou when we lived in New Orleans. I often wonder what is going on in that mind of hers. Usually it is her imagination creating a story.

Happy Birthday Bethany! Your family loves you.

Third Tuesday...It's time for city council...let the balls bounce

2011-05-17T21:24:00.000-06:00

Guess whose late to the city council meeting tonight? I am! Not the council members for a change.

Pam Stowe is the city employee of the month for Provo! Way to go Pam. Sounds like you have a busy job getting a variety of things licensed in the city.

Public Comment time:

Charles walked up and asked how many of the council members rode thjeir bikes to work today. Just one. Sterling Beck.
Ms. Bean is against being charged if she and other citizens choose to not use the recycling bins. If you don't recycle, your going to be fined in some way with a regular monthly fee.

It's a quite night. It's Beth's birthday today.

Consent Agenda:
-Another budget retreat is planned for this Thursday. Changes to calendar.
-Getting Ready for the Convention Center: An Action Plan for Downtown: Street Lighting, Signage, Flower Baskets,
-City wants to sell two acres.
-Facade Grant Program hasn't been used well enough and changes need to be made part of the downtown area issue.

Hot dog, the city council meeting finished in less then 50 minutes to night! Lets go home.

See ya, wouldn't want to be ya.

2011-05-17T09:35:00.003-06:00

"It was the small Tolstoy's Diary, I casually took it down from the shelf and opened it at random. My eyes fell on the following words: "To deceive oneself is worse than to deceive others." These harsh words pierced me to the core...."

He continues to say, "Tolstoy provided the staff of life on which I nurtured my soul. Tolstoy said that one should not deceive oneself and that the voice of conscience is the voice of God. I determined to live according to these ideas."

Teen Volunteer Board

2011-05-08T20:40:00.000-06:00

I forced my son to attending the Provo Library Teen Volunteer program last week. Force is probably the right word here. He said maybe and I said, "yes, you are going and I think you'll like it." It was one of those say go be dos I've been blogging about at http://iwillsaygobedo.blogspot.com

Not only did he like it, Beth was able to attend and they helped move boxes for an upcoming event, ate candy (probably the clincher for Eli) and played some games. Sadly it was the last meeting until September but I figure it was a good way to introduce them. I think Beth will love this opportunity to hear more about books. Eli could use some friends who are male and like to read so I will have to see what happens this fall. I realized this is a great experience to add to their resume of life. Spending the next years volunteering at the local library. It's a good idea after all. I'm thankful to have listened to the prompting to say yes.

Hard at work...

2011-05-07T21:14:00.000-06:00

500 tiles and 11 hours later, we have finally finished tiling for the day. There were times when I wasn't much help with three great kids to do the work of a demanding dad who knows how to work construction and expects that tools be handed in the proper fashion, that you know what he wants before he asks for it. While I wasn't needed, I was nonetheless busy with yard work. I have the sunburn to show for it too. And now the family is watching our new favorite movie, Megamind.

I was down loading pictures from my camera tonight and I see I'm way behind in posting activities. I think I'll just add some shots here but with now explanations.

The ball begins to bounce...

2011-05-03T20:57:00.000-06:00

May 3rd City Council

What's the deal? I'm in my seat but there isn't a city council to begin the meeting. Oh, now they come just 20 minutes late. I wonder what was going on??? Fighting maybe. It has happened in the near past.

Did you know that May is National Community Action Month? I just learned this because I'm setting next to the director of the local Community Action Food Bank. The mayor is going to announce a proclamation.

We are now trying to watch a youtube with Gunnar Legas a local boy who has a major throwing arm and he just gave the opening prayer. This kid looks like he's going to be the next Jimmer of football.

-Approving of April's minutes.

-Here comes the proclamation! Community Action started in 1964. Myla, the director said she sure does appreciate the scouts food drive.
-Public Comment Time: I hope someone with a crazy idea gets up. It will make the evening so more exciting if not humorous...
-Laura is up expressing concern that she saw a youth driver on Center St. texting while driving over the via duct.
-Diane is concerned that at today's work session she heard the council considering changing how they store data. Maybe less paper minutes and rely on recorded material as the permanent record. She is concerned that with changes in technology these electronic data will be lost at some point in the future.
-Lindsey is concerned with issues related to the upcoming election. He has heard a rumor that there is a council member/s who might be considering running again because of the health benefits, and other things.
-Consent Agenda:
-Items one and two automatically approved.
-Item 3 property on the east side. passes
-Item 4 tentative budget presented by Mayor Curtis. Budget starts July 1st through June 30th of 2012. The mayor said they held 6 budget retreats to work on this budget. I wonder if they had not had the retreats if the balancing of the budget might have occurred sooner. (Just teasing) Revenues have bumped up a little bit he says. A citizen financial committee was also involved. Last year there was a cut of over 5 billion which has helped to restore some benefits to city government employees with this new budget. $153,726,464 is the proposed budget and the final adoption is June 29th. There's a lot of thank youing going on right now. Passed
The proposed budget is available to the public at the city web site, the library, and else where. June 7th and 14th is public hearing unless some other thing comes up.

-Item 5 This is dealing with the road up near Seven Peaks. The Master Plan guy is saying it is right to keep the road on the plan. Lets see, I closed my computer a good 20 minutes ago. The guy is going on in a monotone voice. But now council member Cynthia Dayton is asking questions and here is what I think is a sudden insight of probable nonsense; I think she is now thinking of running after all and she is going to push to have this road stop. She is going at the cost and the oddness of forming a road for bikes. She has driven her car during high traffic times and has had no speed interruptions. She is planning something. It's just a gut feeling but there is something brewing.
(my back has been injured for a few days and these chairs are not helping so I may leave soon)

100 and 27

2011-05-01T13:14:00.000-06:00

I should make you guess what the 100 and 27 mean. But I am getting hungry after a day of fasting and will be eating shortly.

So to the point!

100 is the number of fat pounds my good husband has lost since a time when we lived in New Orleans. He told me this good news this morning. Way to go Gove. I asked him to wear his new slacks and just a white dress shirt to church so that people could see the change. He told me after church that someone asked if he was sick. Nope. Just exercising, weight training and eating much better.

Oh, and the 27 is my fat loss this year. After gaining 30 last year, after having lost 40 the previous year. Feels good. I love lifting weights and seeing the muscle form. It reminds me of my days in the army when I was a lean mean fighting machine. Gag.....

So I said something...

2011-04-26T21:42:00.003-06:00

I was leaving piano lessons this evening with Bethany, and was almost to the door when I thought I should tell Juliann, our piano mentor, about kifer and lacto-fermentation. I looked at her and said, "I feel I should tell you this so I'm just going to say it". I went on to tell her and then two other ladies told me they have kifer grains they can give me. I will make some kifer milk and bring some veggies I'm fermenting right now to Juliann next week.

Why did I say that? I'm not sure but I do know that Juliann is going through radiation therapy to fight a type of nerve cancer that was/is in her face. She will be expecting to get sores in her throat very soon. That is all I can say for the idea. Maybe it's to make her a bone broth and some soup? There are a lot of maybes in my mind. I just don't know.

I heard the thought and I acted. What will come I'm not sure. Maybe this will get the other ladies to do something since I had no idea they know about Nourishing Traditions.

Here is something that came to me yesterday:

I have decided to starts a girls club. I needed two co-advisers to help me. (I've thought about doing this in the past but did not take the idea seriously.) I called two gals who said they wanted to help. The first is Jessica, and it turns out we know each other from a George Wythe class we took. She is cute, perky and happy. She reminds me of Tonks from Harry Potter. The second mom called me this morning and said she knows my husband. Carolyn grew up in Ramona and is actually a friend of a younger sister, Elary.

Point? True it's a small world but not my point. My point is that I acted; and look who God sent me. Two women who have connections with me.

This Say Go Be Do Challenge so reminds me of the movie Field of Dreams. "If you build it, they will come."

An Easter Declaration...

2011-04-24T06:57:00.002-06:00

“In our hour of deepest sorrow, we can receive profound peace from the words of the angel that first Easter morning: ‘He is not here: for he is risen.’”

“As one of His special witnesses on earth today, this glorious Easter Sunday, I declare that this is true, in His sacred name—even the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior—amen.”
—President Thomas S. Monson

This is my testimony also. Jesus lives. He atoned for our sins, he is here to strengthen us. We can reach out in humble prayer asking for comfort and guidance. We can say yes to the promptings of the Spirit. We can learn to forgive just as Jesus did and does today. I know my Redeemer lives. What comfort this sure knowledge gives. I am striving to go where He wants me to go. I'll strive to be what He wants me to be. I try to say what He wants me to say, and I'll continue to do what He wants me to do by getting up and trying again and asking for hel[p where I'm falling short. (Which is often but it isn't going to stop me.)

It can take just a few seconds of time....

2011-04-23T22:22:00.001-06:00

I had planned to hold devotional every day this week. The truth is it didn't happen. We've been putting up drywall, wiring, and applying drywall compound this week. Probably excuses, but I wanted to support my husband as he is doing all this work for me. (This new area of our basement is going to be used for clubs and youth classes starting this fall.)

One of the most important weeks of history is this week leading up to tomorrow, Easter Sunday. Having finished our fourth box of compound mud at about 8:30 pm, and being tired, I thought I'd go to bed. However, the idea (saygobedo) came to my mind to go through the pictures from the new art book we purchased last year at the church distribution center. I called the kids around Gove and I and with in minutes we talked our way through the stories of Jesus and came to his final days. I started to feel rather emotional. I realized that what was occurring at this moment tonight was probably just as meaningful as spending each day this week going through the last days of the life of Jesus. It was very tender to have the Holy Ghost witness and confirm this mission having been fulfilled that Jesus was sent to do by his Father. And then it was over, and Beth gave a touching family prayer for the night.

It would have been easy to ignore this feeling this evening after all the work of the day. I'm glad I didn't do just that. Ignore. I'm most thankful to be willing of heart and mind to take the 30 Day Say Go Be Do Challenge as it is helping me already to see, and feel, the guidance of a Loving Heavenly Father and of His son Jesus Christ.

The other interesting thing about this experience is that I have wondered if I've missed some saygobedos the past few days because I have not had personal scripture study. I do know how vital that can be to me as I strive to take on the idea of seeking out and acting on promptings.

Tonight was also an answer that my Heavenly Father was hearing my thoughts, feelings, and concerns of my heart and mind today. This is very comforting.

A sudden idea...

2011-04-21T21:03:00.000-06:00

This afternoon while I was waiting for Mattia at her Take Flight class, a sudden idea, an epiphany, a saygobedo came into my mind.

I was thinking about the YASA club I'm starting for my girls and others girls in the valley. We meet on the 20th of next month, and I was wondering about what our first activity will be if I don't get the committee members together prior to our first club meeting. I was also thinking about gardening and mini-factories that I just read about in Oliver DeMille's book The Coming Aristocracy, when my mind was enlightened....

We can do a YASA garden right next to the entrance to our basement level! The earth is ready for planting and it feels like the right way to start our club together. The girls can bring sprouting plants or we can do seeds of both veggies and flowers.

Peace has come to my mind about that aspect. We will need a service project too.

Humble Pie....

2011-04-19T20:22:00.007-06:00

I have held a grudge against a Provo city employee for almost two years. But not any longer. This all started with the Farmers' Market and feeling accused of not paying our rental fee. I didn't appreciated the accusations which where not true and I was able to verify the payment. But being me, I just decided to not like this woman for two years! Gove helped me to see that maybe I should consider how hard things were for her as she was new to running the market. I tried to think along these lines and I came to see that I have been wrong and I would need to go and apologize to her.

As I came up to the council meeting room, there she was waiting at the door. I went right up to her and asked to speak with her. I said this was going to sound funny but I had held a grudge against her and I was wrong and want to ask her forgiveness. She was quick to forgive and apologized herself to me. She was very nice and explained how she was on blood pressure medication and her body wasn't responding. True I wasn't the only person unhappy with her. But really, for me to dislike her for 2 years has been pitiful and prideful.
We parted happily and on good terms. Once I was sitting and the council meeting was running, she came and gave me a peace offering of 6 Hersey candies. She actually seems quite nice. It's so hard to know when you first judge a person. Of which I am almost queen of.

Say go be do...I'll just keep working at it.

P.S. It's now Wednesday morning and I was writing in my journal...I realized that last nights opportunity was not a coincidence. I feel that my Heavenly Father gave me this opportunity, or rather made it for me to take a hold of because I have been trying to obey the prompting of the Holy Ghost even in things I would not have thought as spiritual promptings. I see this as a gift to repent and have made amends. I'm thankful.
What we give comes back in return in the way that we need it.

April 19th Provo City Council Meeting...

2011-04-19T19:29:00.004-06:00

I apologize, my bladder would hold no more, I missed the opening ceremony this evening.
I followed through with a Say Go Be Do when I made it to the meeting chambers as well! I'll post it at I Will Say GO Be Do.

Currently an award was given to Jason of the Provo Fire dept., A Proclamation given by the Mayor for Utah County's Prescription Take-Back Day. There was a long range budget presentation as well. Ms. Everett is speaking. She said they are trying to really get real with this years budget.

I noticed the council has been having retreats to deal with "issues". How much does that cost? Where do they hold these retreats? I don't believe these are open to the public. But then again I haven't asked about it yet.

Public Comment:
Melanie McCord has questions about Spring Creek Park. Another resident has concerns about the breakdown of her neighborhood. She is concerned about possibility of drug activity going on. Wayne Parker is aware of the area and says the site has been under surveillance.

Consent Agenda: no discussion was given.

Redevelopment Agency:
This is the CDBG program. Wanting to target the money to areas where there will be the best results shown with the funds. Two programs: 1. A loan of $20,000 with a differed loan of _____years. If it's a rental, the owner will need to have low income renters. 2. Brush of Kindness program that was seen in Ca. A grant for very low income, elderly, disabled. The grants are about $5,000 for painting and ______. It needs to be repaid within three years if the owner moves during that time. They have no money right now for this proposed project. They hope the money will come in. They just want to establish a future program. The funds are supposed to come from the selling of particular homes but the homes are not selling so there is no money.

Action Items:
5. Talking about Spring Creek Park. Sterling wants to pass $1 to the park. His purpose is to keep this park on the councils agenda . This park lost about $150,000 (if I remember correctly) and it was given elsewhere. So there is much discussion. Midge did second Sterling's proposal but now she wants to change and is speaking to Roger_____who said he has an agent looking into Spring Creek properties to purchase. There isn't any development money right now.
Discussion about the history of plans for parks in Provo.
A new motion was finally passed for $5,000 and it was passed by the board. Gove just told me that Sterling asked for $3,000 in the study meeting and his idea was coldly received. Now they all accepted $5,000. I wonder what happened?

#7 I'm tired, hungry, and thirsty. That's not a good combination for listening attentively. This agenda item is related to a plan to build a 12 unit complex in the Maeser neighborhood. The design looks nice. People are here to stand against this complex and are giving their points of view. Habitat for Humanity does not want this complex built either. The property is behind Allens Grocery Store on 3rd South near State Street.
Mr. Allen of Allens Grocery spoke for the project as well as a man who lives next to the lot.

8. Sorry to all you important people who are reading this. I'm tired and need to go home before a headache comes on ...sleep

No permanent damage... for any of us...

2011-04-18T20:59:00.008-06:00

The good news is that my sister Carrie, is out of the hospital today. She broke her neck in a skiing accident yesterday. Fortunately the break did not involve the spinal cord. She broke either the transverse or spinous processes. So the good news is that she doesn't need surgery and has to wear a neck brace for the next 4ish weeks. Such a blessing.

We learned last week that Grandpa V. has liver cancer. We will learn of the plan of attack later this week.

This morning was one of those days when I felt I needed to go to the temple. I wanted to add a number of family names to the prayer roll and I needed to feel the peace I find when I attend the temple, send time in prayer, service and scripture study. It was a nice experience for me.

I had a Say Go Be Do that I didn't follow through on while leaving the temple. I felt I should have spoken directly to a sister from church who was there with a group of ladies from my neighborhood. As I said hi in general I thought that was good enough. BUT no, just as I'm leaving, I felt I should have touched and spoken directly with Betty. But I said no to myself because it would have been odd to return and do just that.
I realized I talked myself out of a SGBD moment. As I drove home I decided I would go see her and explain later.
Later was just after 8pm when I told Gove about it. He told me to get down there and tell her. I went like a diligent wife. I was somewhat shy but I just said what I was doing with this challenge, explained how I didn't listen to an idea that came to me and I was now at her home to wish her a good week.
It turned out we had a nice conversation that would not have occurred at the temple. Did I miss at the moment when the idea came? I thought I did. But now I don't think so. I had the idea, I didn't follow at the moment but I did make a plan to go, I did go later, and I and she had a nice experience.
My conclusion is that it's not that you have to act at the moment with every Say Go Be Do (some you really must act right then) but you do need to write it down and make a plan for how you will accomplish the prompting and follow up with writing what the outcome was.

If you would like to follow or be a part of Say Go Be Do, please come to:
I Will Say Go Be Do

Truancy protesters become volunteers

2011-04-17T20:20:00.001-06:00

Happy Birthday!

2011-04-15T11:26:00.004-06:00

"I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do."

Will you accept the Say Go Be Do challenge?

I think Mr. da Vinci did.

Happy Birthday Mr. Leonardo da Vinci 1452

Oops...A not so say go be do moment

2011-04-14T22:23:00.004-06:00

Should I write those 4 words separately, or make it one long compounded word? I like it as one word myself.

This morning I decided to quickly follow on an idea to call BYU and add Eli and Beth to the Ballroom Dance Camp. I've had the idea since Monday and I had just put it off until today. As I called registration and was actually talking to Ben (who was very friendly and helpful) I had the feeling I should have talked with Gove more fully on this idea. But I just as quickly told myself that I was following an impression and I ought to go forward.

Bad idea. It turned out that Eli has scout camp the same week and a girl can't register without a male partner. Oh sure there is a waiting list that has over 40 girls hoping for a partner. I often consult my spouse. But I didn't this time. I had to go back and cancel the whole thing.

So often I am such a silly person. I just went full steam ahead without thinking wholeheartedly. All the same I'm thankful to see the need to express gratitude to my Heavenly Father for His guidance through the promptings of the Holy Spirit, to pause and realize what I'm feeling and say what that is, pull back and take the time to follow through systematically, feel again, and then move.

It's o.k. I'm learning...

A good saygobedo happened for Beth tonight. She came to me just prior to 10pm and said she felt the ducks should be put into a cage for the night. I was about to talk her out of it when I saw that she came to me with a feeling of saygobedo and I could not snuff it out for her. I supported her and went out with her. The ducks were sitting outside the hen house so I too think it was a good idea to have followed on the impression she had. Good for you Beth.

My saygobedos...

2011-04-13T23:14:00.005-06:00

I started to seriously pay attention to my promptings (saygobedo's) three days ago. And some fun things have occurred.

On Monday, I felt I should have a quick, personal, interview with each child about what they wanted to learn. I did it. And through following a saygobedo moment, I learned that Beth wants to study Latin and Mattia wants to study Greek and Astronomy. Eli wants to just float along and maybe listen to Spanish.

(Funny thing is, I have all those materials just waiting to be used.)

Also on Monday, I purposefully paused in my day to listen to my mind for some ideas that I might have been pushing back. None came at the time.

Tuesday was just yesterday but I didn't write and now it's out of my head. Rats...

Today was great! About a week ago I had a feeling I should apply for a board/commission with two of our city public agencies. I chose the Provo Library and the Parks/Recreation Dept. Since then the thought has come to go and introduce myself. Yikes!

So there I was at the library today with our girls when I decided I would follow that saygobedo, throw caution to the wind, and see what came out of it. I was almost to the administration office when a nice gentleman asked if I needed help. I knew instantly he was the man I was coming to see. I said his name. It was him and he told me he knew me. (Which later we learned he doesn't know me) but was just looking over the applications for the board. I was invited to his office. We had a great conversation and there was nothing to fear but fear itself.

Today, Mattia started her Greek lessons with the alphabet. This evening I had another saygobedo and knew I should watch the astronomy lesson from The Teaching Company with her. This was so neat. The lesson was fine but it was my daughter that I was watching who was amazing. First of all, many constellations came from Greek names and here she is studying that language. Secondly, the girl knew about the right shoulder of Orion being called something like Betelgeuse (sound like beetle-juice). Her mind was completely open to learning today and she new this. She recognized that she was excited to learn. So much so that she reached out and held my hand just to ground herself I think with the reality of how she was feeling. She knew she was growing. I'm so glad to have shared that moment with her. Fun, fun, fun.

Lastly, I was walking over to a presidency meeting this evening and I knew I would need to stop and speak to a sister I had not seen for a few weeks. As I came up to her house, there she was outside. I've never seen her outside her home so it was perfect timing. I listened, decided to walk, was even short on time, yet listening paid off for both of us.

It's a start. I made phones calls instead of saying I'd do it later. The same with emails. I can't say how often I plan to get back with someone. But planning to is just the same as not doing it. Go for the action.

I know I missed some impressions too. It does take time to be aware... Now I can go to bed.

Wanted

2011-04-08T20:28:00.005-06:00

Are you up for a new challenge?

Feeling like you should be doing something but not clear how to go forward?

Do you feel the need to change something, or some part about the way your going about life, going about learning, going about listening, and even how you're going about making excuses toward promptings?

Have I got a deal for you.

I'm looking for a few good friends who will form an Integrity Team with me as we take the SAYGOBEDO 30 day blog challenge.

All you need to do is purchase Tiffany's book, read it, commit to learn, fail (failure is part of succeeding), learn some more, and find out more about yourself, and blog your experiences.

There are things I want to improve upon. I have been ignoring (like for over a year now) impressions to start certain classes for my practice scholar children. A few weeks ago, I attended a Jackrabbit Factor class and decided then and there that I will start to follow through on these impression and find a way to go about changing my thinking from 'I want to/I can't do that' to 'I am doing'. I have been full of excuses as to why I'm not qualified. I'm going to move beyond this negative thinking. I've not done this before so I hope for assistance from others who also want to take the SAYGOBEDO 30 day challenge.

Who will partner with me???

Mayor Curtis sent me a letter...

2011-04-08T20:06:00.001-06:00

Lunch with the Pro Provo Partnership...

2011-04-06T15:43:00.004-06:00

I attended a luncheon with my husband yesterday. This semi-monthly activity is sponsored by the Pro Provo Partnership which meets for lunch every 1st and 3rd Tuesday. (You buy your own lunch.)

I was a little fearful as I was the only female and some of the men seemed rather wired (high strong) and perhaps this is a mans club of business owners I thought and maybe woman are not welcomed.

Thank goodness my impression changed quickly. Anyone is welcomed.

The group would like more woman who care about the city to participate and being business owners is good too. That's when I remembered that I am a Provo city business owner. I felt much better when that thought came to my attention. I did belong after all.

The group meets at an accommodating local Provo restaurant, they talk about life, business, politics, legislature activities and who knows what else.

On this particular day, a man spoke about the upcoming Good Landlord Program. Sounds like a good way to keep apartments safer, and decrease service costs to the owners if they participate. It also sounds (to my ears and mind) that it's a way to push out criminals. The program informs the landlord when a tenant is questioned (I think) about a crime they may be involved with. This then allows the landlord to evict the renter. I'm sure there is much I'm not clear on but that is the gist of it. Other cities in SLC area are having great success with a decrease in crime and increase in income. Of course, the applicant who is seeking a rental unit will have to have a back ground check and pay for that. I remember doing this is Yakima, Wa. It was no big deal and I would rather be sure of no(certain types) of criminal records if I was living in an apartment complex.

I wonder if this is a way to address truancy and the connection with gangs...

"In an organization, your stewardship begins with yourself and then extends to the welfare and interests of the organization, the people you lead, and even beyond."

"Leadership is a proving ground. It will put pressure on your beliefs about stewardship and self-interest and the relationship between the two. The question will be whether you consistently put stewardship first."

April 5th City Council Meeting...

2011-04-05T19:08:00.002-06:00

I'm feeling a tad guilty tonight. It's my R.S. presidency meeting evening and I'm not there. I did check in and learned that we were only meeting for 30 minutes so maybe I shouldn't be feeling bad after all. I'm off to the city council meeting then...

.

Neat. It sounds like the city is giving awards to citizens, who have been voted by neighborhood chairs, as being good neighbors.
First: A plumber, Chris Dever. He recently wrote a book titled The Cracked Plumber.
Second: Amy Smith of Joaquin neighborhood. Help with revitalizing the area.
Third: LDS Missionary Training Center in care of Richard Heaton, for interacting with its neighbors.
Fourth: Nuskin, Brent Goddard for giving over 2 million VitalMeals with "Feed the Children" and helped over 800 local families recently.
Fifth: From Provo So. areas, Kandis Gasdik lots of participation in general.
Sixth: Andy and Shawn Howell of Foothills Neighborhood.
Seventh: North Timpview for Eric Anthony and his up keep of his business complex, Edgemont Pharmacy Complex.
Eighth: Troy Carter of Provost Neighborhood. Apparently he sales at the Farmers Market too.

Open Comment Time: I just heard Midge Johnson say that the public comments are limited to a total of 15 minutes. The city council was asked by a neighborhood chair to turn off their cells and texting activities since the opening remarks ask the citizens to not use these devices.

Moving on to the Consent Agenda: Item 4: Are you aware that Frontier Airline is coming to Provo? It's true. I think the big push to let the people know will be in two weeks. Sterling Beck doesn't want the full body scan being used by TSA. Someone quickly came up to the mayor and apparently said TSA isn't going to use the fbs right away so Sterling's proposed amendment died.

Action Items: #5 authorizing the issuance of up to $39 million of general obligation bonds for the purpose of financing the cost of a recreation center. A Chicago company is going to purchase all of the bonds (not following this, but I'm going to learn). In 20 years, it's going to cost over 60 Million dollars. I wonder if this is going to be used to justify so much money. Probably so. Interest rates... And the city got a good deal at 4.1 %

Item __ : I didn't get this item number but I remember when the council provided money for Spring Creek Park. The people were excited and went home. At the next meeting, the council took the money and gave it to the downtown area for improvements. Tonight the council was approving money over $300,000 to another park that apparently is getting soccer fields. Council member Beck proposed to take $100,000 from this park and return it to the Spring Creek park because the city had granted the money and took it without any representation from the people. Council woman Everett took great offense to him proposing this now instead of at the work session. The proposal was killed and the original item didn't pass by votes either and so it goes to the next work meeting..I think.

Item 6 and 7: It's this mining and grading issue along the Slate canyon area. Steve Turley stepped off the dais. There are just 4 members to vote on this issue. If you move more then 50 yards of cubic material, you will need a permit. How much is fifty cubic yards? One cubic yard of top soil weighs 1.5 tons! My neighbor is here tonight and apparently her family (Thorn) were the ones who first started the mining along Slate canyon and she feels such sadness to see how the area was changed and hopes it stops. A number of other citizens are speaking about this too.
Item 6 will have some work discussion regarding penalties. Item 7 passed.

That's all folks.

Truancy Task Force application button not working???

2011-04-03T06:07:00.002-06:00

On March 15th, Mayor Curtis told I and Gove that he had not received any applicantions for the task force from Provo's home schooling community. We said we applied on the 2nd of March.

Last week a local citizen had an appointment with the Mayor and this subject came up and again, Mayor Curtis said no home schooling parents had applied.

This is perplexing to me. I personally know of four others besides myself who have submitted their names. Plus two other people have emailed me in the past three days stating that they too submitted their name and have not heard back. I know of one home school mother who had an interview scheduled on the 30th of March. I hope to hear back from her by Tuesday as I'm going to give a report to the city council (and to the mayor) as I am now a participating citizen of Provo.

Gove is confident that the online submission button was not working the first few days. (He has contacted the city/mayor about this. There has been no response back to him). We actually resubmitted our names once Gove saw the problem back on the 16th/17th of March. This may explain why the Mayors office only received one applicant from the Charter schools as well.

I think its possible that Mayor Curtis may not know either. For goodness sakes, he sent us a thank you card last week and did not even mention the task force. Which makes me think he didn't read our letter or his "own" thank you card. Did you read it Mr Mayor?

So who knows what's really going on.

I have my thoughts all the same....

Getting involved: Provo Boards and Commissions...

2011-04-03T05:30:00.013-06:00

I was awake mighty early this morning.
(It's April 3rd and we must have 5 inches of wet, heavy, snow out side. Not to mention the wind is blowing and it does not look like a day you would want to be going anywhere. Thank goodness it General Conference!
What a lucky day.

Talk about luck, I have been wondering how to go about offering my name to serve on a local board here in Provo. I found my answer through the Mayor's blog site. Thank you Mayor Curtis (who likes it if you call him John).

I bet your wondering which boards I placed an application with? All right, I'll tell you. First, I must say that I have wanted to be involved with the Provo Library for some time. The librarians are always helpful to me and our children. (Though, at times, I am disappointed that they don't have all of the great literature on history that I've wanted for our children). Nevertheless it is a fine library with room for growth and always room for improvement. Don't we all have areas to improve? I know I do. So yes, I applied for the Library Board.

Secondly, I decided to apply with the Parks and Recreation Board, because we use the parks and even reserve a park on a yearly bases. I and the kids love South Fork Park. We would love to see more museums locally (if that is possible), and last summer I took the kids to the city cemetery and we had a wonderful time looking for, and finding, the oldest grave sites. I appreciated the cemetery and the reverence we felt there. I would like to volunteer my help in this area of Provo too.
What I lack in information I can certainly learn and discover through research.
Plus, this type of volunteering will be seen by our children and we as a family can each learn together.
It's a win win for all.
I have the time, talents, and desire.
They have the say so...

PALMS is back in business...

2011-03-26T21:33:00.007-06:00

I started the Provo Area Leadership Mentoring Society with my husband Gove in 2007. We offered weekly discussions throughout the school year and bimonthly book discussions during the summer months. After two years, we decided to take a break. We ended August 2009 having finally made it through all of the Federalist and Anti-federalist papers along with many other books.

Time passed..., I was happy...,then one day in the not so distant past, I wondered to myself and asked what would be coming next. Boy, was that a loaded question!

I don't recall if we decided to start PALMS before or after the protesting of early March and frankly it doesn't matter. The fact is we felt it was time to get going again.

Last night, we welcomed eight members of the community for a colloquium about Arthur C. Brooks' book, The Battle. Personal examples of what happened to one family when they decided to used government assistance while in school, and their decision to get off of all assistance because they felt more and more pressure to sign up for more and more help that they didn't even need.

Happiness has never lasted long when things are given to you. Happiness comes though earned success and our American welfare system does nothing to develop earned happiness. The thought of redistribution of our hard earned money through more taxing, knowing full well that the people who receive that money will have no idea how to use it to grow and improve themselves and continue to be unhappy because they are not willing to earn their happiness just makes me sick, sad, stunned, and stupefied.

Two books were recommended: 1st: A Item to Choose and 2nd Bridges out of Poverty

If you would like to joining us in April or May, please go to the link below for our reading schedule:

http://palms.gove.net/

P.S.
I will mention that the treat for the evening (and possibly future evenings) was (and might be again), Cinnabon cinnamon rolls that Gove made. He and I didn't have one, can you believe it! The verdict of the consumers was major thumbs up. Perhaps you will get lucky on Friday night as well. Just remember to bring your spouse.

2011-03-24T20:59:00.007-06:00

Gove has been busy for a number of evenings posting at his website the details of our experience when we protested against Provo city's ordinance for a daytime curfew. Our goal is to provide what we did and learned leading up to the protest, the protest itself, and our actions after wards.

You can read and learn from two people who have never before been involved in such an activity.

Here is the link: http://www.provocitycouncil.com/home/

It seems to me that this information would be valuable to any group that is seeking help for the first time and needs some direction and guidance.

Does the city planning commission hear the citizens???

2011-03-23T20:49:00.005-06:00

I'm attending my first planning commission meeting this evening.

Two big concerns are

1. The northwest connector road and
2. The connector road over on the east side from center street and seven peaks blvd. to 300 south.

This road on the east side sounds like it's something convenient for select people perhaps. It doesn't sound like the neighbors want this road at all. There will be 8 foot walls involved, lights, two right curves and a round about at each end. The projected cost is 1.5 million dollars.

The board is now talking about this as the public comment is over. It really sounds like this board isn't going to listen to the objections of the people! Not a single person came in favor of this road! Incredible!!! Then I heard that the 8 foot wall is a deal with the pipe lines being laid and the wall would go in without a road. Why do you need an 8 foot wall with pipes being laid? Are the pipes above ground. Highly doubtful. The city person said the group needs to offer an alternative.

How many people know about a 'Master Plan' for their city?? I never did. It sounds like as a home owner it is our job to learn about this plan before buying your home to see what is planned for in the future that could affect your property value.

This is crazy. The "wall" is the property of the state. I think the state being the state mental health hospital.

They voted to keep the road going forward. Now the citizens will have to present their protest to the city council.

They've gone global...

2011-03-21T20:59:00.004-06:00

This morning, I received a call from what I think was a call center in India. I was told that the report on the kids bakery was in the Standard Journal and we would receive a digital copy of a plaque we could have made of the news report if I just gave the man, with the very heavy English accent, my email. I quickly looked on the web and could not find the Standard Journal and he could not tell me what state this journal was in, but I did find a web site in India that was carrying the article. I said no thanks as we already have many copies of our local Daily Herald paper.

BUT here's the amazing thing. The Associated Press did pick up the story and it's been printed or added to web news sites all over the United States (don't forget India). How funny. Well I guess that was ours/theirs fifteen minutes of fame at any rate.

Responding to truancy?

2011-03-21T20:50:00.000-06:00

What, if anything, should Utah Valley communities do to combat school truancy?

The Provo Municipal Council has been considering a daytime curfew, making truancy -- skipping school -- a criminal offense. It formed a task force to study the issue. Within 24 hours, nearly 40 people signed up to take part. That may indicate some depth of concern, or perhaps the level of opposition.

Local authorities believe that enforcement is key to keeping young people from going off on the wrong track. A daytime curfew is designed to jolt parents and kids alike.

Yet the idea presents problems. Home-school parents and kids protest mightily that police can't tell the difference between kids skipping school and kids who are getting a better education outside the restraints of the public school system.

Besides, many argue, making truancy a criminal offense is extreme.

Out of Provo's 15,000 students, 2,000 have received a letter dealing with potential truancy concerns, but a lot of those letters deal with trivial matters like tardies. Only about 200 cases have been referred to juvenile court.

So perhaps heavy-handed truancy enforcement is a remedy looking for a problem.

Officials worry that truancy often translates into ruined lives. We would challenge that. Is truancy the cause of troubled lives? Probably not. It is a symptom.

Some education experts assert that 75 percent of chronically truant students will end up being high school dropouts. No surprise there. Being a dropout correlates to crime, poverty and other social problems. But correlation does not prove the cause.

In the Nebo School District, with about twice the number of students as in Provo, between 300 and 400 are in truancy prevention programs. About 85 kids will attend court.

Is that a large enough number to warrant heavy enforcement? And will enforcement save kids from their failing families? Probably not.

An alternative for Nebo District is the attendance court program. It tries to get the school, students and parents to work together to improve attendance and grades.

In the Alpine School District, out of 66,000 students, 136 students were seen in juvenile court last year for habitual truancy; 263 were referred to truancy school last year. Offered by the district in the evenings, it gives parents and students classes taught by a police officer.

School resource officers in each high school play a big role, Alpine officials say. Other places have tried a variety of steps, some of them eye opening.

Maybe technology can help. Districts across the country have instituted robo-calls exhorting students to get up and get to class. In other places, parents get automatic text messages if their children fail to show up at school.

Some districts have tried the upbeat approach. New York City has tried a program called WakeUP NYC. Automated calls from sports and entertainment celebrities are meant to get students motivated.

So imagine the phone ringing, and a kid who doesn't want to go to school picks it up and hears a taped message from a basketball legend: "Morning! It's me, Magic Johnson here. I won five NBA championships and an Olympic gold medal, so I'm calling the shots today. Get up out of bed, into school, try hard, do well."

Here the kid rolls over and goes back to sleep.

Other places are trying a tougher approach. Schools in cities such as Dallas, Anaheim, Calif., and Baltimore, Md., have tried having habitual truants put on GPS devices.

Will that solve problems in their home lives? Doubtful. But authorities can now track down those cutting class. And it gives teenagers a way to repel peer pressure: "Hey, I'd like to hang out, but with this thing on, I can't go anywhere with the cops finding me." We suppose, also, that gang members and other punks don't want to hang out with someone being so closely monitored by The Man.

When San Antonio tried such a program, grades improved and the attendance rate hit 97 percent for students in the program.

So there are ways to force kids to sit in a chair. We're not convinced that addresses their individual needs so much as it addresses a school district's need for seat time, since that's the way they get funding.

Civil libertarians have objected to the "Big Brother" aspects of the GPS program.

A more personal approach has been offered in more than 200 districts nationwide. That seems more promising. Check And Connect pairs up students with professional, full-time mentors. Among the mentors' tasks is checking on students' attendance.

Yet for all these efforts, some students are not reached. This brings up the question: Should they be in school in the first place? Provo School District is extremely reluctant to expel students for truancy. And in Utah education is compulsory.

Is it time to question the basic premise?

If a teenager is adamant about not going to school, there may be little to keep him or her there. Why not move them into trade programs and get them working?

Hard-core truants are unlikely to be gaining much even when forced to sit in a chair. The time and energy required to drag them into school may not be worth it.

City Council Meeting...it's a new beginning for me...

2011-03-15T17:08:00.009-06:00

It's 5:10pm and here I am at the Provo city council study meeting. I missed the first item, and currently the council members are discussing increasing fees (Item B) for garbage, recycling, and yard waste cans. It sounds like they are thinking of three cans for $20 month. Black cans would go up to $12.50 /month. Motion to move to April 5th work session.

Item D: Next item sounds like the city wants to pass an ordinance to perhaps remove mining and quarrying in the city. Turley stepped down because he has interest in the case.

Item E: Turley wants to step down again over discussion regarding grading ordinance text amendment. It appears Turley has a construction business. Motion failed and I think it just died.

Item F: Intoxicating chemicals: This is about Spice and it appears that this is related to the new ordinance in 2010 that was passed. The repeal will remove the entire ordinance and I think it will occur tonight.

Adjourning...

How exciting, once the council left for dinner, we spoke with Genelle Pugmire, who is an informed reporter for the Daily Herald. She wanted to present some ideas that the Colonial Days organizers are doing this summer and she has invited our children and us to participate. This sounds like a great educational opportunity for families in Provo and Orem. This group is trying to put together a full time colonial village in the coming years.

Hey, the council just congratulated the employee of the month and as the council members walked by Gove and I, Midge Johnson stopped and said to Gove that she has heard that he is going to run. He didn't say anything and then she said he should go for it. Rumors. Where or who started this???

Public Comment: My neighbor Carol Walters is standing to express gratitude for the Switch Provo plan. She is mentioning a forum she is having in May.

The Downtown chair person is speaking about the money that was allocated to a park and is very concerned about the appearance of downtown. (CDBG monies).

Next person talking about Proco city code ch 2 section 70, she is directly talking about Turley earlier and how he talks about the issue and then goes down to the audience.

Consent Agenda:
Everett has question about #1 She is requesting to remove item 1 that it would be lengthy. She now wants everyone to know of the $20,000 blade grant for businesses to know about and not feel like it went under the radar. She wants to know how often a city code is repealed? She is talking about the intoxicating chemical compounds associated with the ordinance passed regarding Spice. If I follow at all. It sounds like there is now/new state law and so the city wanted to go with the state law.

It appears that some money ($150,000) is going to be taken from a park (Spring Creek Park) grant and be put back into downtown improvements. I think what Beck is saying is that it's rude to go back now when there is no one here from the park support group. This is sounding very underhanded to me. This money sounds to be from some Federal grant. Why is the council/city taking this money. I wonder how many projects are being funded from money we, the city doesn't actually have? Things are heating up between Turley and Everett right now. Turley is asking for transparency for this issue. Sounds like this is going to a work session for April 5th.

Siblings baking up business...

2011-03-14T08:41:00.004-06:00

Siblings baking up business

Mark Johnston | Posted: Monday, March 14, 2011 12:25 am

Sisters Bethany and Mattia Allen, along with their older brother Eli, make their way through the N. Eldon Tanner Building at BYU with a cart full of bread from their bakery and a log book in hand. From door-to-door they sell sourdough and 10-grain bread that they baked at home for some very appreciative customers.

These three entrepreneurs and their business plan are off to a good start, having already made a good impression on Ronald Seamons, the assistant dean of the Marriott School of Management, one of their top customers.

"They're a package deal. The bread is really good, but seeing these kids run a business is impressive especially when you know their ages," said Seamons, as he purchased a loaf of sourdough at his office.

Eli, 13, runs the Bethlehem Bakery in Provo with his sisters Bethany, 11, and Mattia, 10. All three are home-schooled by their mother, Nickie Allen, who likes to take their lessons a step further in preparing the children for the world.

After baking started as a fun hobby two years ago for their father, Gove Allen, the children soon got involved helping out where they could. But as they grew a little older, Nickie Allen decided she could include the bread-making in the lessons she taught in their classroom.

"Whatever we're doing we try to relate to real life," Nickie Allen said.

Soon the simple process of baking bread was helping teach lessons in mathematics, kitchen hygiene and safety, teamwork, public speaking and even business.

With Utah's approval of cottage food production operations, and after they earned food-handlers permits, Eli, Bethany and Mattia were soon baking a variety of breads and selling them too. All the while their mother enjoyed the satisfaction of watching her kids learn what she considered the most valuable lessons of all: that there is value in free enterprise and being entrepreneurs; they shouldn't rely on others to take care of them; and they should never feel entitled to things that they hadn't earned themselves.

"The reason we decided to invest in this was really for the education of running a business," said Gove Allen, who is an associate professor of information systems at BYU.

And invest they did.

An empty room next to their classroom at home has steadily been transformed into the Bethlehem Bakery. Industrial-sized kitchen equipment, which they purchased piece by piece from surplus sales, has helped make the process much easier for the children.

Every Wednesday they bake, and every Thursday they make their sales. The children work independently with ease and confidence, relying on their parents' help only for the challenge of making sourdough.

It is a lot of work on top of their everyday classroom assignments, and some days their mother says they can still be kids and not feel up for the task of baking. But it's all worth it when the reward of payday comes around.

Half of all they make goes back into the business. After that, they each put 40 percent of their individual take into savings, 10 percent goes to givings, 10 percent to tithing and the rest goes into spending.

"Sometimes I don't want to put so much into savings, why can't I have some more spendings?" asked Mattia upon explaining her financial plan.

Bethany puts a majority of what she earns into taking care of her pet rabbits, and Mattia enjoys buying toys and books.

Eli, though, "he'll take himself out to eat," said his mother.

At one time they even saved all their earnings to take nearly a monthlong trip to Virginia where they explored Colonial America.

"Whatever they want to govern I cannot say no to," Nickie Allen said. "When it's their spending money, it's theirs to learn from, and if it goes quickly, too bad so sad."

Just another lesson that Eli, Bethany and Mattia have learned by running the Bethlehem Bakery.

And while they may not all turn out to be business owners or accountants in future, (Eli's favorite subject is history; Bethany loves animals, and Mattia likes art), this experience will benefit them much more than reading from any textbook.

• More information for the Bethlehem Bakery can be found online at facebook.com/BethlehemBakery.

--Way to go kids! We love you!!

Mom and Dad

Truancy plan needs input ... by the Daily Herald

2011-03-12T20:48:00.002-07:00

IN OUR VIEW

Posted: Sunday, March 6, 2011 12:02 am

Provo Municipal Council and Mayor John Curtis acted prudently in pulling back a proposed truancy ordinance for further work. This complex issue needs more community input, which is just what city leaders are trying to gather.

The original plan would have allowed police to issue misdemeanor citations to truant students. This would bring parents, the court system, and consequences into the situation, rather than just transporting the student back to school.

Officials say truancy is a growing problem. They cite a 100 percent increase in habitual truants just in the last five years. Moreover, they add, truancy is often a harbinger of gang activity.

The tougher truancy law is meant to flash bright warning signals before a teenagers gets in real trouble, especially gang activity. Juvenile justice authorities say such early intervention is key.

City officials add that daytime curfews have helped fight juvenile crime in other Utah cities, including Logan, Ogden and Murray.

Questions remain, however. Truancy is itself a minor infraction. Linking it to gang behavior still could be a case of looking at correlation, not causation.

Gang members, or wannabes, cut classes. Yet so do Ferris Buellers who otherwise wouldn't run afoul of the police or courts. Separating the wheat from the chaff is crucial here.

Nor is it clear to us that the court system is always the right cure. That is, sometimes a bad cough is a symptom of lung cancer. But you don't make everyone with a cough submit to surgery.

Also revealing was Tuesday's protest by 250-some parents and children, many of them home-schoolers. For our usually placid community, that was a significant event. They mostly were worried that such students, who aren't locked into school buildings from morning to mid-afternoon, will be hassled by police.

Moreover, this trend will only accelerate in the future and make it harder to even define truancy. In years to come, an increasing number students will be taught by their parents, or attend cyber schools, or graduate early. It will be harder and harder for police to differentiate between gang members who are cutting classes and other children who are getting an education yet avoiding the factory-like routine of many conventional schools. In short, making truancy a crime already may be obsolescent.

To look at all these issues in more depth, Provo City will be forming a truancy and youth crime task force with representatives from law enforcement, the justice system, public education, home-schoolers, charter schools and other interested parties. That's a nifty idea. Much more thought and much wider perspectives are still needed.

People are already signing up for it at provo.org. If you're interested in joining that group, or just providing input, go http://ProvoTruancy.notlong.com. We encourage interested residents to look into it.

Commendably, city government has been chewing on this issue very thoroughly. Our advice is to keep chewing.

Posted in Editorial, Opinion on Sunday, March 6, 2011 12:02 am Updated: 7:17 am. | Tags: Truancy, Gangs, Provo, Gang Task Force, Home Schoolers

Interview with BYU Channel 11, day of protest...

2011-03-12T20:36:00.001-07:00

Ouch, those beads can really hurt....

2011-03-08T19:56:00.004-07:00

Happy Mardi Gras
Hey Mister! Throw me something!

The truth:
I didn't write those previous posts. It was my good husband.

The result:
Now I'm even more writing shy. For example, a fellow Utah County citizen asked me to connect my blog with his to share ideas and concerns. I haven't had the heart to inform the poor guy that it wasn't my writing. No, I take that back. I'm sure there were at lest a few of my thoughts in all of that stuff regarding the curfew.

A new addition:
Hey, did you see my links for Provo? Over there on the right hand side, there's the mayor, the city, one councilman because that was all I could find, city council agenda/minutes, and city codes. Not a bad start for an amateur citizen.

Protesting does make a difference...

2011-03-04T20:12:00.004-07:00

News Clips...

2011-03-02T21:05:00.002-07:00

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

Congratulations! No daytime Curfew

2011-03-02T12:06:00.003-07:00

Dear Homeshcool (and other) Political Activists:

Wow. You are amazing.

Last Friday, when Gove and I decided that we needed to do something about the proposed daytime curfew ordinance in Provo, we thought we were too late. The Mayor's office was pushing for the ordinance as was the Provo school district. Our reading of the city council suggested that there were enough in favor for it to pass.

We invited concerned citizens to come to our home to meet with council member Sterling Beck to see what we might be able to do to influence the vote. We were kicking ourselves for not getting involved earlier.

The response to our invitation was great. Our home was full with concerned citizens (homeshoolers and other) who wanted to help. At that meeting we established a strategy to defeat the proposed ordinance. We would organize a protest and invite anyone we thought sympathetic to our cause to join. Still, with less than 48 hours to the vote, I was worried that we were too little, too late.... Boy, was I wrong.

This community stepped up to the challenge in a way that I would not have believed possible. You got the word out. You sent email out. You posted comments on your blogs, You talked to your neighbors, You contacted news papers and gave interviews to reporters. You contacted television stations and later found yourselves expressing your concerns on the evening news. You put other plans on hold and made arrangements to attend the protest. The local news picked up the story of the planned protest and we got the attention of both the mayor's office and the school district office. The mayor found himself answering reporters' questions about why he was supporting an action that would give police the authority to arrest six-year-olds. I'd be surprised if Greg Hudnell (of the Provo School District) was not answering similar questions.

By Monday Night, Greg Hudnell had issued a letter of apology regarding his support of the proposed ordinance. By Tuesday morning, the Mayor sent a letter to the city council formally withdrawing his support of the measure. At that time, we had successfully defeated this proposed ordinance--daytime curfew for Provo would not become law (this time).

This was an amazing turn of events and it happened in an extremely short time.

But that was not enough. Even though the measure was dead, you showed up to the protest anyway. Observers who work in the city offices said that they had NEVER seen a protest of this size at the city building. Together, we sent a clear message to the City Council, to the Mayor's office, and to the school district: making laws that trample citizen's rights and ignore the constitution will not be tolerated.

An oh boy, they got the message. The protest was covered by every major news organization in Utah County as well as many freelance photographers. We also got state-wide coverage as both Doug Wright and Rod Arquette devoted substantial blocks of time on their talk radio programs to the events. The only thing we did not have was national news coverage, but with only 36 hours notice, that might have been a bit much to expect--maybe next time.

Representatives of the city council tried to diffuse the issue by announcing that they were no longer considering the proposed ordinance, but that did not discourage this group. By the time the Municipal Council Meeting began at 7:00, the count of protesters (every one peaceful and respectful) had reached 250. To their credit, the Provo City Council gave time in the meeting to allow everyone who came to express concerns on the issue individually. For more than two hours, the council listened to person after person express the concerns with the way this measure had progressed. Even though the measure had been defeated, I was very pleased to see how patient and attentive the council remained. Although a few speakers took an accusatory tone with the council, the addresses were overwhelmingly respectful, well reasoned and persuasive. The Council took the time to hear our concerns, and from my reading of the event, they really listened.

The youngest to address the city council was Olivia Holt (about eight or nine years old) and was so small that she could not see over the podium. The council had to ask her to step in front it so the council members could see her. Here's the link to the segment with her address: http://provout.swagit.com/player.php?refid=03012011-295 (she makes her comments at time index 18:22).

This has been an unbelievable victory in many respects. First, it is a victory for every citizen of and visitor to the city of Provo. More importantly, it is a victory for our community who came together in an amazing way to influence the path that a community would take. Every child who held a protest sign and chanted "no daytime curfew" to amazed onlookers will long remember the day. They learned that peaceful protest can have a real influence in our community. They learned that they can make a difference. They learned that when a concerned, motivated, and dedicated group makes their voices heard, people listen.

My congratulations on a great job.

Now, we need to be sure that we don't fall asleep at the switch. Even though we defeated this measure in Provo, we need to be ever vigilant that we do not let similar measures advance in any community. To this end, we are organizing a event to jointly celebrate this success and take time to reflect on what went right as well as what we could have done better. Here are the details:

Pizza party to celebrate the defeat of the Provo daytime curfew
Saturday, March 5, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Allens' Home in Provo (854 N 1375 W)
For: Anyone who feels they contributed to the victory
RSVP: veronnicaallen@gmail.com
The Allens will provide the Pizza, everyone else should bring a side dish.

We will take some time at this event for adults and interested children to have a retrospective discussion of what went right and what we could have done better. Please join us.

Again, thank you for your participation. I remain deeply moved at how you united over this issue. I am honored to be a member of this community.

Nickie Allen. (with help from Gove)

Protest Still on for Today

2011-03-01T09:14:00.004-07:00

This morning Mayor Curtis, in a letter to the city council, withdrew the administration's support of the proposed ordinance for daytime curfew.

We are thankful for the mayor's willingness to consider the concerns of his electorate and seek a different avenue to address the city's truancy and gang problems.

However, it is more important now than ever that the protest that activity for the council meeting tonight remain on track. We have momentum now, and we have media coverage of the protest scheduled. The measure is still on the agenda for the Council Meeting this evening. This will not be the last attempt address truancy and gang violence and we need to get our message out that requiring citizens to carry ID to prove they have the right to remain in a public place is WRONG!

Please get the word out that this protest is still on and that it is more important now than ever.

Resposne to Melanie's comment

2011-03-01T07:32:00.002-07:00

Here is a comment that was made on my post about our meeting with Sterling Beck. My response to the comment was too long to fit in the comment section, so I have reproduced the comment here and offer my response below.

Comment made buy "Melanie":

Thank you for getting involved. Your attempt to give information and solicit protest is great! Unfortunately, some of your facts are incorrect:
1: No public comment will be allowed during study sessions.
2: No signs will be allowed in Council Chambers.
3: Comments about items on the agenda will not be allowed during the first "public comment" portion of the meeting.
4: Getting to the truancy ordinance may take a very long time. Children could be sitting for HOURS -- an unrealistic expectation?
5. Sterling Beck has shown on several occasions that he does not understand the ordinance. You should have invited someone else to brief you.

Melanie:

Thanks for taking the time to express your concerns. I'm really new at this and I acknowledge that I may not have all the details correct about everything.

Let's take a look at your concerns one by one:

1. No public comment will be allowed during study sessions.

I was unsure about this myself, having never attended a study session, My husband and I went to speak with the Deputy Attorney for the City of Provo, Ryan Wood (a regular participant with the city council in council meetings) to find out when concerned citizens could address the council. He told us that it is common in study session for the council to hear from citizens on issues on the agenda. When Council Member Beck was at our house we also asked him about it. He said that while the council is under no obligation to hear from the public in that meeting, the regularly do. He made it clear to us that, the fact, the council does have the authority to clear the chamber for their discussion. I expect that based on the amount of angst that this proposed ordinance has generated in the past 48 hours has made some members of the council uneasy about the prospect of allowing citizens of Provo to be heard in this venue. According, it now appears that the council is going to attempt to consolidate the discussion of this proposed ordinance into the municipal council session which begins at 7:00 p.m. I do find it interesting that in the agenda (http://www.provo.org/userfiles/downloads/council/councilagenda-2011_03_01_public.pdf) the start of the study session is listed as 4:00 p.m. while in the study packet(www.provo.org/userfiles/downloads/council/study_packet_1-4-11.pdf) it is shown as 4:30. My guess is that this inconsistency arose in last-minute shuffling to change the nature of the discussion to be allowed in the study session. This is an inconvenience but not a big deal.

2. No signs will be allowed in Council Chambers.

This is exactly what Council Member Beck told us. Our intent in organizing a peaceful protest with signs is for public visibility, to raise awareness about the issue with the voters of Provo. Accordingly, our planned use of the signs is outside the city complex. we hope that as council members come and go throughout the day, the will see us and understand that this is an issue that concerns us greatly. We intend to influence the minds of council with respect to the disposition of the proposed ordinance through reasoned argument, not vociferous protest.

3. Comments about items on the agenda will not be allowed during the first "public comment" portion of the meeting.

Thank you for this correction. I had misunderstood this point. What this means for us is that in the three minutes blocks ought not be used to address specific concerns with the proposed ordinance. Instead, concerned citizens should use the time to express broad concerns with the future direction of the council.

4. Getting to the truancy ordinance may take a very long time. Children could be sitting for HOURS -- an unrealistic expectation?

This is true, although I'm not sure why you have suggested this as a correction. The nice thing about the council chambers is that it is equipped with doors. Through these, people enter and exit the meeting while it is in progress. You are right, it would be unrealistic for anyone to expect that young children could sit calmly through the Municipal Council Meeting--I have trouble my self. Our main goal for inviting children is to get them involved with the protest, to get them actively involved in stopping a law that could have a very direct and negative effect on their lives.

Apparently, we agree that trying to get children to sit still for hour after hour is a bad idea. Yet, this what Provo City School District expects of the children in their care. Perhaps this is one factor that leads some children to choose truancy over study.

5. Sterling Beck has shown on several occasions that he does not understand the ordinance. You should have invited someone else to brief you.

Of all your comments, this one concerns me the most. I find it troubling that you could would suggest that it is inappropriate to invite a member of the city council to address a concerned group of citizens about a matter before the council. Are you saying that I should have chosen a different member of the council or do you believe that all members of the council do not understand (or are not capable of understanding) the ordinance?

Incidentally, we did not invite council member Beck to explain the ordinance--we are more than capable of understanding the short (but very poorly written) bit of proposed law. We invited him to help us understand what to expect as we began a direct campaign to sway the minds of the council to stop seriously considering this proposed ordinance.

The language of this proposed ordinance is clear, although its implication are less so. Somehow there seems to be a general feeling in our society (I believe intentionally perpetuated by some members of the council) that ordinary citizens could not possibly hope to understand the meaning conveyed by the language of any proposed ordinance. Instead, too many people believe that they must rely on "experts" to understand and decide if it is good for us. You seem to be among this group by the assumption that you have made that Beck's attendance was to explain the measure to the attendees. I hope you will take time to read the proposed legislation yourself and see if you don't agree that this would give authority to police officers to arrest six year old, first-time truants. See if you don't agree that it makes it a crime for business owners to knowingly allow a compulsory school age minor to stay at his establishment during truancy hours. See if you don't agree that this ordinance allows an officer to take a child old into temporary custody and, upon being unable to contact that person's parent or determine the school from which he is absent from, deliver that person to the custody of the Division of Child and Family Services.

After you decide on these items for yourself, I hope you will decide for yourself if you are a supporter or an opponent to this proposed ordinance.

Provo proposal would criminalize daytime truancy...

2011-02-28T22:57:00.000-07:00

February 28th, 2011 @ 6:28pm

By Jared Page

PROVO — Six-year-olds being handcuffed and hauled off in police cars.

Home-schooled children getting detained by law enforcement because they're outside playing in park on a weekday.

And BYU students having to produce a student ID in order to grab lunch off campus.

"Our goal is to be proactive on gangs. We don't have a serious gang problem, and we like that. We want to be way ahead of this thing." -John Curtis, Provo mayor

Realistic or not, these are some of the concerns expressed in recent weeks by parents and other Provo residents regarding a proposal to criminalize daytime truancy for school-age minors.

The Provo City Council is considering an ordinance that would authorize police to issue citations to children ages 6 to 17 found to be truant. The offense would be punishable as a class B misdemeanor.

Provo Mayor John Curtis said the proposal emerged from discussions of the Provo Gang Task Force Steering Committee as a crime-prevention tool. Provo police say there's a link between truancy and daytime crimes, particularly those involving gangs.

"Our goal is to be proactive on gangs," Curtis said. "We don't have a serious gang problem, and we like that. We want to be way ahead of this thing."

Provo School District spokesman Greg Hudnall said the number of truancy cases being referred from the district to juvenile court has nearly doubled over the past five years.

In 2004-05, the district referred 110 students to juvenile court — the final step in the state's method for dealing with habitual truancy. In 2009-10, the district referred 211.

"We just see those numbers rising," Hudnall said. "This is our approach to try and help deal with something that's very serious."

But some Provo residents, particularly those with school-age children, say they believe the proposed action goes too far. They worry that children who are doing nothing wrong will be made to feel like criminals simply for being in public on a school day.

"The biggest problem I have with this ordinance is it will give Provo city police officers the authority to detain, interrogate and potentially arrest anyone who appears to be under the age of 18." -Gove Allen, Provo parent

"It's truly frightening," said Gove Allen, a Provo resident and parent. "The biggest problem I have with this ordinance is it will give Provo city police officers the authority to detain, interrogate and potentially arrest anyone who appears to be under the age of 18 and is in a public place within the city of Provo."

Concerned Provo residents like Allen and his wife, Veronica, have been flooding Mayor Curtis and members of the City Council with e-mails, calling on them to find another way to deal with truancy problems.

The Allens have organized a "peaceful protest" for 1 p.m. Tuesday outside Provo City Hall, 351 W. Center. The City Council is scheduled to discuss the issue during its 2:30 p.m. work session and possibly vote during the 7 p.m. formal meeting.

"Yes, we have a truancy problem, but this is not the way to solve it," Veronica Allen said. "There are too many potential problems with it."

Among those, she said, are home-school and charter school students, many of whom have different schedules than traditional elementary, junior high and high schools in the Provo School District.

"We should not have our police interrogating minors without a parent being there, and that's what they'll be able to do," Allen said.

Gove Allen, who also works as a professor at BYU, said some incoming freshmen at the university are younger than 18 — and even more of them look like they are underage.

"BYU students who live, work and go to places of business in the city of Provo are now going to be in a situation where a police officer can come up to them and say, 'You're in a public place. You look like you're under 18. I need you to demonstrate to me that you're allowed to be here in this public place at this time,'" he said.

"This is Germany in 1939 — show me your papers," Gove Allen said.

Provo City Councilman Sterling Beck has been adamantly opposed to the ordinance since it was first discussed in November. Beck grew up in Monrovia, Calif., the city that he said "pioneered these kinds of ordinances."

'Peaceful protest' planned for Tuesday

A "peaceful protest" against the truancy ordinance is planed for Tuesday afternoon.

Time: 1 p.m.

Location: Outside Provo City Hall, 351 W. Center Street.

The City Council is scheduled to discuss the issue during its 2:30 p.m. work session and possibly vote during the 7 p.m. formal meeting.

"As a home-schooled student, I actually got to witness first-hand how these ordinances can have unintended consequences on people outside of the school district," he said.

Beck, who was home-schooled for a few years in the early 1990s, said his experiences weren't as frightening as those of others he heard about. But they were bad enough to convince him that such an ordinance is not right for Provo.

"You were genuinely afraid to go out of your house during the daytime hours because you knew that, at very least, you would be questioned by a police officer for being outside," Beck said.

Mayor Curtis said city leaders don't want to see that happen in Provo. The City Council is taking its time to act on the ordinance, he said, because it is very aware of concerns some residents have with the ordinance.

"There's been a lot of clamor (about the proposed ordinance)," Curtis said. "Some of the e-mails I get, they talk about hauling elementary school kids off in handcuffs. That's not realistic. Nobody's having those kinds of discussions that would allow anyone to haul anyone off in handcuffs, let alone elementary school kids."

City leaders are open to any and all suggestions about dealing with truancy, the mayor said.

"How do we reduce truancy? What are our options? That's what people need to be asking," Curtis said. "This is just a thoughtful dialogue about this problem. We're not just throwing a new ordinance at it."

E-mail: jpage@desnews.com

Organizing protest times, please sign up...cut and paste the links...

2011-02-28T21:44:00.004-07:00

Here is the sign-up for a shift during the day of March 1st to protest peacefully at the city council building between 1 and 7 pm.
We need more then 10 adults each hour because channel 4 will come film the protect if there are 10 people.
Please bring signs in opposition. Such as "Say No to Provo Day Curfew"
https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0Av7M1NjvHOI2dGQwaGhuUEpMZXdxT1V5N1Mxdm9uYnc&hl=en&authkey=CKze3e0F

Here is the link for the ordinance:
http://education-exchange.org/index.php?mode=57&id=525

Here is the link for sign-up to present points to the Council:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KTRsl3T_oSgL4Bb0MdhG4aRBu-i39PL8Jvz-x432A_g/edit?hl=en&authkey=CKmKj7EK&pli=1#

Thank you families for your willingness to come to Provo, to help your fellow citizens to stop this ordinance. Even if you can't sign up for a specific time, just come when you can.
It will be important to have more people there in the early evening through 7pm as the main study meeting begins at 4pm and we want people coming in and seeing our stand against.

Look in the Tribune, Deseret News, and Daily Herald newspapers tomorrow for interviews and Channel 4 at 10pm tonight.

-Nickie

Sutherland Institute's Press Release

2011-02-28T21:40:00.002-07:00

Sutherland Institute Opposes Provo's Proposed Daytime Curfew Ordinance

http://www.sutherlandinstitute.org/article_detail.php?id=3016&type=Press+Releases

February 28, 2011

News reports indicate the Provo City Council is scheduled on Tuesday, March 1, to consider a proposed ordinance establishing a daytime curfew.

February 28th 2011

By Bill Duncan, Director of the Center for Family and Society

News reports indicate the Provo City Council is scheduled on Tuesday, March 1, to consider a proposed ordinance establishing a daytime curfew.

Sutherland Institute appreciates the council's efforts to prevent crime but opposes such an ordinance because it would interfere with the normal lives of children in private schools, children educated at home, college students, out-of-town visitors and others. Youths in these groups shouldn't have to worry about being questioned by police for going about their normal activities, or about being placed in the custody of the Department of Child and Family Services.

Bill Duncan, director of Sutherland's Center for Family and Society, commented, "This proposed ordinance threatens at least two foundational principles of good public policy: It burdens parents' ability to direct the education of their children, and it reverses the limited government principle that the law should criminalize only conduct that directly threatens society."

The ordinance could also conflict with state laws regarding truancy and the requirements for home schooling in Utah.

As Sutherland has noted in other contexts, people in Utah should not have to show papers in their daily walks of life just to avoid government scrutiny. The longstanding legal principle that specific criminal behavior should be combated with targeted measures should not be replaced with a general presumption that all youths not in public school, regardless of their reasons, should be subject to police stops.

You Can Help Stop Provo's Daytime Curfew Ordinance...

2011-02-27T23:52:00.003-07:00

Attendees:

First let me say "thank you" for attending the meeting we had this evening at our home with Sterling Beck to discuss actions we can take to defeat the proposed truancy ordinance in Provo. The fact that you came tonight has given me renewed hope that we can defeat this bad proposal before it becomes a law. Here are a few points I learned from listening to Mr. Beck:

1. Expect the council to suggest that perhaps a single representative from those opposed should speak for all. Do not fall for this. Every person has a right to address the council both in the pre-meeting time at 7:00 (3 minutes each) and during any public hearing (longer, perhaps as long as 15 minutes). Do not give up your freedom to speak because a slick politician suggests it would be better for all if you remained silent. Get in line and say what you have to say even if someone else has already said something very similar. Remember, you do not need to be a resident of Provo to address the council.

2. Expect the council to suggest that individuals from the public could not possibly hope to understand the wording of the proposed ordinance as well as the politicians do. Be prepared to refer to the specific text of the proposed ordinance to substantiate your concerns. Here's a link to a copy of the proposed ordinance along with Gove's commentary: http://education-exchange.org/index.php?mode=57&id=525

3. Expect council members to try to assuage your concerns by saying that there has been a lot of misinformation floating around in the media and in email. Ignore such attempts to shake your confidence. State your concerns.

4. Remember that when you will speak you are addressing the council. They are the only ones you are talking to (in fact, your back will be to the audience when you speak). They will be on a raised dais, behind a table, and with their associates. You will be alone and behind a flimsy half-podium. The whole setting is calculated to make you feel inferior. Be respectful as you address the council, but remember that you are not a supplicant to the panel; they are your servants. They serve at the will of the people. Stay calm and focused.

5. The study meeting is when we have the strongest possibility to influence the vote of the council. The study meeting will probably start at 4:00 (for sure it will start by 5:00). It will be in the main council chamber. This is probably the most important meeting to attend. Please come to this meeting and be prepared to speak.

6. Remember to focus your comments as a concerned citizen. If you say you are a concerned homeschooler, it will be easier for the council to dismiss your comments.

7. The council chambers are located in the Provo City Complex at 351 West Center Street in Provo (same complex that houses the Police Station).

8. We will begin to gather at the Provo City Complex at 1:00 to hold signs and make our position known. Yes it will be a long day, but please come for as long as you can.

9. Bring signs and stuff to make signs. cardboard, markers, crayons, posterboard.

10. We need bodies. Get as many people to commit to come as possible. This is critical. Each of these people need not talk, but having bodies there to hold signs and be supportive will be very important. This is a bad law. How often do your neighbors get a chance to participate in a real political protest? The council is on the verge of passing this law. It is a bad law and will have all kinds of unintended consequences. Call in any personal favors you can to get bodies there.

11. We need kids. How often will such a law be up for protest that will have such a direct effect on children? This is a great opportunity for kids to get involved in the political process in a positive way. Think of the effect it will have on their confidence and lives when we prevail and prevent this from becoming a law.

12. Sign up for a time to appear at the protest and for a topic at the following google docs: Please sign-up by 8:00pm Monday.
No Daytime Curfew Arguments

City Council Meeting Appearance Sign-up
These are just guidelines to give us some idea of what to expect. The ideal situation is to appear as close to 1:00 as possible and plan to say through the late hours. Bring food, get comfortable, bring a book to read, math to work on. What a great image to have kids working on school work while the are at the protest.

13. Contact the media. We need to have as much media coverage as possible. Everyone should contact at least two of the following outlets to let them know of the planned protest.

The Daily Herald : Contact info to report news occurring
Phone: 801-344-2540
News Tips: On nights and weekends, call 801-344-2554. At other times, contact an editor below.
Hours of Operation: 8:00am - 5:00pm Monday - Friday
Alternate Telephone Numbers: 801-373-5050 or 800-880-8075

Daily Universe (BYU student paper):
Letters to the Editor
To submit a letter to the editor, send it to: letters@byu.edu.

Salt Lake Tribune:
Phone: 801-257-8742, Fax: 801-257-8525. News tips: news@sltrib.com or 801-257-8742
Submit a letter to the editor
E-mail to letters@sltrib.com (no attachments), fax to 801-257-8950, or mail to

Deseret New
City Desk/news tips — (801) 237-2100 Letters to the editor — (801) 237-2185
Feature Section — (801) 237-2150
Tips on news events and press releases are accepted by e-mail at newstips@desnews.com.

Fox Channel 13: News Tips (801) 536-1313
KTVX ABC Channel 4: http://www.abc4.com/content/about_4/contact/default.aspx
Radio Stations: http://www.utahmediadirectory.com/radio.htm
Other Media Listings: http://www.utahmediadirectory.com/utah-newspapers.htm
Freelancers for hire: http://www.utahmediadirectory.com/UMFreelance.htm

Doug Wright
(801) 575-TALK
(801) 470-KSL1
(801) 670-KSL1
1-888-KSL-TALK

Leave a Comment or Suggestion for Doug Wright at KSL:
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=401&sid=280880

Thanks for being involved. This is a short push, but let's push hard. This will be much easier to defeat than it will be to repeal.
________________________

Just doing a little research on the ordinance and what I could find.
(Big Thank You to Grant for researching the following info.)

The first part is very close to this resolution by the Alabama Board of Education:

http://www.alsde.edu/html/boe_resolutions2.asp?id=977

Many of the sections are used in other Utah municipalities for truancy or curfews:

http://www.laytoncity.org/public/depts/legal/MunicipalCode.aspx?title=9&chapter=24&section=015

And Utah counties (this one has been around a while)

http://www.co.uintah.ut.us/countycode/level2/TIT9PUPEMOWE_CH9.12CU.html

And around the US.

http://www.nationalgangcenter.gov/Content/HTML/Municipal-Codes/municipal%20code--curfew.htm

This says the Mayor's current administration proposed the ordinance:

http://provomayor.blogspot.com/2011/02/whats-all-this-talk-about-truancy.html

Some information from Council women Sherrie Hall Everett

http://sherriehalleverett.com/?p=180

Utah State Code on Truancy prevention

http://www.rules.utah.gov/publicat/code/r277/r277-607.htm

Case law example on curfew

http://www.socialaw.com/slip.htm?cid=19414&sid=120%5C

FYI: This Massachusetts law also shows that the language used in the Provo ordinance comes very close to that used there. Their curfew law has a provision that says: "(5) Adults can also violate the ordinance. "(2) A parent or guardian of a minor commits an offense if he knowingly permits, or by insufficient control allows, the minor to remain, either on foot or in a vehicle, in any public place or on the premises of any establishment within the city during youth protection curfew hours. (3) The owner, operator, or any employee of an establishment commits an offense if he knowingly allows a minor to remain upon the premises of the establishment during youth protection curfew hours."

Austin Texas Police offered to supply a homeschooler with an ID card to prevent problems with a very similar ordinance. Shows that other communities have had to deal with issues regarding the language of the ordinance.

www.darululoomaustin.org/doc/aah_packet2003.pdf (page 24)

Does Provo need a daytime curfew?

2011-02-24T22:00:00.003-07:00

Dear Fellow Homeschoolers,

Like many of you, we are troubled by the proposed ordinance in Provo giving police authority to detain children who appear to be of school age who are not in school during school hours.

The Provo city council will consider this proposed ordinance in a study meeting this Tuesday, March 1st. My husband, children and I will attend that meeting as I'm sure others of the homeschool community are planning to do. We think it would be wise to coordinate and work together to prepare a coherent presentation that adequately presents the concerns of the homeschool community. Although expressing our concerns for the proposed ordinance is of paramount importance, we'd also like to suggest plausible, less draconian alternatives to deal with the truancy issue.

To this end, we are holding a meeting at our home in Provo this Sunday evening, February 27th at 6:30pm. We invite any homeschool family in Utah county to attend. We have also extended an invitation to councilman Sterling Beck to attend although we do not yet know if he will be available.

For those of you who live outside of Provo, consider that if Provo city passes an ordinance such as this, it could well lead to similar ordinances in your own municipalities. Here is the link to councilman Sterling Beck's blog with some other information:

http://www.followprovo.com

Please let me know if you plan to attend by using the Google Voice call widget below. Children who maybe interested in participating in the discussion and possibly the council meeting are welcome to attend, after all, this will affect them most directly.

Feel free to call me or email with any question you have.

Sincerely,

Nickie

Google Voice Caller:

Where does the time go?

2011-02-20T21:34:00.004-07:00

What is happening? The days fly by and I find myself deeper and deeper in the pool of no blogging, no true confessions, no phony stories, no real life action. I'll tell you what is happening,
TIREDNESS. I try to get up early for personal scripture study, go through the day and then I get caught staying up to late with the husband and after so many days I'm tuckered out. O.k. so this is the cycle of my life no doubt. And you've heard enough.....

Learning time is going well. We are turning focus to spelling and writing. I'm trying to use the Excellence in Writing program with the kids, a time capsule and journals. The best thing I've done is make small books for the kids to write in. We have animal stories, history stories, personal stories, all sorts of stories being written now. Very short but that's better then complaints and still nothing written. True we/kids are behind but I see strong progress, especially when I leave them to write their personal books each is working on.

The Gove and I are doing well. Exercising, smaller meals more often. Sugar levels back into normal range and fat loss is occurring for both of us.

Come see our children make their famous bread at www.facebook.com/bethlehembakery

Got to go battery almost about to die.

Things I've enjoyed in 2010

2010-12-28T16:26:00.017-07:00

Hearing Bethany play jazz, gospel, modern, and having fun each day. I do not ask her to practice the piano. Amazing what 6 months in this program can do.

The joy of reading weekly the words and counsel of prophets and righteous leaders.

Is this not true?

My heart runneth over with gratitude.
Where would I be without the words of Jesus Christ?

To sleep peacefully is all I need at night and it helps to hear the suave voice of this gentleman. I love the line when he says, "just sleep and make love..." That line usually wakes me up....

My marriage to Gove. It will be 16 years in May.

My good husband just happen to buy this 2005 Tahoe for me last week. Four wheel drive. Oh my, you should hear it purr (fancy air intake and muffler). Love love love it!

Our marriage keeps getting better. Sure there are bumps but we're moving in the right direction.

Great way to introduce ancient history for the first time. Fun activities and great resources.

I loved camping with my family this last summer. And now with four wheel drive we can arrive with peace of mind.

Betty is a great resource for telling stories to children to improve behavior without a lecture from mom.

Plus I love reading to my kids.

Though I'm only a short way into this magical book, it has been a blessing in my marriage already. What might be a key you ask? I'll share with you. It's appreciating something about your man every day and not just once a day. It does work. Give it a try, you have nothing to lose and much to gain.

It's happening all around you. Read to open your eyes and mind.

So far I like this math program. It's like having a 30 minute tutoring session and then practice and reviews. I like the self pace and ability to track the kids progress or lack thereof.

This book will forever by my favorite novel. To be like Uncle Tom is to be more like Christ.

And of the utmost importance to me, as I have learned this month is attending the temple weekly. A blessing of help to me.
I learned it's fun to also take your children each month for baptisms. It's like a date and your kids will grow to love it also. Twice a year just isn't enough.

Listen to Elder Holland's complete talk here...

2010-12-27T20:40:00.004-07:00

Progressing forward...

2010-09-29T15:38:00.006-06:00

Why did summer have to pass so darn quickly? I miss our little bit of camping property. We were there about three weeks ago to put everything away for the winter. Fall is upon us with bright beautiful autumn colors. The mountain sides are flaming with red, pink, gold, orange, and lighter shades of green now.

Speaking of Fall, we started our homeschool year with the Annual Utah County Homeschool Picnic. This was our third year sponsoring the picnic at South Fork Park. I'm not kidding when I say that I think we must have had over 400 people come. Gove thinks it was closer to 500. I think everyone have a fun filled day.

We are studying ancient history using Story of the World by Susan Bauer this year; we are using her Writing with Ease program and her mothers grammar program. I decided to use a planner like I did the first of the year at Lehi Academy and it's really helping me plan our weeks and see how much the children are doing and how they are acting.

We remodeled our main basement room and I/we now have a 14 foot time line, roll up maps of the world, chalk board and lots of potential now. For example, today we built step pyramids like in Egypt except ours are much sweeter because of the sugar cubs. We started the 6 week process (almost two months) of mummifying a Cornish hen. True it sounds gross but the kids are all for it and once it's ready we are going to wrap the poor little thing in linen strips and add spices and maybe some precious jewels I happen to have just laying around for times like these.

I and Gove are exercising while we watch the Great Lectures series on the subject of Ancient Egypt. I have found this to be very much worth the investment. For example, I always thought the Rosetta Stone was in three different languages but it's just two. Egyptian (hieroglyphs and a type of long hand) and Greek. We will be attending the King Tut exhibit later this year while it's still nearby. The kids are very excited for this.

With the changes made to our home education of our family, I'm pleased with the directions we are taking.

Pictures are worth more words then I want to type...

2010-08-04T13:27:00.011-06:00

The picture above and below took third place at the county fair.This picture of Tia also took 3rd place at the county fair.

That about sums it up. I've been blessed through the good and the difficult. But never have I been left alone without any hope of a new and brighter day. Learning...there's just so much! Thank goodness.

Utah County Homeschool Picnic Invitation

2010-08-04T07:13:00.001-06:00

Hear ye, hear ye! Come one, come all...

To the 3rd Annual Utah County Homeschool Picnic In The Park

Date: Friday, September 3, 2010
Time: 11:00am-2:00pm (lunch served at Noon)
Place: South Fork Park Travel up Provo Canyon about 5.8 miles, turn right at Vivian Park and go directly up the paved road about 1.7 miles.

What You Should Bring: A hot or cold side dish that serves at least 10 people (salads, relishes, casseroles, chips, desserts, etc.).

The Committee Will Provide: Barbecue pork sandwiches on fresh homemade rolls, homemade root beer, water, condiments, plates and utensils.

Volunteers Are Needed:
To help with set-up at 11:00am or clean-up at 2:00pm.
To take pictures and submit a short article to the local newspaper.
Plan a game or two. We will provide a large parachute cloth. You bring balls.

R.S.V.P. Email me at veronnicaallen@gmail.com include the number of people coming and the type of dish you plan to bring.

Last year more than 150 people attended. We would love to spread the word throughout Utah County with all homeschooling families and organizations. Everyone is welcome.

There's a great creek in which to splash, so bring a towel.

music

2010-07-27T13:07:00.000-06:00

This youtube has no pictures:

This youtube shows clips from movies depicting the American Revolution, Civil War, World War II, and Vietnam War. Some images may be to strong. It makes you think, and I hope feel. Perhaps we will even ponder.

2010-07-25T17:59:00.001-06:00

Do you know this?

2010-07-16T13:35:00.005-06:00

I've heard a few people give credit to Alexander Tytler for the following cycle though from what little I've read it may not be correct but that's really beside the point. The cycle happens and it's happening in America and upon the earth now.

People, like the pilgrims and our founding generation found themselves in bondage. They progress to spiritual faith which leads to undeniable courage (public virtue) which progresses into liberty. With Liberty there comes abundance and over time selfishness and pride build up again and that leads to complacency, which is now leading into apathy, which will bring us into dependence and back into bondage. And the cycle repeats it's self all over. Some sections can be long some quick depending on the people and their education and faith I would guess.

Four years ago I heard this for the first time. The audience said we as a nation were in complacency. I heard this again the other night and the audience said we as a nation are now in apathy and dependency. Of course where we see ourselves and where we really are may not be exact but the mood of the people is changing.

So what can I or you do? Lets look these words up in the Oxford English Dictionary and start to ponder.

1. Occupation
2. Vocation
3. Schooling
4. Education
5. Virtue
6. Passion
7. Skills

come thou fount of every blessing...

2010-07-16T07:30:00.003-06:00

I was shocked when I saw and read so many kind responses to my post. I forgot that there is someone out there who does read my blog. Thank you for your support and encouragement.

Two days ago, a font of blessing came pouring unto me. The coming was a result of a building up of understanding.

First off, I'm reading a booklet called Comfort My Soul In Christ by Randy Bott and came across these words.
"How many of you are seeking for these gifts that God has promised to bestow? How many of you, when you bow before your Heavenly Father in your family circle or in your secret places, contend for these gifts to be bestowed upon you? How many of you ask the Father in the name of Jesus to manifest Himself to you through these powers and these gifts?"

Nutshell? I started to ask.

Then I was reading of King Solomon. The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream and said, "...Ask what I shall give thee."
Solomon asks for wisdom to judge (an understanding heart) and discernment between good and bad.
Wow, I said to myself. It's right here, someone is asking for gifts, and so can I. So I have been asking and praying with all my heart to begin changes.

On Wednesday, joy came over me. I felt like I was walking two inches of the ground. As I walked over to the neighbors for a presidency meeting I could feel my self standing taller and I just gave thanks for the beauty of the earth and for this wonderful feeling. Our meeting was uplifting and I came home for the first time this year wanting to plant.

Finally, I wanted to create again! I felt hopeful again. I took my girls, we went to Wal-mart and found lots of petunias and some other annuals at half price. I mounted 7 hanging baskets that I bought well over a year ago and together we transplanted these lovely little flowers and my body was energized. It felt so nice to feel courage to do something. I even changed a showered head in the kids bathroom for a hand held device and fixed a sprinkler that was broken.

Gifts are available to us. Peace, joy, learning, knowledge, wisdom, patience, forgiveness, inspiration, love, friendship, kindness, positive thoughts, confidence, courage, ...The list just goes one based upon your own needs and what you desire to overcome by focusing on the positive gifts Heavenly Father and Jesus have for us. We just need to start asking and I think we need to not stop.

And if that isn't enough, I was reading the July Ensign and found what I have wondered about for two years. When I'm feeling emotional or spiritual pain, I wonder how many of my sisters at church are also suffering but like me felt there was no one to talk to. This article said that we need to pray to know the burdens of others and at the same time be willing to do something to help. I think mostly it's just listening or being able to say that I see your having a difficult time, my prayers are with you, can I help.

I have really cared about my sisters. I've prayed for them. Now I want to not let old issues in me keep me from talking to all my sisters each Sunday or when ever I see them. I have goodness to share and I can lift a sadness just by being friendly to you, whomever you are. No, maybe friendly isn't the right word. It's now. It's more like seeing you as my brother or sister and something more, not just a human being. Living being who needs my smile and a lifting, interacting word of some type.

Last night I parked for a meeting and a car pulled up beside me on the passenger side. I got out and waited for these ladies to figure something out with the drivers side of their car so I could not get my items out. I felt happy to just wait. They apologized. I said no worries and pulled out this 7 foot long flag from the side of my van. They were surprised and so I shared what I was doing and I interacted in a uplifting manor with these strangers. Yet we each had a moment of edification and went on our ways.

I really like this feeling. Enjoy your day too.

help...

2010-07-14T13:34:00.003-06:00

YES. I'm still here! I almost fell off the edge of the earth, but count my lucky stars, it didn't happen.
And why not?
Ah, therein lies a very long story which I may never print here at my blog. But I'll type a couple key words for my benefit.
- 15 years of marriage and in-laws
-Finally discovered words for my feelings
-Depths of despair
-Loss of personal confidence
-Negative thoughts
Turning points
-Prayers asking for gifts
-The Atonement
-Caring friends
-Counseling
-Time

That's my beginning thoughts on the past few months.

GOP Caucus Event...

2010-04-03T20:14:00.006-06:00

Gove and I attended our first precinct caucus meeting about two weeks ago. Gove decided to run as a state delegate. He was seconded by a neighbor and won one of the two seats for state delegate. Wow. I volunteered to do all the counting of votes. We ended up counting outside in the dark because the school was going to have alarms go off if we were not out by 9pm.

Yesterday, we took Eli and Beth to UVU for our first opportunity to hear the candidates debate for the forth coming senator race against Bob Bennett. Gove will be voting on the 8th of May. I came away liking four of the nine runners.

1. Scott Bradley- who is on the Constitutional party and although he is great with understanding the Constitution his voice is so deep he is hard to hear.
2. Mike Lee- a constitutional lawyer
3. Bridgewater- business man who worked in the Reagan administration. His voice is too scratchy.
4. Cherilyn Eager- grew up around the Reagan's. I really liked what she said and how clear and strong her voice was. I especially like that she wants to repeal the 17th amendment.
Other than that, they all pretty much said the same things. It's time for Bennett to step down.

Trying Other Ideas...

2010-04-03T18:50:00.005-06:00

So I never got my kids over to the last blog about a math playground site.

Instead they are going to IXL math. Ten minutes a day is all I ask but they each go more. They like getting certificates which are emailed to me and I print them and announce the award the next morning during class time. I like the awards for how long they have been working, number of questions answered, percentile increases in the grade level they are working at. It was nice to hear my son say out loud that he wondered if he would get a certificate this week. He earned two and the girls both earned four. I like the time clock the kids see, and as they answer correctly they earn ribbons and at the same time lose ribbons for incorrect answers. This ribbon thing keeps Bethany going and not giving up when she has a setback with wrong answers.

Since I started to assist at the TJED Lehi Academy about 9 weeks ago, I am happy to say that our children are picking up the responsibility for learning. I initiated a change to require 10 minutes of math, reading out loud to me, mad writing, mad minute (math skills), and language arts through literature each morning that we are able to meet for family learning time. It's working. That's all there is to it. Instead of 30 minutes just 10, and the children work harder, learn more, and can share more in return. It's nice.

At the academy, I like to bring in my microscope and have the kids figure out or draw what they see. Next week I'll bring in honey bee body parts. I enjoy teaching the history program that Susan Wise Bauer created. I'm going to continue the program with my children. I'll probably go back to the beginning of vol. 3 the 1500's and catch up to when we entered the class with the American Revolution. This coming week I will introduce Lewis and Clark and nature journals for all the children to use. I plan to share my journal from writings and drawing I did while living in New Orleans. This is going to be a fun week together.

I have decided to use for myself (my writing is sad as you well know) and for the children the Excellence in Writing program. I like what Andrew Pudewa says about writing, spelling, and how boys and girls learn. I took his advice to have the kids learn spelling words via spelling bees and it has been so helpful and painless. Plus Mattia is able to spell easier and I include hand signing the letters of the word at the same time to use more motor skills for her. I really like that I can return this program at anytime if we are not happy. I'm going to start with myself and see if the kids will come along. I think they are going to find it fun to work with Andrew via the dvd program. My idea is to invite other kids this summer to go through the units with my children.

I just finished reading The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller. I like the ideas of how she instills a desire in her 6th grade students to spend time reading. This is her program; read 30 minutes is class each day and 20 minutes at home. I had forgotten about genre's. I like the idea of book commercials. I like that she has shared forms and ideas that have helped her class. I would like to take these ideas and do a summer weekly book club. Maybe along with the EIW and history with Story of the World.

I see how much my children like having a few more kids doing the same thing or doing it a little better because it encourages the other kids to try just a little bit more and give honest work.

Eli is working daily on a math skills program that Gove wrote for him. He has been using the program for one week now and cut off one minute this week on his mad math test.

Math Games

2010-02-20T15:48:00.002-07:00

http://www.mathplayground.com/games.html

The Preamble

2010-02-11T06:52:00.001-07:00

Bill of Rights

2010-02-11T06:42:00.001-07:00

Field Trip with TJED Academy...

2010-02-02T18:47:00.004-07:00

I and the kids are involved in a test that started last week and will end next week. It's the test of compatibility. Are we comfortable with the idea of attending a homeschoolers academy in Lehi three times a week for 3-4 hours each day?

This test also includes me. I would not consider driving out to Lehi 3x a week just to drop off my children. So, I too am testing how it feels to prepare history lessons and be an assistant teacher for the 8-12 year olds. So far I and the girls have liked the experiences. It's a little tight to be out the door at 11:30am with sandwiches in hand. We are having a picnic while we drive and listen to Story of The World.

Mattia tells me she loves attending. She loves the science and art mentors. She loves being able to recite her poems and participate. She is even trying to write more at home now. She is currently keeping a journal of growing seeds in three vials.

Bethany...is a mystery at times. I think she will like this class, but first she needs to feel safe and secure. She seems to be excited to write book reports for a couple of Redwall books she recently read.

Eli...likes the art, science, and speech and debate. He has not attended Tuesday classes yet because of a field trip today. I think there is potential for him too. No, I know there is great potential for him, once we are sure we will continue and get him hooked up with his mentor.

Today we went to the West Jordan National Guard facility where Black-hawk and Apache Helicopter training takes place. Interesting...Do you know an Apache cost about $25 million? And both helicopters weigh in at about 15,000 pounds empty. Just the thought of all the money going into the military...mind boggling.

My Birthday Is Just Around The Corner... hint hint

2010-02-01T19:41:00.003-07:00

And, I'd accept it as an early Christmas gift too!

The price is a killer and can't accept the cost, so maybe someone can make it for me???

Such ingenuity Mr. Jefferson!

2010 Freedom Bowl Winners...

2010-01-30T20:33:00.006-07:00

Elijah, Brooklyn, Rachael, and Alex won 2nd place at this years Freedom Bowl sponsored by The Roots of Freedom organization!!!

All four youth were competing for the first time, and they pulled this finishing placement. How fun for them.

I have to admit I'm glad to not have seen them compete until the final 7th round. (I was judging the senior division.) I don't think my nerves would have been helpful because as a mother you hope so much for your children to do well and I wonder if my energy can be negative in a way because I'm expecting too much. So the last round was exciting for me to watch and see my son answer which articles, sections, and clauses cover slavery, commerce, and proportional representation in the Constitution.

They have each earned $110 to be used for this summers week long simulation program.

Good job Eli. Now aren't you glad to have a mom who was dedicated to helping you even when you didn't want it? Yes, mothers do know best...at times.

A big thanks to The Roots of Freedom and AYLI for hosting and providing the awards for all the participants.

'Atlas Shrugged': From Fiction to Fact in 52 Years

2010-01-23T11:55:00.005-07:00

Here's a reason to read Atlas Shrugged for our March Colloquium... this reporter says just a little of what I have felt since reading this novel. What will you see differently?
___________________

Some years ago when I worked at the libertarian Cato Institute, we used to label any new hire who had not yet read "Atlas Shrugged" a "virgin." Being conversant in Ayn Rand's classic novel about the economic carnage caused by big government run amok was practically a job requirement. If only "Atlas" were required reading for every member of Congress and political appointee in the Obama administration. I'm confident that we'd get out of the current financial mess a lot faster.

Many of us who know Rand's work have noticed that with each passing week, and with each successive bailout plan and economic-stimulus scheme out of Washington, our current politicians are committing the very acts of economic lunacy that "Atlas Shrugged" parodied in 1957, when this 1,000-page novel was first published and became an instant hit.

Rand, who had come to America from Soviet Russia with striking insights into totalitarianism and the destructiveness of socialism, was already a celebrity. The left, naturally, hated her. But as recently as 1991, a survey by the Library of Congress and the Book of the Month Club found that readers rated "Atlas" as the second-most influential book in their lives, behind only the Bible.

For the uninitiated, the moral of the story is simply this: Politicians invariably respond to crises -- that in most cases they themselves created -- by spawning new government programs, laws and regulations. These, in turn, generate more havoc and poverty, which inspires the politicians to create more programs . . . and the downward spiral repeats itself until the productive sectors of the economy collapse under the collective weight of taxes and other burdens imposed in the name of fairness, equality and do-goodism.

In the book, these relentless wealth redistributionists and their programs are disparaged as "the looters and their laws." Every new act of government futility and stupidity carries with it a benevolent-sounding title. These include the "Anti-Greed Act" to redistribute income (sounds like Charlie Rangel's promises soak-the-rich tax bill) and the "Equalization of Opportunity Act" to prevent people from starting more than one business (to give other people a chance). My personal favorite, the "Anti Dog-Eat-Dog Act," aims to restrict cut-throat competition between firms and thus slow the wave of business bankruptcies. Why didn't Hank Paulson think of that?

These acts and edicts sound farcical, yes, but no more so than the actual events in Washington, circa 2008. We already have been served up the $700 billion "Emergency Economic Stabilization Act" and the "Auto Industry Financing and Restructuring Act." Now that Barack Obama is in town, he will soon sign into law with great urgency the "American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan." This latest Hail Mary pass will increase the federal budget (which has already expanded by $1.5 trillion in eight years under George Bush) by an additional $1 trillion -- in roughly his first 100 days in office.

The current economic strategy is right out of "Atlas Shrugged": The more incompetent you are in business, the more handouts the politicians will bestow on you. That's the justification for the $2 trillion of subsidies doled out already to keep afloat distressed insurance companies, banks, Wall Street investment houses, and auto companies -- while standing next in line for their share of the booty are real-estate developers, the steel industry, chemical companies, airlines, ethanol producers, construction firms and even catfish farmers. With each successive bailout to "calm the markets," another trillion of national wealth is subsequently lost. Yet, as "Atlas" grimly foretold, we now treat the incompetent who wreck their companies as victims, while those resourceful business owners who manage to make a profit are portrayed as recipients of illegitimate "windfalls."

When Rand was writing in the 1950s, one of the pillars of American industrial might was the railroads. In her novel the railroad owner, Dagny Taggart, an enterprising industrialist, has a FedEx-like vision for expansion and first-rate service by rail. But she is continuously badgered, cajoled, taxed, ruled and regulated -- always in the public interest -- into bankruptcy. Sound far-fetched? On the day I sat down to write this ode to "Atlas," a Wall Street Journal headline blared: "Rail Shippers Ask Congress to Regulate Freight Prices."

In one chapter of the book, an entrepreneur invents a new miracle metal -- stronger but lighter than steel. The government immediately appropriates the invention in "the public good." The politicians demand that the metal inventor come to Washington and sign over ownership of his invention or lose everything.

The scene is eerily similar to an event late last year when six bank presidents were summoned by Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson to Washington, and then shuttled into a conference room and told, in effect, that they could not leave until they collectively signed a document handing over percentages of their future profits to the government. The Treasury folks insisted that this shakedown, too, was all in "the public interest."

Ultimately, "Atlas Shrugged" is a celebration of the entrepreneur, the risk taker and the cultivator of wealth through human intellect. Critics dismissed the novel as simple-minded, and even some of Rand's political admirers complained that she lacked compassion. Yet one pertinent warning resounds throughout the book: When profits and wealth and creativity are denigrated in society, they start to disappear -- leaving everyone the poorer.

One memorable moment in "Atlas" occurs near the very end, when the economy has been rendered comatose by all the great economic minds in Washington. Finally, and out of desperation, the politicians come to the heroic businessman John Galt (who has resisted their assault on capitalism) and beg him to help them get the economy back on track. The discussion sounds much like what would happen today:

Galt: "You want me to be Economic Dictator?"

Mr. Thompson: "Yes!"

"And you'll obey any order I give?"

"Implicitly!"

"Then start by abolishing all income taxes."

"Oh no!" screamed Mr. Thompson, leaping to his feet. "We couldn't do that . . . How would we pay government employees?"

"Fire your government employees."

"Oh, no!"

Abolishing the income tax. Now that really would be a genuine economic stimulus. But Mr. Obama and the Democrats in Washington want to do the opposite: to raise the income tax "for purposes of fairness" as Barack Obama puts it.

David Kelley, the president of the Atlas Society, which is dedicated to promoting Rand's ideas, explains that "the older the book gets, the more timely its message." He tells me that there are plans to make "Atlas Shrugged" into a major motion picture -- it is the only classic novel of recent decades that was never made into a movie. "We don't need to make a movie out of the book," Mr. Kelley jokes. "We are living it right now.

Mr. Moore is senior economics writer for The Wall Street Journal editorial page.

Is America Still Making Men?

2010-01-23T06:43:00.003-07:00

I thought maybe I was a lone with my sons need for air soft games. But after emailing our homeschool groups I find other boys with same needs. Maybe the reason is listed below.

________

Every society has to answer a few basic questions in order to succeed and even in order to survive. One of them is, "How do we make good men?"

The reason for the importance of this question is simple: Males untutored about how to control their natures will likely do much harm. Conversely, males who are taught to how to control themselves and to channel their drives in positive directions make the world a much better place. The good man is a glory of civilization; the bad man ruins it.

Throughout American history, American society asked, "How do we make men?" (It was understood that "man" meant a good man.) Anyone who thought about the subject knew that boys who are not transformed into men remain boys. And when too many boys do not grow up into men, women suffer and society suffers.

What is a man (as opposed to a boy)? The traditional understanding was that a man is he who takes responsibility for others -- for his family, his community and his country -- and, of course, for himself. A man stood for ideals and values higher than himself. He conducted himself with dignity. And he was strong.

For much of American history, making boys into men was understood to be of supreme importance, and society was usually successful. When I was a boy in the 1950s, without anyone expressly defining it, I knew what a man was supposed to be. And I knew that society, not to mention my parents, expected me to be one. It went without explicitly saying so that I would have to make a living, support myself as soon as possible and support a family thereafter.

When I acted immaturely, I was told to be or act like a man. I wonder how many boys are told to "be a man" today; and if they were, would they have a clue as to what that meant? It would appear that for millions of American boys, this has not been the reality for decades. Many families and society as a whole seem to have forgotten boys need to be made into men.

There are numerous reasons:

1. The distinction between men and boys has been largely obliterated. The older males that many American boys encounter are essentially older boys, not men. They speak, dress, and act similarly (think of men who "high-five" young boys instead of shaking their hands). And they are almost all called by their first names. Even when a boy (or girl) addresses an adult male as "Mr.," many men will correct the young boy or girl -- "Call me" and then give the young person his first name. This is often true even with regard to teachers, physicians and members of the clergy. When a young person calls an adult by his first name, the status of the two individuals has been essentially equated. Boys need men to respect. It's not impossible to do so when they call men by their first names, but it makes it much harder.

2. Boys today have fewer adult men in their lives than ever before. Many boys are not raised by any father. More are not raised by a father who lives in the home full time. Nearly every teacher and principal American boys have in elementary and high school is a female. The boy's clergy person and physician may well be women. And few male figures in contemporary film radiate manhood as defined above.

3. The ideals of masculinity and femininity have been largely rendered extinct. Feminism, arguably the most influential American movement of the 20th century, declared war on the concepts of femininity and masculinity. And for much of the population, it was victorious. Indeed, thanks to the feminist teaching that male and female human beings are essentially the same (note, incidentally, that no one argues that male and female animals are the same, only human beings are), untold numbers of boys have been raised as if they were like girls. They were denied masculine toys such as play guns and toy soldiers, and their male forms of play -- e.g., roughhousing -- were banned.

4. America has become a rights-centered rather than a responsibility-centered society. Aside from helping to produce a pandemic of narcissism, the rights-centered mindset is the opposite of the obligation/responsibility-centered mindset that makes a boy into a man. It is not good for either sex to be rights-preoccupied; but it is particularly devastating to developing men, as men are supposed to be obligation-directed. The baby boomer generation helped destroy manhood in most of the ways described here. One additional example was its widespread slogan, "Make love, not war." One cannot come up with a more unmanly piece of advice: "Don't fight for your country, screw girls." If the greatest generation had adopted that motto, Hitler and Tojo would have won. A few years ago, the city of Chicago named a street after Hugh Hefner, a man who has played games much of the day and night, lived in pajamas and devoted his life to sex -- quite a model of manhood for American boys.

5. There are few places where men can bond with other men. One major way men become men is by associating with other good men. The only places left where this normally takes place are sports teams and the military. The same holds true for boys. And much of society is now working on breaking the most significant all-boys institution, the Boy Scouts.

6. Males no longer have distinctive roles. Men do best when they are relied upon, when needed; and they feel most needed when they do something distinct from women. This exists today in sports and the military. It is symbolic -- significantly so -- that there are no more "men at work" signs on highways. Now "people" are at work. "Men" have disappeared.

7. Many churches and synagogues have been feminized. This has occurred in at least three important ways: Clergy are increasingly female (and touchy-feely males) -- for the first time in Christian and Jewish history; God is often depicted as androgynous and no longer either demanding or judging (He just loves all the time); and religion has been changed from morally and theologically demanding to a therapeutic model. So religion, too, has become yet another place where boys encounter few men, and few masculine models (even in God, as noted, is no longer masculine).

8. Instead of the traditional American model of masculinity, which was a rare combination of masculine toughness and stoicism with doing good (e.g., Superman), boys are now taught to be preoccupied with their feelings and with (unearned) self-esteem. They are not even allowed to lose; all boys playing a sport are given trophies, not just winners.

9. Increasingly, marriage is regarded as optional. The most obvious expression of men assuming responsibility -- marrying a woman and taking care of her and their children -- is no longer a male ideal. Vast numbers of men quite openly admit to having problems with the C-word (commitment) and responsibility of being a family's sole breadwinner.

When boys do not become men, women assume their roles. But they are not happy doing so. There are any number of reasons American women suffer from depression more than ever before and more than men. It is difficult to believe that one of those reasons is not the very emasculation of men that the movement working in their name helped to bring about. And so, a vicious cycle has commenced -- men stop being men; women become man-like; men retreat even further from their manly role; and women get sadder.

By Dennis Prager

Tia and her Palatometer

2010-01-22T17:37:00.004-07:00

This morning was Mattia's first time with her palatometer device. It's hard to tell from this picture but there is a retainer type device placed against her upper teeth with tiny chips that sensor the placement of Tia's tongue. Connected to the computer is a picture of the top of the mouth with dots which light up as you move your tongue.
Today, Tia practiced moving her tongue to certain spots according to a preprogrammed test and then she worked on the "r" sound which requires her to use the back of the top of her mouth along with the letter "e" which she cn do with "e" but not with "r". But within 10 minutes she was seeing how to move the tongue and scored correctly with the "r" .

By The Way, Welcome 2010

2010-01-16T07:38:00.007-07:00

So far so good.

Bethany took third place at the local geography bee for homeschoolers. I could not believe the great guess she made and it was right.

The question was, "The St. Croix River is the border between Canada and what New England state?" Gove and I looked at each other and thought the question was wrong. the St. Croix borders between Minnesota and Wisconsin. Everyone one knows that. Right? Wrong. We did not know that the St. Croix is also the border between Maine and Canada. But that little Bethany pulled it out of her hat. Talk about snagging third. Wow. Way to go Beth. I'll add a picture when she gets her trophy.

Mattia is starting speech next week and will be using a new device called the Palatometer.
I was fasting the first of this month for guidance regarding the kids education, when I spoke with a friend I'd not seen for awhile. She mentioned her son. I knew he suffered with reading and speech. Rebecca told me about testing for dyslexia and speech. This palatometer seems like the way to connect students more fully or rather completely to the movement of their tongues.

Tia is excited to begin as well. Clear speech here we come! Let's not forget Eliza Doolittle hard work too.

Elijah is getting ready for the Freedom Bowl the end of this month. He also participated in the bee and had some major hard questions that even I did not know. He did answer one about men in this large Asian county wear a particular type of clothing. It was India and he was correct. Good for him. He will be very busy preparing to act in mock trials in March with his statesmanship team.

Criminals...

2010-01-16T07:09:00.003-07:00

Friday morning I took Eli, along with 13 other statesmanship club youth to the Orem Court house. The youth are preparing for mock trial simulations over the next 10 weeks and this field trip was to give a small taste.

We watched two criminals confess to the guiltiness of their crimes. One had stolen $300 and the other had committed sexual loudness in front of young girls who fortunately were watching a movie and did not see but the off-duty officer with his daughters did see and arrested him.

Here again I was reminded of Les Miserables. This time it was Jean Valjean. He stole a loaf of bread for his starving sisters family. And in return spent 19 years in prison. Five for the crime and 14 for trying to escape twice.

The convict in our day stole 370ish dollars and in return he will now spend 6 months in jail, pay $1,5000 in restitution and fees for counseling. The sex offender will learn of his fate in 6 more weeks.

It was the countenances of these men that were so heartaching. No joy, no love, no self respect, and possibly no awareness of any value within themselves. Kind of like Jean Valjean until the Bishop entered his life.

What will happen to these men?

This was an eye opening experience not just for the youth but for me too. To lose love for yourself and direction. Oh I think I'd rather die then to think of no place for me in the mansions in heaven.

The Bishop...(forward to minute 5:45)

2010-01-16T07:06:00.001-07:00

The Bishop...

2010-01-16T06:26:00.006-07:00

I love Les Mes the musical and I love many parts in the book. I'm actually reading the first 300 pages again for an upcoming colloquium at the end of this month. I decided to read backwards from page 300. I guess to provide myself with a little entertainment and to see how my mind would recall what occurred prior.

I have been reminded of dear Bishop Myriel and Christ like attributes he and two other characters share.

The first is little Eva in Uncle Tom's Cabin. Such beautiful insights and love for others. Her faith and hope comes out of the words and actually lifts the reader (me) to attempt with more effort to be a worthy follower of Jesus.

The second character was found last night in a movie. Beth, Tia, and I watched a family film entitled Children on their Birthdays. The main character is Lily Jane who is about 13 years old. She steps into town and on first glance you might think her to be conceited. Not the case at all. She is Bishop Myriel in child size. Set in Alabama after WWII and with segregation in effect.

I love feeling lifted up by what I hear, see, and read. Uncle Tom, and Eva in Harriett Beecher Stowe's book and Lily in the movie have not just helped me but my daughters saw how important it is to not judge but be a friend to many and especially someone who is without a friend because she is a different color or not like all the other girls at school and church.

This Week In Review...

2009-11-20T19:51:00.004-07:00

We held GRAPES on Tuesday. Did a quick review of Habit 1 and made banners that will have 7 different colored ribbons to represent the 7 habits. A younger child can wear it like his inner circle that surrounds him or they can hang it on the wall once we finish. Then I introduces Habit 2, Begin with the end in mind. We talked about Alma the younger, we established a mission statement. Here it is:

"To nurture a love of learning,
strengthen relationships,
build positive community, and
prepare for personal missions."

Not bad for our first try.

On Wednesday the 18th, I took the kids to the State Capital. I wanted to have Eli assist with a flag ceremony at a rally for Cherilyn Eagar who wants to run against Bennett for the Senate race in 2010. I've never been to such an event. The Capital is lovely. The kids liked the experience as well. Except it was too long. Eli called the Scouts (our friends from GRAPES) forward with the flags and lead in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Joe the Plumber guy from Ohio is it? Came to be a support for Eagar. He seemed kind of interesting actually.

Yesterday, all three kids passed their karate test and earned their yellow belt. Each was responsible to buy a belt if they so wanted. This concluded our first semester with Keystone. We will have to decided what to do for January.

Today Eli and Gove left for an over night scout camp out somewhere west of here.

Tell Us What You're Doing...

2009-11-15T17:51:00.012-07:00

-Last week I was speaking with one of the grandmas. She hasn't seem much on my blog and wondered if we still had children. I reassured her that we do and that they have been up to a lot of good.

-Gove and I attended 7 weeks of a Love and Logic course at a local school. What I learned and actually know about myself is that I'm not empathetic enough. I'm glad to see the value of empathizing and I'm working on it.

-One of the positive results of attending is that I no longer ask the kids to do their chores. We did away with chores and now have "contributions to the family". There is a list of 3x5 cards, each day has what needs to be done, the time, and how much it cost the child if not finished on time. I've earned a modest amount of coins and even a few dollars but now the kids are seeing they can earn if another fails to follow through. It's really working lovely and I'm no longer stressed. This includes the parents being responsible as well.

-The kids are attending Keystone Academy this semester. Not sure we will next semester for reasons I'll not share here. The kids enjoyed a few classes, crafts, dance, karate. We may try something else next.

-Bethany can be found in a big comfy chair reading most mornings, days, and nights, if I let her. Which I oftenn do once contributions, learning time and other responsibilities are taken care of. Beth has become a voracious reader since August when she read her first novel from the Redwall series. She's now reading her fifth book and has purchased 10 in the series with money her worked hard for this past summer. She is blossoming into a young lady and although she recognized her weakness with spelling, she most assuredly is not fearful of writing stories and sees she has really progressed in her ability to read and cipher words.

-Elijah has found the life of air-soft guns. He used his karate skills to give Tia a chop on the knee. She didn't feel anything by it but Eli broke his dominate hand. The 5th fingers meta tarsal. Notice the camouflage cast?
Eli is involved with a Statesmanship Club in Lehi. I carpool with him and two other kids. I actually presented three two hour classes on principles 11-28 of the 5,000 Year Leap. It was a great learning experience for me and I can report that I improved each time.
Eli and I attended the Utah State Association of Parliamentarians Nov 14th for their annual presentation of parliamentary procedures. Eli said he was glad to have attended even if these were over both of our heads at times. We both feel more confident is making a motion, seconding, amending, and I feel good about attempting to create bylaws now. That alone was worth the experience to me.

-We continue to host GRAPES at our home every other week with three other families. I just finished The Leader In Me and I'm trying my hand at presenting the habits to the kids over the next little while. In September I climbed with the group to the top of the Y for the first time.
-The kids attend a book club on the opposite Tuesday of GRAPES, and we at times attend Friday game day at Belinda's house who is taking a break while the fourth child makes it's splash into the world.

-Mattia has found her gift...helping other people. She believes it will be her ability to cook comforting foods. She is a great helper in the kitchen. We made two apple pies, lots of main dishes and I leave Monday dinner to her and Beth since we don't get home from statesmanship club until 6pm. This girl is tall. She is also gaining confidence in reading. It's still a struggle and I'm so glad to have her learn at her own pace and without additional pressure as I, her mom have given enough of that at times. Hey, I'm learning too. Mattia has a heart of love and is able to quickly forgive. It's one of the things I love about this daughter. You should see the art skills of this girl as well. I think this is a talent that will bless as well as we help her develop and find mentors to teach and help her mind to grasp the skills for painting. She is working on a painting of a still life picture she created. I so look forward to seeing the end product. I hope she can bring it home for Christmas.

-We are working on the basement kitchen and hope to be going with bread again in December. Real Foods in Orem would like to purchase from us and we have been working on a soaking the flour and using a starter with just enough to rise the bread but not give it a sour flavor. It's progressing but out cooking time is changing and we are needing to get that straight before we go full swing again.

-We hosted the second county wide homeschoolers picnic back in September. There was a bigger turn out this year and I hope it will grow to something more in the future years. Time will tell and how much I'm willing to give to add changes to enhance the experience.

-With thanksgiving coming we are serving once a week at the Bishop storehouse again this year. It's great when they are busy and the kids love to stock shelves and help out. We need to find what our Christmas service project is going to be.

-After three years living here, I finally joined the Wasatch Home Educators Network. They seem to have a number of field trip and activities for teens on a monthly bases that Eli might enjoy.

-Over all, things are going very well for us. I am thankful daily to be alive and blessed. Our marriage is stronger, we attend the temple monthly, sing in the ward choir, and are taking the parliamentarian test together. I'm so glad we like each other. That really helps to make a marriage worthwhile.

-I'm considering starting the PALMS book club again in January, but I want to take a path that I might not get much takers. I want to go through the 16 lessons of the Laws of Success by
Napoleon Hill. I'd like to prepare to host some Love and Logic classes and 7 Habits for Families once I learn them and start some incorporation in my life. I recently read The Leader in Me and I want to give myself , our children, and other families the opportunity to lead their lives. I just didn't know this until now. It's so wonderful to be learning and improving over time. I'm slow but I'm not giving in to despair or acceptance that this is just how things are.

-Last but not of less weight. We collected about 80 pounds of honey our
first season with two hives. Oh how I hope these girls and the queens survive the winter.

Part 3 Conclusion

2009-10-24T09:50:00.000-06:00

Part 2 Justifying

2009-10-24T09:42:00.000-06:00

Part 1 Persuasive Introduction...

2009-10-24T09:29:00.002-06:00

Part 6 Organizing Info.

2009-10-24T09:11:00.000-06:00

Part 5 Evaluate Reasoning

2009-10-24T09:08:00.000-06:00