In God We Trustby Angie
3 Nov 2008
2:11 pm3
This month has been a roller coaster! I apologize that we haven’t kept our blog very up-to-date, but everything has been moved to the back burner while we campaign for Proposition 8. This is our first experience being part of a “grassroots movement.” It wasn’t exactly fun – honestly, I hope I never have to do something like this again – but it has certainly been an amazing experience, and I’ve learned a lot.
We’re making phone calls again today, and will be waving signs downtown for another hour or two this afternoon. Tomorrow I’ll be at one of the polling locations (the legal distance away) with signs and fact sheets to help any last minute undecided voters see the issue clearly. It’s amazing to think there are really less than 36 hours left in a project that has taken up our time and emotions for the past several months! I’m so grateful for the prayers, fasting, donations, and support of all our family and friends. I’m very confident that we will be successful, and trust that, after all we can do, California is in Heavenly Father’s hands.
Letter to the Editorby Angie
20 Oct 2008
1:10 pm3
Last week I voted “Yes” to the Tri-Valley Herald’s online poll, “Do you support Proposition 8?” In addition to the poll, there was a link to submit a 50-100 word response to the editor as to why or why not. I put my two cents in, emailed the poll link to several friends, and proceeded to forget about it. Yesterday, though, a friend in my ward named Sandy Guyman approached me before Sacrament Meeting and said, “Congratulations! You’re famous!” …I had to admit, I had no idea what she was talking about, so she laughed and said that the Herald published my comments in Saturday’s Letters to the Editor! I’ve submitted so many responses and comments on various sites over the past couple of weeks that I couldn’t even remember what I had written in that case! Since we don’t take that paper, Sandy kept it for me and her husband brought it over to us last night.
I can’t seem to find it anywhere on the Herald’s website. They have a page of links for Letters to the Editor, but there is no link for October 18ths letters. Anyway, here is what i wrote:
“Various ethnicities receive ‘civil rights’ because the distinctions of race are completely innate and beyond their control. The choice of whether to act or not act on homosexual passions or appetities may be difficult, but it IS a choice. . . . And it happens to be a choice that (in 2000 at least) the majority of Californians did not think warranted legal endorsement. Californians who still feel the same way should continue to stand up for these beliefs by voting Yes on Proposition 8.”
Jim and I spent quite a while last night reading the rest of the responses, and I’d like to share my favorite:
“I think children all deserve to have a mother AND a father. Men and women have different strengths and they compliment each other.” …emphasis added by me, because I certainly hope so! 🙂 The misspelling may have been a Lapsus Clavis, but I agree with both the literal and intended meaning.
What is so important about Proposition 8?by Angie
11 Oct 2008
5:10 pm3
This November, California is voting on a ballot measure that proposes to amend our state constitution to read, “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.” Voting “Yes” on Proposition 8 would establish this amendment as law. So, what is the big deal? Well, there are lots of issues involved – it’s not just about “same-sex marriage” or even homosexuality. The outcome of this ballot measure will have a huge impact on the future of California, and on the nation:
– Education: Children receive various levels of “age appropriate” sex education throughout their K-12 years. If Proposition 8 fails, this education would necessarily include homosexuality and “same-sex marriage,” and would be required to give equal honor and encouragement to these kind of unions as to traditional marriage. There would be no requirement for parental notification or opting-out. This has already happened in Massachusetts (where “same-sex marriages” are legal) and, to some degree, in California.
– Religious/Moral Liberties: The tolerance being demanded by Gay Rights Activists is only one-way: a “tyranny of tolerance,” as Elder Bednar calls it. Instead of tolerance, proponents of “same-sex marriages” are demanding endorsement. If “same-sex marriages” are allowed in California, the lawsuits will multiply against religious organizations that morally disagree with homosexuality. Some religions will be threatened with the loss of their tax-exempt status because they are considered “discriminating.” Organizations and individuals who try to act on their moral convictions in relevant cases could be censured, fined, or forced to shut down. This is already happening all over the country. I realize that these lawsuits are likely to increase whether or not we pass Prop 8, but this amendment would give religious/moral organizations a more defensible position in the face of such attacks.
– Same-Sex Partners raising Children: It is currently very rare for a child to be raised by a homosexual couple, but if Proposition 8 fails, it is likely to become more common. What will happen to these children? Which parent doesn’t matter – a Mom or a Dad? The Church’s publication, “The Divine Institution of Marriage” states that, “The legalization of same-sex marriage likely will erode the social identity, gender development, and moral character of children. Is it really wise for society to pursue such a radical experiment without taking into account its long-term consequences for children?”
Jim and I have discussed, researched, and received direction from Church leaders regarding these and many other issues related to Proposition 8. We both feel strongly in favor of it, and are dedicating our efforts and prayers to helping it pass on November 4th.
Crummy Carpet Cleaningby Angie
10 Oct 2008
11:10 am3
I’m looking for advice on cleaning carpets! I spent all afternoon Wednesday moving the furniture I could out of our living/dining area, vacuuming the whole floor, and shampooing the carpets with a big steamer-vac I rented from Home Depot… all to no avail. They still look terrible!
I began by spraying the worst areas with the special “high traffic treatment” spray that Home Depot recommended, and for solution I used a cleaner called “Kids’N’Pets” that was highly recommended to me. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize how very much was required, so I hadn’t bought enough and ran out when the room was only half done. It didn’t look like it was working, and I didn’t want to stop in the middle and go shopping, so I looked at some forums online, where several people recommended using just vinegar and hot water in the steamer. I used that for the second half of the floor, but the results were just as disappointing.
Does anyone have any suggestions for me before I spend three hours on my hands and knees scrubbing?
Preserving the Divine Institution of Marriageby Angie
9 Oct 2008
1:10 pm1
Last night we had the opportunity to attend a broadcast which was distributed to various Stake Centers all over California, as well as a few in Utah. Elder Ballard, Elder Cook, and Elder Clayton (a member of the Presidency of the Seventy) spoke on the importance of protecting and defending the institution and definition of marriage against the rising tide of same-sex demands. We were challenged to commit at least four hours per week over the next four weeks to support the Yes on Proposition 8 campaign, which will define marriage in California as only valid between a man and a woman.
Elder Ballard took some of his time to speak directly to the “young single and young married adults who are proficient in today’s techology.” He pointed out, “You text, blog, Google, twitter, ping, and write on your walls… I would have been sent to my room for doing some of those things in my day!.” It was very fun to hear him praise the talents and efforts of my generation, and encourage us to use our unique grasp of technology to spread the word in support of Proposition 8 with a new website developed by the church about marriage, families, civil rights, and tolerance. My favorite quote of the evening, was from Elder Cook – who lived much of his life in California, including studying law at Stanford University:
“There are those who vigorously promote beliefs and practices contrary to our own. They have the right of free speech, granted in our constitution . . . So do we! We can vigorously promote our beliefs and practices. We can do so with great conviction, and also with great love.”
Location of Missouri Temple Announcedby Angie
8 Oct 2008
11:10 am0
The Church announced more details about the imminent temple in the “Greater Kansas City Area” this morning:
“The temple serving the greater Kansas City area . . . site will be in Clay County, MI, on residential land within the Kansas City limits . . . already being developed by the Church. The development is known as Shoal Creek.”
Shoal Creek is in the Northern part of the Kansas City area, fairly close to Liberty. I’ll bet the summer of that temple’s dedication will be even busier for the VC Sisters than our “Nauvoo Temple Summer” was!
Checking Tire Pressure Under Pressureby Angie
7 Oct 2008
9:10 pm2
My dad didn’t tinker with cars. Perhaps it had something to do with having five daughters: If he had had a son to hand him tools and acquire matching greasy fingernails, his free weekends may have been spent under the hood of the car. Instead, he took his girls to movies and basketball games and built sets for my mom’s theatre productions. However, I do remember him teaching me how to change a tire as a prerequisite to receiving my driver’s license. I felt pretty impressed with my mechanical knowledge for a while, but – for better or for worse – I never actually had to change one. Now that ten years have passed, the lesson is a distant memory and I’ll probably be a jellyfish if I ever have to do it on my own.
Recently, however, I had a new lesson in auto maintenance. Our Mazda’s left back tire keeps riding low, so one day while Jim and I had stopped for gas, he showed me how to check and fill up the tires with the machine at the station. He explained that it’s really important to get the PSI up to 35 (but not higher) and that I must be very careful not to loose the little valve cap that screws on to seal the tire when I’m done. It was a simple lesson, but Jim made it enjoyable and I felt very informed and accomplished. I could have gone on feeling like that – just as I had about changing a flat – except that this time my education was tested.
A week later, Jim was heading out the door for work and mentioned that the Mazda was low on gas (he rides his Riva to work), and that I should fill up before running my errands. He added that it would be good to check the tire again – did I remember how to do it? Yes, yes, I did, and I said I would. Well, I didn’t – do it, that is. Not that afternoon at least. When I left for my errands, I was in a hurry and decided that I had enough gas to get things done. That evening, though, I felt bad that I handn’t taken care of the tire after I said I would, so I decided to go before it got too late.
The sun was setting as I pulled into the gas station. I stepped inside to ask for the code to work the air machine, then punched the numbers into the machine and got to work. I decided to do the job thoroughly and check all the tires, and started at the front right: 35 – good. Back right: 30 – I pulled out the nozzle and filled it up a bit. That took care of the two tires that were next to the machine. I decided that, rather than turning the car around, I’d just stretch out the hose to see if it would reach. Awkwardly, it did. I had to hang on to it with all the might of my left hand so it wouldn’t retract while I fumbled with the cap and the gauge in my right hand.
Suddenly, the air stopped. I was afraid I had broken something, but I soon realized that the air worked on a timer and my time was up. I entered the code again, dragged the hose back to its full length, and yanked it back around to the far side of the car to finish with the front left tire. Soon, the gauge read 35 and I lugged the hose around to the back of the car to the last tire. The PSI was less than 10, so I started filling, checking, filling, checking. By this time I had realized that it was really stupid of me to venture on this project in shorts.
When the tire was full, I started to screw the valve cap on with my right hand. Up to this moment, I had retained complete control over every one of the valve caps I had to remove and replace (which is quite a feat, considering I didn’t exactly have a free hand at the time – 
I had cradled each in my palm with my 4th and pinky fingers in the same hand that held the PSI gauge). This cap, unfortunately, was rather rebellious. He slipped out of my fingers and, rather than falling to the ground like a decent cap, dove straight into the wheel rim and disappeared. Nervously, I felt around inside. Since I was finished with the air hose, I let go so it could retract. Twilight was falling and it was difficult to see anything in the shadows. I felt around the inside of the rim with both hands. Finally, I began to search around the tire and – lying flat on my stomach on the asphalt – I saw and reached the cap, which had rolled about two feet away from the wheel, deep under the car.
Thoroughly disgusted with the whole endeavor, I roughly screwed the cap on tight and climbed into the car. As I started up the engine, I saw a man running toward the back of my car, waving his arms. I froze for a second, not sure if I should turn off my car and get out with my hands up or just drive away as fast as I could. Then I realized that he was bending down behind my car. The hose had not retracted all the way to the machine as I thought it had. It was wrapped around my back right tire and the nice man was unwinding it for me. Now absolutely mortified, I waved a weak thank-you as he walked away. With black, greasy hands and dust and grit on my shirt and knees, I drove home in shame.
The only good news is, the task was actually accomplished.