The Decline of Morality in America

I really loved this quote and wanted to share it with you all:

Orthodox Jewish Rabbi Daniel Lapin says this in his book, America’s Real War, (1999, Multnomah Publishers):

“Often, as I speak on these issues across the country, someone in the audience hurls this tired old corker: ‘The religious Right is trying to force its values down our throats.’ I have a standard response which I enjoy offering. I inform my listeners that the secular Left has introduced sexual indoctrination and condom distribution to eleven-year-old public school students. It has made the enjoyment of tobacco the moral equivalent of child molestation. It has dramatically increased illegitimacy in America. It has created an entertainment ethos that brings smut and vulgarity into our living rooms. Take an honest look at the values that the secular Left has already succeeded in forcing down the throats of religious Americans. How can anyone honestly confront the changes that have been inflicted by the secular Left and worry about the changes that the religious Right might force down our throats. I contend that the values concerned Christians desire for America are not really changes, but simply the return to an earlier and legitimate status. If you fling an invader out of your land, back over the border he illegally crossed in the first place, you are not guilty of aggression. It is called self-defense. You are worried that the religious Right might succeed in forcing their values onto us? I am worried they might fail, for they are our values too. Or at least they ought to be.”

Defending the Faith....

I've been thinking a lot lately about how much more difficult it's becoming to be a member of the Church....but these days have certainly been prophesied to come--->

2 Timothy 3:

"...In the last days, perilous times shall come... Men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy... Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good.... Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of Godliness, but denying the power thereof..."

"yea, and ALL that will live Godly in Christ shall suffer persecution... But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and has been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them..."

As members of His Church... we just have to stand up, and be BOLD AND COURAGEOUS! We have to almost EXPECT that we are going to be persecuted, laughed at ... etc...and we have to STAND for what's right and what we believe in.

I'm so thankful to be a member of a Church who does not deny the power of God... a church who believes in the MIRACLES of the restoration of Christ's church. I'm thankful that we are taught that although we are saved fully by Christ's grace... "FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD." We accept Christ and come to know Him by serving Him. And in that, we find happiness.

I've felt in the last few months more than ever that EVERYTHING we learn at church is there to bring us happiness. The Gospel is SO SIMPLE! Satan would like us to believe that being a church going person "holds us back" in our lives... that it's a good thing to be selfish, to live for the next high or the next pleasure in life.. In reality.. the standards set by God allow us SO MUCH MORE FREEDOM to to find happiness. And in serving God by serving others... we find ourselves, and find real happiness. Satan can counterfeit just about everything... but he CANNOT counterfeit PEACE. :) I'm thankful for the Peace I receive through the Gospel of Jesus Christ...

"Tragedy" (A Dark and Stormy Night)

Several years ago I found these hilarious similies in the newspaper that people had actually used in their college papers. So, I decided for one of my classes, to take ALL of them, and combine them into one story. I was just thinking about this story the other day... and luckily, while I was rummaging through some old CDs tonight, found it!!!! Let me know what you think!:)

Tragedy
By, Christie Marie Bessinger

It was a dark and stormy night. But this storm was not like any normal storm. The clouds were a deep black and could only been seen when the fierce lightning lit up the night sky. The rain kept coming down faster and faster, hitting the pavement like maggots when you fry them in hot grease. But all Conrad could think about was Maria. It had been so long, and all he wanted was to see her face. She had promised to meet him there that night. He dashed out the doors of the hotel, when all of a sudden, from across the street, he saw her silhouette glowing under a streetlamp. “Maria!” cried Conrad. “Oh, Conrad!” cried Maria. The star-crossed lovers raced across the puddles, like two freight trains, one having left Cleveland at 6:30 pm traveling at a speed of 65 mph, the other from Topeka at 4:15 at a rate of 40 mph. At last, they embrace. “I love you, Maria!” said Conrad. “I love YOU, Conny!” cried Maria. The couple decided to go get dry and then go have dinner. As they walked up to the 12th floor, they laughed and talked, remembering old times. Conrad was just as Maria had remembered him. Blonde hair, blue eyes, and about as tall as a six-foot three-inch tree.
They were about ready for dinner, when all of the sudden, there was an unearthly howl coming from the room next door. The whole scene had an eerie, surreal quality, kind of like when you’re on vacation in another city and “Jeopardy” comes on at 7 instead of 7:30. “Ahhhhh!” screamed Maria. “Don’t fret my pet!” shouted Conrad. He went next door to go check it out.
All Maria heard was a gunshot…and, looking out the window, saw Conrad fall 12 stories, hitting the pavement like a hefty bag filled with vegetable soup.

Love and Single Awareness Day

One of my good friends... miss Lisa Marcell Haper posted this.... and I asked her if I could steal it! I think it explains just about everything I'm feeling on this, my 28th Valentine's day SINGLE... (minus that one in 2002, thanks Brad ;-) Lisa, this is why we are soul-sistas!



Love and Single Awareness day.... By, Lisa Marcell Harper

Ah, the month of love. Who doesn't love it? Single people, that's who! It's Single Awareness Day (aka Valentine's Day)...that extends into nearly an entire month.

Isn't that what this life is for? Aren't we all searching for that "someone"? That person who makes our heart pitter patter, who has heard our baggage and still thinks we're a good buy, the one you're willing to take on the world with. Our Soul mate.

Those in relationships have that superiority that comes from being in love. The smug feeling of Valentine's not being a big deal. After all... they have ALL year to show their love. Cupid has struck and they're no longer alone. They look at their single friends with pity, they offer words of wisdom to help you keep the faith...
"He's just around the corner!"
"I kissed a lot of frogs before I found the one!"
"By next Valentine's Day you'll be with the right one, I'm sure of it!"
"You'll know the right one when you see him."

These smug bastards are even worse when you've just broken up with someone...
"He just couldn't see how wonderful you are!"
"You're better off without him!"
"He was intimidated by you!"
"He's insecure."
"I never liked him anyway."
"The right one is just around the corner!"

They mean well, these people who have already found "the one." They do. But the mere fact that they've already found their match is reason enough to discount their words. Because love...love is like a memory eraser. Those in love have forgotten how miserable a Valentine's Day can be alone. Or they've forgotten a first date where the guy spoke non-stop about his Star Wars collection. Or the guy who professed his love after two dates and asked you to procreate with him. Perhaps they don't remember the man who wore diapers at night. Or the indecisive guy who could never decide between you and his human shaped body pillow. They usually forget about the painful breakups too. The sleepless nights, going to the store in your pajamas, the dejected feelings, wondering if coloring your hair will make you suddenly more desirable...these things also get erased by the magic of love.
No, these smug people in love...they just remember that they did find the right one. The flutter, the rush of love. They look on every past relationship with fondness because it brought them to "the one!"
When all you want to is scream, "But I want 'the one' right noooooooooow!" and stomp your foot for emphasis. (doesn't work, I tried) But, alas, we must all wait our turn to find the right match. Maybe you can find it on Match.com who will guarantee you that if you don't find your match within 6 months...they'll give you 6 MORE months free...to not find your match.

Maybe dating IS a numbers game. Maybe he truly IS right around the corner. Maybe he really DIDN'T see how wonderful you are. Maybe you WILL be with the right one by next Valentine's Day. Or...maybe you won't. Maybe you'll be alone forever. Maybe there is no right person out there for you. Maybe you're irreparably broken. Maybe your soul mate died in a terrorist attack years ago.

See? That's the single girl talking. As annoying as those "in love" smug friends are... you need them around. To remind you that you are beautiful, you have a lot to offer, he DIDN'T appreciate you, the right one WILL find you... Those smug bastards have a purpose. Listen to them. (but don't call them smug bastards to their face.)

As for me? I'll continue to listen to the words of wisdom, find hope in their uplifting words. And I will be buying myself some chocolate this Valentine's. And reminding myself that even though it's Single Awareness Day... I've already found my match. My TiVo. Maybe by next Valentine's I'll have someone to share the chocolate with, someone to watch my TiVo with. And maybe I won't.

Single or in love... Happy love month!

Love this Talk...

Elder Holland rocks. This testimony again solidified my faith that The Book of Mormon is TRUE. It's such a blessing to have a modern day prophet and apostles... to KNOW that this IS the "marvelous work and wonder" that was prophesied to happen in the last days. The world is so crazy today and so wicked! The Book of Mormon speaks to us in our day...and has brought me so much peace, and so much knowledge. I am thankful for this book and hope that those who haven't read it yet, will read it and come to know of it's truth as well. =)

My BFF is gone!

Hillary left today for her mission. She's going to the AZ Mesa Spanish Speaking Mission. I know she's gonna do awesome =). We threw her a big farewell fiesta the other night and watched the bachelor, of course. I can't wait to hear all her mission stories. Good luck Hermana Scott!

My brilliant little niece

Haley and Jane moved to Mississippi today with Taylor. We are going to miss them!! I'm especially going to miss hangin' out with this little girl... = )

Summer Recital

Here's one of my amazing students...Kimie, doing Koshi Kondo's Super Mario Theme!

Remembering Kevyns ♥

My cousin Kevyns Luthy, passed away today, Feb. 9, 2009, at about 2 am in Charleston, SC. He was just 18 years old. Though the times I got to spend with him were short, I will never forget them. In particular, I remember one night, when we were all staying at the Luthy's home in Logan. Kevyns and I took a walk together down a dirt road that stretches for about a mile. We went and looked at the horses that lived at a farm out there, and just talked and laughed...I remember it was just around Easter, and the sun was setting. I remember thinking about what a great kid he was, and how much I admired him for his humor and positive attitude about life, even though he was going through something harder than most of us will ever know. I could sense that he loved and appreciated the little things in life. He never gave up. He said, even in his last weeks before dying, that his job was "just to keep trying." And he did, up until the very end. He put his heart into everything he did.

It has been a blessing to know him, if even just for a short time....to be able to witness his faith and his courage. He is the best example to me in my life. I know he is now completely healed from his broken heart, and from all the suffering. He will continue on in the eternities, being that bright light that he has always been, and will always be, to anyone who was ever lucky enough to cross paths with him in this life. I feel so lucky that for even just one moment... that one walk down that one dirt road, on an early spring evening in Logan... I was able to walk the same path with him, to witness who he was... who he still is.

I will miss him greatly, and look forward to the day that we will meet again.

San Diego Slide Show...

This week I'm headed back to the No... after 4 months in this beautiful place. I am definitely going to miss it!



Create Your Own

Why I'm Still Single

Don't see Spiderman-3, EVER.

These poor kids waited in line with me for 2 hours just to see this lame movie!

You all have no idea how excited I was to see Spierman 3. After number 2 was one of the best action / comic movies, I have ever seen, I waited impatiently for 2 years to see this movie. BAD IDEA. After the shock and disappointment wore off, I googed "Spiderman 3 sucks.." and found this blog, which actually lightened my mood because of some funny comments written by those who were just as upset as me. But seriously, why did Sam Raimi do this to us? He completely shattered what he built up so brilliantly in the first two movies. It could have been the best triology ever...but now I am seriously contemplating whether or not I will still dress my future sons in little spidey outfits for Halloween. :0) I have been in a Spiderman-3 induced depression for the past 24 hours, still hoping to wake up from this bad dream..........Seriously!!!!!! At the end I was expecting Ashton Kutcher to jump out and tell me I'd been PuNKeD!. This was NOT THE REAL SPIDERMAN!!!! :(

Then again, At least the IMAX version was sold out, saving me the pain of seeing this garbage on a six-story tall screen!!

And lastly, what was up with the whole emo-man thing? when Peter stepped out with his new Emo-man look....It's as if you would have expected him to paint his nails black and listen to Fallout Boy on his iPOD after that..... and you call this Spiderman???

Oh Sam, what have you done...........? Where did the real Spiderman go!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Spiderman 3 Sucks: Here's why

Not only was this movie a MESS, but there was a song and dance routine. A SONG AND DANCE ROUTINE. It was like watching a terrifying male version of a goth Mary Poppins meets Michael Jackson. I wanted to laugh or cry but I was utterly horrified.
Please do yourselves a favor and don't watch this movie. If you have, get counseling. I know that I personally enjoyed the credits, as the entire theater broke out into sarcastic comedy and clapping, but that was it. I'm scarred for life. Every time someone mentions Spiderman, I will have the painful image of an emo Tobey McGuire dancing in a jazz bar. Damn you Raimi.

Here's a short list of all the terrible scenes so we can remember them togehter:

1) Spiderman flips his hair down
2) he tells the girl to get him some milk and make some cookies with nuts in them
3) he learns how to play the piano and dance/dress like john travolta
4) stupid butler says one thing that totally changes the anger built up inside of harry osborne over the course of the first 2 3/4 movies
5) after a concussion, harry turns gay/metrosexual
6) mj and harry dance in the kitchen together while they bond over an omelette (even though in the scene before harry asked the butler to make food)
7) the waitress asks harry how his pie is, so just like anyone would, he says "(insert gay lisp) sooooo good!"
8) tobey realizes he can't beat the sandman so he just cries and says he forgives him so the guy will leave him alone
9) the sandman character comes out of nowhere, and all of a sudden is the real killer of his uncle
10) there are 2 different versions of the killing the uncle… the evil one and then the compassionate one which is apparently supposed to make you feel bad for the poor guy who committed a robbery a murder
11) peter tries to do his best frodo impersonation while trying to catch a ring that he never even gave to her
12) spiderman kisses another girl upside-down when he knows mj is sitting there watching it all
13) HAIR FLIP What the $(*$&(*$&(*&$(?!?!
14) lame ass crowd cheers for him like it's a movie made for 5 yr olds
15) random dump truck full of cinderblocks just shows up in the web above mj's taxi out of nowhere
16) banging metal together makes the evil venom go away?..???
17) many many more that i do not have time or energy to remember…

Taylor + Haley's Wedding Slideshow

Create Your Own

July 14, 2006. Sounds best with Natalie Cole's song L.O.V.E.

The Famous Quote Wall

I love my friends!!

"Oh no! Now we're going to Jail.... AND HELL!" - Ederly and Christie while tanning in the park using duck tape--don't ask, that was all Ederly!

"...Dude, if we die.....we're dead. -Janice, before our Jeep adventure Saturday night

"That totally sounds like something Fifi would say." -Breanna she meant to say, "Pheobe" from Friends

"Yeah.....you DO look black at night!" -Christie looking at Rob in the dark! ha ha.

"I love Frazier. I love Frazier. I love Frazier. I love Frazier." -Breanna. So wait, do you like Frazier?!" -Christie

"Maaaaan! I wanna say something stupid so I can be on your quote wall!" -Ederly wishing she was as dumb as all the rest of us!

"I've never seen that....I've never seen anyone drive their garbage down the street, and then bang the H!! out of it with a stick." - Mr. Peterson on "The Burbs." ok, so he's not one of us, but I had to put it in there! haha

"It was like a big gay sausage fest....."-Nick B referring to the day he had to strip down into his boxers in front of all the other recruits.

"That guitar is sweet! It's like made out of wood!"-annonymous

"Yeah....and I was thinking....like shouldn't you be out shooting somebody right now!?!?" -cb, talking about her Iraq stalker boy who's on myspace more than she is.

"Love-ahs....as we gaze at the stars out here on the Clovis East pole vaulting mat....the big dipper rising...." -Marky B doing his impression of Will Ferrell the night the cops caught us and Janice almost started crying.

"Dude!...just tell him we made the $% brownies for him! He's leaving tomorrow and he might die!" -annonymous.

"$%&!" -Janice
Take that back! -Christie
"OK....un$%&!"-Janice after our spa extravaganza Tuesday nite....

"Now I can't WAIT to get attacked so I can use my skillz!" -Leslie, after completing Self-defense training at FHE.

"Hey! Do you guys have any balls in your pants?" -My dad, during tennis practice with my brothers. He meant "tennis balls" and he also didn't realize the stake prez. was playing in the court right behind him.

"If the fate of the world rests in these guys' hands, we're doomed." -Hank,referring to the red hot chilli peppers global warming concert to "save the world" on 7/7/07.

"We're done." -Emy Hernandez "Really?! I didn't even know we started!" -annonymous. "Well, what are you up to right now?" "Uuuuuhhhh...hangin out." (nice try though! stupid boyz..ha ha)

"EDERLY! ROLL UP THE WINDOWS, THERE'S TOO MUCH WIND COMING IN!" - me...okay, so I forgot that we were in the convertible with the top off.

"Keith: What's the Pit all about?

Alec: Well basically, we just go lay out on the mat and watch the stars, and talk, and ya know...maybe that's when you can make out with Leslie. Or...maybe that's when I can make out with Leslie!"

"And when I say brother, I don't mean, like, an actual brother, but I mean it like the way black people use it. Which is more meaningful, I think."-Ben Stiller

"DUDE! YOU WERE TOTALLY A MEXICAN IN YOUR PREVIOUS LIFE!" - EDERLY

"Whenever I'm thinking about doing ANYTHING... I first ask myself, "Would an idot do that?" And if he would, I do NOT do that thing..." -Dwight

My Biology Poem

So, I've always been a pretty good student... but I couldn't pass biology for the life of me! My last semester at Fresno State my counselor let me know I HAD to take bio in order to graduate. After attempting Bio1A at state... I asked for special permission to take it at good ol' city college. Thankfully...they were OK with it. I had class with Jared Meiderios and my brother Taylor. As much as I studied, I still had a C going into the final. Miraculously, my teacher decided to grade the final on the craziest curve I have ever seen... and he said we could do any kind of extra credit assignment we wanted...so, with this poem, and a little kissing up to the teacher... I pulled off the A!



ODE TO DR. LUCKENBACH

I love to go to Dr. Luckenbach's class.
Biology, biology... what a kick in the @$$!

Every Friday, we had so many fun labs...
Learning about seashells, bananas, and crabs.
We looked at pond water under microscopes
Made our own habitats and classified antelopes

In the past, I'd been told I descended from a monkey
Dr. Luckenbach explained this idea was pretty funky
Instead, he provided another solution--
With facts about Darwin and a little evolution!

And then, each week the flora and fauna accounts
Gave me knowledge in enormous amounts
I discovered one afternoon that the LA Quail
Is a strange lil bird with a 9-11 inch tail

And although tarantulas look pretty darn scary
They are nothing to fret about (even though they are hairy)
We learned about genes and the birds and bees, too
(Now I know why my little brother's eyes are blue)

I also discovered that I am half black!
What a surprise...Uncle Jack's really my dad!
I've also been told that if I marry a dwarf
There's a 75% chance my offspring will be warped

Biology, Biology, with Luckenbach it's fun
But when it seemed the semester had just begun...

Out of nowhere, he left us for a whole two weeks!
We had to settle for a sub with average techniques
No one could compare to our favorite science guy
Not Einstein or Trayler, or even Bill Nye

So we tried not to cry as we suffered through the lectures
Wondering when he'd return to answer our conjectures
We were so excited when at last-- he came back!
Jared was so happy, he had an asthma attack

But then the bad news came, "YOUR EXAM IS IN 2 DAYS"
Our class suddenly panicked, when we heard this phrase
Then after 100 questions and a damaged optic nerve--
Some good news finally came, "I graded on a curve"

The whole class cheered, as D's turned into A's
I knew I'd pass biology one of these days...
And thanks to Dr. Lukenbach, I'll finally get my diploma
And I won't have to suffer from mesothelioma

While trying to pass biology at Fresno State
Where class was so boring and only elevated my heart rate
But here at Fresno City, biology is fun!
And my knowledge of science has only just begun

Like Monday when I ran over that big giant rat
And slammed on the breaks and said, "Hey, look at that!"
I thought of Luckenbach and knew it was a possum---
Real Life Application---now what could be more awesome?!?!?!

I love to go to Dr. Luckenbach's class
Biology, biology, what a kick in the @$$!