Merry Christmas!

Merry Chirstmas everyone!

Want Some?

Happy Birthday Amanda!!!!

This post is for my sister Amanda who turned 21 on Wednesday. Her favorite movie is "On Our Own". She still has a crush on Mitch. She even had a poster from the movie in her bedroom. For anyone who hasn't seen the movie, or for anyone who is planning on blessing future generations with this bit of cinematogrophy excellence here"s a brief synopsis along with a family discussion guide.

ON OUR OWN
In a desperate attempt to keep his family together, Mitch learns the hard way that accountability is an essential part of real courage. The scream of an ambulance signals that life has changed forever for the Robbins children. With their mother's death, they face a future that is uncertain at best. Long since abandoned by their father, one thing appears certain: They are bound for four different foster homes. When Mitch convinces his younger siblings that running away is their only chance of staying together, they begin an improbably journey to find Uncle Jack, in hopes he can help them. Hungry, out of cash and with welfare officials hot on their trail, they have little chance--until they find a friend in Peggy, a vacationing teacher. Their problems appear to be solved, but the plot takes another twist. A fun ride for the entire family, "On Our Own" is also a movie with a message: That the end doesn't always justify the means.

Parents' Guide For Family Discussion

1. Why did Mitch steal? What could he have done instead of stealing? What would you do?
2. How did the kids help each other? How can you help your family through hard times?
3. Why was it so important for Mitch to keep the family together?
4. What can you do when you feel all alone?
5. What should you do when you discover that you're a 21 year old girl who sleeps in until 2 in the afternoon because you are heartbroken and depressed because you finally realized that Mitch is never going to come rescue you and take you away because he's not a real person and the guy who played Mitch is now 45 years old, working as a floor buffer for some Jr. High in Spanish Fork with 4 kids, a mortgage and a raging case of indigestion?

Hope in Christ

Journal Entry – Thursday morning, Dec. 18, 2008 - Steven Allison

Here in South Jordan the snow is coming down about an inch per hour. I can hear Ray Kunze plowing our driveway riding his yellow 4 wheeler.
I get out of bed to pray. I thank Him for our blessings and pray about all of us and say to the Father, “Don’t you know, some of us are having a hard time?” I am sure He does know. Despite all the challenges our family faces I feel peaceful this morning. I wish to write about that peace which passes all worldly understanding.
Joseph Smith taught that hope is the object of our faith. What do we hope for in our lives? Surely we hope for happiness and joy. We want to succeed. We want to be good. We want the best for our children and grandchildren. We want our spouses to be successful and well. We want money to use so we can accomplish important things. More than money, we want to make a solid contribution with our talents. We hope for a prosperous future and the good health to accomplish our goals. Ultimately we hope for Eternal Life and await the eternal promises we received in the temple of our God.
I wonder if sometimes our personal hope becomes too easily centered on earthly and worldly things. The Lord has blessed this family in amazing ways. We have so much to be thankful for. But in the midst of our prosperity some things just don’t seem to be working out. Do we get discouraged? I know I do. At times I feel lost and alone, forlorn and ignored. When I feel that way, I work to re-evaluate the situation and soon find that I had allowed earthly hopes to push a more sustaining hope out of my way. I so easily forget that Christ has not promised us success, good health and blue skies every day. (If we do have success, good health and blue skies – how blessed indeed we are!) In fact, Christ has promised that dark clouds and difficulties will come our way. (Matt. 5:45) What is for sure, and I testify of it, is that we may have peace through Christ in the midst of any trial or disappointment. The challenge is to be satisfied with the gift of peace alone and let Him have all our desires and all our aspirations. Moroni teaches that when we have a sufficient hope in Christ we can enter into His rest in this life. Christ has promised that He will be there for us when we need Him.
We work hard to accomplish good things for ourselves and our families. But we need to remember that He sees the long term picture better than we do. He will put us where He wants us according to our faith in Him. How do we know when we are going about things His way? He will send us peace. But if we want or demand something other than peace of heart to satisfy us build our self-esteem, we will not recognize the gift of peace when it comes. Nor will we find joy in the giver of that gift. Didn’t he say to us of the faith, “Peace I leave you. My peace I give unto you. Not as the world giveth, give I unto you,”? (John 14:27) And what if we are not satisfied with peace from Christ? Then nothing will satisfy us. No accomplishments, no honors, no amount of money will make us feel right inside. He has promised us that all good things will come to us in His time and in His way. He will eventually compensate us for all our ills, trials and shortfalls if we remain faithful. If we cannot accept that and demand more, we may become disillusioned. We may lose hope.
In December 1833, the Saints were suffering great afflictions at the hands of mobs in Missouri. The prophet Joseph Smith received this revelation.
(Doctrine and Covenants Section 101:14 - 19)
14 And all they who have mourned shall be comforted.
15 And all they who have given their lives for my name shall be crowned.
16 Therefore, let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion; for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God.
17 Zion shall not be moved out of her place, notwithstanding her children are scattered.
18 They that remain, and are pure in heart, shall return, and come to their inheritances, they and their children, with songs of everlasting joy, to build up the waste places of Zion—
19 And all these things that the prophets might be fulfilled.

We have many great promises from the Lord that will be fulfilled when we are faithful, in His time and in His way. Did I mention patience – God’s version – not ours?

Here and now we have our faith and we have our fears. It is healthy to discuss our fears and worries with each other and to comfort one another with our faith. We need to see our fears for what they are and let the Holy Spirit come into our hearts so we can be of good cheer and not be afraid. Anciently, the Apostles were adrift during a storm on the Sea of Galilee when Jesus came to them, walking on the water. He said, “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” (Matthew 14:27) Peter tried to walk upon the water but when he saw the waves and the wind his faith faltered and the Savior had to rescue him. So it is with us. Here on the sea of our life we have our storms and they frighten us. But we also have our faith in Christ to strengthen us and lift us up above our troubled waters.

Penny and I have been here on earth only a brief time ahead of you but in that time we have gained some perspective. When I look back over the years and see where we came from, Jeff Street and Brems Street in San Diego, California, and see where we are now and what we have, I see many miracles. During the move here in the summer of 1978 the car blew the rear main seal just past Victorville. Little did I know then the blessings that awaited us through the years ahead. We were stuck in a desert with a broken car and two little ones who needed to get out of the heat. We kept our heads, prayed, and the Lord blessed us with some help. After a delay, we were on our way again. So it is now, we get delayed and things break. Each of us may have a hard time, sometimes we may have a hard time that no one else knows exists inside us, but the help will be there and God will send us on our way. The greatest blessings we have are our testimonies and our covenants with each other and with God. Let us not be discouraged. God is watching over us. The promises from Doctrine and Covenants 101 are sure and they will come to pass. So let our hearts be comforted concerning our place in Zion; for our flesh is in His hands. Surely we can be still and know that He is God. He is our God and our friend. Indeed we can be of good cheer in the midst of life’s storms because He is near and can calm the troubled seas of our lives.
I love these poetic and prophetic words of the Apostle Paul who asked:
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:35 - 39
I love you all, Dad

The Christmas Card from Rika's family.

Ginger Bread Houses

What is better? Making 'em or eat'n 'em?

Saturday was an important day; it was the Dad's birthday and, more importantly, it was faux ginger bread house day! Here are some of the fabulous entries.

Are you from another planet?

This is what happens when an adult actually tries to make something.

Spencer spent most of the time under the table with Isaac eating candy.

Guess who? Kanami is neat and tidy.

Leesa's friends from BYU. The Christmas Bridge.

Elann's creation

Bennett's CCCCP anti-Christmas house. The green people are in a bread line.

Friends forever.

Temple Square

On the drive to SLC

Maybe this is a new tracting tool.
http://www.bclocalnews.com/news/35547269.html

The CCCCP

Last night I had a dream that I was the leader of a group called "The Citizens Coalition for the Cancelation of Christmas Propoganda" or the CCCCP and I had to design a flag for the organization so I made a flag that looked exactly like the communist Russia flag:
except that my flag had an extra C and instead of a scythe and a hammer underneath the star mine had a Christmas tree being cut down by a scythe underneath the star. In my dream I was laughing hysterically over my flag idea.

Katie's attempts at feeding Taylor

You sold our dead bird to a blind kid? Petey didn't even have a head...Harry, I took care of it.

Katie and I were babysitting Spencer and Taylor today and we drove them out to the bird refuge near their house. I'm not sure if this bird is an eagle or some kind of hawk. He looked a lot like a young bald eagle from what I could find out on the internet about eagles/hawks. My grandma could probably tell what kind of bird it is, so if you're reading this grandma then clue me in on some ornithology. We also saw a crane.

All I do is take pictures and read. Good thing my job starts next week.

These pictures were taken near the Red Banks Campground at the top of Logan Canyon. The last pic, the snowy boardwalk/mountain reflection, is one that I've taken before but I liked it so much I went back later today to take it again. While I was standing on the boardwalk a Bald eagle flew out of the trees on the other side of the lake and flew right over my head (about 20 feet above me) I couldn't get my camera out fast enough and he was gone before I could take a picture.

I like how you can just make out the moon and its reflection in this picture. (The Eagle was in the tree near the center of the photo)

The Truffle Shuffle

Enjoy my nephew, Edison, doing the Truffle Shuffle.

At least the politicians in Idaho have some brains!

LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO
Fifty-eighth Legislature First Regular Session - 2005
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 29BY WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION STATING LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND COMMENDING JARED AND JERUSHA HESS AND THE CITY OF PRESTON FOR THE PRODUCTION OF THE MOVIE "NAPOLEON DYNAMITE."
Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
WHEREAS, the State of Idaho recognizes the vision, talent and creativity of Jared and Jerusha Hess in the writing and production of "Napoleon Dynamite"; and WHEREAS, the scenic and beautiful City of Preston, County of Franklin and the State of Idaho are experiencing increased tourism and economic growth; andWHEREAS, filmmaker Jared Hess is a native Idahoan who was educated in the Idaho public school system; and WHEREAS, the Preston High School administration and staff, particularly the cafeteria staff, have enjoyed notoriety and worldwide attention; and WHEREAS, tater tots figure prominently in this film thus promoting Idaho's most famous export; and WHEREAS, the friendship between Napoleon and Pedro has furthered multiethnic relationships; and WHEREAS, Uncle Rico's football skills are a testament to Idaho athletics; and WHEREAS, Napoleon's bicycle and Kip's skateboard promote better air quality and carpooling as alternatives to fuel-dependent methods of transportation; and WHEREAS, Grandma's trip to the St. Anthony Sand Dunes highlights a long-honored Idaho vacation destination; and WHEREAS, Rico and Kip's Tupperware sales and Deb's keychains and glamour shots promote entrepreneurism and self-sufficiency in Idaho's small towns; and WHEREAS, Napoleon's artistic rendition of Trisha is an example of the importance of the visual arts in K-12 education; and WHEREAS, the schoolwide Preston High School student body elections foster an awareness in Idaho's youth of public service and civic duty; and WHEREAS, the "Happy Hands" club and the requirement that candidates for school president present a skit is an example of the importance of theater arts in K-12 education; and WHEREAS, Pedro's efforts to bake a cake for Summer illustrate the positive connection between culinary skills to lifelong relationships; and WHEREAS, Kip's relationship with LaFawnduh is a tribute to e-commerce and Idaho's technology-driven industry; and WHEREAS, Kip and LaFawnduh's wedding shows Idaho's commitment to healthy marriages; and WHEREAS, the prevalence of cooked steak as a primary food group pays tribute to Idaho's beef industry; and WHEREAS, Napoleon's tetherball dexterity emphasizes the importance of physical education in Idaho public schools; and WHEREAS, Tina the llama, the chickens with large talons, the 4-H milk cows, and the Honeymoon Stallion showcase Idaho's animal husbandry; and WHEREAS, any members of the House of Representatives or the Senate of the Legislature of the State of Idaho who choose to vote "Nay" on this concurrent resolution are "FREAKIN' IDIOTS!" and run the risk of having the "Worst Day of Their Lives!"
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the members of the First Regular Session of the Fifty-eighth Idaho Legislature, the House of Representatives and the Senate concurring therein, that we commend Jared and Jerusha Hess and the City of Preston for showcasing the positive aspects of Idaho's youth, rural culture, education system, athletics, economic prosperity and diversity. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we, the members of the House of Representatives and the Senate of the State of Idaho, advocate always following your heart, and thus we eagerly await the next cinematic undertaking of Idaho's Hess family. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives be, and she is hereby authorized and directed to forward a copy of this resolution to Jared and Jerusha Hess, the Mayor of the City of Preston and the Principal of Preston High School.
Statement of Purpose / Fiscal ImpactRS 15236The purpose of this resolution is to recognize and commend Jared and Jerusha Hess for their cinematic talents by which they have increased the nation's awareness of Idaho.FISCAL NOTEThere is no fiscal impact to the general fund.Contact Name:Representative Larry BradfordRepresentative Max BlackPhone: (208) 332-1000

SWEDED

If you'v seen the movie "Be Kind Rewind" then you know what "sweded" is. Sweded is a very very low budget remake of a movie. Here are some really funny Sweded versions of popular films, starting with "Lord of the Rings" in two parts.

Predator

Jurassic Park

Armagedon

I didn't kick my camera into the river this time! But I did break my Tri-pod.

So it looks like this has become a blog about photography. Here are some pics from my hike today in Preston Valley.

Jake: I took a bunch of shots like you said for the HDI compilation, but I don't have Photoshop (or any program for working with images) so I'll probably burn em and bring em over to your house sometime when I'm in Salt Lake so I can see what they'd look like.