Religious Freedom - Wonderful speech by Elder Dallin H. Oaks

Religious Freedom - LDS Newsroom

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Wow! I should blog more!

So... apparantly I haven't blogged since APRIL! Oh my! Well, we have been pretty busy! I just read the last few months's entries for all the blogs I follow!

Okay, so I still enjoy blogging, but I have to confess that I prefer Facebook... it's so much easier to post pictures! Sooo... here's a link to a couple of my Facebook albums... check 'em out!

Brianna's 1st Birthday: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=19269&id=1393027139&l=7c0a975a85

Easter: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=19477&id=1393027139&l=a4cfd14c48

Ashley's Prom & BOYFRIEND pics: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=21211&id=1393027139&l=c65142205f

Summer: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=26651&id=1393027139&l=9f311b4ee7

Hawaii: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=29159&id=1393027139&l=55ee1fca11

Tyler on the news

Tyler went on a Scout campout this past weekend and he ended up being interviewed on the NEWS when they had to be RESCUED!! Here's the link to the story... http://www.abc15.com/content/news/centralsouthernarizona/other/story/Weather-strands-Boy-Scouts-leaders-at-lake-east/Vu_-OY2Wh0OGeNFDNoKCEQ.cspx

Tyler is sitting to the left of the shirtless guy, be sure to watch the video, they actually interview him!

Disneyland!!

So it's the wedding season and that means that I disappear for about 3 months because I'm working a lot! I had 12 weddings in the month of March!! Now, i'm not complaining, but I am TIRED! So is Kelly, he had weddings every weekend too plus overtime at Intel and editing the pics at all hours of the night! So what did we decide to do? We took off to Disneyland the first weekend of Spring Break a couple of weeks ago! Kelly got done with his wedding at midnight and we packed the car and left at 2am! We got to Disneyland at around 8am and cleaned up and went straight to the park! Here are the highlights...


We hadn't been to Disneyland since we were first married and we went with Ashley, Tyler & Niels... they were 7, 5, & 4 at the time!

It's a Small World was our first ride! Now it's updated with new characters and it's more politically correct.

Fun in Toon Town!

The 2nd day we started in California Adventure, it was awesome! I loved it! It's the perfect blend of little kid and big kid stuff!

You have a much better chance of getting pics with a character in California Adventure.

There's a Bug's Life section that makes you feel like you're in the movie! It's so detailed!

Our little Disney princess!

California Adventure closed at 6pm, so we went back over to Disneyland...

Here we are waiting for the fireworks...

Yes, I look like I've totally had it in this last picture... I came down with bronchitis on the trip and that was horrible! After the fireworks we went back to the hotel, took a nap, and then drove all night again and Kelly got to work late at about 10am... we were soo tired & I was really sick! I still LOVED it and we all had a great time!!

Raising a gentleman

I've made it a priority to teach my boys to be respectful to the opposite gender and I'm sure their wives will appreciate it someday. I'm happy to say that I'm already beginning to see the fruits of my labors... The other night when William said the family prayer he ended with "Amen", and then added "... and women!"

Today I am grateful...

Each day brings it's joys and challenges, there are people I know who are struggling financially, some emotionally, some have physical ailments. Today I feel very blessed and I am grateful for my children, my family, and my friends. I also pray for those who have great challenges to overcome. Today I read about one family in particular who needs prayers, read here about little Cora and her parents, and how their lives changed so drastically in two weeks time...

http://themcclenahans.blogspot.com/

A Violinist in the Metro

A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces in about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that thousand of people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. Three minutes went by and a middle aged man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried up to meet his schedule. A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping continued to walk. A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work. The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on. In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition. No one knew this but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars. Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston and the seats average $100. This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of an social experiment about perception, taste and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context? One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?

Winter Fun!

This year we went to play in the snow like we do every year... We stay in Pinedale of course, and we go to the gravel pits up by Sunriseto sled. This time I wasn't pregnant so I could sled to!

Tyler used 2 sleds and skied down the hill...

William was cold...

Our little snow bunny!

Ashley wasn't into sledding, but she loves taking pictures!

We warmed up inside and passed the time playing Guitar Hero World Tour. This is probably the only time you'll ever see Kelly playing a video game! Look at that concentration!

I love playing it too! Ashley is especially into it, she's a guitar hog! The Nelson's also came up for a day, I don't have pics of them, but they did get to sled w/ us. Overall, we had lots of fun!

MONSTER TRUCKS!!

Kelly writes: Every year for the past several years I've always taken the family to see the monster truck show. In recent years only the boys have gone with me. Last year (01/08) I got seats up high (3rd tier) on purpose to be able to see the whole field at once. We got these great seats directly behind home plate on the second row. After the show tickets went on sale at midnight for the 2009 show. I picked the 3 tier best available and to my utter amazement I got the exact same seats!! It was incredible! Unfortunately this year for some reason there were no ticket sales at midnight and I can't find a listing anywhere for a 2010 show... bummer, I was wishing for a threepeate.


Christmas came early for me this year, January early, I was on a waiting list for a new Canon 5D camera with 21mp and it can shoot HD video. About a week ago I got the call and had 24hrs to pick it up or it would go to someone else. There are hundreds of photographers on the list but I got bumped up because I'm a regular customer at Tempe Camera and they only get in a few a month. You can't find this camera anywhere.

Anyway... I took it with me to the show to play with it. The pictures were great, but I'm no videographer... yet...


I was amazed I didn't even get checked at the gate, They don't allow video or professional cameras in. My camera bag can roll like luggage and I had Lynden sitting on it holding on like a stick horse to the handle. Security was checking all the ladies handbags, but let us straight on it, even let me use the handicap entrance like I had a stroller or something.

I was a little disappointed in this years show however, not a lot of destruction during the freestyle exhibition. I wonder if they were told to tone it down a bit because a young boy was killed by flying debris at a previous show in Washington. A better reason to have high seats. The video I'm trying to post is of a replay on the Jumbo tron of about the only action there. However I had to compress it so much to upload to the web that it's really jittery




This truck has the cab on backwards to make it look like he's driving in reverse all the time. You have to keep telling your mind this because it really does look like he is.


Spanky Spangler doing a stunt, I wish I was a split second later with the shutter.

The little ones did have ear plugs but they both kept their hands over their ears as well. Lynden did it even when it was only the announcer speaking.

Incredible Video

Name Game

I should be posting something important but I don't feel like it... this was kinda funny...

YOUR REAL NAME:
Joanne Lynn Jarman

YOUR GANGSTA NAME: ( first 3 letters of real name plus izzle)
Joaizzle

YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: ( favorite color and favorite animal)
Blue Horse

YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: ( your middle name and street you live on/or neighborhood if it's a number)
Lynn Bendix

YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2letters of your first name)
Jarjo

YOUR SUPER HERO/ CRIMINAL NAME: ( Your 2nd favorite color and favorite drink ).
Pink Dr Pepper Huh?

YOUR IRAQI NAME: (2nd letter of your first name, 3rd letter of your lastname, 1st letter of your last name, 2nd letter of your moms maiden name,3rd letter of your dads name, 1st letter of siblings first name, and lastletter of your moms first name) .
Orjcsma Once again, huh?

YOUR WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: ( parents middle names )
Okay, my parents don't have middle names- how about Kelly's parents...
Rose Richard

YOUR GOTH NAME: ( black , and the name of one of your pets) .
Black Princess

YOUR HOOD NAME: ( first 3 of your first name and add - iqua)
Joaiqua


Okay, that was just silly... now I expect to see you all post yours!

So much has happened!

The holidays get so crazy! It's hard to find time to post during all the rush. Here's some things we did over the last several weeks...

William had his Thanksgiving program at preschool, I think that's a pinecone turkey he's holding, not bad for his first try! I wish I had some good pics of Thanksgiving, my family came over along with Grandma Anna & Grandma Jarman and it was fun! Kelly fried his first turkey and he didn't even blow anything up!

Brianna is young enough to go Christmas shopping with Mom & Dad and not spill any secrets... here she is hanging out at Toys R Us...

We went to the Electric Boat Parade at Tempe Town Lake and it was fun! We think Brent should enter his boat next year!

They had snow for the kids to play in in the park by the lake...

William's loves his preschool, they have a mini program for all major holidays... here they are "singing" at the Christmas program.

Kelly was in charge of December's Scouting activity so he took the boys with him on the caroling "hay" ride (it's cotton in the wagon). Kelly is pulling the trailor with his truck...

William went to "Jump n' Shout" for his birthday with his cousin Ayana...

It's always tough that Niels and William have their birthdays right before Christmas, here we are wishing William a Happy Birthday. For Niels Birthday this year, Kelly took the older boys out quading... they had a blast!

Santa visited our ward Christmas party! William refused to sit on his lap...

We took the little ones to my Dad & Barbara's on Christmas Eve. First we went to the Christmas Eve service at their church, had dinner there afterwards, and then went to their house to open presents...



Overall it was a fun & busy Christmas season!