Blog Thought
So I have had a lot to write about today. In a way, I think I have been saving blogging for Fridays because I have been so busy with everything else and tired with the pregnancy. Hopefully, next week I will find time to spread it out.
Sugar Thought
I have noticed over the last week that every time I eat dessert, I start to feel ill. If I just eat a few bite, I get dizzy, and tired and it lasts for about a half an hour. If I eat, say a whole donut or piece of cake, I get dizzy and then feel nauseaus. Since type II diabetes runs in my family, I know that it is time to quit sugar, at least until the baby comes. Thankfully, my usually contrary about health food husband, has declared that we are not going to have much dessert around until the baby is born. He is doing this for my health and the health of the baby. So while, I hate to give up my love affair with cake, donuts, and ice cream, I am very grateful that my husband is going to support me in this.
Abortion Thought
My sister sent me and a bunch of family a Huffington Post article about other nations hating America because there are some pro-life laws being sent through some state legislatures. There was one ridiculous law about women carrying still born babies to term. I doubt it will pass. But the rest of the laws or potential laws sited were "personhood" and ultra-sound laws. I think my sister feels these laws are bad, and women should be allowed to make the choice to abort a baby. Honestly, I am not completely sure on her stance. I am sure on my stance. I think the bad law was to make abortion legal to begin with. Yes, I can see some exceptions, but it is not the exceptions that are most of the abortions. As far as ultra-sound laws go, I am all for them. 70% of women who have an ultra-sound after they have decided to have an abortion, change their minds. That means 7 out of every 10 babies that would have been killed are saved, and 7 out of every 10 women who would have made a decision that would have had ill effects on their mental health, do not have to face that. For personhood laws, I am ALL, ALL, ALL for them. Currently, being in my 9th pregnancy that has not ended in an early miscarriage, I can say very firmly, that my children are people with distinct personalities even while in the womb. Recently there has been talk about "after-birth abortion". The main argument in favor is a belief that a baby is only a "potential person". But, having had 8 newborns, I know without a doubt, that each baby has it's own personality, and they are all very unique and different. Making personhood laws is just making a law about what is real and true. What is a lie is that fetus are just a mass of cells, or just a parasite in a woman's body.
Joseph and Joshua Thought
Joseph is messy and wild. Joshua is neat and cautious-- he hates messy, slimy, or sticky things. When they eat, Joseph at 2.5 gets his food all over his face, in his eyes, ears, hair, shirt, and pants. The kid is a mess! I still make him eat in a high chair. Joshua at 14 months, is quite the opposite. Joshua gets his hands and face, and sometimes the tops of his shirts messy. I never have to wash off Joshua's eyes, ears, hair, or pants. I wonder if they will share a room well?
Teenager Thought
Now having been the parent of a teenager for one year, I'd have to say that at this point I like it. I like having the conversations that you can't have with little kids but that teenagers are willing to have all of the time. I like that the teenagers are so very independent. I like that I can embarrass teenagers very easily-- fun, fun, fun. And I don't mind that they like to stay up really late. I guess we will see how I feel in a few more years. So far, all is well and happy.
Kate Thought
Kate is one of my big conversationalists. She loves to talk, and always has a lot to say. Today Kate said, "Watching movies and reading books all alone is no fun. When you read a book with someone it is so much better, because then you have someone to talk about it."--- So very Kate. I hope she marries a guy who likes to gab about EVERYTHING!
Friday, March 23, 2012
Ruth Turns 14
Living Planet Aquarium
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We went on a field trip to the Living Planet Aquarium. It was actually a Connections Academy (Ruth's online school) official field trip. So Ruth got in for free and the rest of us were $6 instead of $9. So it seemed like the right time to go. The Living Planet Aquarium is kind of a funny place. It seems to be an old grocery tore turned aquarium. |
The kids loved it-- especially Anya. She squealed and loved seeing all of the fish and other animals. The older kids loved that they could pet the manna-rays.
After we had been through the aquarium one time, John joined us for a second time through. I think the kids enjoyed showing their dad all that they had seen, and I enjoyed being able to carry Joshua through and talk to him about some of the animals.
Trampoline
Around a year ago, Anya said to me, "Mom, I am trying to get a trampoline and it is just not happening. Will you help me get a trampoline?" My heart was touched, and I decided then and there that we needed to spend the money and get a trampoline for our kids. I wanted to get one for Christmas, but we just didn't have the money then. I knew we had to wait until we got our tax return. We have finally done it! We bought our kids a trampoline! I am pleased to have helped Anya get her trampoline.
After a couple of days, I am sure that it is money well spent. We bought the largest trampoline and in our tiny yard, it looks GIANT!!! John insisted, though. He thought with the number of our kids, they would be safer on something bigger. The one safety problem that I see is actually the safety net. The kids "feel" safe, and barrel themselves or throw each other into the nets. They are not at all cautious about the edges or falling like they are on Grandma's open tramp. So, in this case, I am not sure a safety net really makes them safer. But our house insurance would cancel on us if we didn't have the net. And, we have to have neighbors and cousins sign a waiver if we are to allow anyone besides our own family on the trampoline.
After a couple of days, I am sure that it is money well spent. We bought the largest trampoline and in our tiny yard, it looks GIANT!!! John insisted, though. He thought with the number of our kids, they would be safer on something bigger. The one safety problem that I see is actually the safety net. The kids "feel" safe, and barrel themselves or throw each other into the nets. They are not at all cautious about the edges or falling like they are on Grandma's open tramp. So, in this case, I am not sure a safety net really makes them safer. But our house insurance would cancel on us if we didn't have the net. And, we have to have neighbors and cousins sign a waiver if we are to allow anyone besides our own family on the trampoline.
I like what Laura Bunker, President of United Families Utah had t o say about the sex-ed bill, that Governor Herbert vetoed. So I wanted to post it here.
United Families Utah expresses great disappointment in Governor Herbert's decision to veto HB 363, Health Education Amendments. We are concerned about the inappropriate content that many Utah elementary students were exposed to last year, as well as other content that may enter elementary and secondary classrooms in the future. Even though the current law is "abstinence-based," parents can no longer assume that everything their child is taught in school aligns with their values.
As the Deseret News reported, HB 363 "was designed to remove Planned Parenthood from schools," specifically the Planned Parenthood maturation program entitled "Growing Up Comes First" which was used in several school districts last year. Even though the USOE removed their endorsement of this maturation program in April, 2011, as Senator Margaret Dayton (the Senate sponsor of HB 363) explained, "HB 363 would prevent similar endorsements or collaboration between educators and Planned Parenthood from occurring in the future." We believe HB 363 would have detached Planned Parenthood from elementary maturation programs, and would have ensured that high school students are taught the truth about what will protect them.
After receiving thousands of letters and emails in opposition to HB 363, Governor Herbert vetoed the bill last Friday night. In his statement he said, "HB 363 simply goes too far by constricting parental options" and "deprives parents of their choice." We assume that "choice" refers to some parents who want the schools to provide instruction on contraception. Yet ironically, that very "choice" allows the state to take over a critical parental responsibility.
What is wrong with teaching contraception in the classroom?
1. It gives a conflicting double message. An abstinence message is about how not to have sex. Contraception instruction is about how to have sex. The House sponsor of HB 363, Representative Bill Wright argued, "Teaching contraceptives to youth can cause great damage. We teach children to gratify themselves instead of disciplining [them]selves."
2. Contraception is not the solution for teen pregnancy. In January 2012 the CDC reported that 45.2% of teens who gave birth conceived while they were using either a "highly effective contraceptive method" such as birth control pills, or the "moderately effective method of condoms."
3. Contraception instruction opens the door to other sexual topics. As Senator Dayton explained, "We have a clinical discussion but anytime you get into talking about contraceptives or alternative lifestyles or other things, then you're going into a counseling session." My own experience with "comprehensive sex-ed" in California confirmed this. When contraception was discussed, students began laughing and making crude remarks. Contraception turned the classroom into a locker room.
What is right with teaching abstinence-only in the classroom?
1. This may be the only place some students ever hear about abstinence and self control. Senator Dayton observed, "Teaching abstinence is a matter of public health. Kids are inundated with information about sex from many venues. To counter that, there must be at least one reliable source for teaching the benefits of abstinence."
2. A landmark study from the University of Pennsylvania in 2010 followed 662 high-risk students from low-income urban schools, and found that "single-focused, abstinence-only programs reduced sexual initiation over two years."
3. Our friends at the Sutherland Institute recently reported that "areas where Utah's public school districts teach abstinence-only sex education have unwed teen pregnancy and chlamydia rates lower than areas allowing instruction in contraception."
4. Abstinence-only curriculum actually increases parental choice. It allows parents the freedom to individually tailor what additional information--and from whom that information comes--depending on the needs and the desired outcomes of the parents for their children, not the needs and desired outcomes inherent in contraception education.
We encourage Utah parents to be vigilant about what is being taught to their children in their schools. Don't be afraid to discuss your concerns with your child's teacher and principal. And perhaps it's time to think twice before signing that maturation or sex-ed "opt-in" permission slip.
Faithfully yours,
Laura Bunker
United Families Utah director
http://unitedfamiliesut.org/
United Families Utah expresses great disappointment in Governor Herbert's decision to veto HB 363, Health Education Amendments. We are concerned about the inappropriate content that many Utah elementary students were exposed to last year, as well as other content that may enter elementary and secondary classrooms in the future. Even though the current law is "abstinence-based," parents can no longer assume that everything their child is taught in school aligns with their values.
As the Deseret News reported, HB 363 "was designed to remove Planned Parenthood from schools," specifically the Planned Parenthood maturation program entitled "Growing Up Comes First" which was used in several school districts last year. Even though the USOE removed their endorsement of this maturation program in April, 2011, as Senator Margaret Dayton (the Senate sponsor of HB 363) explained, "HB 363 would prevent similar endorsements or collaboration between educators and Planned Parenthood from occurring in the future." We believe HB 363 would have detached Planned Parenthood from elementary maturation programs, and would have ensured that high school students are taught the truth about what will protect them.
After receiving thousands of letters and emails in opposition to HB 363, Governor Herbert vetoed the bill last Friday night. In his statement he said, "HB 363 simply goes too far by constricting parental options" and "deprives parents of their choice." We assume that "choice" refers to some parents who want the schools to provide instruction on contraception. Yet ironically, that very "choice" allows the state to take over a critical parental responsibility.
What is wrong with teaching contraception in the classroom?
1. It gives a conflicting double message. An abstinence message is about how not to have sex. Contraception instruction is about how to have sex. The House sponsor of HB 363, Representative Bill Wright argued, "Teaching contraceptives to youth can cause great damage. We teach children to gratify themselves instead of disciplining [them]selves."
2. Contraception is not the solution for teen pregnancy. In January 2012 the CDC reported that 45.2% of teens who gave birth conceived while they were using either a "highly effective contraceptive method" such as birth control pills, or the "moderately effective method of condoms."
3. Contraception instruction opens the door to other sexual topics. As Senator Dayton explained, "We have a clinical discussion but anytime you get into talking about contraceptives or alternative lifestyles or other things, then you're going into a counseling session." My own experience with "comprehensive sex-ed" in California confirmed this. When contraception was discussed, students began laughing and making crude remarks. Contraception turned the classroom into a locker room.
What is right with teaching abstinence-only in the classroom?
1. This may be the only place some students ever hear about abstinence and self control. Senator Dayton observed, "Teaching abstinence is a matter of public health. Kids are inundated with information about sex from many venues. To counter that, there must be at least one reliable source for teaching the benefits of abstinence."
2. A landmark study from the University of Pennsylvania in 2010 followed 662 high-risk students from low-income urban schools, and found that "single-focused, abstinence-only programs reduced sexual initiation over two years."
3. Our friends at the Sutherland Institute recently reported that "areas where Utah's public school districts teach abstinence-only sex education have unwed teen pregnancy and chlamydia rates lower than areas allowing instruction in contraception."
4. Abstinence-only curriculum actually increases parental choice. It allows parents the freedom to individually tailor what additional information--and from whom that information comes--depending on the needs and the desired outcomes of the parents for their children, not the needs and desired outcomes inherent in contraception education.
We encourage Utah parents to be vigilant about what is being taught to their children in their schools. Don't be afraid to discuss your concerns with your child's teacher and principal. And perhaps it's time to think twice before signing that maturation or sex-ed "opt-in" permission slip.
Faithfully yours,
Laura Bunker
United Families Utah director
http://unitedfamiliesut.org/
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Governor Vetoed Sex-ed BIll
I am so mad!!!! The Governor-- Governor Hebert-- vetoed hb363 that would have allowed school districts to opt out of teaching sex-ed and maturation classes. So, that leaves Utah just vulnerable as other states to the The new National Sexuality Education Standards, and Planned Parenthood Sex-ed Programs, (Planned Parenthood programs are already being taught in some school districts along the Wasatch Front).
Why are we now just as vulnerable? Because this law would have had to be taken to court, and would have given Utah more time without this crap. But now, it can slide silently into the schools sex-ed program and there isn't much the school board can do about it. Planned Parenthood is already proving this.
If you want to bother seeing what I said to the house committee that passed the bill, see this article.
Why are we now just as vulnerable? Because this law would have had to be taken to court, and would have given Utah more time without this crap. But now, it can slide silently into the schools sex-ed program and there isn't much the school board can do about it. Planned Parenthood is already proving this.
If you want to bother seeing what I said to the house committee that passed the bill, see this article.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Daddy Daughter Dance
In my nearly 15 years of marriage, I have never seen John dance. He doesn't particularly like rock music, and I believe he always felt embarrassed at youth dances when he was a youth. But a father will do anything for a daughter, and when you have FOUR beautiful daughters, well... they all had a wonderful time.
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| Getting Ready. They got to pick out new dresses. |
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| Kate was mad that I "curled" her hair. She even cried! You've got to love those 12 year old emotions. |
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| Everyone ready! |
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| Well, not ready to look at the camera. You can tell which girls are most excited. |
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| Going in |
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| Getting crowned |
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| Telling Dad how to dance |
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| Dancing! |
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| More Dancing |
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| Found a reason to smile despite the curls. |
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