Dear Children,
We really had a wonderful time with Francoise. We enjoyed a very uplifting conference in Lille. After the Sunday morning session, we went to a restaurant in front of the train station to have dinner with Francoise. She then took the train to Paris and flew home the following morning.
Dad did it again: This week, he went twice to Amsterdam to close an apartment. That meant that everything we put there had to be taken out and the place had to be cleaned up very well. He had Elders to help for the job but it is a long drive. He got up at 4 a.m. both days.
This coming week, we will be training our replacements. They are, at this time, serving in the Netherlands as ‘normal’ missionaries and will finish their mission in July. Our President hopes that by then he will be able to get an Office Couple. They will be here for about a week then go back to the Netherlands to have a family reunion. (She is a native but now US citizen). They do not speak French but Dutch. Brussels is bilingual and they should be okay.
I have been looking for a cell phone plan but we have not decided yet. Let us know what plan you have and we may take the one that most of you are using. At this time, we do not plan on having a fixed line. Dad thinks that with 1400 minutes/month we would be fine. AT&T rolls the minutes unused to the following month and this is very tempting. I like their free phones too.
We have been approached about a possibility of serving a Military Mission in Hawaii and a Service Mission as CES instructor in St. George. But we are still a long way from making a decision since we are still serving here and want to spend time resting, visiting and going on vacation. Dad has a project in mind to reorganize his office in the garage.
We will be home before we know it. I don’t remember if I already told you but we already have our train tickets to travel from Brussels to Paris on the 24th and a hotel reservation close to the airport. We will fly space A the next day direct to SLC and hope to continue on to St. George that day. We will be using the old car, which Dad bought from his parents until we buy a newer one, and Dad plans on keeping it.
We are as busy as ever and I enjoy it. In fact, I am now helping the Legal Secretary in his work because he is overwhelmed by all he has to do. Our President had asked that I do one task to help him but I saw other things that needed to be done a month ago. The poor Elder is as disorganized as one can be and I feel sorry for him.
We are having a beautiful Spring like day and I love to hear the birds sing.
Take care and remember that we pray for you and love you very much.
With love, Mom
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
College Basketball Pick'em Contest
I will be setting up a College Basketball Pick'em contest for those who are interested.
I need to know which format everyone prefers.
Format 1:
You pick your entire bracket before the start of the tournament. The person with the best bracket at the end of the tournament wins (Yahoo! has a system for determining a best bracket).
Format 2:
You pick each game before tip-off. You pick each game of each round. The person with the highest number of correct picks wins. I think this format is not offered by Yahoo!, but UtahFantasySports.com does offer this format.
Do you plan to participate and which format you prefer?
I need to know which format everyone prefers.
Format 1:
You pick your entire bracket before the start of the tournament. The person with the best bracket at the end of the tournament wins (Yahoo! has a system for determining a best bracket).
Format 2:
You pick each game before tip-off. You pick each game of each round. The person with the highest number of correct picks wins. I think this format is not offered by Yahoo!, but UtahFantasySports.com does offer this format.
Do you plan to participate and which format you prefer?
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Corporate Jets
Much ado has been made by Congress and the media about the extravagance of corporate jets.
I would like to note that ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox have corporate jets.
Also, the government has a fleet of jets for government business, including congressional business. So, have you seen a story from the media about these jets? I haven't.
Sure, the media is not taking taxpayer money for stimulus or rescue, but the government uses taxpayer money exclusively to maintain a fleet of jets (not including the military).
Obama's Speech
I thought Obama's speech was very well done and did a lot for his image. He is definately a great orator. Two observations though...
1) Is he trying to eat the whole elephant at once? Our Nations problems make a pretty big battle to fight all at once.
2) What kind of 5 alarm chile did Nancy Palosi eat to make her keep catepulting out of her chair like that. She looked like a broken whack-a-mole machine where the mole kept popping up from the same location. She was obviously gushing over the new "rock star" President. She made quite a fool of herself.
What do you all think?
1) Is he trying to eat the whole elephant at once? Our Nations problems make a pretty big battle to fight all at once.
2) What kind of 5 alarm chile did Nancy Palosi eat to make her keep catepulting out of her chair like that. She looked like a broken whack-a-mole machine where the mole kept popping up from the same location. She was obviously gushing over the new "rock star" President. She made quite a fool of herself.
What do you all think?
Monday, February 23, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Spending a rainy day in the ER
I thought of Brian today, as I spent half of my day in the ER with Doug. He has kidney stones. Yikes! If my memory is correct, I think Brian had those too not too long ago. Doug will be fine although he still feels awful right now. Thank goodness for pain medicine!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
The latest News from Belgium
Dear Children,
I have missed to write last Sunday, forgive me. So much has been going on during those days that it slipped my mind. Françoise arrived in Brussels on Thursday 12th of February. She had flown to Paris and taken the TGV (bullet train) to Brussels. We were waiting for her at the station but did not see her. We came home thinking that she might have missed the train. One hour later, she called from the station when she had been searching for us for about an hour.It was wonderful to see her again and we were sorry to have missed her arrival. Friday, Dad worked in the morning and on the afternoon we went to a grocery store and a pastry shop with Françoise.
Saturday, we took the tram and the metro to go to the Brussels “Grand Place” with Francoise. From there, we went to 2 different stores for her to buy more food to take back to the US. We also prepared two boxes to be shipped as she would not have been able to take all of that on the plane because of the weight restriction. Then that evening, my sister Monique, her husband, my niece Anne-Sophie, her husband and her young daughter came to join us the three of us for dinner. We really had a lot of fun.
Sunday, after church, we had the Assistants over for dinner. I was fortunate to have enough food in the apartment because I had completely forgotten that Dad had invited them.
Monday, Françoise spent with Teresa. Mondays are always very busy for me but as usual all went well. We also learned that the Mission President’s father has passed away and he will not be able to attend the funerals because he has to stay in the Mission.
Francoise visited her aunt Claudine on Tuesday.
Since we were receiving new missionaries and others were transferred we had a lot going on. Then today, some were going home after their 2 years of service. Dad has been very busy going to the airport, to the train station and again to the airport these last days. In fact, Tuesday he slipped on a wet floor at the airport and fell. His face is healing very fast and he says that it is because of his youth…..Don’t worry, he is just fine.
Tomorrow, we will go get Françoise and have dinner with her and some of the family members. On Saturday afternoon, we drive to Lille to attend the evening session of the Stake Conference where Dallin H Oaks will speak. We will spend the night in a hotel and be back to the Stake Conference that morning. In fact, all the missionaries will be attending. She will take the TGV from there to Paris, as it is half way there, and will be taking her flight to SLC the next morning.
Now, you know why I will not be able to send a message this Saturday evening or Sunday morning and the latest news from Belgium. I always tell myself that since I don’t hear from you I will not write anymore but here I am again. I love you all.
Mom
I have missed to write last Sunday, forgive me. So much has been going on during those days that it slipped my mind. Françoise arrived in Brussels on Thursday 12th of February. She had flown to Paris and taken the TGV (bullet train) to Brussels. We were waiting for her at the station but did not see her. We came home thinking that she might have missed the train. One hour later, she called from the station when she had been searching for us for about an hour.It was wonderful to see her again and we were sorry to have missed her arrival. Friday, Dad worked in the morning and on the afternoon we went to a grocery store and a pastry shop with Françoise.
Saturday, we took the tram and the metro to go to the Brussels “Grand Place” with Francoise. From there, we went to 2 different stores for her to buy more food to take back to the US. We also prepared two boxes to be shipped as she would not have been able to take all of that on the plane because of the weight restriction. Then that evening, my sister Monique, her husband, my niece Anne-Sophie, her husband and her young daughter came to join us the three of us for dinner. We really had a lot of fun.
Sunday, after church, we had the Assistants over for dinner. I was fortunate to have enough food in the apartment because I had completely forgotten that Dad had invited them.
Monday, Françoise spent with Teresa. Mondays are always very busy for me but as usual all went well. We also learned that the Mission President’s father has passed away and he will not be able to attend the funerals because he has to stay in the Mission.
Francoise visited her aunt Claudine on Tuesday.
Since we were receiving new missionaries and others were transferred we had a lot going on. Then today, some were going home after their 2 years of service. Dad has been very busy going to the airport, to the train station and again to the airport these last days. In fact, Tuesday he slipped on a wet floor at the airport and fell. His face is healing very fast and he says that it is because of his youth…..Don’t worry, he is just fine.
Tomorrow, we will go get Françoise and have dinner with her and some of the family members. On Saturday afternoon, we drive to Lille to attend the evening session of the Stake Conference where Dallin H Oaks will speak. We will spend the night in a hotel and be back to the Stake Conference that morning. In fact, all the missionaries will be attending. She will take the TGV from there to Paris, as it is half way there, and will be taking her flight to SLC the next morning.
Now, you know why I will not be able to send a message this Saturday evening or Sunday morning and the latest news from Belgium. I always tell myself that since I don’t hear from you I will not write anymore but here I am again. I love you all.
Mom
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Resurrecting Neanderthal Man
I don't wish to drag the evolution question out longer than readers of this blog will endure, but there is an interesting question posed by the NY Times in an article about using DNA to resurrect a Neanderthal. Read the article if you have time and then respond to the poll on this page.
Not jumping to conclusions
I happen to be in Denver today...the day Mr. Obama is signing into law the new spending/stimulus bill. As I was walking back to my hotel it dawned on me the amount of interest that I have heard this will cost for the $825,000,000,000.00. So I looked it up on the internet and found this info...
"In a letter to Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), ranking member of the House Budget Committee, Congressional Budget Office Director Douglas Elmendorf reports the interest cost would be $347 billion over 10 years, meaning the $825 billion plan could cost as much as $1.172 trillion."
I am no banker, maybe Doug (Fabienne's, one of my five favorite sisters, husband) could explain it. Isn't this about a 40% interest on this package?! Who in their right mind would sign on to such a thing except when dealing with loan sharks?
Surely I must be missing something so I am not jumping to conclusions. I would have posted this on my blog but feared low readership may not have produced an answer.
"In a letter to Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), ranking member of the House Budget Committee, Congressional Budget Office Director Douglas Elmendorf reports the interest cost would be $347 billion over 10 years, meaning the $825 billion plan could cost as much as $1.172 trillion."
I am no banker, maybe Doug (Fabienne's, one of my five favorite sisters, husband) could explain it. Isn't this about a 40% interest on this package?! Who in their right mind would sign on to such a thing except when dealing with loan sharks?
Surely I must be missing something so I am not jumping to conclusions. I would have posted this on my blog but feared low readership may not have produced an answer.
Obama signs $787 billion stimulus bill
It's official. Obama has signed the $787 billion stimulus bill.
I think it is safe to draw the following conclusions:
1. Democrats own this bill lock, stock, and barrel. If it succeeds, Democrats will be in power for many elections to come. If it fails, it is hard to say whether the Democrats will pay a price thanks to a fawning media.
2. The United States Treasury does not have $787 billion. So where is the money going to come from?
2a) Some money will come from bond sales to other countries, but there is no way that all of the money can be raised through bond sales. Besides increasing our debt to other countries is bad policy.
2b) Some money will likely come from higher taxes in the future (despite the highly touted minuscule tax cuts in the bill).
That still leaves the Federal Government short by hundreds of billions of dollars. Where will the remainder come from?
2c) Ex nihil0 – from Latin meaning “out of nothing.” The Feds will simply print the rest. There is a consequence to such actions. It is Economics 101 that inflation or stagflation will unavoidably occur.
3. It will be the knee jerk reaction of politicians to raise taxes. Considering the recent discussion we had about Abraham Lincoln (R), there are also words of wisdom from Thomas Jefferson (D).
I think it is safe to draw the following conclusions:
1. Democrats own this bill lock, stock, and barrel. If it succeeds, Democrats will be in power for many elections to come. If it fails, it is hard to say whether the Democrats will pay a price thanks to a fawning media.
2. The United States Treasury does not have $787 billion. So where is the money going to come from?
2a) Some money will come from bond sales to other countries, but there is no way that all of the money can be raised through bond sales. Besides increasing our debt to other countries is bad policy.
2b) Some money will likely come from higher taxes in the future (despite the highly touted minuscule tax cuts in the bill).
That still leaves the Federal Government short by hundreds of billions of dollars. Where will the remainder come from?
2c) Ex nihil0 – from Latin meaning “out of nothing.” The Feds will simply print the rest. There is a consequence to such actions. It is Economics 101 that inflation or stagflation will unavoidably occur.
3. It will be the knee jerk reaction of politicians to raise taxes. Considering the recent discussion we had about Abraham Lincoln (R), there are also words of wisdom from Thomas Jefferson (D).
“Still one thing more, fellow citizens: a wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government…”
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Not as cool as Brian, but...
The other day Brian posted a picture of himself on his blog site. I know I'll never be half as cool as Brian, but I can at least match his shot!
Friday, February 13, 2009
Darwin/Lincoln Branch Off
The Darwin/Lincoln post seemed to gravitate towards evolution but there was a blurb about Lincoln/Kennedy/White House trivia that I liked.
In 6th grade we studied similarities of the Lincoln/Kennedy connection. Here are just a few.
As mentioned, (I have never been able to confirm this) Lincoln's secretary was Kennedy and Kennedy's secretary was Lincoln.
Other facts....
1) Lincoln was shot in Ford's Theater. Kennedy was shot while riding in a Lincoln made by Ford.
2) Lincoln was shot in a theater and his assassin was caught in a warehouse. Kennedy was shot from a warehouse and his assassin was caught in a theater.
3) Lincoln elected to congress in 1846, Kennedy in 1946.
4) Lincoln elected president in 1860, Kennedy in 1960.
5) Both wives lost a child while living in the White House.
6) Both were shot in the back of the head in the presence of their wives.
7) They were both shot on a Friday.
8) Both their assassins names have 15 letters. John Wilkes Booth/Lee Harvey Oswald
9) Both assassins were killed before being brought to trial.
10) Lincoln's successor was Andrew Johnson, born 1808. Kennedy's successor was Lyndon Johnson, born 1908.
All this has always been interesting to me. I remember this class distinctly.
In 6th grade we studied similarities of the Lincoln/Kennedy connection. Here are just a few.
As mentioned, (I have never been able to confirm this) Lincoln's secretary was Kennedy and Kennedy's secretary was Lincoln.
Other facts....
1) Lincoln was shot in Ford's Theater. Kennedy was shot while riding in a Lincoln made by Ford.
2) Lincoln was shot in a theater and his assassin was caught in a warehouse. Kennedy was shot from a warehouse and his assassin was caught in a theater.
3) Lincoln elected to congress in 1846, Kennedy in 1946.
4) Lincoln elected president in 1860, Kennedy in 1960.
5) Both wives lost a child while living in the White House.
6) Both were shot in the back of the head in the presence of their wives.
7) They were both shot on a Friday.
8) Both their assassins names have 15 letters. John Wilkes Booth/Lee Harvey Oswald
9) Both assassins were killed before being brought to trial.
10) Lincoln's successor was Andrew Johnson, born 1808. Kennedy's successor was Lyndon Johnson, born 1908.
All this has always been interesting to me. I remember this class distinctly.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
David is having a good week
David, who is now 18, is having an amazing week. This past Sunday he past his eagle board of review and is now officially an Eagle Scout.
This afternoon, he found out that he was accepted into BYU-Provo for the Fall 2009 semester.
This afternoon, he found out that he was accepted into BYU-Provo for the Fall 2009 semester.
Happy Birthday Charles Darwin and Abraham Lincoln!
Charles Darwin and Abraham Lincoln were born on the same day two hundred years ago today.
Charles Darwin was born to a progressive, abolitionist, wealthy English family and Abraham Lincoln was born to a poor family in Illinois. Both were unassuming men who changed the world profoundly and whose influence continues to mold our present and future.
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