Originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.
Just returned from the opening ceremony where E’s art is featured front & center. Her official duties for the day included a press conference and a ribbon cutting ceremony. Such a popular girl!
E handled all the attention with aplomb. She’s now a pro at public relations. :)
Click on the picture above to see more pics from the day’s events….
E addressing the City Council
Originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.
E addressing the City Council last Tuesday. A very intimidating moment for such a young girl :)
More pics on flickr (click the above photo to view them)…
[Note: coming soon will be a picture of E w/our local mayor–as soon as I find the cardreader for my dig camera]
–you’re supposed to wear black to City Council meetings. Black suits. with a button down shirt for men and pastel blouse for women (unless you’re Christina Shea, then you wear a pale green suit). me, I was really glad I had changed out of my jeans and t-shirt and was at least wearing the requisite black pants.
–not saying the pledge of allegiance feels weirder there.
–the mayor has her own on-call photographer to take PR shots w/schoolchildren being recognized at the beginning of the meeting
–when E is in front of a large audience, she completely freezes…with a cute, rather lopsided grin on her face
–E’s award-winning drawing wasn’t her most artistic creation. rather, it fit the event theme better than other submissions–a lesson E learned well in the PTA Reflections contest, too.
Yesterday I send the following email message out to several friends and family members:
———-
Perhaps you’ve heard that the LDS Church has officially taken the position “that an amendment to the Constitution of the United States is necessary to protect and preserve the institution of marriage between a man and a woman.”
The following links show the church’s press release on this topic and Elder Nelson’s signature added to the Religious Coalition for Marriage.
Join me in a campaign to show that there are Mormons who DO NOT support this constitutional amendment. Please put this bumper sticker on your car and park in a highly visible space in your ward parking lot each Sunday.
If you can, please buy more than one of these stickers and hand them out to your LDS friends. Also, please forward this email to all who might be interested and feel free to spread the word via blogs, email lists, etc.
——–
Someone replied:
——–
I’m sure that there are LDS that don’t sustain the Apostles, but I’m not one of them. I have to admit that I don’t understand why you would have sent this…or why you would even propagate it to anyone at all.
——-
My reply:
——-
1) I sent this out because I believe I don’t believe such an amendment to the U.S. Constitution is necessary to preserve marriage.
2) I think it is important for LDS to know that it is possible for members to disagree on political issues and still be faithful church members. As it says in the press release on this issue:
“Because national campaigns on moral, social or political issues often become divisive, the Church urges those who participate in public debate — including its own members — to be respectful of each other. While disagreements on matters of principle may be deeply held, an atmosphere of civility and mutual respect is most conducive to the strength of a democratic society.”
I see nothing in their statement that says all church members must support this amendment. Rather, I see latitude for a spectrum of opinions.
——-
Thanks to my bro chudacek for sending this link to the pictures of our 2000 trip to England and The Isle of Man.
A church in the heart of the town of Peel, IOM, where only a few of the walls remain. Where some of my ancestors were married: (I’m the blur in the middle of the pic wearing a grey raincoat). They’ve taken the headstones from the church cemetray and paved the park with them. Lovely, but a bit irreverent-feeling to be walking all over the headstones, IMO.
A steam train. The IOM is a haven of antique trains. On this teeny island you can ride this steam train to all the major cities. There is also a quaint electric train running the length of the island. The e-train has open air cars and is reminiscent of the streetcar in Mister Rogers show. There’s also a horse-drawn tram available for those who like their tracks to run slow…
flower cross
Originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.
We celebrated Easter with our friends in a local Episcopal congregation. The service was very formal, fairly stylized, and quite interesting to this family of Mormons.
My favorite part was the communion (which they allowed everyone to partake of). The priest blessed the wafer, then handed it to me. It was a nice personal moment, to hear his prayer as he looked directly into my eyes and gave me the ‘host.’ Quite unlike the Mormon tradition. And we were able to refuse the wine without any offense, too. :)
There was a gorgeous floral cross outside (pictured above). The kiddoes also participated in an Easter egg hunt and got some fun Easter treats. :)
A few pics of the kiddoes in all their Easter finery are now uploaded to flickr for you all to enjoy…
It was almost dark by the time John got my bike home tonite (he’d had to ride it home from the shop where I bought it in Newport Beach).
But despite the gloaming and the rain, the kids and I went out for a bike ride (John joined us on foot, because his bike was at his office).
We decided that the large mostly-empty parking lot across the street would be the best place to ride together, with it being so rainy and almost-dark. It was great fun doing donuts around the streetlights, zooming up and down the slight hill in the middle of the lot, racing each other from one end to the other (a long ways–the parking lot is almost a block long).
It wasn’t until we were returning inside that I remembered that this was the same parking lot that I had paced back and forth in during the hours that I was in labor with C so many years ago. The contractions coming unevenly, the constant walking to both ease the pain and to initiate labor (he was a week overdue).
Back then I couldn’t have imagined myself zipping around on a bicycle with my two pre-teen kiddoes in tow. But that night, like tonite, was so full of promise, of joy, of surrender. It made me so grateful for then…for now…and for what amazing adventures the future holds for our family.
[Note: both kids had a wet mud streak up their backs after our ride. Me, I was spared such. Granny bikes don’t leave backtracks. :)]
C’s ordination day
Originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.
A picture from yesterday for all of you to enjoy.
Note: Tie tied by C. A good job for his first time, eh?
:)
Note: John’s take on the day is here.
–John and C are in the next room over, where C is having a lesson from his Dad on how to tie a tie. They are giggling and working through the process together (while looking at a diagram of different knots)
–All of this is in preparation for C’s ordination today. At 12 years of age Mormon boys go through a rite that is somewhat akin to a bar mitzvah. C will be called up to the front of the church meeting and be asked to recite an Article of Faith from memory. He will officially graduate from the Children’s Meeting (Primary), and after church he will be ordained to the introductory level of the LDS Aaronic priesthood by John.
I’ll post a picture soon :)
first day home #1, 1994
Originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.
In just a few hours, C will be twelve years old. For your enjoyment (and mine!), I’ve uploaded 12 of C’s baby pictures to flickr. Click on the one above to see more. :)
I’ve written about C’s many fine qualities here and here. But I can’t let this day pass without telling everyone again how very special C is. His birth was truly a miracle. And that miracle is one that keeps on giving, making each new day even more wonderful than the last.
This past year C went away to 6th grade camp for a week, he tried out for the Honor orchestra, conducted a successful science fair experiment on the dissolution of aspirin tablets, got glasses, learned how to cook quesadillas and ramen noodles, and mastered bike-riding. Sixth grade is a big year, and C has handled it well. He’s still earning top marks in his APAAS class. His teacher trusts and respects him. His classmates enjoy his company. C is, as always, a devoted brother to his sister and a great help around the house–diligently doing his daily chores. His passions are reading, computer gaming, and learning about science. He loves to snuggle with the kitties. He is endlessly hungry and his favorite foods are salmon, turkey jerky, and gyoza. He eats salad because he knows it’s good for him. C is crazy ticklish on every part of his body. He gives great hugs and even lovely soft kisses.
E @ jogathon
Originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.
John volunteered at the Jogathon again this year (go John!).
I’ve uploaded a few jogging pics of the kids onto flickr. Click on the image above to see more :)
Ok, for those of you who’ve been waiting to know whether or not I bought a scooter. I didn’t.
Instead, I bought a totally-granny beachcruiser trike bike. I don’t have it in hand yet because it’s got to be all tricked-out for me (gears, toeclips, etc). Hopefully I’ll have a picture of me with my bike for you in a few weeks–after it’s all put together.
Ironically, it cost more $$ than the used scooter that I was considering buying. But it’s oh-so-much safer. And I can ride on the bikepaths with John and the kids (joy!). And I won’t have to buy a motocycle permit.
I’m already trying to figure out what liberal bumper stickers it’s going to wear. (I’m taking suggestions if you’ve got any for me). And, of course I can still put the baguette and roses in the back because it’s got a groovy basket between the rear wheels! (E is convinced that kids could totally ride in the back basket. She is oh-so-wrong…)
Oh, yes, I can hear you wondering what color it is….RED, of course (did you even have to ask???)
:)