shout out!

against pornography...here are just five scary facts:

*1 in 5 children (10 to 17 years old) receives unwanted sexual solicitations online
*As of December 2005, child pornography was a $3 billion annual industry
*Hollywood produces 400 feature films a year. The porn industry churns out 11,000.
*The Internet was a significant factor in 2 out of 3 divorces
*The pornography industry brings in more money in one year than every NBA, NFL, and MLB team combined

A friend who worked in a prison, told me that %100 percent of the prisoners he met were into pornography. Every man he met in that prison had pornography involved in the beginnings of their criminal records. And everywhere he looked, the addiction continued with posters on the wall, etc.

There are many issues that face us and our kids today. And most of them I'm willing to fight by starting in the home. Teaching my children morals. Helping the future generation know right from wrong. Voting and having a public say when I can. And being an example. But this issue, pornography, I'm willing to go the extra mile to fight.

So, I've joined a group of moms who are fighting this legally.
The Lighted Candle Society is fighting pornography with statistics, research, and in courts. The courts are telling them, come to us with facts, not morals. And this is their goal.
Mary's Army is a branch of this, the group of mothers who want to help.
You can join by clicking on the link.

express yourself...

...do it your way...who said you have to paint on paper only?

touring...the Dominican Republic...

...I served a church mission in La Republica Dominicana...and returned there this past week with my husband, my sister and her husband. I was in Florida already and it was just too close, I had to go back! nervous as I was! with not much time. would I remember my Spanish? would I find old friends?

...we stayed our first night in a Marriot...then housing at the only Temple in the Caribbean...see our small orange rental car...it was so FUN to drive around in the DR! ...

...we visited old places (oldest town in the Americans, mansion of Christopher Columbus' brother)

...some things hadn't changed...some things had...Bachata was still heard all around!...

...we saw places I'd never seen before like Aguas Blancas near Constanza...

...beautiful mountains, the tallest peak in the Caribbean...agriculture...

...and of course, it's all about the food, right? soooo good...La Bandera...avacado, mangos...

...but no...it's all about the people.

See here for a couple of videos and some more pics!

touring...Florida...the Hauley Homestead!

...we spent some time in Florida at my sister's home...on our bed when we arrived at this 5 star home was our first taste of Disney florida: a sucker I had given my sister over 10 years ago on one of my trips to Disneyland!!

...attempts at surfing on a beautiful beach...

...amazing performance! ...

...THREE Disney theme parks in one day... we had some awesome tour guides, great place to stay, good food, and great company thanks to my sister and her husband...thanks for everything you guys!! We love ya!

...the girls we left home with our parents and missed them and loved the break and brought them goodies...we loved seeing them again!

daddy's eyes...

...at least we think they are, might be, maybe...I just love these eyes...

this is why I believe...

...the way I do...in happily ever after... ...that families can be together forever...forever... ...that "families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities"!!!

...this was our 24th of July weekend...

...most of my family here to visit in honor of the Temple Sealing of my sister and her husband and their baby girl...

...sprinklers under the trampoline during our backyard carnival...

...Speedy Spaniard 10K race at 6 in the morning!

...Two Gentlemen of Verona at the Shakespearean Festival in Cedar City...

...good food...

...good friends...before the Rodeo...

...fun...
...24th of July parade...

"The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another’s desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together." ~Erma Bombeck

little people...

...our church ward is full of them and I love it...they are friends, and they don't care what anyone else thinks about them...they just love each other...no wonder they are set as an example of perfection by Christ...
lil' Bay already take'n after her daddy...

..come on guys, look at my nose and smile for the picture...

...that's better, thank you...

...climb'n rocks again...

...this was at our church summer camp out.