Merry Christmas

I am so bad about mailing anything, let alone Christmas Cards.  I do LOVE getting them though.  So here is the Coontz Family Virtual Christmas Card!

(my favorite is seeing how all our friends and family have grown and changed!)

The Girl is EIGHT!

I thought I should get this posted before the month is up!

Kamrie turned 8 on Thanksgiving. It's hard to believe she was
only 2 when we made the move to TN, it doesn't seem possible
we've been gone that long.

She had a week long celebration that started the Saturday before
with a birthday party at the movies. They have a party room and
everything. So we had cake and presents and then watched A
Christmas Carol in 3D. It was really good, and the girls were just
a little scared.
Next she got more presents from Mom and Dad on her birthday.
She asked for Liv Dolls this year and that is what she got.
We didn't have time, or room in our tummy's for cake, so that
came a few days later!

I look forward to watching her grow and learn, and seeing the
wonderful person I know she will be.

A Opportunity to Give Help and Hope

On a friend's blog I read about a "giveaway" on another blog. I am sure the giveaway was a way to inform more people about the blog and the items that are for sell.

Well... the blog was set up by a mother of son with a terrible disease called TUBEROUS SCLEROSIS COMPLEX - a genetic disorder that causes tumors to form in many different organs, primarily in the brain, eyes, heart, kidney, skin and lungs.

The blog is set up to raise money for an operation that her son needs. I think it is so fantastic that she has the ability to do something to help their situation. But think what we could do as a blog community to help her. If everyone that reads this (which I know isn't a lot) donated, and then told all their blog readers to donate and post, she could reach her goal in no time.

I don't know her, she has no idea I am doing this! Maybe it's the season, but I had to give her a donation, I waste A LOT of money on things of no consequence, I am sure you do to. The money I donated was worth every penny, and I wish I could have given more.

Please check out the blog and give what you can. Let's help give this family have a Christmas Miracle.

The Rubied Apple

An Amazing Message

I know it's a little early for Christmas, but the message of this video is so timely. Grab some tissues and enjoy!

They are Finally Coming Back!

After a VERY long vacation my good friends are finally coming back. I have really missed them, and can't wait to find out what has been going on in their lives.

Here a few links to their different websites if your interested:

Gregory, Tom, Cat, Rick & Kate, Meredith, and Simon. Then there is Aaron, I have been really concerned about him. And last but not least our new friends Seeley and Temperance, we have a LOT of catching up to do with them!

Hard to Believe!

On Friday September 15, 1989, TWENTY years ago, Jimbo (that's what we called him back then) and I had our first date! We went to the Dollar Movie in Orem, UT and saw the movie Lean on Me. A little known fact is that after that date, I knew we would get married! I knew from that first date I would spend the rest of my life with him. And twenty years later, I love him more than I thought I could. (listen to the song playing on my play list)

We have had a date almost every Friday possible since then,
and I hope to have at least twenty more years of Friday night dates!
(can't believe I am posting this picture)

(one more thing - A few years ago Jim came home from the video store with a VHS copy of Lean on Me)

Tired of Health Care?

I am so tired of health care. It is not the biggest problem we have in this country but it is all our "leaders" are talking about, or working on!

I have always had an innate feeling of dis-trust of our president. I can't pin it on one exact thing, haven't you ever just "felt" something about someone! A lot of it I think is what I have learned about the people he surrounds himself with. I try to stay informed, and vote my values.

Well, today, I heard and then watched the most incredible thing I can remember seeing. My tax dollars, your tax dollars being spent in ways you could never even imagine.

Have you heard of Acorn? You know, the community group that "helped" President Obama get elected? I have always believed they were corrupt, and felt angry that they received any tax money. Please watch the following videos, and prepare to be blown away. These brave kids, he is 20 she is 19, made this video posing as a prostitute and her pimp, looking for a house. The Acorn employees go out of their way to help them. Even when they tell her they will be bringing under age girls from over seas to "work" for them, the acorn employee suggests they use them as dependants on their tax return!!!

I don't care what your political leanings are, it is time to stand up to the corrupt politicians running our country! Please stand up for our Republic! Call your representative and demand that something be done about this atrocity!

He Turned 12!!

My "middle child" turned 12 on August 26th! Following in his brothers footsteps, his voice has dropped and octave and he grew 3 inches and gained 30 pounds in about 5 months! Chad is still a happy kid, and always ready with a hug for his mom! ( I know there are people that think we don't hug in our family, but we do!)
Chad has a good friend from church, and school, that turned 12 this summer also. Since they have mostly the same friends we decided to have a combined party. With vacations over the summer and the start of school we had to put it off til this last Monday. It was little late but they didn't mind. We have a great pavillion at church, with a nice hill! We used the hill to make a giant slip 'n slide. They had a great time, took a break from the slide for a game of kick ball, ate hot dogs, and giant cupcakes!!

Happy 12th birthday Chad!!

Don't Blame Me

Dear Jim,

I know it drives you crazy that we have such different sleep schedules! I really wish that I could be ready for bed at 9:00 like you. We could lay in bad and discuss our day, and our kids, and generally have time together. Luckily, for me, I don't have to be up at 4:30 for work! (I would so be fired from that job) I admire you for all you do for us. But, the point of this blog is to explain that it isn't always my fault that I come to bed at 11 or later!

For example this is what happened last night-

I had to turn off my computer before bed - it was 10 and I was really tired and excited to be going to bed early! I sat down, decided to check my email. Then I thought I would check my google reader to see if anyone had updated their blog. Now this particular night I blame my friend Mandee for being up til 11!

She had updated her blog, I love her, and her blog! Well, in this particular blog she mentioned another blog she reads, and put a link to it. Of course I had to check it out. Well . . . on that blog there was a link to THIS blog!! UGH!! I spent an hour reading the posts! I just lose all track of time! So at least for last night, I blame Mandee!

First and Last

Yesterday my kids headed back to school. I am usually full of excitement when my kids go to school. I have never felt sad, even when it was a little one going off to Kindergarten. I think part of it is the freedom for me, but also that I LOVED school!! And for the most part my kids do to.

Well, this year was a little different. As I was taking the annual first day of school pictures, it hit me hard that this would be Zac's last first day of school!! He will be graduating this year and so next fall (well, summer) he will not be a part of the tradition! He is getting closer and closer to leaving us, and it KILLS me!! I will miss him like crazy and have decided to just stop thinking about it.

So here are the photos!!

Kamrie - 2nd GradeScott - 5th Grade
(here that means middle school! And I
fixed his hair before we left!)
Chad - 6th Grade
(took him to the Dr, in that last 5 months he grew
3 inches and put on 30 pounds)Tyler - 10th GradeZac - 12th Grade!!

They wear uniforms to school, I didn't make them
wear matching clothes for the photo!

The Reason

I think this picture tells the story of why we make the long trek to CA!



(Jim's Family Too!! But there is no picture of all of us together from this trip)



More pictures to come!
I know you can't wait!

Happy Birthday Scott! (VERY belated)

So I am so late with this post, and I almost didn't write it. But I HAD too, can't leave the boy out can I?
I've been thinking about him a lot the last few weeks, every time I realized I hadn't done this post. What can I say about Scott.

Scott is FUN!!

He is almost always in a good mood, and LOVES to annoy his older brothers. What more could I ask for. Although there are times his pestering can be a problem. For example, one Sunday in church, he was sitting by Zac, I moved him. Then he was sitting by Chad, I moved him. Then he was sitting by Tyler, I moved him yet again, this time next to Kamrie. Guess what, yep, moved again. This time between me and the end of the bench. After the meeting he was adamant that it wasn't him. It was Zac, Chad, Tyler, and Kamrie! Of course none of them had to move!

He is a great student and all his teachers LOVE him. He has a GREAT sense of humor!

He is really a joy to have in our family.

I love ya Scotty!

I LOVE Capt. Kirk!

Round Trip tickets, Memphis to LA $120!! Need I say more?

The only downside is not seeing our friends in Utah!
Oh and needing to borrow a car for 3 weeks.
And getting someone to pick all 6 of us in LA!
Oh yeah, and borrowing camping equipment for our beach trip!

Still totally worth not driving for 6 days!





I also LOVE this Capt. Kirk!!

Tyler

So Tyler, my second child, turned 15 on April 21st.
(Before I start talking about Tyler, it is going to start
out sounding like a bad post, but keep reading.)

When Tyler was a toddler/small child, I was told by friends and family on numerous occasions that when he was a teenager he was going to be TROUBLE! He wasn't always bad as a youngster, but he did have a mean streak, and quite a temper. He was extremely head strong, wanted what he wanted, and rarely changed his mind about it.

Personally, I had mixed feelings about it. There was part of me that worried he would not grow out of it and our teenage years would be a nightmare. The other part of me felt comfort in his stubbornness. I felt if we taught him good principles and he had strong convictions about them, this would be a great blessing in the teenage years.


Well, to all you Mom's of small boys you think will do you in as teenagers. I am here to tell you, we were all wrong about Tyler! There were some rough patches during the pre-teens, but nothing life altering! And now at 15, Tyler is one of my favorite people. Yeah, he's my son, but I really like him. He is a good kid, that tries hard to do the right thing. And when he makes a poor choice, he does what he can to make it right, and learn from the experience. He is my favorite TV watching buddy, and has a great sense of humor.

I am looking forward to the coming years and watching him grow into a man. Seeing what career he will choose. Watching him fall in love and get married. I know he will be a fantastic Dad.

I don't think I could be more proud of Tyler. I will still push him to do better in school, be a little nicer to his younger brothers, keep his bathroom clean, and feed his pets. But overall Tyler has been a great blessing to our family, and wouldn't trade ANY of it.

So, here's to fifteen years, and many more to come.

Something Funny!

In our church we have a program called Visiting Teaching. Women are asked to visit other women, make sure they are ok, do they need anything, and share a sprirtual/uplifiting message. My friend sent me this very funny cartoon about it.

BOYS

This was too good to not blog!!

Tyler's birthday was Tuesday (blog to come) and this is what he got -

(it's an airsoft gun, calm down)

Today Zac wanted to see how much it would hurt to get shot!

He said it hurt a little!

Because..

I think everyone should see this video because maybe next time you will not not be so quick to judge.

Susan Boyle - Britain's Got Talent

Then read this amazing article, it is kind of long, but totally describes this event perfectly

The beauty that matters is always on the inside Susan Boyle's story is a parable of our age. She is a singer of enormous talent, who cared for her widowed mother until she died two years ago. Susan's is a combination of ability and virtue that deserves congratulation. So how come she was treated as a laughing stock when she walked on stage for the opening heat of Britain's Got Talent 2009 on Saturday night? The moment the reality show's audience and judging panel saw the small, shy, middle-aged woman, they started to smirk. When she said she wanted a professional singing career to equal that of Elaine Paige, the camera showed audience members rolling their eyes in disbelief. They scoffed when she told Simon Cowell, one of the judges, how she'd reached her forties without managing to develop a singing career because she hadn't had the opportunity. Another judge, Piers Morgan, later wrote on his blog that, just before she launched into I Dreamed a Dream, the 3000-strong audience in Glasgow was laughing and the three judges were suppressing chuckles. It was rude and cruel and arrogant. Susan Boyle from Blackburn, West Lothian, was presumed to be a buffoon. But why? Britain's Got Talent isn't a beauty pageant. It isn't a youth opportunity scheme. It is surely about discovering untapped and unrecognised raw talent from all sections of society. And Susan Boyle has talent to burn. Such is the beauty of her voice that she had barely sung the opening bars when the applause started. She rounded off to a standing ovation and - in her naivety - began walking off the stage and had to be recalled. Susan, now a bankable discovery, was then roundly patronised by such mega-talents as Amanda Holden and the aforementioned Morgan, who told her: "Everyone laughed at you but no-one is laughing now. I'm reeling with shock." Holden added: "It's the biggest wake-up call ever." Again, why? The answer is that only the pretty are expected to achieve. Not only do you have to be physically appealing to deserve fame; it seems you now have to be good-looking to merit everyday common respect. If, like Susan (and like millions more), you are plump, middle-aged and too poor or too unworldly to follow fashion or have a good hairdresser, you are a non-person. I dread to think of how Susan would have left the stage if her voice had been less than exceptional. She would have been humiliated in front of 11 million viewers. It's the equivalent of being put in the stocks in front of the nation instead of the village. It used to be a punishment handed out to criminals. Now it is the fate of anyone without obvious sexual allure who dares seek opportunity. This small, brave soul took her courage in her hands to pitch at her one hope of having her singing talent recognised, and was greeted with a communal sneer. Courage could so easily have failed her. Yet why shouldn't she sound wonderful? Not every great singer looks like Katherine Jenkins. Edith Piaf would never have been chosen to strut a catwalk. Nor would Nina Simone, nor Ella Fitzgerald. As for Pavarotti But then ridicule is nothing new in Susan Boyle's life. She is a veteran of abuse. She was starved of oxygen at birth and has learning difficulties as a result. At school she was slow and had frizzy hair. She was bullied, mostly verbally. She told one newspaper that her classmates' jibes left behind the kind of scars that don't heal. She didn't have boyfriends, is a stranger to romance and has never been kissed. "Shame," she said. Singing was her life-raft. She lived with her parents in a four-bedroom council house and, when her father died a decade ago, she cared for her mother and sang in the church choir. It was an unglamorous existence. She wasn't the glamorous type - and being a carer isn't a glamorous life, as the hundreds of thousands who do that most valuable of jobs will testify. Even those who start out with a beauty routine and an interest in clothes find themselves reverting to the practicality of a tracksuit and trainers. Fitness plans get interrupted and then abandoned. Weight creeps on. Carers don't often get invited to sparkling dinner parties or glitzy receptions, so smart clothes rarely make it off the hanger. Then, when a special occasion comes along, they might reach, as Susan did, for the frock they bought for a nephew's wedding. They might, as she did, compound the felony of choosing a colour at odds with her skin tone and an unflattering shape with home-chopped hair, bushy eyebrows and a face without a hint of make-up. But it is often evidence of a life lived selflessly; of a person so focused on the needs of another that they have lost sight of themselves. Is that a cause for derision or a reason for congratulation? Would her time have been better spent slimming and exercising, plucking and waxing, bleaching and botoxing? Would that have made her voice any sweeter? Susan Boyle's mother encouraged her to sing. She wanted her to enter Britain's Got Talent. But the shy Susan hasn't been able to sing at all since her mother's death two years ago. She wasn't sure how her voice would emerge after so long a silence. Happily, it survived its rest. She is a gift to Simon Cowell and reality television. Her story is the stuff of Hans Christian Andersen: the woman plucked from obscurity, the buried talent uncovered, the transformation waiting to be wrought. It is wonderful for her, too, that her stunning voice is now recognised. A bright future beckons. Her dream is becoming reality. Susan is a reminder that it's time we all looked a little deeper. She has lived an obscure but important life. She has been a companionable and caring daughter. It's people like her who are the unseen glue in society; the ones who day in and day out put themselves last. They make this country civilised and they deserve acknowledgement and respect. Susan has been forgiven her looks and been given respect because of her talent. She should always have received it because of the calibre of her character. 12:01am Tuesday 14th April 2009 By COLETTE DOUGLAS HOME

Lucky, Joy, Anxious, Love

Yesterday my oldest son, Zac, celebrated his SEVENTEENTH birthday! I have tried to post something about each of them on their birthdays, this post is coming a day late! It is a day late because I really want to share what being his Mom has been like. The four words in the title I think sum it up for me.

LUCKY - I feel lucky because Zac is truly, and genuinely GOOD. He was a good baby, a good toddler, a good kid, and now a good young man. My friend once asked if I could bottle whatever I did with him so she could give it to her boys. I had to be honest, and not take credit, I tell everyone "He just came that way!"

JOY - Zac has the ability to bring joy to any situation. I feel he is genuinely a joyful person. In fact there have been times when I have had to be harsh with him, and always felt so bad for taking any of that joy from him. He almost always has a smile, and even if he tells you he doesn't have that many friends. I know that everyone that knows him feels like his friend.

ANXIOUS - There are two reasons I feel anxious. The first is that I realize my time with him living under the same roof, seeing him every day, is limited. But I am also anxious to see what amazing things he will do with his life. No matter what he does, big or small, he will bring his joy and goodness to everyone around him. His wife and children will be loved and cared for. He will work hard, and do the very best job he can. He will serve his Heavenly Father, and live the gospel.

LOVE - I never knew how much I could truly love someone until he was born. It is a different love than the romantic love I have for my husband. It is an all consuming love, lay down my life kind of love. A love, I think, only comes from the birth of a child. A part of me, and part of the man I love. A child is the epitomy of love. I am thankful for the blessing I was given 17 years ago, to be allowed to be a part of this amazing persons life. To love him, and for the love he gives me.

GAME ON!!

Jim and I have an on going disagreement. He thinks that he changes the toilet paper in our bathroom more than me!! I was surprised on Sunday to find this message.



In the mean time he was using a roll that was placed on the back of the toilet. If you know me, you know there was NO WAY I was going to change that roll!! Eventually, Jim changed it, he had used the last of it, and so I felt it should be left to him. Now I guess we are having a competition to see who actually does change the roll the most.


Some may argue that I use more toilet paper then Jim - I am a girl, and I am home more. But I still say, if you use the last of it, you should change it. AND you should not leave a few squares on, and then start a new roll that is put on the back of the toilet.

I guess what Jim doesn't understand, is that if he wins, and changes the roll more than me, I also win, by always having a new roll!!

I LOVE THIS!!

My sister in law put this on her blog and I HAD to have it on mine. It is so cute!

What do Ya'll Think!!

(that's how we talk in the south)

A family friend was kind enough to share this photo on face book.



(Urmston's circa 1973)
I know my Mom has it somewhere, but now I do too.

I was noticing a similarity between my Scott and Marc. What do you think? They are probably the exact same age in these two pictures. Same goofy hair and teeth!

When Scott was a new born, I walked in on my Mom holding him and crying. When I asked her what was wrong, she said he just reminded her of when Marc was a baby.

PS Scott says they don't look alike "at all"

Impressd - To Do Good

I started this blog to share things that are going on with my family that are so far away. But sometimes I need to put other stuff, like my previous post. Sometimes I see things that I just can't get out of my system, and putting them here helps.

I get several emails from different conservative groups every day. A lot of times I glance at them and delete them. A lot of times I spend hours reading all the articles. A lot of times I get way too worked up over what I read about the direction this AMAZING country I feel overwhelmingly blessed to live in is going.

Then there are times I read or see something that inspires me to stand up and say something. (Even if there aren't that many people listening.) Today I was directed to an article and video about a young girl that has inspired me. No matter how you feel about the subject, which happens to be abortion, you have to be inspired by this young girls courage, and commitment to what she believes. It also made me gravely aware, that there is someone listening to me. My children! And if I won't stand for what I believe, how I can I expect them to. So read the article, and watch the video, or go to your next blog stop. But if you do watch I hope it will inspire you to become aware, research, and share the things you feel strongly about.

I think I am going to make myself a sign with the following saying -

“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil
is for good men to do nothing.” -- Edmund Burke

I feel fairly certain that the people reading my blog are good people. And it is time for us to all do something. And I am not just talking about the issue at hand. There are so many things we can share with friends and neighbors. I watched while my friends and family in CA fought for their families. And because they did something, something good resulted. So here is "Lia" standing for what she believes.

(This is only part of the article, if you want to read the whole thing: click here)
12-year-old steals day with pro-life speech
Teachers threaten disqualification, but girl chooses to speak against abortion
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Despite facing threats of disqualification, a 12-year-old girl took first place in a speech contest when she eloquently argued for the rights of unborn children – after an offended judge quit.

"It was really a family thing," her mother explained on the blogMoral Outcry. "I saw Lou [Engle] speak at a conference several years ago. I came back to my family with the Life Bands, and we all wore them, made our covenant, and prayed the prayer for abortion to end. … Since then, Lia's passion for seeing abortion end has continued."

Despite Lia's enthusiasm for her topic, her teacher "strongly encouraged" her to select a different one for her class presentation or she would be considered ineligible for an upcoming speech contest.
"[S]everal teachers discouraged her from picking the topic of abortion; she was told it was 'too big,' 'too mature' and 'too controversial,'" her mother wrote. "She was also told that if she went ahead with that topic, she would not be allowed to continue on in the speech competition."
Lia's mother continued, "Initially, I tried helping her find other topics to speak on, but, in the end, she was adamant. She just felt she wanted to continue with the topic of abortion. So she forfeited her chance to compete in order to speak on something she was passionate about."
Lia's teacher was so impressed by the speech that she allowed her student to advance as the winner. Lia presented her speech to judges in front of her entire school on Feb. 10.
The school principal and teachers called Lia's presentation the "obvious winner" – but the judges suddenly disqualified her the following day "because of the topic and her position on abortion," her mother said.
Lia's father later revealed that the judges had a "big disagreement." One was offended by the speech and voluntarily stepped down while the others reversed their earlier decision – declaring her the winner.
Now Lia plans to take her message of life to a regional speech competition, and more than 100,000 visitors have viewed her presentation online.

They Make Me So MAD!!

I am so tired of politicians! We really need to start taking our country back. Watch this video clip, then click on the link, and send Mr. Schumer and email letting him know you do care! And please spread the word!



Email Sen. Schumer

Congrats!!

Just wanted to send out congrats to my niece Courtney and her new husband Brigham!! Wish we could have been there with you!!

Love Ya!

(thanks to her parents for sharing the pictures so quickly, so I could steal one!)

Five Dollar Bill

My Grandma Stumbaugh (Mom's Mom) always gave us $5 for birthdays and Christmas. Once we were married and had kids she gave them the money. It was always a favorite for my kids, and I am sure their cousins, to open their cards from Great Grandma and Grandpa at Christmas and find a crisp new $5 bill. She told me the teller always thought she was crazy when she came in to get the $5 bills. She had 37 great-grandkids in my family, and then there were the ones from my aunt. Why am I telling you this? My Grandmother passed away, and we have had two Christmases without her. Just the other day, and I can't remember how it came up, Kamrie told me she missed her. She didn't know her really well, but she knew who she was, and loved her.

Then this morning Kamrie came down from her room. She was excited about something, and told me she had been looking in drawer under her bed. This drawer holds some of her baby clothes I am hanging on to for her. So it is a drawer she isn't supposed to be in. Well, this is what she found.


There is no telling how long it had been there, at least two years. But, I have no doubt, that my Grandma is watching us and wanted Kamrie to know she appreciated her thinking about her.

And, she always spelled Kamrie's name wrong.

Love you Grandma!!