I haven't added any new posts this week because I have been distracted with other projects.
Namely, I have been uploading pictures and information on my family history to the Facebook page dedicated to my great great great great great grandfather Hugo Ernestus Krebs.
Next week I am going to start adding similar information to my other blog about my family history.
I will let you know when there is anything good to look at on that blog.
I also have to write a talk on 2 Colossians 3:1-2 for Sunday:
If ye then be arisen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
So far I haven't had any good ideas, anybody got any suggestions?
Friday, January 16, 2009
The Third Time is the Charm
Last night I saw Twilight in the theater for the third time. I really enjoyed it the most this time. The theater was almost empty and completely devoid of giggly girls and obnoxious boyfriends.
The surprise of seeing it again was that I had time to notice that the quiet hottie in Twilight, Charlie. Billy Burke nearly steals the movie.
I can't wait for New Moon!
The surprise of seeing it again was that I had time to notice that the quiet hottie in Twilight, Charlie. Billy Burke nearly steals the movie.
I can't wait for New Moon!
Sunday, January 11, 2009
If only I had had my camera!!!!
This weekend was Stake Conference.
In case you don't speak LDS, a Stake is a geographical division of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints similar to a Parish in the Catholic Church. Wherever you are in the world, you are assigned to a Ward or Branch in a Stake based on your address. If you live between Pascagoula MS and the Alabama/Florida line, south of Monroeville Al and Lucedale MS, you are in the Mobile Alabama Stake.
Stake Conference is a Saturday night/Sunday morning meeting held twice a year where all the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Mobile Alabama Stake get together for training and instruction at the Stake Center in Mobile Alabama.
The speakers are always good, but to be honest, I think the best speakers are always on Saturday night when only the adults meet from 6 pm to 8 pm. Lately, Jason and I have taken turns going to Stake Conference meetings because Owen is better at home during these longer Church meetings.
The theme for last night's meeting was certainly missionary work. There were 4 awesome talks on preparing your missionary and what returned missionaries learned/wished they had learned before they left. I plan to summaries and report on those talks too. There were 3 other talks, a great one by our Stake President (no surprise, he is amazing), a talk on Relief Society (the women's group - good but I will admit I was making a grocery list during her talk, sorry, right now my heart is in Primary) and another talk by the new Stake Young Women's President on teenagers.
Rhonda is her name. She and her husband are two of my favorite people. Rhonda has no children but is a teacher/administrator so by proxy, she has lots and lots of children.
She gave us three pieces of wisdom concerning teenagers:
1) Teenagers don't care anything about what you say or do until they believe that you care about them.
2) Teenagers are just little kids in big bodies.
3) Teenagers secretly love boundaries.
She went on to expound on each of her points.
1) She recommends you spend a lot of time listening to teenagers so you can get to know them. That is the best way to let them know you care about them. Listen more than you talk.
2) Teenagers think they are grown up but they aren't, don't forget this and allow them to make important adult choices they aren't ready for. Also, don't be surprised by childish behavior.
3) Rhonda described how every spring, cows moved to a new pasture will walk the fence and lean on it to make sure they can't get out. She said that when a teenager is on your last nerve, they are really just leaning on that fence. I say the same goes for 21 month old Owen's. She also reminded us that sometimes it makes all the difference when a teen is able to blame the boundary. "No, I can't skip school and go drinking at the beach, my Mom will kill me!"
Finally, she presented an object lesson. This is were the camera would have been nice. Typically, visual aids are not used from the big pulpit to help maintain a reverent attitude in the Chapel. But the Saturday night meetings are a little less formal as Rhonda said. Then she pulled out a big shiny meat cleaver which she described as a helpful but dangerous tool that you would not hand to a child/teenager without instructions and supervision. Then she pulled out a big axe which she described as a helpful but dangerous tool that you would not hand to a child/teenager without instructions and supervision. Then she pulled out a HANDGUN, a real honest to goodness handgun (I am not lying), which she assured us was unloaded and described it as a helpful but dangerous tool that you would not hand to a child/teenager without instructions and supervision.
As you can imagine, by this time she had the total attention of everyone in the chapel. Finally she pulled out what she called the most dangerous tool of all, which almost every teenager in the world is using everyday, usually with no instruction and no supervision. Can you guess? A laptop computer.
Rhonda described her frequent interaction with the newly formed and quickly expanding Alabama Task Force on Internet Violence Against Children. She related the story of a 14 year old girl from our area who was lured into a real world meeting with a 15 year old boy she meet on a chat room. However, this wasn't really a 15 year old boy, it was a 30 something year old man with a long, long record in slave trafficking. Really, really! For this girl a series of miracles happened and she was recovered in Ft Walton unharmed. However, the man and his associates got away. She is the only one of his victims known to have escaped.
Rhonda has some great advice. Don't let your kids have a computer in their room, keep it public and in this high tech world, you can't be a low tech parent.
Needless to say, she got her point across because 24 hours later, I can recall her whole talk almost word for word. Ross is already using his own computer to go online, but with lots of supervision and boundaries from his Daddy. Ross' computer sits right next to Jason's in full view of the kitchen.
I have no doubt, Rhonda's talk will be remember for a very long time by every one at Conference which certainly was her goal. I really wish I had had my camera, you don't often see a gun in Church!
In case you don't speak LDS, a Stake is a geographical division of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints similar to a Parish in the Catholic Church. Wherever you are in the world, you are assigned to a Ward or Branch in a Stake based on your address. If you live between Pascagoula MS and the Alabama/Florida line, south of Monroeville Al and Lucedale MS, you are in the Mobile Alabama Stake.
Stake Conference is a Saturday night/Sunday morning meeting held twice a year where all the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Mobile Alabama Stake get together for training and instruction at the Stake Center in Mobile Alabama.
The speakers are always good, but to be honest, I think the best speakers are always on Saturday night when only the adults meet from 6 pm to 8 pm. Lately, Jason and I have taken turns going to Stake Conference meetings because Owen is better at home during these longer Church meetings.
The theme for last night's meeting was certainly missionary work. There were 4 awesome talks on preparing your missionary and what returned missionaries learned/wished they had learned before they left. I plan to summaries and report on those talks too. There were 3 other talks, a great one by our Stake President (no surprise, he is amazing), a talk on Relief Society (the women's group - good but I will admit I was making a grocery list during her talk, sorry, right now my heart is in Primary) and another talk by the new Stake Young Women's President on teenagers.
Rhonda is her name. She and her husband are two of my favorite people. Rhonda has no children but is a teacher/administrator so by proxy, she has lots and lots of children.
She gave us three pieces of wisdom concerning teenagers:
1) Teenagers don't care anything about what you say or do until they believe that you care about them.
2) Teenagers are just little kids in big bodies.
3) Teenagers secretly love boundaries.
She went on to expound on each of her points.
1) She recommends you spend a lot of time listening to teenagers so you can get to know them. That is the best way to let them know you care about them. Listen more than you talk.
2) Teenagers think they are grown up but they aren't, don't forget this and allow them to make important adult choices they aren't ready for. Also, don't be surprised by childish behavior.
3) Rhonda described how every spring, cows moved to a new pasture will walk the fence and lean on it to make sure they can't get out. She said that when a teenager is on your last nerve, they are really just leaning on that fence. I say the same goes for 21 month old Owen's. She also reminded us that sometimes it makes all the difference when a teen is able to blame the boundary. "No, I can't skip school and go drinking at the beach, my Mom will kill me!"
Finally, she presented an object lesson. This is were the camera would have been nice. Typically, visual aids are not used from the big pulpit to help maintain a reverent attitude in the Chapel. But the Saturday night meetings are a little less formal as Rhonda said. Then she pulled out a big shiny meat cleaver which she described as a helpful but dangerous tool that you would not hand to a child/teenager without instructions and supervision. Then she pulled out a big axe which she described as a helpful but dangerous tool that you would not hand to a child/teenager without instructions and supervision. Then she pulled out a HANDGUN, a real honest to goodness handgun (I am not lying), which she assured us was unloaded and described it as a helpful but dangerous tool that you would not hand to a child/teenager without instructions and supervision.
As you can imagine, by this time she had the total attention of everyone in the chapel. Finally she pulled out what she called the most dangerous tool of all, which almost every teenager in the world is using everyday, usually with no instruction and no supervision. Can you guess? A laptop computer.
Rhonda described her frequent interaction with the newly formed and quickly expanding Alabama Task Force on Internet Violence Against Children. She related the story of a 14 year old girl from our area who was lured into a real world meeting with a 15 year old boy she meet on a chat room. However, this wasn't really a 15 year old boy, it was a 30 something year old man with a long, long record in slave trafficking. Really, really! For this girl a series of miracles happened and she was recovered in Ft Walton unharmed. However, the man and his associates got away. She is the only one of his victims known to have escaped.
Rhonda has some great advice. Don't let your kids have a computer in their room, keep it public and in this high tech world, you can't be a low tech parent.
Needless to say, she got her point across because 24 hours later, I can recall her whole talk almost word for word. Ross is already using his own computer to go online, but with lots of supervision and boundaries from his Daddy. Ross' computer sits right next to Jason's in full view of the kitchen.
I have no doubt, Rhonda's talk will be remember for a very long time by every one at Conference which certainly was her goal. I really wish I had had my camera, you don't often see a gun in Church!
Friday, January 9, 2009
Maybe I need to take a few minutes to explain...
A few of the people who read my blog have known me and my family for a long time. I realized that some of my posts may be a little confusing since my family tree has forked a little along the way.
So, for anyone still keeping track this is how it goes:
Ann (that's me)is married to Jason and we have two sons: Ross and Owen.
My amazing parents were John and Judy (both have passed on).
My totally awesome sister has her own blog, she goes by Herkerma.
Herkerma is married to "Larry" and they have 3 kids: "Buddy", "Bear" and "Weezy".
Jason's parents are Alan and Teena or Papaw and Mamaw (who by the way are the very best "other" parents a girl could ever have).
Jason has a sister Angela and a brother Chris.
Angela is married to Matt and they have 3 kids: Ashlynn, Noah and Ella
Chris is married to April and they have 2 kids: Kylee and Peyton
Jason's grandmother pops up too occasionally, she is also Mamaw or Neenee.
Here is the whole lot of us.
Now for the part that might get confusing.
I was adopted, not a secret. A few years ago I found my birth mother. It is a very long story, that I might blog about later. If you want to know now, ask me. It turns out that I am more interesting than I look. ;)
My birth mom is Dorothy. She married Bob (not my birth father). Bob has passed on too.
I have a sister Nancy and brother Jon.
Nancy has a son: Jack
Jon is married to Melissa and they have 3 daughters: Arielle, Danielle and Sophia
Here we all are at Sea World:
Without getting into details, Dorothy made the right choice for both of us when she gave me up. I grew up with the best parents a girl ever had , a wonderful sister and a loving family and she was able to start a happy new life.
I will never ever be able to tell Dorothy how grateful I am to her for giving me life and then loving me enough to give me a life. But I will keep trying.
Being adopted has been a great blessing to me. My whole life I have been surrounded by amazing people who love me. Now y'all know why I am so special. :D
So, for anyone still keeping track this is how it goes:
Ann (that's me)is married to Jason and we have two sons: Ross and Owen.
My amazing parents were John and Judy (both have passed on).
My totally awesome sister has her own blog, she goes by Herkerma.
Herkerma is married to "Larry" and they have 3 kids: "Buddy", "Bear" and "Weezy".
Jason's parents are Alan and Teena or Papaw and Mamaw (who by the way are the very best "other" parents a girl could ever have).
Jason has a sister Angela and a brother Chris.
Angela is married to Matt and they have 3 kids: Ashlynn, Noah and Ella
Chris is married to April and they have 2 kids: Kylee and Peyton
Jason's grandmother pops up too occasionally, she is also Mamaw or Neenee.
Here is the whole lot of us.
Now for the part that might get confusing.
I was adopted, not a secret. A few years ago I found my birth mother. It is a very long story, that I might blog about later. If you want to know now, ask me. It turns out that I am more interesting than I look. ;)
My birth mom is Dorothy. She married Bob (not my birth father). Bob has passed on too.
I have a sister Nancy and brother Jon.
Nancy has a son: Jack
Jon is married to Melissa and they have 3 daughters: Arielle, Danielle and Sophia
Here we all are at Sea World:
Without getting into details, Dorothy made the right choice for both of us when she gave me up. I grew up with the best parents a girl ever had , a wonderful sister and a loving family and she was able to start a happy new life.
I will never ever be able to tell Dorothy how grateful I am to her for giving me life and then loving me enough to give me a life. But I will keep trying.
Being adopted has been a great blessing to me. My whole life I have been surrounded by amazing people who love me. Now y'all know why I am so special. :D
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Our Thanksgiving Trip to Orlando Part 1 1/2
I realize that I still had a few pictures left from Disney World.
We spent the afternoon in the World Showcase.
Then Ross, Jack, Jason and Nancy wanted to ride Mission Space. Owen was too small so he and I roamed around and waited. Owen was very happy to be out of the stroller. We found an open space with some grass so that Owen could run around and push the stroller around. We also went and checked out the Baby Comfort Station in our ongoing effort to visit every bathroom in the park.
About the time it got dark, Owen and I had had enough. The best thing about the resort we stayed at was free bus service around Disney. Nancy and I took Owen back to the condo. Jason, Ross and Jack stayed behind to ride more rides and see the fireworks show. Jason said they really like the Turtle show.
Disney was fun but we missed a lot because of Owen. I don't mean that as a slur on Owen. It isn't his fault for being little, I guess we will just have to go back in a few years. Honestly, I would like to go sometime without the kids to see all the things I want to see. Oh well, maybe a second honeymoon in about 20 years.
We spent the afternoon in the World Showcase.
Then Ross, Jack, Jason and Nancy wanted to ride Mission Space. Owen was too small so he and I roamed around and waited. Owen was very happy to be out of the stroller. We found an open space with some grass so that Owen could run around and push the stroller around. We also went and checked out the Baby Comfort Station in our ongoing effort to visit every bathroom in the park.
About the time it got dark, Owen and I had had enough. The best thing about the resort we stayed at was free bus service around Disney. Nancy and I took Owen back to the condo. Jason, Ross and Jack stayed behind to ride more rides and see the fireworks show. Jason said they really like the Turtle show.
Disney was fun but we missed a lot because of Owen. I don't mean that as a slur on Owen. It isn't his fault for being little, I guess we will just have to go back in a few years. Honestly, I would like to go sometime without the kids to see all the things I want to see. Oh well, maybe a second honeymoon in about 20 years.
Our Thanksgiving Trip to Orlando Part 2
I am still posting Thanksgiving pictures. Like I said in earlier, we drove down on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Owen wasn't that much fun in the car, but we made it safely.
On Monday we had a fun day at Epcot with Jack and Nancy. Then on Tuesday we enjoyed the resort and relaxed around the condo. We went to downtown Disney that night too, it was super crowded, people were elbow to elbow so we left pretty quickly. At least the boys got to see the big Lego store.
On Wednesday we decided to go to Sea World. I hadn't been to Sea World in a long time so I was pretty excited. Jack and Nancy came with us again along with Dorothy, Jon and Danni.
First stop was the Dolphin Nursery. I couldn't get any good shots of the baby dolphins, but I got a great shot of my baby with his Daddy.
The next attraction was the Dog and Cat show. That was fun. They built a very clever show around dogs and cats rescued from Animal Shelters.
Then we stopped at the Shark Exhibit. The tunnel under the tank was fun, but after you have been to the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, nothing else is quite as impressive.
This was cool, a seahorse that looks like a plant, the seahorse is the green and yellow "plant" in the middle.
Sharks weren't the only predators lurking in the park. We found a vicious Owen fish hiding in the bushes waiting for an unsuspecting pizza to swim by.
Then we saw the Sea Lion Show, that was the best thing we saw the whole time. It was a pirate adventure with Sea Lions and Otters and a huge 3000 lb Walrus. The show was hilarious!!!! Jason really liked the pirate clown they had to keep the crowd entertained before the show started. The trainers did a great job of being funny and showcasing the animals. I can't really explain the show, it would take too long, but I wish I could have videoed the whole thing, it was really good.
Then Ross and Jack got to feed the Sea Lions. They have the life, a big pool with fun rocks, lots of sunshine and plenty of fish to eat.
After the Sea Lions, Jason, Nancy and I rode the roller coaster, The Kraken. It was one of those open roller coasters but supported from the bottom instead of the top. Ross wanted to go, but he was too short.
I have to say the last time I went on a big open roller coaster was at Six Flags before Ross was born. It scared me so bad I threw out my back. I decided that I had to ride The Kraken to "face my fears". So I did it. I tried to keep my eyes open but I couldn't. I tried to relax and enjoy the rush but I couldn't. Honestly, I can get nauseated on a swing set. I have decided that I just don't like roller coasters. They scare me, but at least I have my self-respect back.
After The Kraken, Ross and Jack wanted to ride Journey to Atlantis. A wet ride. Thankfully, Aunt Nancy was willing to take them. I will admit it was a little chilly and I didn't want to get wet. Jack and Ross got wet!
Finally, we decided to get some dinner and see the last Killer Whale Show. It was the Christmas show, Miracles, cause you know it isn't Christmas without Killer Whales. Yes, that was a little sarcastic.
The whales were great; the Christmas Carol sing-a-long was fun; and the saxophone solo rocked, but the show was kind of cheesy. It was fun to close the park though, and we had a very good time together, even Owen enjoyed himself.
On Monday we had a fun day at Epcot with Jack and Nancy. Then on Tuesday we enjoyed the resort and relaxed around the condo. We went to downtown Disney that night too, it was super crowded, people were elbow to elbow so we left pretty quickly. At least the boys got to see the big Lego store.
On Wednesday we decided to go to Sea World. I hadn't been to Sea World in a long time so I was pretty excited. Jack and Nancy came with us again along with Dorothy, Jon and Danni.
First stop was the Dolphin Nursery. I couldn't get any good shots of the baby dolphins, but I got a great shot of my baby with his Daddy.
The next attraction was the Dog and Cat show. That was fun. They built a very clever show around dogs and cats rescued from Animal Shelters.
Then we stopped at the Shark Exhibit. The tunnel under the tank was fun, but after you have been to the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, nothing else is quite as impressive.
This was cool, a seahorse that looks like a plant, the seahorse is the green and yellow "plant" in the middle.
Sharks weren't the only predators lurking in the park. We found a vicious Owen fish hiding in the bushes waiting for an unsuspecting pizza to swim by.
Then we saw the Sea Lion Show, that was the best thing we saw the whole time. It was a pirate adventure with Sea Lions and Otters and a huge 3000 lb Walrus. The show was hilarious!!!! Jason really liked the pirate clown they had to keep the crowd entertained before the show started. The trainers did a great job of being funny and showcasing the animals. I can't really explain the show, it would take too long, but I wish I could have videoed the whole thing, it was really good.
Then Ross and Jack got to feed the Sea Lions. They have the life, a big pool with fun rocks, lots of sunshine and plenty of fish to eat.
After the Sea Lions, Jason, Nancy and I rode the roller coaster, The Kraken. It was one of those open roller coasters but supported from the bottom instead of the top. Ross wanted to go, but he was too short.
I have to say the last time I went on a big open roller coaster was at Six Flags before Ross was born. It scared me so bad I threw out my back. I decided that I had to ride The Kraken to "face my fears". So I did it. I tried to keep my eyes open but I couldn't. I tried to relax and enjoy the rush but I couldn't. Honestly, I can get nauseated on a swing set. I have decided that I just don't like roller coasters. They scare me, but at least I have my self-respect back.
After The Kraken, Ross and Jack wanted to ride Journey to Atlantis. A wet ride. Thankfully, Aunt Nancy was willing to take them. I will admit it was a little chilly and I didn't want to get wet. Jack and Ross got wet!
Finally, we decided to get some dinner and see the last Killer Whale Show. It was the Christmas show, Miracles, cause you know it isn't Christmas without Killer Whales. Yes, that was a little sarcastic.
The whales were great; the Christmas Carol sing-a-long was fun; and the saxophone solo rocked, but the show was kind of cheesy. It was fun to close the park though, and we had a very good time together, even Owen enjoyed himself.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Passage to Zarahemla
I found a movie that y'all have to see. It is called Passage to Zarahemla.
This movie is free of bad language and sex. There are some fight scenes and some bad guys but the DVD has a "less intense" option.
(A side note, Jason and I have a 3 word rule at our house, 3 words is still probably 3 words too many, but anyway, after the 3rd bad word, we turn a movie off and send it back. We tried to watch the Will Smith movie Hancock, it didn't even last 5 minutes. Sigh, can't anyone write a good movie any more, get a dictionary people!)
It is based on a book by the same name. I haven't a chance to read it yet. My whole family loved the movie. The book and movie are written by my very favorite LDS author (sorry Stephenie) Chris Heimerdinger. Chris also acts in the movie too.
Without giving too much away the story is about a modern-day girl who stumbles across a rift in time that leads her to a Nephite warrior right on the edge of an invasion of Gadianton Robbers that has leaked into present day Utah. Along the way, the girl and her brother have to fight off modern day Gadiantons and solve the mystery of their Father's disappearance. (If this doesn't make any sense, sorry, ask me for more details or look at the website.)
The hero in the movie (a nephite named Kiddoni) is at least as dreamy as Edward, yes, I said it. I will decide for certain after I read the book, but as far as actors go, Moronia Kanekoa leaves Rob Pattinson looking slightly scrawny, even with super vampire powers.
Chris Heimerdinger wrote one of my all time favorite book series Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites. There are 10 books out so far and he promises the next book this year!
We liked the movie so much, I am going to buy it and the book to show our support for Chris and similar LDS productions. We were able to rent it from Netflix, but the movie doesn't make any money that way.
I highly recommend you give Passage to Zarahemla a try. I also recommend all of Chris' books, they are full of adventure, yet make the scriptures seem more real and personable at the same time.
This movie is free of bad language and sex. There are some fight scenes and some bad guys but the DVD has a "less intense" option.
(A side note, Jason and I have a 3 word rule at our house, 3 words is still probably 3 words too many, but anyway, after the 3rd bad word, we turn a movie off and send it back. We tried to watch the Will Smith movie Hancock, it didn't even last 5 minutes. Sigh, can't anyone write a good movie any more, get a dictionary people!)
It is based on a book by the same name. I haven't a chance to read it yet. My whole family loved the movie. The book and movie are written by my very favorite LDS author (sorry Stephenie) Chris Heimerdinger. Chris also acts in the movie too.
Without giving too much away the story is about a modern-day girl who stumbles across a rift in time that leads her to a Nephite warrior right on the edge of an invasion of Gadianton Robbers that has leaked into present day Utah. Along the way, the girl and her brother have to fight off modern day Gadiantons and solve the mystery of their Father's disappearance. (If this doesn't make any sense, sorry, ask me for more details or look at the website.)
The hero in the movie (a nephite named Kiddoni) is at least as dreamy as Edward, yes, I said it. I will decide for certain after I read the book, but as far as actors go, Moronia Kanekoa leaves Rob Pattinson looking slightly scrawny, even with super vampire powers.
Chris Heimerdinger wrote one of my all time favorite book series Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites. There are 10 books out so far and he promises the next book this year!
We liked the movie so much, I am going to buy it and the book to show our support for Chris and similar LDS productions. We were able to rent it from Netflix, but the movie doesn't make any money that way.
I highly recommend you give Passage to Zarahemla a try. I also recommend all of Chris' books, they are full of adventure, yet make the scriptures seem more real and personable at the same time.
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