Thursday, August 28, 2008

BYU FOOTBALL-RISE AND SHOUT THE COUGARS ARE OUT!


I have never been a big football fan. My dad and brothers watched it nonstop. Lee and his dad watched it nonstop. I think I just rebelled because I was so sick of having it in my face and ears for so many years. Watching it at McKinleyville High was miserable because it was so cold. All of a sudden I am interested in football, well just BYU football. I know all about Max Hall, Austin Collie, Harvey Unga and a few others. I attribute this to three reasons:

1. I have lots of free time. Yes, there comes a time in life you are actually looking for new things to be interested in. Novel thought, huh, young mothers?

2. I love reality tv. Mainly competitions like Top Model, Project Runway, Design Star, etc. Football is a great reality competition.

3. Alex's boyfriend is a football player. Okay, that probably is the reason I started looking at the team. He has had a competition for the kicker start and so I started reading the BYU football page and got more interested. (In my defense, I was a total Cougar fan when I attended BYU!) Today I found a video with an interview with Mitch at http://www.byucougars.com/football under the videos section for day 19 of Fall Camp.

We will be up at the lake Saturday when they play Iowa for their first game. Lee wants Alex to have her cell phone with her so we can get updates. He's glad that for once I want to watch the games with him. Go Cougars!

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Stalking the Blogs

Okay, we all do it, don't we? You read someone's comment on a blog. It intrigues you so you go to their blog and pretty soon you are reading about someone's life you don't even know. I usually don't have a lot of time for this but tonight I was looking at Lindsey's blog and the other blogs she views. I decided to check out Cafe Johnsonia which had some info about a couple in a plane crash and that led me into finding out more about this couple. Such a sad story but so heartwarming how so many people have rallied around trying to help them. I donated. Not a lot but a little. The price of a movie and treats that we can wait another few weeks to enjoy. Sometimes it takes sacrifice to help others but it is always worth it. Check out their story at http://blog.cjanerun.com.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Making a Difference, Part II

Imagine you are a child who finds yourself in court; the victim of abuse or neglect... in the company of a judge, attorneys, social workers... all strangers. You are scared; your world has been turned upside down. You are alone.
This is the reality abused children face all the time. Far too many children have never slept in a warm bed, had clean clothes to wear, nutritious food to eat, or someone to hug. That's where CASA comes in. We provide one-to-one advocacy to help prevent children from "falling through the cracks."
Our trained volunteers advocate for abused children in court, assuring that they are placed in safe, nurturing homes where they will flourish. We speak for children who would otherwise have no voice, giving unconditional love, ensuring that each child receives the needed services to heal.
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) speaks for children in court because all children have a right to live in a safe, healthy and secure environment.

It is time for CASA's annual Kidwalk. CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) recruits, trains, and supports community volunteers who are advocating for abused and neglected children. When children are removed from their homes by Child Welfare Services due to abuse or neglect, they become part of an overburdened system. Lawyers, social workers, and foster parents have serveral cases and kids competing for their time and attention. A CASA gets to focus on just one child. CASA is an amazing organization that helps children who were not fortunate to be born into good homes. It is an amazing way to make a difference once a year to the life of a child. If you would like to help go to http://www.firstgiving.com/pamiorg2008. The children, and I appreciate your help!!


A true story of one child helped by CASA:


My name is Sarah. When I was seven years old, my father didn't come home enough to care for me and my little sister Maggie. I fed Maggie and dressed her for pre-school, gave her baths and put her to sleep at night. Maggie was only four years old. When there was food, we ate macaroni and cheese and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and when there wasn't I would have to ask the neighbors for food. But even this was better than it had been before we'd been taken away from our Mom. She would use a lot of drugs everyday and pass-out and there were always people at our house that weren't safe for Maggie and me. My sister and I were taken away from our father and for two years, I could barely speak to anyone. I felt so alone, but my CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer, Victoria, stuck with me and, over time, helped me to find my voice again. Victoria went to court with me and visited every week, traveling as far as Crescent City to not miss our time together.
She helped me not be afraid at night anymore and, for a time, was the nicest person in my life. After five years of foster homes and eleven moves, Victoria, my CASA, was still there, happily helping me adjust to my new adopted parents and a new safe and stable home where I could have a life just like other kids. Maggie also found a home where she grew up. I don't see her very often, but sometimes we exchange emails.I don't see Victoria anymore. I don't need to. She helped me to be strong and today I am married to a wonderful man and we have a beautiful baby girl of our own. Without my CASA I don't know how I would have made it through those years – I'm just glad CASA was there and I didn't have to find out.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Visitors

It's been a fun, and busy, last couple of weeks. First my dad came for a visit on Wednesday, August 5. It was so nice having him here. We watched Olympics together, saw a couple of movies (really like Dark Knight, X-files was okay), and ate lots of food. Wish the weather had been better but, hey, it is Humboldt County.

Alex flew in on Sunday and Kelly and the kids came that evening. Had so much fun with a fuller house. The kids are so cute and LOVE hanging out here in McKinleyville. They love going to the Jones' "tree fort" (play equipment) and riding down our driveway. Ammon loves gopher hunting and watching movies and Cohen loves eating and watching movies. Rylee just wanders around the house is such a cutie. We took the kids to Redwood Park and marveled at all the hippies there and left the kids one night for a movie night-Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. We loved the first one and didn't like the second. They tried to pack 3 books worth into one movie and did a bad job with it.

On Wednesday, my dad left, Kelly left and Alex and I headed to Redding to visit Toni and Shelby and Whitney (actually Hathaway now) Berry. Toni is one of my most favorite people in the world and probably the best friend I've ever had. They moved about 15+ years ago but we reconnect a few times a year. One of the greatest things was when her girls and Alex became so close. We had a blast with them laying by their pool, eating out, going to see Mamma Mia and shopping. We went to a cupcake place and tasted a few, had gelato and got bread at Harvest Bread. Then we headed to Trinity Lake for a couple of days. We have so much fun with the Berry's. One of the hysterical highlights was our sex talk on Thursday night with Shelby and Alex and Toni and I. Soooo funny! I'm not sure who learned more.

Lee came to the lake on Friday night and the Berry's left. We had fun Friday with just Lee, Alex and I. We all layed on an air mattress and watched Fugitive outside Friday night after going to Trinity Alps for dinner. Saturday we visited the Jones' on their houseboat. A fire closed off our usual road home so we had to take a detour that was twice as long. Despite that ride home, the past 10 days have been soo much fun! Thanks for the visits. I love my family, love my friends and it was so much fun to have the boyfriend talks with Alex!!!

Monday, August 11, 2008

Happy Birthday Kyle and Cohen!

Kyle and Cohen turned three yesterday (Kyle) and today (Cohen)! It is so crazy they are only a day apart. Unfortunately we missed Kyle's big day in Seattle but talked to him on the phone. He is so cute-I said, "Happy Birthday Kyle" and he said, "Happy Birthday, to you"! I just love our sweet Kyle. He has the cutest, melt your heart smile ever and is incredibly sweet. He also give the biggest, strongest hugs ever. Hope you had a great day Kyle.

Cohen came here yesterday and we blew up the jumpy house and he has some friends over now for cake and ice cream. He's been so funny today. Loving the birthday scene. My dad is visiting and put $10 in a one hand and asked him to guess where it was. He said the right hand and got the $10. Then he quickly said, "Let's do it again with the other hand!" Smart boy. Love that crazy Cohen too!