I have had so much fun making these adorable rosettes....I wear them with everything, on my scarves, hanging from my beaded necklace and pinned on my cardigans. They are so classy and just as fun to wear as they are to make. I have several other swatches of fabric that are just waiting for me to find a few minutes to make them into beautiful flower pins as well....
Kenron is growing up so quickly. He is now officially 6 months old (as of yesterday). He is such a sweet, sweet baby. He is always so happy. He likes to watch people as well as what they are doing. He studies faces and features and is anxiously learning about his surroundings. His face lights up when you talk to him and he has such a cute little laugh. Last week Dana's parents came down from Montana for a visit. Since he still isn't able to visitors much or go out into crowds of people, Todd and Dana decided to have have him blessed while Dana's parents were out.
Kenron was all about smiling and being happy that day...but he wouldn't look at the camera no matter where I stood with it...so we have all of his pictures with the "side of his face"...oh well, he is cute no matter which way he looks.
Cameron loves wrestling...and he had a great year, he even placed 2nd at one big tournament and 3rd at another. He is so fun to watch as he hits each move (I was a dance coach and don't really understand all the moves and "jargon" for wrestling, so bear with me as I try to talk like I know what I'm saying) and goes for the win.
My computer is finally working right again...actually thats not true....ITS GONE, died and enjoying "computer heaven". My old computer gave up the ghost and had to be put to rest. We checked into seeing how much it would cost to fix it... but it would cost more than it would to purchase a new one (DUMB)! BUT on a happier note...my hubby is a computer whiz and rebuilt an old computer that we had and made it into a faster, better and a more fabulous computer than we had before. He is a genius, a miracle man and has the brains, and know how, to do anything...I'm not even kidding. He is remarkable....and I wouldn't trade him for anything (and not just because he has brains...I love him for many reasons)! SOOOOOO....now I can upload pics and blog to my hearts content!!! WOO HOO!
I am not a HUGE TV watcher...especially during the "daylight" hours. I have plenty of other things to do that occupy my time....besides- 9 out of 10 times, television puts me right to sleep. BUT periodically if I am folding laundry or doing something that requires me to sit down, yet be busy with my hands, I will turn on the tube and find something interesting to watch/listen to while I accomplished my task. We don't have satellite or cable, so we only receive the few "local" stations that come across the air. The other day I was flipping channels trying to find something to watch/listen while I did some of those "sit down chores". As I was pushing the channel button on the remote I caught a glimpse of what was coming up on the OPRAH SHOW ( back when I had satellite I had my DVR set to record Oprah every day so I could watch her in the morning while I was on the treadmill. I enjoy most of her shows...(not all)...but most. BUT since we no longer have satellite, I haven't really been able to watch her).
On this particular day, Oprah was talking to twin sisters that had been sexually abused by their father and two brothers (yes, if you missed the show...it was shocking and horrifying that this really happens). It was something that defiantly got my attention...I guess because it was a human interest topic as well as being so sad and unbelievable. I was horrified at the events that took place in the lives of these sweet little girls from the time they were 5 years old and continuing on until they were 13 years old. Halle, who was watching with me, was SHOCKED as well. She looked at me with widened eyes and utter DISBELIEF written all over her face as she said,"Really???? Their DAD AND THEIR BROTHERS???? How could they do that????" I don't know HOW anyone could sexually abuse another person, let alone having parents and/or siblings be the perpetrators. It tore at my heart as these girls described the horror that they faced day in and day out at the hand of their family members, as they were growing up. Their lives should have been full of happy memories, playing with baby dolls, princess crowns, plastic food and going to birthday parties. Instead, their lives were full of terror every day from the time they got up in the morning until well into the night when they should have been asleep in their own beds. It was heart wrenching to hear the pain and fear that tormented these girls on a daily basis. I know that there are MANY children in the world that experience such horror in their lives...why? I just can't wrap my head around it!!! Back when I was growing up, I never heard of children being abused. Although, I am sure it was happening it just"wasn't OKAY" to talk about it. As prevalent as I think it probably was years ago, I certainly don't think it was happening near as much, or to the extent, that it is happening today. It seems that you can't turn on the news or read the newspaper without hearing someone horrific story of abuse. Its an awful thing that is destroying so many lives.
Several years back my hubby and I were asked by our Bishop to attend a special conference in Salt Lake City. The conference was on "Pornography and its affects on our society". Our Bishop wanted us to learn as much as we could on the subject so that we could then, in turn, teach some classes to the adults and youth in our church. I have to admit that some of the information we were taught was a huge eye opener to me. I had no idea that porn was so readily available and had so many lasting affects on ones mind and body, as well as ones life. While there, I learned that MOST abusers (sexual) were abused at some point in their lives (I think I already knew that part)...and that MOST abusers are addicted to pornography!!! With the internet being available in all libraries and most homes, one can easily get porn just about anywhere, anytime and without anyone knowing about it. Back in my day, porn was bought at the local bookstore wrapped in paper and then covered with plastic. Everyone (in the store) knew what "one" was buying when they came and picked it up. Those in the store could put a face to whom was reading such things during their free time...therefore, I think it probably detoured some from purchasing such disgusting smut because they didn't want anyone to learn of their dirty little secret. NOW that its so readily available, no one ever has to know if "one" is looking at porn or to what extent they are looking at it. It can go undetected for years and years, yet its a sickness that will eventually take over "ones" soul. Its not something that "one" can just start looking at and then quits...its very similar to drugs.In fact it has the same affect on the body as addictive drugs do. "One's" body gets a "high" from looking at pornographic images, resulting in the need for looking at it more and more (just like the need for more and more drugs). Pretty soon "one" is looking at worse things than what they started out with and eventually acting out some of the things they saw portrayed in the pornography images that were looked at. THATS where sexual abuse comes into play. What an awful sickness plaguing our society.
As I listened to these young girls on the OPRAH SHOW (whom were now 19) tell their life stories, describing the hateful acts of violence that they had to endure, I thought of how their innocence was taken away without them even having a choice...by no fault of their own. It was taken from them because of someone else's ugly decisions. These men/boys may or may not have been addicted to pornography, but my guess is...they probably were. Regardless of whether they were or not, each and every person in the world knows right from wrong. I am sure that at some point or another, these men each realized what they were doing to their daughter/sisters was wrong, but instead of stopping what they were doing, chose to continue their hateful acts. These girls have tried to "rise above" their past, take control of their lives and move forward. It will never be easy for them because such things are never forgotten, but I admire their courage and their strength to try and overcome the pain and the terror they experienced for so many years of their lives. It was just a testament to me that we never really know the pains and trials that others face. We never really know the shame and the guilt that they might be feeling today, because most people don't/won't talk about it. We just never really know what hardships someone else's past or present holds.
After watching this show...I came to the conclusion (REALLY I already knew, but recognized once again) that many of our actions today are affected by our pasts. Many of the things that we experience in our childhood affect who we become...whether its for the bad or for the good. Our trials can make us better or they can hinder us. Its not our place to judge someone else, we have no right- we "haven't walked a mile in their shoes" nor do we know what troubles they are experiencing at the moment. As a people in general, it would be nice if we each could lift one another and bear each others burdens, buoy each other up, take a little time to truly listen, to really care and be there for someone. I think we all get wrapped up in our own (I know I do) every day life and forget that there are others out there that might be in need of our help today. I heard that today was "National Do A GOOD DEED DAY"...so today, I hope I can "be a little kinder, be a little better" and take today (as well as tomorrow and the day after that and so on and so on and so on.....) to go out of my way to make someone else's day a little brighter.
