Turning the Tide...: May 2012

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Barack Obama's Empty Promises to College Students

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Ann Romney: Three Seasons of Motherhood

by Ann Romney

9 May 2012

Posted on www.mittromney.com

It's hard to imagine now, but before the birth of my first child, I had never held a baby. Not once, not in my entire life. No baby at home to tend, no niece or nephew to babysit. So you can imagine, the day my first boy was born I felt woefully unprepared.

My mother took pity on me and stayed for two weeks, but that wasn't nearly enough time. As she was preparing to leave, I cried like I was the baby. I told her that I wasn't ready, that I had no idea what to do. In her smile I saw the truth. Ready or not, my son couldn't wait, and somehow, I would make it through.

Of course, she was right. Some might say it was the mothering gene kicking in, the same one that every mom throughout history has possessed. Maybe. But I don't think so. I was a good mom because my own mom was the best.

I suppose my mother was somewhat unusual for her time. At 30 she was — and expected she always would be — a career woman. She worked as a cosmetics rep and was happy in that job. She never expected to get married, but then she found the one man in all the world who could change her mind — my dad.

The same passion she had for her work she poured into being a mother. I never lacked for confidence or a sense of self-worth. How could I when my mom seemed to think I had hung the moon? People would tell her, as people are wont to do with little girls, that she had a beautiful daughter. "If only you knew," she would say, "how much more beautiful she is on the inside."

Ringleader and troublemaker

Such words gave me my place in the world. She let me be who I was, which meant playing baseball and football with the boys, and catching frogs and hunting for snakes out behind the house. I think the thing she loved the most was that I was always the ringleader, always more likely to get others into trouble than to follow along.

Growing up as her daughter is what prepared me to be a mother myself. So began a different phase of my life. People often ask me what it was like to raise five boys. I won't sugarcoat it. There were times I wanted to tear my hair out. I can remember visiting my friends' houses, seeing their daughters' manners, the way they helped with the chores. Then I would return home to my boys, hoping only that my house was still intact.

Still, those were wonderful times. My boys had a way of putting their emotions and their disputes on the table. And more important, they had a way of leaving them there, of walking away without worrying about the things that might distance them, or letting hard feelings fester and grow. That directness and forgiveness shaped me into who I am today.

I'm a grandmother now. In fact, the gift I received this Mother's Day is two more wonderful grandchildren, twins, bringing the total to 18.

As every grandparent knows, it's a different role than being a mother or a daughter. I am able to adore the grandchildren, and to smile as my children go through the same struggles I went through when they were young. I've lived through three seasons of motherhood, and I have seen the beauty in each.

A tradition of lilacs

On Mother's Day, Mitt always brings me lilacs, a tradition he started the year I became a mother. When our home is filled with their fragrance, it reminds me of so many things, and stirs so many emotions. I think of my five sons and the women they married, whom I love as if I had raised them. They have become my daughters.

And I think about my mother. I remember she was a wonderful cook. I remember how much she loved my dad. Ours was a loving home, where I knew the light was always on. I wish I could tell her again how much I love her. The most trying time of my life was when I became the mother who had to take care of her as she was suffering in the last stages of ovarian cancer. The hardest thing for us all, I think, is the day we lose our moms.

Crown of glory

Cherish your mothers. The ones who wiped your tears, who were at every ball game or ballet recital. The ones who believed in you, even when nobody else did, even when maybe you didn't believe in yourself.

Women wear many hats in their lives. Daughter, sister, student, breadwinner. But no matter where we are or what we're doing, one hat that moms never take off is the crown of motherhood.

There is no crown more glorious.

This article can also be read at USA Today.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Summer Kickoff! Alvin Salima Fundraiser

Each month is getting a little better. Not only are we holding our monthly plate lunch specials, we have picked up a few catering jobs, all proceeds going to Alvin's Kidney Transplant Fund. But we just adore visiting with family and friends, co-workers, etc. who join us on the first Saturday of every month for our Plate Lunch Specials!

Menu for June 1st (Businesses) & 2nd!

Kalua Pork (a favorite for one and all)

Teriyaki Chicken (Alvin's recipe is gaining fans from all over)

TeriBurger (Thanks so much to Island Ianak'tion[801-787-1319] for donating the teriburgers) all laid on a bed of sticky rice with salad and dessert We will be adding an icy cold bottled water with each plate this month. Yes, we heard you! :-)

It makes us so happy that you are all loving our food so much. Love goes into every dish, I promise! Please place your orders in the comments below and we hope to see you all there! And thank you to all of you for supporting this effort to save my husband's life. I really am counting on many happy decades ahead with my sweetheart. God bless!

When: June 1st and 2nd, Noon to 2:00 p.m.

Where: 1104 West 220 South, Orem

Text your orders to 801-358-6213, or email them, or post your order below. I.E., post the number of plates along with your name. I'll put your order on the list and we'll be waiting for you on June 2nd with hot, yummy food guaranteed to please.

God bless, and we look forward to seeing you!

Alvin & Candace

Thursday, May 3, 2012

US Daily Review: Protesting and Trayvon Martin

US Daily Review is now ranked in the top 16,000 of over 117 MILLION blogs. It is about to break the top 1,000 of all US politics blogs. I hope you sponsor this new media leader. It is such a privilege to be contributing to this wonderful news site.

Bye Mom, I’m Off to Protest

Posted on 02 May 2012

By Candace Salima, US Daily Review Contributor

Yesterday, the Occupy Wall Street folks made their way out of their parents’ basements, took the sack lunches their mothers had made, laced up their Nikes and headed into the heart of downtown. They worked themselves into a frenzy, and in Seattle at least, they vandalized and destroyed business after business, putting Washingtonians out of work for the foreseeable future while repairs are made, insurance claims are filed, and business owners struggle to figure out how to keep their doors open.

In New York, they walked down the street protesting…what I’m not sure. They held signs that claimed they were the 99%, but I have to be honest, they don’t look like any 99% I've ever seen. White powder was sent in envelopes to banks and businesses claiming they weren't in charge, “the people” were. -- Read More

Use Your Words!

Posted on 25 April 2012

By Candace Salima, US Daily Review Contributor

Do you remember hearing those words as a child? I do. Anytime I would get so angry I’d resort to violence, I would hear my mother say “use your words.” Looking at the George Zimmerman/Trayon Martin case and the rash of ‘black on white’ attacks we’ve seen across America ever since, these words keep coming back to mind.

From the man walking in Chicago set upon by a gang of black youths “angry about Trayvon Martin,” to those who set upon the young pregnant woman, to the black youth who attacked the white man because he was also so angry about Trayvon Martin. Seriously people, is there any wonder you get shot at? Each of the victims in the above cases would have been well within their constitutionally given rights to pull out a gun and shoot their attackers. -- Read More

Note from Candace: It is such a pleasure and honor to be working author/journalist/talk show host, Kevin Price on his new venture US Daily Review. There you will find articles covering every subject written by journalists whose viewpoint and style of writing is engaging and informative. I invite you to visit www.usdailyreview.com and become a fan of the news site, as I have.

On Saturday morning I will have my review of the movie Avengers. On Sunday morning you can drop by US Daily Review and check out my review of the book Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter. Catch you on the flip side.

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

What a day!

First, I've noticed I don't blog as much anymore since I started writing for US Daily Review and other sites. That's not a good thing as blogging is how I began this entire string of events. Who could ever believe when an author friend suggested I began blogging it would lead to this. But it has.

For US Daily Review I write articles on politics, the state of America, book reviews and movie reviews. I enjoy the process very much and will be contributing more to that site. I stay apprised of all that is going on in Washington, D.C. and on the political national front. So it keeps me busy, to say the least.

I'm in the process of revamping my website again. I know crazy to do so. But because my focus is no longer just on writing books, I felt like it needed to look more like a news site so I can better give access to my readers of the articles and books I write, the radio/video shows I do, speaking engagements, etc. So that's taking some time, as I'm doing it myself.

I'm also creating a website for my sweet mother who is selling her farm in Colorado. It's become too much for her since my father died, so I'm going to focus really hard on helping her sell it. She wants to move in with one of my sisters who lost her husband just before my father passed away. So I'm going to do all I can to make that happen.

And, I've decided to start writing fiction again. I'm still in the middle of those two books, but if I can organize my day properly I should be able to get everything done. And I really miss writing fiction! So it is my hope that I will be able to produce one book a year. With three books and two health booklets under my belt, I'm feeling the need to dedicate myself on that front again.

And if that weren't enough, this morning I joined the organizing committee for the Rocky Mountain Conservative Convention, which is on May 19th. RMCC will hear from Utah Governor Gary Herbert, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, Senator Mike Lee, Congressman Jason Chaffetz, Attorney General candidate Sean Reyes, 2nd Congressional District candidate Mia Love, two fabulous comedians, some music acts (so I hear) and much, much more, including a straw poll. So if you haven't purchased your tickets yet, you better get on it. Seating is limited to 1,200 and this is the place you want to be if you're a conservative. We will be contributing a portion of these funds to The Child's Hope Foundation.